Races of Runeterra

Blood & Heritage

Humans are unique among the races in that they are defined by two traits: their Blood and their Heritage.

Blood refers to the bloodlines within them, often passed down from long-forgotten and powerful ancestors. Most humans do not possess enough blood to manifest the powers of their ancestors, but a rare few may find themselves suddenly conjuring fire or shapeshifting into animals.

Heritage is the representation of where and how you have been raised and taught in your formative years, be it in the glorious kingdom of Demacia or the peace-loving spiritual villages of Ionia. While you may reject the doctrines and ideas that have been taught to you, you have gained invaluable skills and knowledge from this past.

When creating a human character, choose a Blood and a Heritage. Your character gains the traits and abilities of both.

Lower Valoran

Inhabitants of the temperate mountainous lands of the central and lower regions of the Valoran continent, Lower Valorans make up the majority of the Demacian and Noxian population, as well as being a significant part of Piltover and Zaun.

Rune War Remnant: The fallout of the Rune Wars centred in Valoran meant that some descendants of the survivors find themselves bearing magical abilities in some slight form.

Choose one cantrip from any spell list. You learn that cantrip. Your spellcasting ability for that cantrip depends on the origin class (INT = wizard; WIS = cleric, druid; CHA = sorcerer, warlock).

Freljordian

Native to the frost-covered Valoran north, this pale-skinned people can traced their lineage to a mysterious and ancient race of empowered humans known as the Iceborn. Legends speak of their powers over ice: unbreakable glaciers that would not melt even if the whole of Runeterra were to engulfed in flames and blizzards that could rival the greatest ice storms of the Freljord.

Descendant of Ice: Your blood gives you an affinity towards ice. With a little effort, you could even command the frost to protect yourself.

You have resistance against cold damage. After being struck by cold damage, you can call upon the resultant frost to shield you further. As a reaction to being damaged by cold damage, you can cast armor of agathys on yourself at 1st level. You can only cast this spell again after a long rest.

You can cast the spell at 2nd level upon reaching character level 8 and 3rd level upon reaching character level 15.

Ionian

You descend from the natives of the Ionian continent. While a diverse people, most of them are known for their close connection to the spirits.

Spiritual Attunement: You have advantage on all Charisma checks to influence fey and spirits.

Meditative Nature: Ionian blood naturally inclines you towards meditation, so much so that you can even trade sleep with it. You can enter a meditative state, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. In this state you dream deep of places far, of the veil and beyond, of the ebb and flow of the natural energies and spirits around you. Sometimes they whisper to you, telling tales often unbelievable.

After these 4 hours, you gain the benefits of a long rest.

Demacia

Established centuries ago after the cataclsysm of the Rune Wars, the kingdom of West Valoran was built on the unity and solidarity of the survivors who wished to protect themselves and each other from the magics that had been ravaging the land.

Today, Demacia possesses a prestigious military history, taking pride in the unmatched strength of its elite armies and the achievements of their many warrior kings. In Demacia, martial prowess is esteemed and celebrated as a tool with which to protect the innocent and smite the darkness that constantly scheme to breach their borders.

Might, Vision, Guile

While physical strength is one of the most practised forms in Noxus, it is recognized by Noxian society that strength comes in three Principles: Might, Vision and Guile. Their government, the Trifarix, consists of three individuals who each represent one of these principles, for to be weak in even one would mean doom for Noxus.

Might not only represents the simple, brutal force of arms, but also the tactical acumen to win battles and the discipline to stand together when necessary. Trifarion Legion Commander Darius is the current Principle of Might.

Vision represents the ability to see into the future and to plan on a grander scale than anyone else. To be more steps ahead than one's enemy and to know one's path firmer than anyone else. Grand General Swain is the current Principle of Vision.

Guile represents the power of trickery and deception, for there are powerful beings in the world whose arrogance can be exploited. The unknowable Faceless is the current Principle of Guile.

Living in Noxus

Whether you are a lowly soldier or an orphan fighting for scraps, living in Noxus relies on one sole thing: strength.

