Homebrew Darkling Species Details

Ancient legends speak of a seelie fey who betrayed the Summer Queen. His true name has been stricken from history, but the stories call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath that she cursed every member of his house. Other fey refer to the descendants of Dubh Catha's house as the dubh sith-or, in Common, "darklings." Darklings most often settle in secluded caverns and chambers beneath the towns of other species. From such enclaves, they quietly ply their trade as thieves and assassins.

The Killing Light.

The Summer Queen's curse causes a darkling's body to absorb light, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every part of their body with clothing when exposure to light is a risk. The light a darkling absorbs over the course of its lifetime explodes outward when the darkling dies, incinerating the creature and much of its possessions.

Love of Art.

Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness for the beauty of art. A darkling might risk taking a peek at a sunset or lighting a tiny candle to glimpse the colors in a painting or a jewel.

Elder Transformation.

A wise and respected darkling can qualify to undergo a ritual to become an elder. Other elders mark the supplicant with glowing tattoos, channeling some of the darkling's absorbed light away from its body. If the ritual succeeds, the darkling grows into a tall and fair form, like that of a gray-skinned elf. The darkling perishes if the ritual fails.

Darkling Traits

Due to your curse, Darkling's share lots of traits in common.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2. Choose between either your Constitution score or your Wisdom score to increase by 1.

Age

Darklings fully mature by the age of 13 and the eldest Darklings tend to live for around 2 centuries, though being exposed to sunlight rapidly decreases the life expectancy of a Darkling.

Alignment

Darklings tend to stick to Chaotic Neutral, due to their heritage, though differently-aligned Darklings do exist.

Size

Darklings usually vary between 4 feet to 5 feet, regardless of your position of the scale your size is Medium.

Dexterous

You are proficient in Acrobatics and Stealth checks.

Darkvision

Accustomed to being hidden from any sunlight, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Death Flash

When you die, nonmagical light flashes out from it in a 10-foot radius as its body and possessions, other than metal or magic objects, burn to ash. Any creature in that area and able to see the bright light must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of the creature's next turn.

Sunlight Sensitivity

While in bright light, you have disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan, due to your cursed heritage.