Genasi
Tracing their ancestry to the genies of the Elemental Planes, each genasi can tap into the power of one of the elements. Air, earth, fire, and water — these are the four pillars of the Material Plane and the four types of genasi. Some genasi are direct descendants of a genie, while others were born to non-genasi parents who lived near a place suffused by a genie’s magic.
Genasi of Further Types
While the most common Genasi are of the four base elements, other types exist. The most common reason for this is due to 2 Genasi of differing elements fall in love and their child takes on both sides of the elements. For example if an Earth and Fire Genasi breed, they could either have a Earth, Fire or Magma child.
Another way for other types of Genasi to appear on the material plane happens in a rare circumstance where a sufficiently powerful Genasi either undergoes extreme stress and transforms, or is granted a transformation by a sufficiently powerful deity. This can result in a base element Genasi undergoing 1 of 4 differing paths, to either adjacent element mix or a mix with the positive and negative of said element. For example a Fire Genasi could transform into either a Smoke, Magma, Ash, or Radiance Genasi.
History
While Genasi have existed from the First era, they were never common on the material plane. That is until the Primal War, now it is not uncommon to see differing types of Genasi due to the close proximity of the elemental chaos and ease in which it is to travel between them. Due to most elemental being choosing to take the Primordial's side of the war, Genasi are sometimes despised or forced to be outcastes in some societies.
Air Genasi
Air genasi are descended from djinn, the genies of the Elemental Plane of Air. Embodying many of the airy traits of their otherworldly ancestors, air genasi can draw upon their connection to the winds.
Air genasi’s skin tones include many shades of blue, along with the full range of human skin tones, with bluish or ashen casts. Sometimes their skin is marked by lines that seem like cracks with bluish-white energy spilling out. An air genasi’s hair might blow in a phantom wind or be made entirely of clouds or vapor.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and Dexterity score increases by 1.
- 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. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Lightning Resistance. You have resistance to lightning damage.
- Unending Breath. You can hold your breath indefinitely while you’re not incapacitated.
- Mingle with the Wind. You know the Shocking Grasp cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the Feather Fall spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the Levitate spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Once you cast Feather Fall or Levitate with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
- Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Earth Genasi
Tracing their ancestry to dao, the genies of the Elemental Plane of Earth, earth genasi inherit dao’s steadfast strength and control over earth.
An earth genasi’s skin can be the colors of stone and earth or a human skin tone with glittering sparkles like gem dust. Some earth genasi have lines marking their skin like cracks, either showing glimmering gemlike veins or a dim, yellowish glow. Earth genasi hair can appear carved of stone or crystal or resemble strands of spun metal.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
- 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. Your size is Medium.
- 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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Earth Walk. You can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement.
- Merge with Stone. You know the Blade Ward cantrip. You can cast it as normal, and you can also cast it as a bonus action a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
- Starting at 5th level, you can cast the Pass Without Trace spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Once you cast that spell with this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast it using any spell slots you have of 2nd level or higher.
- Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Fire Genasi
Descended from efreet, the genies of the Elemental Plane of Fire, fire genasi channel the flamboyant and often destructive nature of flame. They show their heritage in their skin tones, which can range from deep charcoal to shades of red and orange. Some bear skin tones common to humanity but with fiery marks, such as slowly swirling lights under their skin that resemble embers or glowing red lines tracing over their bodies like cracks. Fire genasi hair can resemble threads of fire or sooty smoke.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
- 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. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- 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. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the Flame Blade spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Once you cast Burning Hands or Flame Blade with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
- Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Water Genasi
Water genasi descend from marids, aquatic genies from the Elemental Plane of Water. Water genasi are perfectly suited to life underwater and carry the power of the waves inside themselves.
Their skin is often shades of blue or green, sometimes a blend of the two. If they have a human skin tone, there is a glistening texture that catches the light, like water droplets or nearly invisible fish scales. Their hair can resemble seaweed, waving as if in a current, or it can even be like water itself.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
- 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. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- 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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
- Swim. You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
- Acid Resistance. You have resistance to acid damage.
- Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
- Call to the Wave. You know the Acid Splash cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the Create or Destroy Water spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the Water Walk spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Once you cast Create or Destroy Water or Water Walk with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
- Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Any reference to the element that defines their heritage.
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