Noxus is first and foremost a meritocracy that recognizes and elevates those that show themselves to have the talent and will to be a significant asset of Noxus. That said, this also means that one must always remain aware of those who would practise the principle of Guile and are simply waiting for the opportune time to steal one's glory or even life. To expect protection from such things is foolish, for such expectations are a mark of weakness.

Life in Noxus is one of constant testing, be it from your superiors, equals, inferiors or even yourself, for only then can Noxus truly draw out the worthy strong. Competition is something to be relished in all fields, with no warrior, general or craftsman assured of their position if they cannot produce results.

To be of a different race or background is inconsequential in Noxus. The empire accepts all that prove themselves capable and strong. To practise the magics is also considered a strength and thus Noxus employs many within their ranks, granting them esteemed positions for their might.

However, despite its meritocratic ideal, Noxus continues to be partially ruled by the old noble houses, who wield considerable power through their blood and their established networks. These long-lived families continue to struggle against the Trifarix and while many within Noxus desire for their removal, their martial, political and economic contribution to Noxus meant that they will stay, for now.

To be an adventuring Noxian is to seek out greater challenges to better oneself. Recognize that as an expansionist empire, Noxus has garnered many enemies around the world. To leave the black stone walls of Noxus and take these enemies head-on is thus a great challenge that would surely be worthy of praise and promotion.

Heritage Traits

The force-based meritocracy of Noxus has taught you a few things or two.

Alignment. Noxians recognize that laws provide strength to a society, but also recognize that some laws can be weak or corrupted. Noxians also believe in taking what they deem as their earned right, but do not do so witlessly or maliciously. Many are thus Neutral.

Ability Score. Your Strength increases by 1.

Military Practise. You gain proficiency in the battleaxe, handaxe, morning star and javelin.

Noxian Supremacy. You gain proficiency in Intimidation.

Savage Offensive. In Noxus, when you hit true, you better hit hard.

When you score a critical hit with a weapon or spell attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s or spell’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages. You can read, speak and write Common and one other language.

The First Lands

In all of Runeterra, Ionia is where the veil between the material and the spiritual is most thin. This has led to it being suffused with raw magic, which has altered the flora and fauna in fantastical, beautiful ways. This strangeness has led Ionia to possess an impermeable sensation of otherworldliness to those beyond its borders, while its residents in turn regard themselves as in a haven isolated from the rest of the world, separate from the furor and conflicts of the outer world.

However, that has not stopped the beauties and mysteries of Ionia from being lusted after by outsiders. Tales abound of powerful magics that can twist the very environment and ancient trees whose purified sap may be the secret to immortality. Such a story was what led to the attempted invasion by Noxus, piercing the veil between Ionia and the world once and for all. Now, more and more outsiders cross Ionian borders each day, seeking to find a fortune, cure or arcane power in its magical depths. All this comes at the growing annoyance, and perhaps hatred, of the Ionian people.

Living in Ionia

Within Ionia, people are taught to be in balance with the world. Spiritual harmony is the ideal to which all Ionians are to aspire to. As expected, how this is achieved differs between orders and sects, though they never allow their disagreements to go beyond the verbal.

Throughout their history, Ionians have demonstrated an extremely peaceful nature. To provoke conflict is to provoke a tipping of the balance and thus many Ionians practise pacifism. However, this does not mean that they are defenseless, as many harness magics beyond the imagination of their Valoran counterparts while some master ancient martial arts known to make a single man equal ten. Recently, this strength has been honed and focused as some members of Ionia prepare themselves to defend their land once more, even if others may disapprove.

Being a part of an Ionian community means being taught one of the many, many spiritual doctrines across the continent. Whether it is dreaming among the trees, medidating under the stars or dancing in tune with the wind, you would be taught in some way to achieve mental and physical balance with the world around you. Such training is headed by the community's small council, the local leadership whose authority over the community supersedes even the regional administration.

