Genasi
Those who think of other planes at all consider them remote, distant realms, but planar influence can be felt throughout the world. It sometimes manifests in beings who, through an accident of birth, carry the power of the planes in their blood. The Genasi are one such people, the offspring of genies and mortals.
The Elemental Planes are often inhospitable to natives of the Material Plane: crushing earth, searing flames, boundless skies, and endless seas make visiting these places dangerous for even a short time. The powerful genies, however, don’t face such troubles when venturing into the mortal world. They adapt well to the mingled elements of the Material Plane, and they sometimes visit—whether of their own volition or compelled by magic. Some genies can adopt mortal guise and travel incognito.
During these visits, a mortal might catch a genie’s eye. Friendship forms, romance blooms, and sometimes children result. These children are Genasi: individuals with ties to two worlds, yet belonging to neither. Some Genasi are born of mortal–genie unions, others have two Genasi as parents, and a rare few have a genie further up their family tree, manifesting an elemental heritage that’s lain dormant for generations.
Occasionally, Genasi result from exposure to a surge of elemental power, through phenomena such as an eruption from the Inner Planes or a planar convergence. Elemental energy saturates any creatures in the area and might alter their nature enough that their offspring with other mortals are born as Genasi.
Heirs to Elemental Power
Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble humans but have unusual skin color (red, green, blue, or gray), and there is something odd about them. The elemental blood flowing through their veins manifests differently in each Genasi, often as magical power. Seen in silhouette, a Genasi can usually pass for human. Those of earth or water descent tend to be heavier, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter. A given Genasi might have some features reminiscent of the mortal parent (pointed ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair from a dwarf, small hands and feet from a halfling, exceedingly large eyes from a gnome, and so on). Genasi almost never have contact with their elemental parents. Genies seldom have interest in their mortal offspring, seeing them as accidents. Many feel nothing for their Genasi children at all. Some Genasi live as outcasts, driven into exile for their unsettling appearance and strange magic, or assuming leadership of savage humanoids and weird cults in untamed lands. Others gain positions of great influence, especially where elemental beings are revered. A few Genasi leave the Material Plane to find refuge in the households of their genie parents.Wild and Confident
Genasi rarely lack confidence, seeing themselves as equal to almost any challenge in their path. This certainty might manifest as graceful self-assurance in one Genasi and as arrogance in another. Such self- confidence can sometimes blind genasi to risk, and their great plans often get them and others into trouble. Too much failure can chip away at even a Genasi’s sense of self, so they constantly push themselves to improve, honing their talents and perfecting their craft.Genasi Lands
As uncommon beings, it is not uncommon for a Genasi to go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great Genasi cities or empires. Genasi have few communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they have. Many Genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people. Those living in areas like The Holy Arbia Empire, a nation where magic is hated, have a much harder time. There they face ostracism and even violence from the people there. Facing a hard life, these genasi seek isolation in the wilds, making their homes in mountains or forests, near lakes, or underground.Genasi
Ability Score Increase +2 Con
Size Medium
Speed 30
Age Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years. Alignment Independent and self-reliant, genasi tend toward a neutral alignment. Size Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents but are generally built like humans, standing anywhere from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall.
Subraces
Fire Genasi
As a fire genasi, you have inherited the volatile mood and keen mind of the efreet. You tend toward impatience and making snap judgments. Rather than hide your distinctive appearance, you exult in it. Nearly all fire genasi are feverishly hot as if burning inside, an impression reinforced by flaming red, coal- black, or ash-gray skin tones. The more human-looking have fiery red hair that writhes under extreme emotion, while more exotic specimens sport actual flames dancing on their heads. Fire genasi voices might sound like crackling flames, and their eyes flare when angered. Some are accompanied by the faint scent of brimstone. Ability Score +1 Int Darkvision You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Your ties to the Elemental Plane of Fire make your darkvision unusual: everything you see in darkness is in a shade of red. Fire Resistance You have resistance to fire damage. Reach to the Blaze You know the produce flame cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the burning hands spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Air Genasi
As an air genasi, you are descended from the djinn. As changeable as the weather, your moods shift from calm to wild and violent with little warning, but these storms rarely last long. Air genasi typically have light blue skin, hair, and eyes. A faint but constant breeze accompanies them, tousling the hair and stirring the clothing. Some air genasi speak with breathy voices, marked by a faint echo. A few display odd patterns in their flesh or grow crystals from their scalps. Ability Score +1 Dex Unending Breath You can hold your breath indefinitely while you’re not incapacitated. Mingle with the Wind You can cast the levitate spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.Earth Genasi
