- Creature Type Humanoid
- Size Medium
- Speed 30 feet
- Alignment Typically chaotic. Veilkin value personal freedom, adaptability, and spontaneity above all else.
- Age Up to a hundred years.
- Racial Features
- 1+1 ASI Choose one ability score to increase by 1. Choose a different ability score to increase by 1.
- Changeling Instincts. Thanks to your shifting essence, you gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion.
- Change Appearance. As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die.
- You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You also can’t appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits on hand to make the most compelling disguise possible.
- Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
- Unsettling Visage. When a creature you can see makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the roll. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses. Using this trait reveals your shapeshifting nature to any creature within 30 feet that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
- Society and culture Veilkin society is fluid and often hidden. They tend to live as individuals or in small, tightly-knit, nomadic groups (often called ‘Masks’) scattered within or on the fringes of other cultures. Due to their nature, they often face suspicion or prejudice, leading them to value secrecy. Many choose to hide their hide their ‘unveiled’ faces, opening up only to the closest of their friends or loved ones.
Identity is a complex concept for the veilkin; some view their current form as a temporary role or mask, while others seek a “true” persona to cultivate.
Status is often based on reputation and skill.
- Physiology In their natural state, veilkin possess a strikingly simple and somewhat unsettling appearance. They are typically slender humanoids with pale grey or chalk-white skin, completely devoid of hair. Their facial features are vaguely formed and lack distinct characteristics – eyes might be pupil-less orbs of stark white or black, noses subtle ridges, and mouths simple lines. This transformation is biological, not magical, though it borders on the unnatural, even eldritch-like. Internally, their anatomy is generally comparable to humans and other humanoids. Some veilkin might have difficulties controlling their forms, leading to unintentional shifts based on strong emotions.
- Religion Veilkin religious beliefs varies as much as their form. Those who do follow gods often gravitate towards deities of tricksters, shadows, secrets (The Hag) or travel. Others follow more abstract philosophical paths, doctrines or schools.
- Language Orynthian and Veiltongue, primal, complex language based on body language and facial expressions. Veiltongue has no written form and is incredibly difficult for non-veilkin to learn.
- Relevant questlines: None