Post/Author/DateTime	Post
the_one_true_shea 10-23-06, 04:06 PM	And here is a race which lives in our world's underdark. The mischievous Shalendae, normally called the dark fairies, who live underground, and rise out of the caves at night to 'forage' above ground, raiding surface settlements nearby to feed. Dark Fairy (Shalendae) The Dark Fairies' innocence, combined with their love of sharp knives and their disregard for consequences makes them at best a pest, and at worst a menace to the civilised races. http://www.strike9.com/file.aspx?path=/Liay/fullsize/dark_fairy.jpg A dark fairy Personality: The dark fairies are fickle, selfish, mischievous, lazy, hedonistic, and curious about everything. They have the minds of children, and the responsibilities of adults. Their magical gifts, received by virtue of their being fey (although the lowest of the fey), are all that have kept them alive through the ages to annoy the people of today. They are often said to be evil, but in the vast majority of cases this is not true - they simply don't care if they hurt others, as they don't understand. Only the wisest of Dark Fairies are capable of empathy or sympathy. Physical description: Dark Fairies stand about 3 1/2 ft tall, are slender, weighing about 40 lb. From their backs sprout two feathery wings, usually white, but sometimes mottled brown, and they have an overall wingspan of around 6ft. Facially, they resemble young humans, but often have slightly pointed ears. They grow no facial or body hair. They dress in clothing which allows their wings to be free, which often means the males go topless, and the females wear off-the-shoulder, backless tops (I can't remember what you call them :blush: ). This suits the dark fairies, as they like being unrestricted. It is unheard of for a dark fairy to wear armour. Relations: Dark fairies do not really get along with anyone, but gnomes, who are also very curious and tricky, are able to put up with them the most. Humans and halflings find them endearing to begin with, but their utter amorality and constant mischief soon begins to wear. Elves hate them, and dwarves have been known to send armies out to wipe out their colonies, with very little success. As for the dark fairies themselves, they get along with anyone who'll let them do whatever they want, whenever they want and they won't get along with people who try and stop them from doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Alignment: Dark fairies are chaotic almost without exception, and tend towards neutrality. Thise found outside dark fairy settlements are likely to have left because they couldn't stand the total irresponsibility of their kin (Chaotic Good), or were cast out for being too destructive (Chaotic Evil). Dark Fairy Lands: The dark fairies live in moderately large settlements (up to 1000 fairies) in underground caverns, which are often difficult to enter for those who cannot fly - the dark fairies know the value of a refuge. They live in buildings which appear similar to ceramic trees. In fact, these houses are trees, grown with the dark fairies' magic and infected with an underdark fungus which turns the wood into a ceramic material, hollowing out the tree in the process. As the fairies grow little of their own food, their settlements are usually located near to wildlife-rich areas where they can hunt, or an easily-raided surface settlement. http://www.strike9.com/file.aspx?path=/Liay/fullsize/darklands.jpg A village of Shalendae Religion: The Dark Fairies are not known for being devout. A few revere nature, and a tiny minority become druids. Those who like their knives a bit too much sometimes worship Drakhma, God of Blood, and become his clerics, but these terrors are (thankfully) rare. Otherwise, they pay lip service to whatever deity(ies) are worshipped in the region in whih they live. Language: Dark fairies speak Clinestra, a language distantly related by that used by other fey. To others, it sounds flowing, due to its rapid pace, and its use of many l- and n-sounds. It has a written form, a much simplified form of that used by fey, and many scholars clamour to learn it. Most dark fairies do not - less than one in a hundred can read or write. Names: Most dark fairies change their name at least three times a year; some much, much more. Their names can be anything - a phrase in their native language, an orc battle cry, part af a drow ritual, a human curse, a collection of random syllables - it depends on what the fairy had heard recently when he chose his name, what mood he was in, and what day of the week it was. Adventurers: Adventuring dark fairies are rare, and are normally motivated by that which motivates all dark fairies - curiosity. Their flight makes them useful scouts, and this suits them, as they like to explore. Their sharp knives also come in handy. Dark fairies rarely aspire to any form of heroism - it's simply not a concept they can easily understand, and anything which is not easy for a dark fairy doesn't get done. Dark fairy racial traits: +4 Dexterity, -2 Strength, -2 Wisdom: Dark fairies' slight builds are weak, but capable of incredible feats of agility. They are fickle, and incapable of sustained effort, or resisting temptation. Small size: Dark fairies receive a +1 size bonus to all attacks, a +1 size bonus to AC, and a +4 bonus to Hide checks, but they have to wield smaller weapons than medium-size characters, and their carrying and lifting limits are three-quarters those of medium-size characters. Dark fairy base speed is 20 ft. Dark fairy base flying speed is 40 ft, with good manoeuvrability. Darkvision: Dark fairies can see in the dark up to 60 ft. This vision is black and white, but otherwise functions the same as normal vision. Fallen Fey: despite being described as fey, dark fairies are humanoids, and subject to all effects that affect humanoids. Sharp Knives (Ex): All slashing weapons wielded one-handed by dark fairies are automatically assumed to be keen (their threat range is doubled). This does not stack with the keenness of a keen magical weapon, but will stack with any other threat range-increasing effect that would stack with a keen weapon, i.e. the feat Improved Critical. Slippery Mind (Ex): This extraordinary effect represents a dark fairies innate individuality and curiosity, which is almost impossible to suppress. Whenever a dark fairy fails a save against an enchantment, he gets to reroll the save in the following round. This ability can only be used once per enchantment effect. +2 racial bonus to Move Silently and Hide checks: Dark fairies are as sneaky as practised raiders and pranksters usually are. Plant Growth (Sp): Due to their fey heritage, dark fairies have a connection with nature which they have honed into an ability to grow plants underground, for both housing and food. Ten dark fairies working in concert for an hour can grow a single plant to maturity, cause it to grow fruit with another hour's work. This is a spell-like ability that only works underground. Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds a dark fairy for one round. In addition' dark fairies suffer a -1 circumstance penalty to all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in bright light. Favoured Class: Rogue. The abilities of the rogue class, and its wide selection of skills, allow a dark fairy to satisfy his curiosity about everything, much to the annoyance of the people who live nearby. Level Adjustment +1: Dark fairies are more powerful and gain levels more slowly than the standard PC races. So, whaddaya think? Comments are welcome. Any feats/PrCs/Magic cards based on the above would be much appreciated.
the_one_true_shea 10-23-06, 05:04 PM	Oh I've got plans for my fairy religion now :D And a possible addition to the Shalendae: The Very Sharp Knives that characterise the race are actually a status symbol. A young fairy might be given their first knife by an older sibling or cousin at their coming of age. It would be fairly plain and simple to start with, additional blades, edges and points would be earned through increases in status, capturing of trophies, winning of battles etc. during the course of their lives. The tradition is largely symbolic now, after their first few decades the fairies would earn enough staus to create very elaborate and deadly weapons but beyond this they would earn sacred runes and adornments for their blades. Although all this would be an unwritten rule of the society, anyone attemting to carry a blade they had not earned would be forced to prove themselves in combat against one of equal rank. It would be a very disorganised system in practice, often ending in brawls but each fairy would be fiercly proud of their own Very Sharp Knives. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I know the idea of a weapon as a status symbol is a bit over-done but I love the thought of this chaotic society that doesn't really care about much else being totally hung up on how many points a knife has :) - exe summarium, shea