To be an Ionian adventurer would mean potentially leaving the tranquility of one's treasured land. Some do this out of a community tradition to go on a pilgrimage to travel and learn of the land, while others are missionaries seeking to invite the worthy to find their path in this spiritual haven. A few possess more violent intent, seeking to learn more about the future enemies of Ionia or perhaps even dole out punishment for the corruption that they had attempted to bring to their precious continent.

Heritage Traits

Being part of the spiritual Ionian society has granted you the following traits:

Alignment. Many Ionians are Neutral Good. While Ionians have little regard for the laws of others, they often follow a strong code taught by their particular community. At the same time, most are taught to have a respect for life, even of the people they disagree with.

Ability Score. Your Wisdom increases by 1.

Spiritual Discipline. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and frightened.

Teachings of Peace and the Needs of War. Ionians stand at a great precipice, where they must choose whether to remain true to their pacifistic history or discard it to prepare for the enemies that will come. Choose between one of the two options:

• Through sheer presence you warn others against violence. You can cast sanctuary once per long rest with only verbal and somatic components required. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
• Calling upon the spirits of vengeance to smite those that threaten your home, you can cast divine favor once per long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Folks of Nature. You gain proficiency in Nature.

Languages. You can read, speak and write Common and Ionian.

A Fight For Survival

Ever since the fall of the Shurima Empire, the survivors had only one thing in mind: survival. The desert was harsh enough as it is, but the appearance of ravenous monsters meant that any attempt of coming together as one was suicidal.

No great leader, not even the mighty Ascended, came forth to give them a pillar of strength around which they could rally around, and so they were forced to scatter into the wind, separating into many tribes and groups.

Living in Shurima

The sheer power of the desert is such that most people in Shurima live in the coastal and oasis merchant cities, such as Nashramae, famous for its silk, or the Noxian-controlled Bel'zhun. Some of these cities continue to celebrate the glorious past of Shurima, while others, especially the ones under foreign powers, have steadily given way to pressure to eliminate or forfeit these relics of a past empire.

Living within these merchant cities is a lesson on the power of wealth. Merchants both native and foreign are granted greater leeway than others. Slavery in all but name continues to be practised, as poor locals accept even the most terrible jobs, with many risking their lives as sand-walkers who would serve as decoys during a Xer'sai attack on a trade route. Scavenging ancient Shuriman ruins is another common job that locals are paid a pittance for and has made many an opportunistic merchant very, very rich. Mercenary groups are also common, ready to stand guard for a merchant on their many estates or to guard their routes, often facing each other in the name of their employers.

For those who live away from the cities, the nomadic way of life is the only other way to survive the ever-ravenous Xer'sai. These Shuriman tribes continue to practise ancient traditions based on what little they could recall of the great empire. They will often worship protector dieties, icons born from remnant memories of the mighty Ascended, performing ritualistic dances and sacrifices to receive their protection. They primarily make a living by offering their services as guides or rearing large herds of goats to sell their furs and horns on city markets.

Being of foreign-blood in Shurima is considered unusual. While merchants are a common sight, they often employ local proxies to represent them in the desert. Being foreign-born within a Shuriman tribe is extremely rare, though there are known cases where such tribes accept foreign-blooded children into their embrace, be it out of kindness or a belief that this is a sign from their gods.

Leaving Shurima to be an adventurer is often viewed as a way to escape its harsh conditions and make one's fortune on much greener pastures. Some start out on a pilgrimage, while others were picked up for their talents by foreign companies to be employed in other lands.

Heritage Traits

Enduring the harsh conditions of the Shuriman desert has granted you the following benefits:

Alignment. Shurimans are exposed to the harshness of the world and understand through brutal experience the necessity of what needs to be done to survive. They thus tend to be Neutral.

Ability Score. Your Constitution increases by 1.

Desert Resilience. You’re acclimated to desert conditions and hot climates.

Fear The Xer’Sai. The voidborn Xer’Sai prowl the sands of Shurima, ready to strike at the single hint of carelessness. Consequently, no Shuriman travels the sands without training themselves to watch for them and to feel for even the slightest shiver in the earth.

