Homebrew Selkie Species Details

Born of the sea, the Selkie are a race of sentient seals who can take human form by shedding their skins. They are more comfortable in the water than on land, and their easygoing and people-pleasing natures make them many friends. Selkie are fae creatures, originally coming from the Faewild before most were captured by hunters for their pelts and for their companionship. Some of these captured selkies managed to escape, and without any way back, they learned to live in the Material Plane. 

Human Underneath

In their seal form Selkies are identical to true seals, and in their human form they are indistinguishable from real humans. However, Selkie in human form often have similar physical traits to their seal forms, such as an abundance of freckles, hair and pelt colors matching, or scars showing up in the same places on both forms. Selkies still living in the Faewild are more slender while selkies descended from those in the Material Plane are rounded and chubby. Faewild-born selkies are often noted as resembling half-elves in their humanoid forms.

Playful Tricksters

Selkies, like most fae, love to play tricks and games with their companions. Selkies pick up new skills easily and enjoy showing them off in front of crowds. Unlike more mischievous fae, Selkies do not aim to make fun of others with their tricks, only wishing to dazzle and entertain (although they might splash nearby unwary creatures). Selkie often join traveling circuses or shows in order to demonstrate their acrobatic talent to many people.

Free and in the Wild

Selkie want nothing more than to roam the world with friends by their side. They are wild and free-spirited, refusing to abide by oppressive rules. They never stay in one place for long, and do not live in large organized societies. To a selkie, there is nothing worse than losing that freedom. To be caged or enslaved causes Selkies to drift into an almost catatonic state, where they just go through the motions of life without any light in their eyes. Living in captivity for too long can cause Selkies to die of a broken heart.

Selkie Names

Selkie are given names in their own language when they are born, but these animalistic barks cannot be produced or distinguished by non-seals. Many adopt a second name that is more easily pronounced by their common-speaking friends. These names are individual to the selkie who invents them, and could be inspired by their favorite things, people they know, places they’ve been, or simply sounds they like.

Selkie Traits

All selkie share certain racial traits due to being born in seal form and taking human form later in life

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity increases by 2 and your Charisma increases by 1

Age

Although they descend from fae, Selkies have an unusually short lifespan, reaching maturity at 15 and living for around 85 years on average.

Alignment

Selkie are wild creatures with a love of freedom. They tend towards chaotic alignments.

Natural Performer

You have proficiency in either the Acrobatics or Performance skill.

Hold Breath

You can hold your breath for 20 minutes underwater.

Sealskin

Selkie are born in seal form and upon reaching adolescence, can shed their skins to transform into humanoids. You have a Sealskin which can be worn as a cape or hooded cloak when shed. While wearing your Sealskin you can transform into a seal as a bonus action, taking on its features and stats while keeping your own Intelligence, Charisma, Wisdom, and hit points.

(stats here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/1457198-selkieseal).

Your equipment merges into your body while shifted into your seal shape. If you die outside of seal form, and are still wearing your sealskin cloak, you immediately transform back into your seal shape. Unlike normal transformation, however, your equipment all falls to the ground instead of changing with you.

Icefloe Born

You have resistance to cold damage and suffer no negative effects from extreme cold. You’re also acclimated to low depths and high pressure, including depths of 600 ft.

Languages

 

You speak, read, and write Common and Selkie (a language spoken by Selkie in their seal forms consisting of animal barks and whistles).