Deepborne or Syr'thian
The Deepborne are an ancient people whose lineage traces back to Nyth'Rithral, the Veil of Twilight, known to scholars as the Shadow Lands. Unlike other planar-touched beings, the Deepborne are not direct descendants of extraplanar entities, but rather mortals who became intrinsically bound to the Shadow Lands through generations of exposure and adaptation.
Now, the Deepborne thrive in the only known enclave of the Deepborne, Bathur, the inland stronghold of the Indred Island Coalition. Though few in number, they have developed a unique culture that blends their shadowed origins with the realities of life outside of Nythrithal among the living.
Deepborne Racial Traits
Ability Score Increase
+1 Charisma
Deepborne have a natural presence that is both eerie and compelling.
Age
Deepborne mature at the same rate as humans until ages 15-25, after which they age at half the normal rate. They can live between 200-300 years.
Alignment
Deepborne lean toward Neutral or Chaotic alignments. They value personal freedom and adaptability but often struggle with societal constraints due to their enigmatic nature.
Size
Medium. Deepborne range from 5’5” to 6’5”, with a variety of builds influenced by their Deepborne Clan.
Speed
Walking Speed: 30 ft.
Darkvision
Superior Darkvision (120 feet) Accustomed to the twilight of Nyth'Rithral, Deepborne can see in darkness as though it were dim light. However, they struggle to adjust to bright light and often prefer the shadows. While they do not suffer mechanical penalties, most Deepborne require hours or days to become comfortable in full daylight.
Shrouded Lineage
A Deepborne’s shadow is not natural, twisting and shifting independently of its caster. At times, monstrous silhouettes seem to flicker where their shadow should be.
Their reflections appear distorted and seem to move with a slight delay.
Umbral Resilience
You have resistance to necrotic damage.
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened due to your Nythrithal lineage.
Nythran Weapon Training
You gain proficiency in two Deepborne weapons (names to be determined and detailed in a future entry).
Silent Veil
You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
You have advantage on Stealth checks made in dim light or darkness.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Nythran (Deep Speech of the Shadowed Lands). Nythran is a whispered, breathy language that blends elements of Sylvan and Abyssal, often incomprehensible to those without supernatural senses.
Deepborne Clans (Subraces)
1. Nyx Clan (Children of Twilight)
Ability Score Increase: +2 Intelligence
Veil-Touched Mind: You have advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) and (History) checks related to extraplanar entities and shadow magic.
Umbral Calling: You can cast the Minor Illusion cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast Misty Step once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast Invisibility (Self Only) once per long rest. You do not require material components for these spells. Intelligence or Charisma is your spellcasting ability.
Shadowed Whispers: You can communicate telepathically with any creature within 60 feet that understands a language you speak.
Physical Characteristics: The Deepborne of the Nyx Clan are lean and wiry, their forms subtly shifting in dim light and darkness, as if they are never fully in one place.
2. Lunara Clan (Hunters of the Veil)
Ability Score Increase: +2 Strength or Dexterity
Predator’s Eyes: You have advantage on Perception checks that rely on sight in dim light or darkness.
Void Prowler: Your base speed increases to 40 feet, and you ignore nonmagical difficult terrain.
Step of the Veil: As a bonus action, you can teleport 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Physical Characteristics: The Deepborne of the Lunara Clan are imposing and athletic, their forms subtly shifting in dim light, appearing larger or more fearsome than they are.
3. Davaril Clan (Minds of Shadow)
Ability Score Increase: +2 Wisdom
Twilight Sense: You have advantage on Insight checks and Blindsight out to 15 feet.
Echo of the Veil: As an action, you can send out a pulse of shadowy energy, forcing creatures of your choice within 10 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + Wisdom modifier) or be blinded until the start of your next turn. You can use this ability once per long rest.
Shadeborn Blessing: You learn the Chill Touch cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast False Life once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast Pass Without Trace once per long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability.