As an earth genasi, you are descended from the cruel and greedy dao, though you aren’t necessarily evil. You have inherited some measure of control over earth, reveling in superior strength and solid power. You tend to avoid rash decisions, pausing long enough to consider your options before taking action. Elemental earth manifests differently from one individual to the next. Some earth genasi always have bits of dust falling from their bodies and mud clinging to their clothes, never getting clean no matter how often they bathe. Others are as shiny and polished as gemstones, with skin tones of deep brown or black, eyes sparkling like agates. Earth genasi can also have smooth metallic flesh, dull iron skin spotted with rust, a pebbled and rough hide, or even a coating of tiny embedded crystals. The most arresting have fissures in their flesh, from which faint light shines. Ability Score +1 Str Earth Walk You can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement. Merge with Stone You can cast the pass without trace spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.Water Genasi
The lapping of waves, the spray of sea foam on the wind, the ocean depths-all of these things call to your heart. You wander freely and take pride in your independence, though others might consider you selfish. Most water genasi look as if they just finished bathing, with beads of moisture collecting on their skin and hair. They smell of fresh rain and clean water. Blue or green skin is common, and most have somewhat overlarge eyes, blue-black in color. A water genasi’s hair might float freely, swaying and waving as if underwater. Some have voices with undertones reminiscent of whale song or trickling streams. Ability Score +1 Wis Acid Resistance You have resistance to acid damage. Amphibious You can breathe air and water. Swim You have a swimming speed of 30 feet. Call to the Wave You know the shape water cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the create or destroy water spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Star Genasi
The star genasi are born from the wishes of a mortal upon a star. They are the might and mind of heavenly bodies, and draw their power from the glowing core they carry in place of a heart, a shard of their parent star. This core grants them the power to illuminate the dark. Star genasi are strange creatures, with dark-blue skin that blends with the night sky and eyes containing the light of thousands of galaxies. They have silvery hair that shimmers with starlight in the light of day, the specks of light that infuse their skin and hair becoming less pronounced during the daytime. However, their eyes still bear the light of countless stars. Ability Score +1 Cha Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 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 Radiant Resistance. You have resistance to radiant damage. Reach for the Stars. You know the twinkle cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the starlight shroud spell as a 2nd-level spell; you must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the dazzling gleam spell; you must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Storm Genasi
Wild and powerful as a sudden thunderstorm, Storm Genasi can be a terrible sight to behold, lashing out at those that trouble them, like a lightning strike that is accompanied by a roar of thunder. Storm Genasi in the grip of their own emotions can be extremely unpredictable, since once they reach the point of unleashing their rage, they will do so until their wrath has run its course. Ability Score +1 Cha Lightning Resistance. Electric energy flows through your body without you being shocked. You have resistance to lightning damage. Predict Weather. Once per day you can create a tiny, harmless sensory effect that predicts what the weather will be at your location for the next 24 hours. This effect persists for 1 round. Thundercall. Once per day, as an action you may shout with the force of a clap thunder that can be heard 300 feet away. Each creature in a 15-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d6 thunder damage and is deafened for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't deafened. Fury of the Storm. You know the thunderclap cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the witch bolt spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Ethereal Genasi
As an ethereal genasi, you are descended from cultures of humans who have traversed the Ethereal Plane and the planes that are connected to it for generations, long enough to establish a permanent race of their own making. The evolution of this race is in part due to the disconnect ethereal genasi generally have with the Material Plane. Since ethereal genasi frequent the Ethereal Plane, they often exhibit a culture of lonely nomads, rarely bothering to approach other civilizations, and it is not uncommon for an ethereal genasi to feel disoriented in a crowded area. Ethereal genasi typically have pale, blue, turquoise, but otherwise human colored skin, and show white, black, blue, turquoise, or even purple, but otherwise human colored hair. Eye color may be of any color and tend to appear prominent and luminescent in contrast, maybe even distracting. Some ethereal genasi may display runic lines and patterns in their flesh, which are not tattoos but are rather developed naturally during adolescence. An ethereal genasi also tends to have an impression that can be especially noticeable to certain groups of people or during certain situations. This impression is associated with the genasi's appearance or character, which the genasi has little control over, and tends to have a spectral connotation to it. You may select, roll for, or adapt an impression from the Ethereal Genasi Impressions table, and you may use it to aid in how you portray your character. Ethereal Genasi Impressionsd6 | Impression |
1 | Your voice sometimes has a ghostly echo, particularly when you are sick or when your throat is sore. This echo can also be heard whenever you cough. |
2 | Your hair waves on its own, and wind has little effect on its wavy course. |
3 | You tend to dream of other planes, be they calm or chaotic. You also tend to sleeptalk in a language associated with the plane you are dreaming about, even if you do not know how to speak that language. |
4 | Your eyes glow, and you emit a misty aura, whenever you are under stress. |
5 | Your skin is cold to the touch, despite your body temperature remaining the same as a human. |
6 | When you are in a state of bliss or mental high, your foot and hand prints leave spectral imprints that dissipate over a few seconds. |
Dust Genasi
