Heritage & Halfbreeds: Shadowborn
The Shadowfell is a dark and dangerous place to live, with an ever present drain on the souls of those that live there. Few can survive there for long, but despite this there are some tenacious races that have made the plane their home. Shadowborn are a race of human-like people who live in the harsh and unforgiving conditions of the Shadowfell.
Pale and Vibrant
They resemble pale humans, often having skin of any shade of gray. Their eyes and hair share the same range as humans, but are more vibrant. Hair of bright scarlet, purest black, or white as snow are common, while their eyes can be of any color, though they are pupilless and glow with a faint luminescence.
The Shadow Curse
The darkness and death permeating the Shadowfell leeches at the souls of those born there. Those that do not do not focus on feeling alive risk having their life essence consumed by the Shadowfell. Those that fall into despair will fade, leaving behind only a Shadow.
Shadowborn Names
Shadowborn often follow the naming conventions of humans or elves.
Shadowborn Traits
Your shadowborn character shares certain characteristics in common with other shadowborn.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Charisma Score increases by 1.
Age. Shadowborn mature at the same rate as humans and live about as long.
Alignment. Because of their endless pursuit of excitement and thrill, they tend toward chaotic alignments.
Size. Shadowborn are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Due to being born in the realm of shadow, 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.
Shadow Cursed. You have advantage on death saving throws. However, if you die and are not returned to life within 1d4 hours, your soul is consumed by the Shadowfell. You then cannot be resurrected by any means other than by a Wish spell, and a Shadow rises from the place of your death 1d4 days after you die.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and another language of your choice.
Subrace. There are two main subraces of shadowborn that populate the shadowfell: Thrillseekers and Gloomlings. Choose one of these subraces.
Thrillseeker
Thrillseekers use their love of battle and pain to feel truly alive and stave off the Shadow Curse. They are dependent on violence and pain to anchor their souls to their bodies, and as a result many become adventurers.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Constitution Score increases by 2.
Martial Training. You are proficient with two martial weapons of your choice and with light armor.
Brave. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Shadow Affinity. You have advantage on Dexterity (stealth) checks to hide in dim light or darkness.
Lust for Battle. In battle, you can enter a berserk state. As a bonus action, you can make a melee weapon attack with advantage. Once you use this trait, you cannot take a reaction until the beginning of your next turn, and you can't use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.
Gloomlings
Gloomlings are an adaptable people with no strong culture of their own. Before all else, they are survivors; pulling through by their tenacity, versatility, and pragmatism. They have a deep planar tie to the Shadowfell, and will often travel to the material plane to trade.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Dexterity Score increases by 2.
Skilled. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.
Shadow Resistance. You have resistance to necrotic damage.
Shadow Jaunt. You have the ability to pass through the border realms of the Plane of Shadow. As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
Shadow Magic. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip, which you can cast without a material component. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
Variant: Half Shadar Kai
Born of the union between a Shadar-kai and a human or other human related race, these half-elves are more otherworldly than other half-elves. They often carry a legacy of serving the Raven Queen's inscrutable ends.
Some half-elves have a racial trait in place of the Skill Versatility trait. If you DM allows it, your half-elf character can forgo Skill Versatility and instead take the elf trait Keen Senses or trait based on your elf parentage.
Half-Shadar Kai Variant
A half-elf of Shadar Kai descent can forego Skill Versatility and instead choose the Shadar-kai's Necrotic Resistance or Blessing of the Raven Queen.
Credits
- Art: Orbs of Warding by Johann Bodin
- Art: Shadowmage Infiltrator by Tomasz Jedruszek