You are proficient in the Perception skill. In addition, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to feel the ground beneath your feet, be it to determine the presence of a creature underground or the slight resistance of a pressure plate.

Animal Reliance. To traverse the long and treacherous sands of the Great Sai, it is an absolute necessity for one to be familiar with the many Suriman beasts of burden, be it the Shuriman camel or the gargantuan Dormun. You are proficient in the Animal Handling skill.

Languages. You can read, speak and write Common and Shuriman.

The City of Progress

Trade is the lifeblood of Piltover, with its command of the main sea-route between the east and west allowing the city to prosper. Those merchants who most benefit from this often invest their funds in many varied endeavours, such as the arts, masterwork crafts and most of all, the emergent lore of hextech. Piltover is thus never static, with new fashions, artistic works and technological marvels being unveiled every month, often initiating new trends within the populace who are always quick to adopt the latest.

Living in Piltover

To live in the city of Piltover is to live at the height of luxury. Piltover prides itself as a city drowning in gold and it shows in all aspects of their architecture. The city is filled with polished marble structures whose beauty are enhanced by the additions of shimmering glass and inlaid silver-gold designs.

All this, however, has been earned and that is the same attitude that infects all Piltover residents. A Piltover citizen does not expect handouts. They must be self-reliant, progressive and always seek to better their trade through which they can achieve their own fortunes. All creative occupations are accepted in Piltover and thus masters of all fields have made their home there, working tirelessly in personal workshops.

Piltover is run by a loose union of mercantile clans. They are responsible for the management of Piltover industries, as well as the implementation of the latest scientific innovations to improve the city's social and environmental well-being.

Adventurers from Piltover often go out to seek inspiration for their trade, be it to study the magic-infused stones of Demacia or the True Ice crafts of the Freljord. Others may have been jiving against the city's aversion to violence and martial prowess, seeking to practise their more physical talents someplace else.

Heritage Traits

Growing up in the City of Progress has given you the following traits:

Alignment. As a cosmopolitan city, Piltover attracts all manner of folk, though its stringent and overbearing bureacracy have often provoked those of a more chaotic nature to move shop to its undercity counterpart. The 'superior morality' of Piltover over Zaun is an object of pride for many of its citizens, thus many strive to walk the talk, practising kindness and generosity.

Ability Score. Your Intelligence increases by 1.

Overcity Tinkerer. You have proficiency in tinker’s tools. Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a tiny basic hextech device (AC 5, 1 hp). The device ceases to function after 24 hours(unless you spend an hour maintaining it to keep the device functioning), or when you use your action to dismantle it; at that time, you can reclaim the materials used to create it. You can have up to three such devices at a time and can gift these devices for your allies to use.

You have the following options:

• Clockwork Toy: This toy is a clockwork animal, monster, or person, such as a frog, bird, dragon, or soldier. When placed on the ground, the toy moves 10 feet across the ground on each of your turns in a preprogramed direction of your choice and carry 5lbs while doing so. You can also program sounds, songs or messages into it, which can play on a programmed trigger such as being picked up.
• Grappling Hook: This gun-like contraption allows you to spend an action to fire a rope up to 40 ft away, where its mechanical head will latch securely to a surface upon contact. The latch can bear up to 200 lbs of weight. You can use a bonus action to retract the latch to you.
• Timekeeper: This pocket watch keeps accurate time. You can attach this to certain devices to give them a timer, at the end of which the timekeeper may push a button or start a spark.
• Hexshocker: This innocuous-looking device with a central crystal can be integrated into clothing, often in the form of a glove. It has 2 charges and requires you to spend an hour to recharge to full (also counts as time spent to maintain the device). When wearing this device, you can spend a charge to and cast shocking grasp as a bonus action through the crystal. This cantrip uses Intelligence as its spellcasting ability and does not scale with character level.

