Homebrew Fanghorn Deepfling Species Details

Finn Moonfellow the Deepfling, the only one of his kind for hundreds of miles in any direction, locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket of the tree trunk. Finn was short, even by the standards of his diminutive race, with the fluff of his curly white locks barely cresting the three-foot mark, but his belly was amply thickened by his love of a good meal, or several, as the opportunities presented themselves. The crooked stick that served as his fishing pole rose up above him, clenched between two of his toes, and hung out over the quiet swamp, mirrored perfectly in the glassy surface of Mugwash.

— C. L. Vetri, On the Road To Valtordu

The comforts of good rests are the goals of most Deepflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some Deeplings live out their days in remote, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and a good spot, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver.

 

Small and Practical

The diminutive Deepflings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, avoiding offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow and on the edges of wars strife. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds.

Deepflings’ skin are of dark grey ruddy cast, and their hair is usually white sandy grey and wavy. They deep green or hazel eyes. Deepfling men often sport long sideburns, but beards are rare among them and mustaches even more so. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and practical clothes, favoring dark colors. Deepfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They’re concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of Deepflings keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem, and have little patience for dithering.

 

Kind and Curious

Deepflings are an affable and cheerful people. They cherish the bonds of friendship as well as the comforts of dirt home, harboring few dreams of gold or glory. Even adventurers among them usually venture for reasons of friendship, wanderlust, or curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple things, such as an exotic food or an unfamiliar style of clothing. Deepflings are easily moved to pity and hate to see any living thing suffer unless its for them to gain. 

 

Blend into the Crowd

The combination of their inherent stealth and their unassuming nature helps Deepflings to avoid unwanted attention. Deepflings work readily with others, and they are loyal to their friends. They can display remarkable ferocity when their friends or families are threatened.

 

Deep Pleasantries

Most Deepflings live in small, peaceful deepwood underground communities with large mushroom farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build of their own or even hold much land beyond their quiet deepwood undershires. They typically don’t recognize any sort of nobility, instead looking to family elders to guide them. Families preserve their traditional ways despite the rise and fall of empires. Many Deepflings live among other races in Fanghorn, where the Deepflings’ hard work and loyal outlook offer them abundant rewards and creature comforts. Some communities travel as a way of life, driving wagons or guiding boats from place to place and maintaining no permanent home.

AFFABLE AND POSITIVE

Deeplings try to get along with everyone else and are loath to make sweeping generalizations—especially negative ones.

Dwarves. “Dwarves make loyal friends, and you can count on them to keep their word. But would it hurt them to smile once in a while?”

Elves. “They’re so snob! Their faces, their music, their grace and all. It’s like they stepped out of a Drake'hars. But there’s no telling what’s going on behind their faces—surely more than they ever let on.”

Humans. “Humans are a lot like us, really. At least some of them are. Step out of the keeps, go talk to the farmers and herders and you’ll find good, solid folk. Not that there’s anything wrong with the barons and soldiers—you have to admire their conviction to hunt us... protecting their basket of food and all...”

Exploring Opportunities

Deepflings usually set out on the adventurer’s path to defend their communities, support their friends, or explore a wide and wonder-filled world. For them, adventuring is less a career than an opportunity or sometimes a necessity.

 

Deepfling Names

A Deepfling has a given name, a family name, and possibly a nickname. Family names are often nicknames that stuck so tenaciously they have been passed down through the generations.

Male Names: Albon, Anber, Cabe, Cobin, Elbon, Ebich, Fiban, Gabet, Libdal, Lybe, Mebic, Mibo, Osbonn, Pebin, Reeb, Robcoe, Webby

Female Names: And, Bre, Calle, Coa, Jlian, Kitri, Lavnia, Lida, Mera, Nea, Pae, Porti, Serahina, Shana, Tryn, Vana, Varna

Family Names: Brushgather, Tinbarrel, Greenbottle, Highpill, Hilltop, Legallow, Tealeaf, Thorntree, Tosscobble, Underbough

 

Deepfling Natural Habilities

Stout Resilience and Stealthy

You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

Child of the Deepwood Shires

You know the "druidcraft" cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the entangle spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the "spike growth" spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Casting these spells with this trait doesn’t require material components. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Deeptimberwalk

Ability checks made to track you have disadvantage, and you can move across difficult terrain made of nonmagical plants and undergrowth without expending extra movement.

UnderShires Intuition

When you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check or an ability check using an herbalism kit, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.

Innkeeper's Hospitable Connection

When you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check or an ability check involving brewer's supplies or cook's utensils, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check. You can cast at level 9 the prestidigitation cantrip with purify food and drink. At level 13 you can cast the unseen servants spells. Once you cast any of these spell trait, you can’t cast those spell again until you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

 

 

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Fanghorn Deepfling Traits

Your halfling character awaits...

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 3.

Age

A Deepfling reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of his or her second century.

Size

Deepflings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Lucky

When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Brave

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Deepfling Nimbleness

You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Halfling and Deepfling. The Deepfling language isn’t secret, but Deepflings are loath to share it with others. They write very little, so they don’t have a rich body of literature. Their oral tradition, however, is very strong. Almost all Deepflings speak Common to converse with the people in whose lands they dwell or through which they are traveling.