Homebrew Dullahan Species Details

History

A dullahan is a type of fey creature born of the Unseelie Court. Dullahan resemble undead due to their headlessness but both head and body are kept alive by a curse. Inclined to travel at night by Unseelie magic and their own appearance, grim folklore has sprung up about them. Dullahan are created by Unseelie fey when they decapitate a human, or a similar race, as part of a dark ritual. Due to this ritual, most dullahan tend to retain most of their characteristics of their human self, but memories of their human life is mostly forgotten, only a few dullahan manage to remember a few memories from their human life due to a trigger or a lasting impression that can never be forgotten. Dullahan are also capable of producing offspring, but much like a tiefling, the offspring will be a dullahan, regardless of the partner's race.

Life of A Dullahan

Since they resemble humans so strongly, most dullahan are able to integrate into society more easily than most tieflings or half-Orcs. However, the differences they do have and their headless nature are still viewed negatively by other races, often being described as creepy, sickening, and often being compared as a monster. Dullahan tend to keep their nature hidden as much as possible in order to save themselves some unwanted attention and discrimination. All things considered, dullahan are still a rare race to encounter in most large cities or towns as they mostly prefer to travel, often due to their profession or to simply live a nomadic life.

Physical Appearance

Dullahan resemble humans with either dark tan or pale blue skin. Their eyes are black, but their iris's can be any natural or unnatural color. A dullahan's hair can be any natural color but is frequently black, gray, or white. Dullahan mouths can become very wide, reaching to the sides of their heads, but not all dullahan share this trait due to years of evolution to appear more human than monster to other races. While a dullahan's head is separated from their body, an ethereal, non-lethal flame forms on top of their wounded neck as a means for the body to see and hear, but this flame is invisible to the naked eye and can only be perceived by magical means.

Dullahan Names

A dullahan's true name tend toward repeating syllables, often times adopting a human name, but not limited to that culture. They don't willingly reveal their true names to anyone but another dullahan, only because they don't want to become targets from people who fear dullahan. As a solution, some dullahan take on nicknames when interacting with other races, only revealing their true name to someone they absolutely trust or even love. Very rarely, a few dullahan take on their human name from their previous life through a potential memory.

Dullahan Traits

Your abilities help you get a'head' in life.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Whether they were born by a dark ritual or reproduction, dullahan mature at the same rate as humans, but live far longer. They become adults when they are 20 and can live for 300 years.

Alignment

Dullahan tend toward neutral alignments as they believe death comes equally to everybody at their own pace and also to avoid being ostracized as monsters.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

Darkvision

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.

Frightening

You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Hybrid Nature

Your creature type is fey in addition to humanoid. You can become the target of any ability, spell or effect that affects either of your creature types.

Headless

Your head and your body are separated, the wound that separated them never healing, although you may always attach or detach your head at will as an action. While your head is separated from your neck you gain the following effects:
-You are immune to being Decapitated but when a vorpal weapon makes a crit against you, you will take 6d8 Force Damage
-You always know the distance and direction to your head unless it is on another plane or if an effect prevents divination magic it will also prevent this effect.
-When separate, both head and body can see and hear.
-Your headless body cannot speak but it can consume food and drink as well as cast spells, even spells with verbal components as long as the separated head is not silenced or gagged.

Unseelie Magic

You know the Chill Touch cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level you can cast find steed once per long rest. The mount conjured is considered a fey creature. Additionally the steed can be stored in your shadow as an action and can be retrieved as a bonus action. Once you reach 5th level you can cast darkness once per long rest.

Fey Ancestry

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