Black Forest Resident

Skin pure white like the ivory throne, flowers all colours like a rainbow Leafy hair black like the forest they call home, with empty eyes scarlet like a rose. Within the forest of lost dreams I saw before me that scene. At that point I took a blow to the back of the head and found myself back in bed. My wounds were healed, my memories almost sealed.

The Forest of Lost Dreams, - Darvin Amblecrown

Decendants of a Lesser Race

Black Forest residents are decendants of humans who fled into the Black Forest and were mutated by it's energy. They have greatly enhanced longevity and darksight as a result of absorbing the corrupted energy of the Black Forest. They choose to live in the Black Forest becuase they fear judgment of the world outside. If an outsider wanders into the forest any residents that spot them will knock them out and modify their memories before warping them to their homes. They do not have any government as it is survival of the fittest. The only law is "the weak follow the strong or die".

Life Atop the Trees

The higher branches of the trees have many platforms lit with magic light, Black Forest Residents live there away from the reach of most of the monsters that call the forest their home. Their plantlike apearance mimics the plantlife of the Black Forest allowing them to camoflauge themselves to avoid unnessesary confrontation.

In Solidtude is Where We Are Least Alone

Black Forest Residents tend to have a sorrowful expression but are otherwise rather emotionless. Most group up in teams of 4-6 called Pods ⁠- their decision making process usually boils down to the gain to loss ratio for them and their Pods. Sometimes when a Black Forest Resident loses their Pod they may decide to work alone. Either way they are a rather cautious species that focus on self preservation or the preservation of their Pod. The Black Forest Residents that live in Pods will lean towards good and neutral alignments while the ones that fly solo will lean towards neutral and lighter chaotic alignments.

Names of the Forest and the Flowers

Female

Female Black Forest Residents are named after flowers. Common names include Orchid, Flora, Rose, Prim, Lily, Allium, and Aster.

Male

Male Black Forest Residents are named after trees. Common names include, Ashe, Oak, Fir, Birch, Hawthorn, Hemlock, and Hickory

Surnames

Surnames are rarely used due to the fact that Black Forest Residents group up in Pods, instead of a surname they will have "of" followed by the name of their pod, for example "Orchid of Sakura Abyss"

Black Forest Resident Traits

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Charisma score by 1.

Age

Black Forest Residents reach physical maturity at around the age of 50 and live till they are in their upper 600s to lower 800s

Weapon Training

The Black Forest is harsh and unforgiving. Due to your survival training you have proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.

Size

Black Forest Residents range from 4.5 to 5.5 feet tall and have slender builds and weigh a mere 50-100 lbs due to being heavily made of plant tissue. Their size is Medium.

Speed

Despite their short appearance Black Forest Residents have a base walking speed of 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision

Accustomed to the darkness of the Black Forest, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Survival Instincts

The Black Forest is a den of monsters- anything can jump out at you at any time. You have proficiency in the Perception skill as a result of constantly having your guard up.

Memories of the Forest

The Black Forest is a confusing place. The space is warped, it is always nightime, and many monsters will try to lead you astray. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.

Daydream

Instead of sleep Black Forest Residents enter a dreamlike trance. By using this trance they can gain 8 hours of human sleep in a mere 4.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Torran. Torran is an odd language, it uses triangles, circles, and octagons with the same size and shape in varying combinations. The many ruins in the Black Forest have it inscribed and the residents speak it, but it's used very rarely outside.

Sunlight Sensitivity

So much time spent in the darkness has made you weak to the sunlight you have a disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Black Forest Energy

You're constant exposure to the Black Forest Energy has given you a few unique powers. It allows you to know the Dancing Lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Faerie Fire 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 also cast the Darkness 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.

Optional Feat: Black Forest Corruption (Replaces Ability Score)

You have absorbed far more Black Forest Energy than most of your kind. You learn the detect magic spell and can cast it at will, without expending a spell slot. You also learn levitate and dispel magic, each of which you can cast once without expending a spell slot. You regain the ability to cast those two spells in this way when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for all three.