Homebrew Fae - Leprechaun Species Details

Leprechauns are one of the Fae races.  They like all fae are at least in part magical.  The leprechaun tends to be a bit more solid than other fae races and can exist for a short while (up to a month) in null magic zones and dimensions before fading away.  Leprechauns are considered to be part of the Seelie Court but they are never to be completely trusted.  It is a good day for a leprechaun and the source of great honor to play a prank on someone else including other leprechauns.  The more completely the subject of the wit (not torment, never torment), the greater the honor.  Leprechauns who achieve an especially fine prank may actually be invited to sit with the Seelie Court for a season or more.

Leprechauns tend to be 1 - 2 feet tall with the males a normally a bit taller than the females.

Leprechauns tend to be heavier for their size than other fae, this is attributed to them being a bit more bound by the physical world than most fae.  If a leprechaun is in a null magic zone for more than a few days their weight starts to diminish and they become slenderer and slenderer until only their bones remain.  Even the bones disappear after a few days.

Leprechauns need their gold.  The leprechaun and its gold become bound.  Without their gold they begin to age.  A leprechaun will not die of aging but they go into a deep sleep that only being immersed in great piles of gold for at least as long as they have been without gold will allow reawakening.  After awakening, many years, decades, maybe even centuries in the presence of gold can return the leprechaun's youth.  A leprechaun becomes more spry the more gold it possesses.  The gold is kept in a special cauldron.  The gold in this cauldron is often shared with the Seelie Court and with the King Under The Mountain (local clan chieftain).  The gold ensures the lands are verdant with much natural fruits and berries (used for wines).  The clan cauldron is also the wellspring for most of the magic of the clan especially the young who have not created their cauldrons yet or gotten sufficient gold to allow their magics.

Each leprechaun has a single gold coin that is specifically bound to that leprechaun.  A leprechaun must acquire at least one penny weight of gold each year.  That gold somehow becomes bound to the coin, renewing it and the bond between the coin and the leprechaun.  It can never be truly removed and if stolen or given away returns within a day.  That coin is much as a lich's phylactery and with its destruction the leprechaun will fade much as if in a null magic zone.  The coin is what keeps the leprechaun alive even when aged and comatose.

A leprechaun's magics are limited by the amount of gold the leprechaun has or that its clan has.

Fae - Leprechaun Traits

All traits come from being a creature born of magic, a fae.

Craftsman

The leprechauns are the craftsmen for most of the fae.  Each leprechaun gains one crafting proficiency at character creation time and then every 5 levels may either add a new crafting skill proficiency or increase the skill level by +2 with a previously selected proficiency.

Darkvision

Can see in a coal mine at midnight for up to 60'.

Invisibility at will as long as not imprisoned, held, or currently can be seen by a sentient or predator.

This is a defensive trait of the race.  When attempting to capture a leprechaun other than blinking NEVER take your eyes off the leprechaun.

Polymorph self

Used for defensive purposes.  Most commonly used when the leprechaun fears it may be spotted.  The leprechaun changes into an animal appropriate for the environment, with the same or less mass than the leprechaun.  The leprechaun gains no new abilities from the transformation.  If the leprechaun changes into a bird it can jump up and flutter for a bit but it does not gain the ability to fly.  If the leprechaun changes into a mole it does not gain the moles fast ability to make tunnels and move through the earth.  ...

The leprechaun gains this ability at level 6.

 

3 Wishes

The leprechaun if caught maybe be required to give the captor 3 wishes.  To do this the leprechaun's cauldron must have at least 301 pounds of gold.  100 pounds of gold is expended per wish.  The leprechaun can not use make a wish.

If a leprechaun can trick the captor into asking for a 4th wish all previous wishes are revoked, the leprechaun immediately returns to his home, and all the gold expended on the wishes is returned.

Due to size the leprechaun has -4 to strength.

Due to size the leprechaun has -4 to strength.