Fetchling
Once human and now something apart, fetchlings display the Glooming Forest's ancient influence through monochrome complexions, glowing eyes, and the casting of supernatural shadows.
Fetchlings are a striking people whose skin appears entirely drained of color. These lithe and shadowy beings seem to sink and vanish into the gloom. They see in darkness, exercise control over shadows, and have strange occult powers. Some fetchlings develop their powers enough to pass between the Shadows and Material Planes, leaving other ancestries to whisper about figures that emerge from shaded corners and then vanish without a trace. Through magic and other means, they've spread across Boardrinn and the planes beyond, as adaptable as the humans they once were.
The first fetchlings were refugees. Ages ago, after the seperation of Heaven and Earth one small group of humans pleaded for rescue from an ancient enemy. The Gods preoccupied with conflict in their own home, didnt answer, instead a mysterious hooded figure known as "The Shadow" answered their call, Opening a portal to bring them to the heart of the Glooming Forest. The people stepped through, and as they navigated the forest's strange environs and dangerous inhabitants, its nature slowly worked monumental changes on the survivors.
If you want a character more at home in a mirror world of shadow, infused with umbral gloom, and who embodies the dualities of light and darkness, you should play a fetchling.
You Might... Live and work in gloomy areas of dim light with plenty of shadows, only providing bright light when expecting visitors. Look to people's shadows as a way of identifying them, alongside features like stature or facial structure. Maintain composure when faced with strange creatures and circumstances.
Others Probably... Believe you have shadowy powers, such as the ability to consume light as food, melt into darkness, or travel between planes. Expect you to be cautious, reserved, and a loner. Express interest in your ancestral physiological connection to the Glooming Forest.
Most of the Glooming Forest appears leeched of color. These same forces have touched fetchlings, whose skin tones fall on a monochromatic scale from stark white to deep black, and all the shades of gray between. Their bodies are just as diverse in shape and size as humans, though most display a certain fluidity of motion reminiscent of shifting shadows. Fetchlings' reflective, pupilless eyes can pierce darkness. A fetchling's most notable feature is their shadow, which almost never faithfully reflects their body. Instead, fetchling shadows might have incongruous shapes or sizes, while others flicker, move of their own accord, or imitate the shadow of another nearby creature.
Most fetchlings remain close to each other, forming majority-fetchling communities or forging solitary paths. Both planar groups tend to be insular; many fetchling cultures preserve memories of their early, perilous days confronting the hostile or beguiling denizens of their new home. Their predilection for forming tight communal bonds and adapting to local customs has spread to become part of broader fetchling culture, reinforced by two major fetchling groups—the Estlaris and Sharedars—who live in the shadow of more powerful entities.
A culture of survival passed down through generations means many fetchlings prefer to maintain a cautious worldview and adapt to prevailing circumstances. As a result, many trend toward a neutral outlook on life. Some choose to join with local powers for personal or communal advancement, or to tear systems down from the inside. Others attempt to shatter what they see as fetters that bind them and their communities. No small number of fetchlings are nonreligious, recognizing all gods' powers but revering none. Faithful fetchlings prefer gods that offer protection and stability, be it the pastoral embrace of Rontra or the Nurturing embrace of Anwyn . Those who travel alone or pass between planes seek the comfort of Darmon , Aymara, and Thellyne.
Fetchlings have a well-earned reputation as travelers. Their merchants and emissaries ply many roads, while nomads and sailors seek what lies over the next horizon. Charlatans, criminals, and street urchins carve livelihoods from inhospitable environs. Many fetchlings leverage their natural litheness as swashbucklers or rogues. The Glooming Forest's caress awakens hidden power in many fetchling bards or sorcerers (especially those of the shadow bloodline) or drives them to study deeper mysteries as witches or wizards
Fetchlings adapted to a new world, and their names do the same. These names commonly include phonetic qualities from multiple languages or are simply local cultural names that fetchling families find compelling. Other dominant naming conventions include flowing sounds, harsh or hissing consonants, and surnames that refer to important relatives or community traits. Sample Names Amelisce, Ashka, Drosil, Eitsanara, Eomva, Ikyamek, Inva, Jegan, Lirtae, Meotrai, Sorsul, Zokaratz
You Might... Live and work in gloomy areas of dim light with plenty of shadows, only providing bright light when expecting visitors. Look to people's shadows as a way of identifying them, alongside features like stature or facial structure. Maintain composure when faced with strange creatures and circumstances.
