Homebrew Vistani (Human Variant) Species Details

Mystery and Tradition

The Vistani are considered a human variant, similar to the human variant presented in the Player's Handbook. These features replace the standard human features.

Most Vistani are dark of complexion, often with jewel-toned eye color. They are fond of bright, lavish colors and gaudy jewelry. In their blood, however, each still harbours a fragment of the curse of Strahd.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased by 2 and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age. Vistani mature and age as all humans, although some can live up to just past a century.

Alignment. At one point, all of the Vistani served either Strahd or Madame Eva. Those from Luvash's camp, the servants of Strahd, have a tendency toward evil. Those from the Tser Pool, under the protection of Madame Eva, lean toward neutrality. By the Vistani nature, almost all are chaotic.

Size. Vistani tend to be a little shorter and more slight of build than the average human. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Vistani Skill. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Perception, Performance, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth.

Evil Eye. As an action, you can target a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see. The Evil Eye duplicates the effect of the animal friendship spell. When you reach the 3rd level, you may choose to duplicate the effect of either the charm person or animal friendship spell. When you reach the 5th level, you can also choose to duplicate the effect of the hold person spell. None of the spell effects require somatic or material components. If the target succeeds on the save, you are blinded until the end of your next turn.

The DC to resist your Evil Eye is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.

You regain the use of this trait after a short or long rest. Once a target succeeds on a saving throw against your Evil Eye, it is immune to the Evil Eye of all Vistani for 24 hours.

Vistani Curse. You can use an action to utter a curse to a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see. The curse must be a repayment for an injustice or slight, and should not be invoked without dire cause. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the curse.

The curse lasts until ended with a remove curse spell, a greater restoration spell, or similar magic. It doesn't end when the target dies. When the curse ends, you suffer a harmful psychic backlash based on the severity of the curse.

The DC to resist your Vistani Curse is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.

You regain the use of this trait after a long rest.

You can choose how the curse manifests from the following options:

• You can cause the target's appearance to change in a small, purely cosmetic way. When this curse ends, you take 1d6 psychic damage.

• Beginning when you reach the 6th level, you can cause the target to have disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws tied to one ability score of your choice. When the curse ends, you take 3d6 psychic damage.
• Beginning when you reach the 16th level, you can cause the target to be blinded or deafened. When the curse ends, you take 5d6 psychic damage.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Vistani, and Barovian. Although limited in scope, Barovian contains roots that some followers of Lathander can recognize. Vistani is a highly secretive language that they teach to no one.

Vistani (Human Variant) Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about humans, but your human character has these traits.

Vistani Skill

The Vistani can be devious and are often good judges of character. 

You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Perception, Performance, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth.

Evil Eye

As an action, you can target a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see. The Evil Eye duplicates the effect of the animal friendship spell. When you reach the 3rd level, you may also choose to duplicate the effect of the charm person spell. When you reach the 5th level, you can also choose to duplicate the effect of the hold person spell. None of the spell effects require somatic or material components. If the target succeeds on the save, you are blinded until the end of your next turn.

The DC to resist your Evil Eye is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.

You regain the use of this trait after a short or long rest. Once a target succeeds on a saving throw against your Evil Eye, it is immune to the Evil Eye of all Vistani for 24 hours.

Vistani Curse

You can use an action to utter a curse to a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see. The curse must be a repayment for an injustice or slight, and should not be invoked without dire cause. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the curse.

The curse lasts until ended with a remove curse spell, a greater restoration spell, or similar magic. It doesn't end when the target dies. When the curse ends, you suffer a harmful psychic backlash based on the severity of the curse.

The DC to resist your Vistani Curse is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.

You regain the use of this trait after a long rest.

You can choose how the curse manifests from the following options:

• You can cause the target's appearance to change in a small, purely cosmetic way. When this curse ends, you take 1d6 psychic damage.

• Beginning when you reach the 6th level, you can cause the target to have disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws tied to one ability score of your choice. When the curse ends, you take 3d6 psychic damage.
• Beginning when you reach the 16th level, you can cause the target to be blinded or deafened. When the curse ends, you take 5d6 psychic damage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma ability score increases by 2 and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1. 

Age

Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.

Alignment

By the Vistani nature, almost all are chaotic. Depending on which camp they follow, they may tend toward Evil or Neutral. (Luvash camp tends to Chaotic Evil, Madame Eva's Tser Pool camp leans toward Chaotic Neutral)

Size

Vistani tend to be a little shorter and more slight of build than the average human. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Vistani, and Barovian. Although limited in scope, Barovian contains roots that some followers of Lathander can recognize. Vistani is a highly secretive language that they teach to no one.