Homebrew Darkling Species Details
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
Your Darkling character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of the curse of the Summer Queen.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age
Although Darklings reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans they can live to be 250 years old.
Size
Darklings range from 4 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Superior Darkvision
Accustomed to caverns and chambers, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 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.
Natural Thief
You have proficiency in the Stealth and Sleight of Hand skills.
Fey Ancestry
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Sylvan. Elvish and Sylvan are 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.
Darkling Weapon Training
You have proficiency with daggers, shortswords, and shortbows.
Curse of the Summer Queen
You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the sleep 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 darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Death Burn
When you are reduced to 0 hit points, a nonmagical light flashes out from you in a 10-foot radius. Any creature in that area must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 7 (1d6) radiant damage and, if the creature can see the light, is blinded until the end of its next turn. If the saving throw is successful, the creature takes half the damage and isn't blinded. The DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
This feature's damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
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