Genasi (/dʒɛnˈɑːsi/ jen-AH-see)
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. Genasi are planetouched humans, infused with the power of the primal force from the elemental planes. Along with aasimar and tieflings, genasi are the most common planetouched found in the world of Toril.
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.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
No two genasi are alike in appearance. Some can pass as normal humans, bearing the marks of their human ethnicity; for others, their elemental nature is impossible to hide. Their heritage is nearly always evident in one or two physical traits, such as skin or hair color or an elemental aura. Some genasi do not have hair at all; for such genasi, the substance that appears to cover their heads is actually a supernatural expression of their elemental nature. Earth genasi have brown skin and golden eyes, while fire genasi have bronze skin and orange eyes, with flickering flames coming out of their heads. Air genasi may have purple or silver skin with glowing, crystal spikes of silver in place of hair or blue and gray crystalline hair. Water genasi have skin the color of seafoam. Genasi are about the same size and stature as normal humans, but their bodies display signs of greater physical strength and other subtle indications of their heritage.
Regardless of their elemental manifestation, the body of each genasi is etched with strange lines of energy, called szuldar in Primordial, that glows in a color associated with the element that the genasi is currently manifesting. Earth genasi have golden-colored energy lines; fire genasi have fiery orange lines; water genasi have bright blue lines, and wind genasi light blue. These lines appear in a pattern that is passed along family lines, sometimes extending into small communities as well. Though the patterns can be similar between relatives in a general sense, the specific configurations are unique to each individual and served much the same purpose that fingerprints do amongst humans; the pattern of these lines remains unchanged in most cases. Many genasi, especially adventurers, display these lines with pride, often wearing clothing that leaves a fair amount of skin exposed.
Each of the four fundamental elements have associated genies, so the most common genasi are air genasi, earth genasi, fire genasi, and water genasi.
Basic Traits
Ability Score Increase: Constitution score increases by 2.Speed: Base walking speed is 30 feet.
Language: Speak, read, and write Common and Primordial.
Source: Elemental Evil Player's Compendium
Subrace Traits
Air Genasi
Most air genasi are descended from djinn (air genies) though other origins exist, and the touch of the elemental power of wind and air shapes the genasi physique. Some have light blue or pale white skin or similarly colored hair. Other strange features may include unusually cool flesh, a voice that carries over the wind, a whistling sound that follows quick movement, or even a slight breeze that seems to follow the genasi. Few display odd patterns in their flesh or grow crystals from their scalps.
Ability Score Increase: Dexterity score increases by 1.Unending Breath: Hold your breath indefinitely while not incapacitated.
Mingle with the Wind: Can cast the Levitate spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and the ability to cast it this way is replenished once a long rest is finished. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for this spell.
Earth Genasi
Earth genasi are descended from the cruel and greedy dao (earth genies), though they are not necessarily evil. They can also result from exposure to elemental energy. Many carry obvious traits of the Elemental Plane of Earth, such as blocky features or earthlike skin, but others have earthlike features that are less apparent. 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 Increase: Strength score increases by 1.Earth Walk: Can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement.
Merge with Stone: Can cast the Pass without trace spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and the ability to cast it this way is replenished once a long rest is finished. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for this spell.
Fire Genasi
Either born of efreeti (fire genies) lineage, or exposure of Fire Elemental plane energy, 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 Increase: Intelligence score increases by 1.Darkvision: See in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Everything you see in darkness is in a shade of red.
Fire Resistance: Have resistance to fire damage.
Reach to the Blaze: Learn the produce flame cantrip. Once reaching 3rd level, one can cast the burning hands spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and regain the ability to cast it this way when finishing a long rest. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for these spells.
Water Genasi
Most water genasi are descended from marids (water genies), although a few have other origins, including some who were descended from the goddess Umberlee. The skin of the water genasi is usually sea-foam green or blue. 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. Some water genasi 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 songs or trickling streams.
