Darkling
1 variants
Welcome to our little guild. I am the leader here. Sorry about the dark. Try not to bang your head on the ceiling there, it dips a little. And please don't light that match. I'm afraid my complexion can't take it.
The Price of Radiance
In the gloom beneath cities and the deep places of the Feywild, dwell the descendants of a house once beloved by the Summer Queen—now cursed to live in darkness. These beings, called Darklings, are a people of shadows, cursed by ancient betrayal to absorb all light that touches them. This unnatural affinity has forced them into darkness, both literally and culturally. Yet from that darkness emerges beauty—haunting music, glowing tattoos, and a longing for the splendor of light they can no longer safely enjoy.
Born into obscurity, Darklings carry within them a paradox: creatures of gloom, yet desperate for the radiance that defines the world they’ve lost.
Echoes of the Lost Court
Darklings live in tight-knit underground enclaves or in the underbellies of surface cities, where shadows linger and the light cannot reach. Despite their reclusive nature, they retain a rich cultural memory of beauty, particularly in the arts. Though visual aesthetics tempt them, they gravitate toward music, where the risk of light is less severe. Their bards are the soul of their people, weaving aching, wistful songs of forgotten sunlight and faded grace.
Their lives are steeped in ritual. The transformation into an elder is both an honor and a survival tactic, allowing them greater tolerance to light. Tribes treasure their elders, not only as leaders but as living reminders of what was lost—and what might one day be reclaimed.
Courts of Twilight
Darkling society is clan-based and hierarchical, led by elder Darklings who have undergone the rite of transformation. Governance tends to be informal but deeply respectful, driven by tradition, oral lore, and the accumulated wisdom of the elders. Decisions are often made communally, with elders acting as mediators, lorekeepers, and judges.
While they hold no vast kingdoms, their hidden settlements are tightly woven networks of obligation, family, and shared survival. Among other races, Darklings rarely seek political power, preferring to influence through trade, music, or stealth—always from the edges of the light.
Welcome to our little guild. I am the leader here. Sorry about the dark. Try not to bang your head on the ceiling there, it dips a little. And please don't light that match. I'm afraid my complexion can't take it.
The Price of Radiance
In the gloom beneath cities and the deep places of the Feywild, dwell the descendants of a house once beloved by the Summer Queen—now cursed to live in darkness. These beings, called Darklings, are a people of shadows, cursed by ancient betrayal to absorb all light that touches them. This unnatural affinity has forced them into darkness, both literally and culturally. Yet from that darkness emerges beauty—haunting music, glowing tattoos, and a longing for the splendor of light they can no longer safely enjoy.
Born into obscurity, Darklings carry within them a paradox: creatures of gloom, yet desperate for the radiance that defines the world they’ve lost.
Echoes of the Lost Court
Darklings live in tight-knit underground enclaves or in the underbellies of surface cities, where shadows linger and the light cannot reach. Despite their reclusive nature, they retain a rich cultural memory of beauty, particularly in the arts. Though visual aesthetics tempt them, they gravitate toward music, where the risk of light is less severe. Their bards are the soul of their people, weaving aching, wistful songs of forgotten sunlight and faded grace.
Their lives are steeped in ritual. The transformation into an elder is both an honor and a survival tactic, allowing them greater tolerance to light. Tribes treasure their elders, not only as leaders but as living reminders of what was lost—and what might one day be reclaimed.
Courts of Twilight
Darkling society is clan-based and hierarchical, led by elder Darklings who have undergone the rite of transformation. Governance tends to be informal but deeply respectful, driven by tradition, oral lore, and the accumulated wisdom of the elders. Decisions are often made communally, with elders acting as mediators, lorekeepers, and judges.
While they hold no vast kingdoms, their hidden settlements are tightly woven networks of obligation, family, and shared survival. Among other races, Darklings rarely seek political power, preferring to influence through trade, music, or stealth—always from the edges of the light.
Traits
Light Sensitivity
You have Disadvantage on attack rolls and Perception checks in Bright Light.
Death Burn
Upon dying, the body and possessions are consumed and deal 2D6 Radiant Damage on a failed CON saving throw DC 8 + your CON modifier (Minimum 1) + your Proficiency Bonus to those within 10 ft and are Blinded or take half as much on a successful saving throw and are not Blinded.