Heirs to Elemental Power

Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble humans but have unusual skin color (red, green, blue, or gray), and there is something odd about them. The elemental blood flowing through their veins manifests differently in each genasi, often as magical power.

Seen in silhouette, a genasi can usually pass for human. Those of earth or water descent tend to be heavier, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter. A given genasi might have some features reminiscent of the mortal parent (pointed ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair from a dwarf, small hands and feet from a halfling, exceedingly large eyes from a gnome, and so on).

Genasi almost never have contact with their elemental parents. Genies seldom have interest in their mortal offspring, seeing them as accidents. Many feel nothing for their genasi children at all.

Some genasi live as outcasts, driven into exile for their unsettling appearance and strange magic, or assuming leadership of savage humanoids and weird cults in untamed lands. Others gain positions of great influence, especially where elemental beings are revered. A few genasi leave the Material Plane to find refuge in the households of their genie parents.

Wild and Confident

Genasi rarely lack confidence, seeing themselves as equal to almost any challenge in their path. This certainty might manifest as graceful self-assurance in one genasi and as arrogance in another. Such self-confidence can sometimes blind genasi to risk, and their great plans often get them and others into trouble.

Too much failure can chip away at even a genasis sense of self, so they constantly push themselves to improve, honing their talents and perfecting their craft.

Genasi Lands

As rare beings, genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great genasi cities or empires. Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they have. Many genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people.

Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder time. People there tend to be less accepting of differences. Sometimes a cold shoulder and a suspicious glare are the best genasi can hope for; in more backward places, they face ostracism and even violence from people who mistake them for fiends. Facing a hard life, these genasi seek isolation in the wilds, making their homes in mountains or forests, near lakes, or underground.

Most air and fire genasi in the Realms are descendants of the djinn and efreet who once ruled Calimshan. When those rulers were overthrown, their planetouched children were scattered. Over thousands of years, the bloodlines of those genasi have spread into other lands. Though far from common, air and fire genasi are more likely to be found in the western regions of Faerun, along the coast from Calimshan north up to the Sword Coast, and into the Western Heartlands to the east. Some remain in their ancient homeland.

In contrast, water and earth genasi have no common history. Individuals have difficulty tracing their own lineage, and bloodlines occasionally skip a generation or two. Many earth genasi originated in the North and spread out from there. Water genasi come from coastal areas, the largest concentration of them hailing from the regions surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars.

The distant land of Zakhara is known only in legends to most inhabitants of Faerun. There, genies and spellcasters enter into bargains, and genasi can result from such pacts. Those genasi have been sources of great weal and woe in the history of that land.

Genasi Names

Genasi use the naming conventions of the people among whom they were raised. They might later assume distinctive names to capture their heritage, such as Flame, Ember, Wave, or Onyx.

Genasi Traits

Your genasi character has certain characteristics in common with all other genasi.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age. Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years.

Alignment. Independent and self-reliant, genasi tend toward a neutral alignment.

Size. Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents but are generally built like humans, standing anywhere from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.

Subrace. Eight subraces of genasi are found among the worlds of D&D: The four pure genasi: Air, Earth, Fire, Water; and the four para genasi: Ice, Magma, Ooze, Smoke.

Air Genasi Traits

You are a descendant of the great Djinn.

Elemental Resistance. You have resistance to Cold damage.

Elemental Legacy. You know the Gust cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Feather Fall spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Levitate spell once per day. Constitution is your spell casting ability for these spells.

Unending Breath. You can hold your breath indefinitely while you're not incapacitated.

Ice Genasi Traits

You are an amalgamation of Air and Water Genasi.

Elemental Resistance. You have resistance to Cold damage.

Elemental Legacy. You know the Shape Water cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Armor of Agathys spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell.. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Enlarge Reduce spell once per day targeting yourself. Constitution is your spell casting ability for these spells.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Ooze Genasi Traits

You are an amalgamation of Earth and Water Genasi.

Elemental Resistance. You have resistance to Acid damage.

Elemental Legacy. You know the Mold Earth cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Grease spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Alter Self spell once per day. Constitution is your spell casting ability for these spells.

Amorphous. You can move through the space of other creatures and squeeze through a space as narrow as 1 foot wide without squeezing.

Lightning Genasi Traits

You are an Air Genasi infused with Positive Energy.

Elemental Resistance. You have resistance to Lightning damage.

Elemental Legacy. You know the Gust cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Arms of Hardar spell once per day dealing Lightning damage. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Aganazzar's Scorcher spell once per day dealing Lightning damage. Constitution is your spell casting ability for these spells.

Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.

Vacuum Genasi Traits

You are an Air Genasi infused with Negative Energy.

Elemental Resistance. You have resistance to Cold damage.

Elemental Legacy. You know the Gust cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Magnify Gravity spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Silence spell once per day. Constitution is your spell casting ability for these spells.

Unending Breath. You can hold your breath indefinitely while you're not incapacitated.