Homebrew Fogflyer Species Details

Fear the silhouettes that emerge in cold winter nights. Walk wearily and quickly when it rains lest one of them spots you.

If you see one, it will be to late. Your best bet is to run to another city area and begin praying.

— Baldomer Harathar, "On the Terrors of Night"

Various sources disagree on the origins of the Fogflyers. Scholars have debated their rise for millennia now, attributing infernal, primeval, elven, or even spontaneous origin stories for them. Few have seen one without regretting it, but those who survive their visage preach wonders of this race. Whether this is because of madness or genuine knowledge is up for debate.

They are described as tall, typically 6-10', with skin like that of ash and large wings that they use to fly and sometimes swim. They are incredible travellers and can overcome many obstacles, but if there's something this race fears is the dry desert, where they have been sighted only on rivers and mountains.

The Nightly Puppeteers

Several cautionary tales warn against looking directly, as just their appearance has been recorded to madden whoever dares confront one. Several other legends tell of Fogflyers instilling inspiration to many more.

Whenever they appear alone, they will usually dress in whatever the locals are garmented in, and perform acts of artistry at the light of the moon. But everyone knows not to gamble with one, as the initial price often seems insignificant, but as the stakes rise so does the sacrifice; some unlucky enough to lose repeatedly recall being trapped in some trance where their body moved without command, as if the flesh was held and commanded by strings.

Harbingers of Tragedy and Tellers of Fortune

The above quote refers to their fame as omens of dismay, as they are sometimes seen descending from the evening mist before the appearance of plagues and other miscellaneous misfortunes. Whether they cause this or they warn of it is currently unknown.

But they are also seen parading the streets offering insights into the nigh future, often commending commoners to use certain seeds or to mine a little further to the left. Some chronicles tell of performers arriving in towns before a period of thriving. Again, it is currently unknown if they cause or only foretell this.

Wardens against Time

Several institutions have hired Fogflyers in order to bring in and keep records ranging from cooking to architecture to art to occult practices. This has led to mixed results, as some libraries are often reported "missing" only to reappear sometime later with no recollection of any anomaly by the staff.

They are often seen around ruins, cemeteries, and forest lines, with some stating that they "prefer to stay close to the reaper and the ancient sprites," and much of their literature praises memory and expression itself.

Fogflyer Traits

Fogflyers share some traits they often display in their performances

Friends with Death

The character cannot die of old age, but can still age at will.

Aging will take one turn and will be aesthetic only, so it can be used in some contexts to persuade through a persuasion check.

Alignment

Fogflyers tend to act a bit more out of their own volition, drawing them to the Neutral alignments, but who's to say you can't end up somewhere else?

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and another language of your choice.

Shaded Eyes

You can see in dark environments up to 60ft and in fogs up to 30ft, but too much environmental light in your eyes will tire you quickly.

How can you be an omen of death if you can't see in dark rainy nights?

Size

Fogflyers are a generally taller than humans. Your size is Large.

Gone With the Wind

Fogflyers are notorious for their traveling speeds & agility to traverse diverse terrains easily, having wings of up to 20 meters long each. Your base walking and flying speed is of 30ft, while your base swimming and climbing speed is 15ft.

Maddening Visage

Perhaps those tales are true. When meeting an enemy, they will have to make a Wisdom saving throw to prevent going mad. If successful, no damage occurs. If unsuccessful, the enemy receives a -2 in every dice roll.

Puppetmaster

You can possess someone or something every five turns one at a time. The enemy will need to make a Wisdom saving throw to prevent this from happening. If the throw fails, they're your puppet now and you get a turn for you and your marionette; it it succeeds, they only get a minor headache & a -1 for dexterity for two turns (You can try again next turn).

A Traveler of Mists

If unprotected, the character will suffer a -2 for strength, -2 perception, and -1 dexterity until protected or in more favourable conditions.

Caravaner of Fate

This character has an advantage in the arts of prediction and mediumship.