- Art: Wizards of the Coast
Heritage and Half-breeds: Abishag
Abishag are tieflings whose origins are tied to the Queen of Dragons, Tiamat. Tiamat lairs in the Nine Hells on the layer Avernus, and has her own host of draconic devils that serve her. These devils, the Abishai, are Tiamat's emissaries, and will often be involved in or leading the Dragon Queen's cults.
Infernal Dragon Kin
Abishag look very much like vicious dragons standing erect in humanoid form, though they lack wings. They have scales of sickly hues of red, blue, green, black, or white. They have prominent horns resembling that of the dragons of their color, and have thick tails, four to five feet long. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are strong, talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.
Dragonic Avarice
Abishag are close to the vices of their dragon kin. They are often driven by a lust for treasure, and their greed colors their every thought. They also have an inflated ego, priding themselves as better than other humanoids.
Abishag Names
Being of dragon heritage, Abishag often have names similar to those of Dragonborn.
Abishag Traits
Abishag share certain racial traits due to their heritage.
Age. Young abishag grow quickly. They walk hours after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80.
Alignment. Abishag might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many abishag toward a chaotic alignment.
Size. Abishag are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Thanks to your infernal heritage, 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.
Bite. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Abishag Resolve. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Draconic, and Infernal.
Subrace. You have a subrace based on your abishai ancestry: red, blue, green, black, or white.
White Abishag
White abishag are brutal whirlwinds of destruction.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Constitution score increases by 2.
Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to cold damage.
Determined Fury. If you miss with an attack roll or fail an ability check or a saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Black Abishag
Black abishag are natural assassins and infiltrators.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to acid damage.
Shroud of Darkness. You can cast the darkness spell on yourself once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you cast it in this way, you can see through the darkness created by the spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
Green Abishag
Green abishag are charismatic deceivers and finders of secrets.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence increases by 1.
Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to poison damage.
Green Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison.
Innate Charm. You know the friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Blue Abishag
Blue abishag are cunning seekers of arcane lore.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to lightning damage.
Natural Spellcaster. You know the shocking grasp cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the chromatic orb spell as a 2nd-level 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. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Red Abishag
Red abishag are physically powerful and natural leaders. They cut a fearsome figure, inspiring for their allies and terrifying their enemies.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to fire damage.
Incite Fear. You can use your action to awaken the sense of mortality in creatures around you. You choose a creature that is within 30 feet of you and aware of you, which must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. The number of creatures you can target increases to 2 at 7th level, 3 at 11th level, and 4 at 17th level. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
- Art: Red Abishai by Daniel Landerson