Hextech Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence(History) check related to hextech devices, you can add twice your Proficiency Bonus, instead of any Proficiency Bonus you normally apply.

Mercantile Familiarity. You gain proficiency in Persuasion.

Languages. You can read, speak and write Common and one other language.

The City of Iron and Glass

Once the original Shuriman port on which Piltover was built, Zaun has now devolved from those glory days into a cacophony of black metal and sickly stained glass. Toxic runoff collects into pools in the lower areas, while corroded pipes leak noxious fumes that turns the sky into that beloved "Zaun Grey". But under this toxic appearance lies a rich and vibrant culture, as people of all fields come here to revel in Zaun's intellectual and moral freedom. Zaunites are intelligent, creative and not afraid to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Piltover may have more in common with Zaun than they may wish to acknowledge.

Living in Zaun

Whether you were born on the streets or within the crystal-houses of Zaunite wealth, all Zaunites will forever be under The Gray, Zaunite's smog-covered sky. The corrupted air of Zaun can be irritating at best and suffocating at worst. Lung blights afflict many Zaunites as the fumes corrode their bodies. That is why Breather Stations sell breathes of clean air for those who wish a brief reprieve from the Grey.

And then there is the darkness. Thanks to the overhead city of Piltover and the light-absorbing fumes of the Gray, most parts of Zaun recieve little natural light. Many ingenious contraptions such as chem lights and light-reflectors help pierce the shadows, but most Zauns have to get used to navigating through the dark.

The primary trade of Zaun takes place in its many markets. Here Zaunites sell all sorts of eccentric goods, be it hand-crafted contraptions to self-playing puppet shows. Corporate rivalry runs wild in these parts, as they struggle to monopolize the attention of foreign visitors wishing to get themselves something more...abnormal. All while the alliance of powerful Chem-Barons run the city like a corporate business.

Another aspect of Zaun is its criminal activity. Violent chem-gangs roam the lower areas, ready to do nearly anything for a quick buck, be it assaulting rival shops or kidnapping homeless off the street as disposable labour.

Zaunite adventurers usually set out to escape from some debt they had with a Chem-Baron or seek out profit that they can use as capital for future enterprises.

Heritage Traits

Growing up in the smog-filled valley of Zaun gives you the following traits:

Alignment. Many Zaunites are Chaotic Evil. Their way of living has made them self-centred and lack moral restraint. Nearly all hate being told what to do, guarding their freedom fiercely.

Ability Score. Your Intelligence increases by 1.

Undercity Tinkerer. You have proficiency in tinker’s tools. Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a tiny basic chemtech device (AC 5, 1 hp). The device ceases to function after 24 hours(unless you spend an hour repairing it to keep the device functioning), or when you use your action to dismantle it; at that time, you can reclaim the materials used to create it. You can have up to three such devices at a time and can gift these devices for your allies to use. Choose one of the following options:

• Firestarter: This device produces a miniature flame, which you can use to light a Candle, torch, or campfire. You can switch between different chemicals to change the colour of the flame, which will be passed on whatever it lights. Using the device and switching colors requires your action.
• Smoke Bomb: As an action, you can prime and throw this one-use fist-sized device up to 15ft away to have it explode into a 10-ft-radius smoke field that heavily obscures the area within it until the start of your next turn.
• Spring-loaded Sheath: Often integrated into clothing, this sheath can hold 2 lbs of weaponry, such as 2 daggers or 8 darts. You do not require an item interaction to draw a weapon loaded into this sheath, but you can only use the sheath’s benefit once per turn.
• Gas Mask: The trademark of Zaunites, the gas mask protects its wielder from inhaling hazardous gas. While wearing this gas mask, you are immune to non-damaging and non-magical inhaled chemicals or toxic particles. Otherwise you have advantage on saving throws against inhaled chemicals or toxic particles.

Chemtech Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence(History) check related to chemtech devices, you can add twice your Proficiency Bonus, instead of any Proficiency Bonus you normally apply.

Acquired Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 30 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.

Languages. You can read, speak and write Common and one other language.