Others Probably... Believe you have shadowy powers, such as the ability to consume light as food, melt into darkness, or travel between planes. Expect you to be cautious, reserved, and a loner. Express interest in your ancestral physiological connection to the Glooming Forest.
Physical Description
Most of the Glooming Forest appears leeched of color. These same forces have touched fetchlings, whose skin tones fall on a monochromatic scale from stark white to deep black, and all the shades of gray between. Their bodies are just as diverse in shape and size as humans, though most display a certain fluidity of motion reminiscent of shifting shadows. Fetchlings' reflective, pupilless eyes can pierce darkness. A fetchling's most notable feature is their shadow, which almost never faithfully reflects their body. Instead, fetchling shadows might have incongruous shapes or sizes, while others flicker, move of their own accord, or imitate the shadow of another nearby creature.
Society
Most fetchlings remain close to each other, forming majority-fetchling communities or forging solitary paths. Both planar groups tend to be insular; many fetchling cultures preserve memories of their early, perilous days confronting the hostile or beguiling denizens of their new home. Their predilection for forming tight communal bonds and adapting to local customs has spread to become part of broader fetchling culture, reinforced by two major fetchling groups—the Estlaris and Sharedars—who live in the shadow of more powerful entities.
Beliefs
A culture of survival passed down through generations means many fetchlings prefer to maintain a cautious worldview and adapt to prevailing circumstances. As a result, many trend toward a neutral outlook on life. Some choose to join with local powers for personal or communal advancement, or to tear systems down from the inside. Others attempt to shatter what they see as fetters that bind them and their communities. No small number of fetchlings are nonreligious, recognizing all gods' powers but revering none. Faithful fetchlings prefer gods that offer protection and stability, be it the pastoral embrace of Rontra or the Nurturing embrace of Anwyn . Those who travel alone or pass between planes seek the comfort of Darmon , Aymara, and Thellyne.
Adventurers
Fetchlings have a well-earned reputation as travelers. Their merchants and emissaries ply many roads, while nomads and sailors seek what lies over the next horizon. Charlatans, criminals, and street urchins carve livelihoods from inhospitable environs. Many fetchlings leverage their natural litheness as swashbucklers or rogues. The Glooming Forest's caress awakens hidden power in many fetchling bards or sorcerers (especially those of the shadow bloodline) or drives them to study deeper mysteries as witches or wizards
Names
Fetchlings adapted to a new world, and their names do the same. These names commonly include phonetic qualities from multiple languages or are simply local cultural names that fetchling families find compelling. Other dominant naming conventions include flowing sounds, harsh or hissing consonants, and surnames that refer to important relatives or community traits. Sample Names Amelisce, Ashka, Drosil, Eitsanara, Eomva, Ikyamek, Inva, Jegan, Lirtae, Meotrai, Sorsul, Zokaratz
Heritages
Bright Fetchling
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 85 2.0
Your body proves that shadow can't exist without light. Perhaps your eyes glow brighter or your veins occasionally pulse with light. You emit dim light within 5 feet of you. You can activate or suppress this ability as an action, which has the concentrate trait. Additionally, you can force fragments of your shadow to glow and cast dancing lights and light as occult innate cantrips. Cantrips are heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.
Deep Fetchling
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 85 2.0
Your predecessors dwelled in the Shadow Plane's deepest, most treacherous regions. You might cast a denser shadow, have a slower pulse, or find comfort in the embrace of darkness. You gain cold or negative resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1), chosen when you gain this heritage.
Liminal Fetchling
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 85 2.0
You come from a line of fetchlings with a closer connection to the Ethereal Plane and Shadow Planes, and you share those realms' affinity with the in-between and unseen. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to locate undetected creatures within 60 feet when using the Seek action. Your flat check to target concealed creatures is DC 3 instead of DC 5, and your flat check to target undetected creatures is DC 9 instead of DC 11.
Resolute Fetchling
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 85 2.0
Your ancestors have long dealt with the horrific—in the Shadow Plane or elsewhere—and you bear their mental fortitude. When you roll a success on a saving throw against an emotion effect, you get a critical success instead.
Wisp Fetchling
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 85 2.0
Your ancestors' exposure to the Shadow Plane wrought great physical changes. Your hair or skin sometimes appears insubstantial, and you're slighter and more agile than other fetchlings. You're Small instead of Medium. You gain the trained proficiency rank in Acrobatics, the Quick Squeeze skill feat, and a +1 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks to Tumble Through. If you would automatically become trained in Acrobatics (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice.
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