As a dust genasi, you are descended from both air and earth. Solid yet shifting, your mind is as unknowable as a desert's shifting sands. Dust genasi typically have pale skin, hair, and eyes; all in light earthen tones. Some always have dust falling from their bodies, while others are accompanied by a stiff dry breeze. Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1. Unending Breath. You can hold your breath indefinitely while you’re not incapacitated. Born of Dust. You have resistance to force damage. You also do not suffer disadvantage on perception checks from strong wind, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Caress of Silt You know the mage hand cantrip, and the hand appears as a gust of dust when you cast the cantrip with this trait. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the dust devil spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Ash Genasi
As an ash genasi, you are descended from both air and fire. As fickle as wind and flame, your moods are volatile but swift to pass. Ash genasi typically have ash-grey skin tones, red to grey eyes, and hair ranging from coal black to ashen white. Ash genasi voices might sound like the wind caused by a conflagration, and may be accompanied by a constant warm breeze. Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Intelligence score increases by 1. One with the Veil. You can detect the faint shifts in clouds and darkened vapors; lightly obscuring fog and smoke do not impose disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. While heavily obscured by fog or smoke, you have advantage on Dexterity saving throws. Fire Resistance. You have resistance to fire damage. Spark and Smoke. You know the create bonfire cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the fog cloud spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Magma Genasi
As a magma genasi, you are descended from both earth and fire. You tend to avoid rash decisions, but are liable to explosions of hot and volatile anger. Nearly all magma genasi are feverishly hot as if burning inside, an impression reinforced by the fissures in their basalt-black flesh, from which a dull red light glows. Magma genasi voices might sound like popping lava, and their eyes may flare when angered. Some are accompanied by the scent of brimstone. Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1. Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Your ties to the Fountains of Creation make your darkvision unusual: everything you see in darkness is in a shade of red. Volcanic Legacy. You can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement. You’re also naturally adapted to hot climates, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Summons of Obsidian. You know the mold earth cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the searing smite spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Cloud Genasi
Born of the djinn from the Mistral Reach, cloud genasi are very much similar to their air genasi cousins. Their light-colored hair always seems tousled and weightless, and their voices are often wisp-like and soothing. Their dispositions are carefree and whimsical, never being in one place for too long. They abhor enclosed spaces, feeling restricted in movement. Cloud genasi are rarely temperate individuals - either they have more energy than they can handle, or keep entirely to themselves, avoiding social interaction. Whenever they travel, it always feels like a gentle breeze trails closely behind. Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1. Trace the Skies. When you fall and aren't incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating falling damage, and you can move up to 2 feet horizontally for every 1 foot you descend. Words of the Wind. You can cast the skywrite spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.Ice Genasi
As an ice genasi, you are descended from the qorrashi, and as such, you have inherited some measure of control over ice and snow. You tend to avoid rash decisions, pausing long enough to consider your options before taking action. You value power and strength, but you also value kindness and personal freedom. Nearly all ice genasi are frosty cold to the touch, as if they were frozen on the inside, an impression reinforced by snow white and ice blue skin tones. The more humanlooking have wintry white, and glacial blue hair, while the more exotic specimens sport actual icicles growing from their heads. When they speak or breath, you can see the frigid air they expell from their mouths. Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Wisdom score increases by 1. Cold Resistance. You have resistance to cold damage. Frost Walk. You can move across difficult terrain created by ice or snow without expending extra movement. While crossing bodies of water, you can freeze a thin layer of water below the soles of your feet, and walk across the surface of water as if on solid ground. The thin ice sheets beneath your soles melt as soon as you lift your feet, and you cannot carry anything heavier than your carrying capacity. Command Over Ice. You know the frostbite cantrip. Once you reach 3rd Level, you can cast the snilloc's snowball swarm spell once with this trait as a 2nd-level spell, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Shadow Genasi
As a Shadow Genasi, you are descended from the khayal, genies who are famed for their mastery of darkness and deception. You lie and elide as a matter of course, considering composing a great falsehood like bards consider composing great songs. Shadow Genasi typically have dusky gray skin, hair of dark black, and eyes that are little more than black voids (occasionally with specks of bright color floating in them). Some have silvery, geometric lines etched into their bodies. Ability Score +1 Cha Natural Born Liar Wisdom (Insight) checks made to see if you are being honest are made at disadvantage. Corrupt the Light You know the light cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the darkness spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait, and you gain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Where To Find...
Fire Genasi............EthofyrAir Genasi.............Aithrol
Earth Genasi..........Myeneav Mountains
Water Genasi
Star Genasi.............Noctirnan
Storm Genasi
Ethereal Genasi
Dust Genas.............Eylathe
Ash Genasi.............Ethofyr
Magma Genasi.......The Ash Peaks
Cloud Genasi..........Felendall
Ice Genasi
Shadow Genasi.......Noctirnan
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