The City of New Beginnings

While incredibly dangerous, Bilgewater is also ripe with opportunity. Without the oversight of government, pesky laws and moral constraint, there is no better place to seek fame and fortune. Many have come to Bilgewater to shed away their pasts and remake for themselves a new life, the dangers be damned.

Living in Bilgewater

Bilgewater is not the prettiest place - much of it has been built up on whatever people could scavenge, bring or steal, such as the broken hulls of ships and sea monster bones - and a total lack of city planning can make the chaotic city extremely difficult to navigate for the unfamiliar. However, that same chaos is in fact preferred by the locals, for there are many alleys, corners and abandoned warehouses where you can do whatever you want without anyone none the wiser.

As expected, most people of Bilgewater are involved in some sort of sea-based work, be it piracy, trade or deep-sea diving for long-lost wrecks. Whatever goods that are obtained are then brought back to be sold to the many traders, who have stopped over not only to rest, but also in recognition of how almost anything can be bought here.

In this land of criminals, rivalries and betrayals are as common as the pistols that everyone has strapped to their belts. What little cooperative spirit that exists takes the form of dock-gangs and ship crews, but even then these groups are likely to turn upon one another the moment the opportunity for exclusive profit shows itself. Gang-Syndicates are the largest organizations of Bilgewater, with each gang leader controlling a part of the city, but the power structure remains in constant flux, as crime bosses and captains vie for power.

Bilgewater accepts all races, all cultures and all creeds, but there is a healthy respect for the indigenous culture of the Blue Flame Isles - the Buhru people. With their knowledge of the ocean and its denizens second-to-none, many of Buhru descent hold key positions in Bilgewater fleets and gangs, while their way of life and customs have been adopted by many Bilgefolk.

Adventuring is pretty much the standard of Bilgewater. However, those who leave the waters for the greater landmasses usually do so because they are running away from a murderous crime-boss or have found themselves stranded on the continents after a voyage gone wrong.

Harsh Frozen Land

As the coldest place on the face of Runeterra and the origin of True Ice, the Freljords are reknowned for the death they bring upon the weak. The cold climates mean that hardiness of body is a necessity even in childhood, for not even healing magic can save the frozen. The people of the Freljords thus take pride in their strength, for the simple fact of adulthood is proof that they have endured some of the worst conditions of Runeterra during their weakest. At the same time, they recognize that it is their union with their tribe that has helped them survive, thus Freljordians are fiercely loyal to their tribes and family.

Living in Freljords

Nearly all Freljordians live in tribes that they are born into, though some may jump tribes due to conflicts with their leader or ideologies. These tribes usually have a strong raiding culture, as they attack other tribes in order to maintain dominance over precious resources, be it a frozen spring of True Ice or a migrating herd of mammoths. Centuries of warfare have resulted in the formation of many deep-seated tribal feuds, which has contribued to the persistance of the split in the people despite Ashe's call. As of today, more and more tribes are congregating together under one of three banners: the diplomatic Avarosans, the war-hungry Winter's Claw and the Frostguard cult.

Most Freljordian tribes follow a non-hereditary matriachal power structure, where they are led by a warmother chosen for her wisdom and her valiance. Mothers and children are considered the most important elements in society and a man's value is based not on how many he has killed or conquered, but how well he has protected his tribe.

People who are not native to the Freljords are known as 'warmbloods'. While many natives treat such people with derision, they ultimately respect strength and adaptability. In fact, there exist whole Freljordian tribes that consist entirely of 'warmbloods'. As for magical ability, it is highly venerated, thanks to an extensive mythos of magic-wielding heroes and demigods that performed incredible feats, shaping the Freljords and its people into who they are now. A child of magic is often nurtured to take up vital positions in the tribe.

Leaving one's tribe to be an adventurer is an act of great conviction. Some have been exiled for breaking their tribal code, while others may be searching for the ancient demigods for aid. Whatever the reason, many do not expect to return.