Ability Score Increase: Wisdom score increases by 1.Acid Resistance: Have resistance to acid damage.
Amphibious: Can breathe air and water.
Swim: Have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Call to the Wave: Learn the shape water cantrip. Once reaching 3rd level, one can cast the create or destroy water spell once with this trait as a 2nd-level spell, and regain the ability to cast it this way when finishing a long rest. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for these spells.
Additional Information
Social Structure
As rare beings, genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great genasi cities or empires. Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. Many genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people. Therefore, genasi of Faerûn usually lived in isolation until the Spellplague.
To most genasi, family bonds are the only ones that were truly reliable and it is far rarer for genasi to become alienated or estranged from members of their family. This is not to say that internal feuds and disputes do not happen, but the vast majority lead to only temporary divides, and family members spread over the world would eventually come looking for a reunion. Some genasi parents go out of their way to ensure that their children have a chance to interact with genasi of other manifestations, thereby increasing their appreciation for the race as a whole.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
In Faerûn, genasi can be found in isolated wildlands or in major cities, such as Waterdeep, where their strange traits do not arouse significant suspicion. Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder time. People there tend to be less accepting of differences. Sometimes a cold shoulder and a suspicious glare are the best genasi can hope for; in more backward places, they face ostracism and even violence from people who mistake them for fiends. Fire and air genasi are found in the deserts of Calimshan. Water genasi are more commonly found along the coasts of Threskel in Chessenta and the largest concentration of them hails from the regions surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars. Earth genasi can also be found in Mulhorand, and they are more common in the North near the Spine of the World, where there were portals to the Plane of Earth. Air genasi is found throughout all of the Lands of Intrigue, the Western Heartlands, and the Sword Coast. Genasi can be found in any climate. Water genasi can even make their homes underwater.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Culture and Cultural Heritage
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 art is wild and exciting, similar to the lineage itself. Genasi prefer elaborate and bold designs, using bright and vibrant colors to express the wide range of emotions they feel. Sculptures are often explosive in appearance, resembling surges of power more than anything else. Even for relatively simple or functional items, the genasi pour great care into giving it a flamboyant appearance, marking it with swirling patterns, gemstones, or elaborate carvings.
Genasi artisans often see their craft as a means of obtaining prestige. These individuals desire nothing more than to be in high demand and so they worked hard to please their customer base. For this reason, many genasi often substitute actual excellence for customization and individuality and while the average genasi swordsmith might not compare with his dwarven counterpart in terms of quality, the genasi would work much harder to tailor the blade to his or her customer's specific needs and wants. This can go so far as to make genasi-crafted items seem uncomfortable or unwieldy in the hands of those for whom they are not intended.
History
Calimshan had a historically higher population of air and fire genasi, because of its history of djinni and efreeti rulers. After the Second Era of Skyfire, the genasi of that land became engaged in a civil war over the Skyfire Wastes. When the Calimemnon Crystal shattered and the ancient foes Calim and Memnon were released, so too were many of their genasi servants. The two noble genies immediately began their epic war again, and the genasi took sides, joined by those genasi already living in Calimshan and even more from nearby lands of Tethyr, Amn, and the Lake of Steam. The Second Era of Skyfire ended suddenly in the Year of Holy Thunder, 1450 DR, when Calim and Memnon mysteriously disappeared again to their home planes. At that point, the power vacuum was filled by the genasi, who ruled Calimshan and enslaved many humans under them, reigning from the cities of Calimport and Memnon. The human slaves, led by a Chosen of Ilmater eventually overcame their genasi masters, restoring Calimshan to human rule and returning the genasi population once again to minority status.
Why go on an adventure?
- Is there a wild urge within you, calling you to seek a change of scenery every once in a while?
- Maybe to best people in your line of trade?
- Or do you seek great fame and friendships as life goals or even great treasures?
- Do you simply feel not fitting in at your birthplace?
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