Fetchlings

Overview

Descended from humans who settled in The Nightmare in ancient times, fetchlings are creatures of darkness and light intertwined. Their ancestors having centuries of contact with that strange shadow energy and its shadow creatures have made fetchlings a race apart from humanity. While fetchlings acknowledge their origins, they exhibit little physical or cultural resemblance to their ancestors on the Material Plane, and are often insulted when compared to humans. Infused with the essence of the Nightmare and possessing human blood commingled with that of the Nightmare's natives, fetchlings have developed traits and abilities that complement their ancestors' native plane’s bleak and colorless terrain. Since the Calamity, some powerful Fetchlings have even been able to use their natural connection to shadow to shift into the shadows of the Cradle as well, and find a new home on the Material plane.

Physical Description

Superficially, fetchlings resemble unnaturally lithe—bordering on fragile—humans. Their adopted home has drained their skin and hair of bright colors. Their complexion ranges from stark white to deep black, and includes all the various shades of gray between those two extremes. Their eyes are pupilless and pronounced, and they typically glow a luminescent shade of yellow or greenish yellow, though rare individuals possess blue-green eyes. While their hair tends to be stark white or pale gray, many fetchlings dye their hair black. Some members of higher station or those who dwell on the Material Plane dye their hair with more striking colors, often favoring deep shades of violet, blue, and crimson.

Society

Fetchling are adaptable creatures, and as such display no singular preference for moral philosophy or the rule of law. Most mimic the cultural norms and governmental structures of those they live near or the creatures they serve. Above all, fetchlings are survivors. Their tenacity, versatility, and devious pragmatism have helped them survive the harsh environs of the Shadow and plots of the powerful creatures dwelling within it. On the Material Plane, especially if unable to return to their home plane at will, fetchlings tend to cluster in small, insular communities of their own kind, mimicking the cultural norms and political structures of those they trade with.

Race Relations

Because of their shared ancestry, fetchlings interact most easily with humans, though they also find kinship with gnomes and other races that were cut off from their home planes or are not native to Aralla. Their pragmatism and adaptable nature put them at odds with warlike or destructive races, and when they do have to deal with orcs, goblinoids, or other savage cultures, fetchlings will often play the part of the fawning sycophant, a tactic learned from serving umbral dragons and one they see as key to their race’s survival. Strangely, their relationship with dwarves and elves are rather strained. Dwarves find fetchlings duplicitous and creepy, while the tension with elves is so subtle and inexplicable that both races find it difficult to explain.

Racial Traits

Ability Score Racial Traits: Fetchlings are quick and forceful, but often strange and easily distracted by errant thoughts.They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, and –2 Wisdom.
Type: Fetchlings are outsiders with the native subtype.
Size: Fetchlings are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base Speed: Fetchlings have a base speed of 30 feet.
Languages: Fetchlings begin play speaking Common. Fetchlings with a high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Aklo, Aquan, Auran, Draconic, D’ziriak (understanding only, cannot speak), Ignan, Terran, and any regional human tongue. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
Shadow Blending (Su): Attacks against a fetchling in dim light have a 50% miss chance instead of the normal 20% miss chance. This ability does not grant total concealment; it just increases the miss chance.
Shadowy Resistance: Fetchlings have cold resistance 5 and electricity resistance 5.
Skilled: Fetchlings have a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (planes) and Stealth checks.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): A fetchling can use disguise self once per day as a spell-like ability. He can assume the form of any humanoid creature. A fetchling’s caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice. When a fetchling reaches 9th level in any combination of classes, he gains shadow walk (self only) as a spell-like ability usable once per day as a spell-like ability. A fetchling’s caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice. When a fetchling reaches 13th level in any combination of classes, he gains plane shift (self only, to The Nightmare or the Material Plane only) usable once per day as a spell-like ability. A fetchling’s caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice.
Darkvision: Fetchlings can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
Low-Light Vision: In addition to their ability to see perfectly in the dark up to 60 ft, fetchlings have low-light vision, allowing them to see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

5 ft. 6 in. – 6 ft. 4 in.

Average Weight

96 – 126 lbs.