Living as a Nomad

Nomads come in all sorts of varieties. Gypsy bands travel across Valoran making ends meet through entertainment and exotic hand-crafts, while migratory mercenary groups travel to where they can find the best work. Wandering pilgrims can be on their journey for decades on end, spreading their faith to those willing to listen. Even the long deployments of armies can lead to the spawn of soldiers often living a moving life with barely any sight of the kingdom that their parents fight for.

As a traveller that runs into the many different cultures and biomes of Runeterra, you have had to learn how to figure people out and manipulate them to keep yourself and your alive. Many a Demacian and Noxian patrol are often too keen to brand you as a spy from the other side.

Due to their movement, leaving one's nomadic band to become an adventurer often means acceptance that one will never be able to return. Some nomadic groups, however, have specifically dedicated themselves to adventuring, with their members often scattering at major centres of population in search for the dventures that would make the best stories once they returned.

Heritage Traits

Growing up on the nomadic trail has given you the following traits:

Alignment. Anything can go for nomads, though it will depend on the type and culture of nomadic group involved. For example, mercenary groups may emphasize discipline, while raiders may focus instead on bloodlust and greed.

Ability Score. Your Charisma increases by 1.

Toughness. Being a nomad involves leaving behind the protections and comforts of civilization. You are more resilient, increasing your HP maximum by 1 and gaining an additional +1 every time you gain a level.

Skill Versatility. For nomads, everybody must learn a few tricks to help their group survive. Being able to wield a weapon to ward off beasts is also invaluable.

Choose one skill, one tool proficiency and one simple weapon. You are now proficient in them.

Distance Traveller. You can travel for up to 10 hrs in a day before you risk exhaustion.

Languages. You read, speak and write Common and 1 other language.

A Small, Curious People

Standing about 2-3 ft tall, Yordles appear harmless. With colorful skin that can vary from furry to smooth, large eyes and large fox-like ears, some people might even mistake them cute dolls. All this, however, is concealed through their mystical Glamour, a natural ability of Yordles that masks their true forms, making them often mistaken as either children or just really short.

Yordles are generally peaceful and amicable and tend to be easily excited by new things that they discover. Runeterran cultures attract them due to the strength and passion of human ideals, which are often adopted by Yordles to an even greater and purer degree than even their human compatriots.

Nature Alignment

You have spent your time in the untamed world, away from civilization. You hear the voices of nature and the beings that roam it, your heart connected to theirs.

Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.

Speak with Small Beasts. You gain the benefit of the Speak with Animals when communicating with Small or smaller beasts.

Nature Provides. As part of a short rest in a natural environment such as a forest or a lake, you can call upon nature spirits to magically collect and shape material into one of the following implements: a quarterstaff, a blowgun, a shield, an arcane focus, a druidic focus, a holy symbol or 1d4 darts or blowgun needles. Your new implement's appearance will be based on the environment you call upon, such as a forest providing a leaf-covered tree branch with a bird nest on its top as a druidic focus.

Martial Alignment

You have spent time as part of one of the many armies of Runeterra, have trained to be part of Bandle City's protection force or simply grew up fighting. Many martial-aligned Yordles find themselves developing bonds with their weapons, often naming them out of affection.

Martial Training. You are proficient with two martial weapons of your choice.

Battle Conditioning. You gain proficiency in Athletics or Acrobatics.

Yordle Combat Movement. Moving through an enemy creature's space does not count as difficult terrain.

Strong Yordle Arm. Despite your size, you can wield heavy weapons effectively.

Industry Alignment

You have lived your life in civilizations that focus heavily on industry and technology, such as Piltover and Zaun. This has infected you with a spirit for crafting, inventing and problem-solving, sometimes to a borderline obsession.

Tinkerer. You gain either the Overcity or Undercity Tinker ability. (See Piltover and Zaun Heritage for humans.)

Yordle Ingenuity. Using that Yordle dedication to solving problems in front of them, you can wrack your brains to reroll an Intelligence or tool-related ability check. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1) and can use it multiple times on the same roll, unless your last roll triggered your Lucky trait. You regain all uses when you finish a long rest.

