Homebrew Kelpie Species Details

Kelpie are a magical people of otherworldly elegance, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live secluded in places of ethereal beauty, far beneath the ocean in grand cities glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the water and gentle fragrances move on the current. Kelpie love water and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the mysteries of the deep.

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Kelpie appear strangely beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet sporting webbed hands & feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Kelpie coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and other aquatic tones, with hair of green, blue, purple, and other colorful hues and eyes like pools of liquid. Kelpi have no facial or body hair. They favor elegant clothing in bright colors that don't restrict movement, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

A Timeless Perspective

Kelpie can live over 700 years. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Kelpie can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Like the tide of an ocean, Kelpie are unrelenting in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their aquatic homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, Kelpie reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, magic, and strategy.

Hidden Aquatic Realms

Most Kelpie dwell in vast aquatic cities hidden below the surface. Kelpie fish, gather food, and grow crops, and their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, due to the difficulty of reaching their domain.

Kelpie encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling adventurers, cartographers, or aristocrats. Human nobles compete for the services of Kelpie instructors to teach swordplay, swimming or magic to their children.

Exploration and Adventure

Kelpie take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. Kelpie also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

HAUGHTY BUT GRACIOUS

Although they can be haughty, Kelpie are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their high expectations—which is most non-elves. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

Kelpie Names

Kelpie are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an Kelpie selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each mer’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every Kelpie bears a family name, typically a combination of Elvish words. Some mer traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

Subrace

Ancient divides among the elven people resulted in three main subraces: Snow elves, Nebuli elves, and the Kelpie who are commonly called Mer.

 

THE WORLD SERPENT

Often admired Kelpie inspire most non-elves with their societal construct. To most, they are a race of diplomats dwelling in oceans and seas, surfacing to trade, adventure, or study. Their society is pragmatic and live in harmony thanks to Gandr the giant serpent believed to encompass the world. Legend says that Gandr made the oceans habitable for the Kelpie and created the various rivers that populate the world.

Kelpie grow up with freedom to decide their future though it's encouraged to pay respect to Grandr by travelling the world's oceans. It's frequently discussed among the Kelpi whether Grandr slumbers within the world or departed it to create others like it.

Kelpie Traits

Your Kelpie character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of refinement.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Alignment

Kelpi love freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not.

Size

Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to dark ocean depths, 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Water Breathing

You are able to breathe and speak freely underwater.

Ocean Mastery

You have advantage on all actions made against a non-aquatic creature only when both you and the target are under water.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.