Elemental Alignment

You have been living by a strong elemental source, such as a fiery volcano, or have been born with a magical affinity for a certain element.

Elemental Power. Choose an element from the list:

fire, cold, lightning, thunder, acid, poison, force.

You gain three traits based on your chosen element:

Elemental Blast. You gain a special firebolt cantrip that deals damage of your chosen element. Charisma is your spellcasting modifier for this cantrip.

Elemental Resistance. You gain resistance to your chosen element.

Elemental Personification. This trait varies based on the chosen element, adjusting your appearance.

• Fire: You gain red-orange eyes with burning irises. You can emit a wave of heat warm enough to make most people sweat or heat up objects like food in your hand.
• Cold: You gain blue-white eyes with a snowflake pattern. You can emit a wave of cold that provokes shivers or chill objects like food in your hand.
• Lightning: You gain electric purple eyes. You can fill the air around you in static, causing people’s hair to rise and provoking static shocks. You can, as an action, fill a metal object you touch with static, which will harmlessly shock the next person who touches it.
• Thunder: You gain cloud-white eyes that lack an iris. You can make your voice boom up to three times as loud as normal. You can also make an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect related to sound.
• Acid: You gain yellow eyes that glow in the dark. You can apply an acid onto surfaces you touch. This acid corrodes non-magical metals, weakening an inch of thickness every 5 minutes. People who touch this acid will experience a burn, but no damage. Once per long rest, you can spend an hour concentrating to make enough strong acid for an acid vial.
• Poison: You gain greenish-brown eyes with a snake-like iris. You can fill the air with a mist-like substance that makes people who breathe it in physically uncomfortable. Your blood can also act as basic poison, which can be applied to a weapon with an action.

Sheer Diversity

Vastayans all have the same ancestry, but the fluid forms of said ancestors and differing home environments have resulted in the formation of an incredible range of species. Some vastayan are very human-like, while others possess totally animalistic appearances, minus being bipedal.

All, however, possess human-level intelligence and their various tribes in turn have developed vibrant cultures and belief systems.

Natural Magic

The ancestors of the vastayans are known for their intimate connection with the magic of Runeterra itself: the fabled natural magic. This magic was said to connect all living things, linking their spirits to one another. It was through this spiritual energy that the Vastayashai'rei were capable of shape-shifting.

Today, most of their vastayan offshoots possess only a tiny fraction of this magical connection, but it is enough that all vastayans are endowed with some level of affinity for magic and their surroundings. This may explain why their forms are so quick to adapt to their environments and give the race its diversity.

Subraces

Golem

Made out of the powerful and growing technology of hextech, golems are mechanical beings brought to life through the power of magical crystals. Often the product of inventors who had wished to give themselves more manpower, golems around the world are surprising their masters with the spectacular emergence of sentience.

Mechanical Augments. Your core is capable of supporting a mechanical augment to your body. Choose one of the following options. You gain its benefit.

• Jump-jets: You can jump up to your maximum height or distance without needing prior movement.
• Extra Arm: You have an extra arm with a 10ft reach, which can carry up to 30 pounds and can be used to grasp and hold objects, open doors/containers, punching or grabbing someone and similarly simple actions. It lacks precise manipulation and can’t wield weapons, shields, activate magical items or specialized equipment.
• Internal Stabilizers: You have advantage when rolling an Athletics/Acrobatics check or Dexterity saving throw to keep your balance or avoid being knocked prone.
• Reinforced Frame: You count as 1 size larger for determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, lift or drag.
• Flashlight Eyes: As a free item interaction, you can turn the flashlight in your eyes on or off. When on, your eyes cast bright light in a 60-foot cone and dim light for an additional 60 ft.
• Voice Recorder: You can mimic sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds you make can tell they are recordings with a successful Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your Charisma (Deception) check.

At level 5, your core energy grows strong enough to support another augment. Choose another option on this list and gain its benefit too.