Physical Characteristics: The Deepborne of the Davaril Clan have calm, measured expressions, their eyes often appearing as empty voids. Their presence is unsettling yet strangely reassuring, like a whisper in the dark.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Eyes: Solid-colored with no visible pupils, glowing faintly in shades of Silver, Violet, Red, Blue, or Green.
Hair: Ranges from Jet Black, Dark Silver, White, to Deep Reds and Purples.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Syr'thian names are deeply symbolic, evolving through different stages of life. Each individual has three distinct names, followed by a clan designation:
Birth Name: Given at birth by parents, often tied to the circumstances of their birth or ancestral ties.
Chosen Name: Earned upon coming of age (typically around 16-20 years old) through personal trials, achievements, or spiritual experiences.
Family Name: Passed down from parents, tying individuals to their lineage.
Clan Designation: All Syr'thian names end with "of the Nyx Clan" or their respective clan.
Example Names:
Male: Vaelryn (Birth) → Zevren (Chosen) → Syr'voss (Family) → "Vaelryn Zevren Syr'voss of the Nyx Clan."
Female: Thalira (Birth) → Lysira (Chosen) → Rhae'syn (Family) → "Thalira Lysira Rhae’syn of the Nyx Clan."
Beauty Ideals
The Syr'thian value elegance in movement and form, believing that beauty is found in grace, fluidity, and the harmony between shadow and light. Many adorn themselves with tattoos or etchings made from shadow-infused ink that subtly shifts under the light.
Their translucent skin tones—ranging from dusky gray to deep violet—are often complemented with jewelry made from Nyxthrys, the shadow-forged metal unique to their lands. Hair is traditionally worn long and tied in intricate styles, often adorned with dark beads or woven silken cords.
Gender Ideals
The Syr'thian do not adhere to rigid gender roles. Both men and women are expected to train in combat, magic, and diplomacy, and leadership is based on merit rather than lineage. However, individuals who demonstrate a deeper connection to the Veil—whether through magic, insight, or intuition—are often revered as spiritual leaders, regardless of gender.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship among the Syr'thian is an intimate and secretive affair. Rather than grand gestures, relationships are cultivated through silent understanding, shared dreams, and moments of unspoken connection. A common custom is the "Nyx'thalis'Korr," a ritual where two potential partners perform a shadowed duel, testing each other's skill, patience, and compatibility.
Relationship Ideals
Syr'thian relationships are built on mutual trust, independence, and respect. Partners are often expected to spend time apart, strengthening themselves individually before coming together. Monogamy is common, but polyamorous arrangements are also accepted, provided they are formed through deep spiritual bonds.
Common Etiquette Rules
Speaking softly is a sign of respect. Loud voices are considered disruptive and dishonorable.
Never step on another’s shadow deliberately. It is believed to be an insult, as one’s shadow is an extension of the self.
Offering one’s shadow as protection (by standing between a person and a light source) is a silent promise of loyalty.
Common Dress Code
Syr'thian attire is practical yet elegant, woven from a unique Nyxthrys-threaded silk that shifts subtly in the dark. Clothing is often layered in dark blues, purples, and deep grays, accented by embroidered runes that glow faintly in moonlight. Hoods and veils are commonly worn, both as a practical measure against the sun and a symbol of their connection to the Veil.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Deepborne long for the shadows, finding comfort where others fear to tread.
Their settlements revolve around ritual gatherings called Syrth’kai, where elders commune with the spirits of their ancestors.
Many Deepborne never leave the enclaves of their birth, but those who do make excellent spies, assassins, and mages.
Shadow Worship: Deepborne believe their shadows are separate entities, living extensions of their soul. Some possess the rare ability to detach and control their shadows, though this is seen as a sacred gift.
Aether-weaving: The Syr'thian are known for their ability to infuse Aether into weapons, textiles, and even architecture.
Veil-Walkers: Some of their greatest warriors have the ability to step through the Veil, moving unseen for brief moments.
Syr’thian Rituals: They practice a sacred Night’s Communion, where they meditate under moonlight to receive guidance from ancestral spirits.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The Moonwake Vigil: A ceremony where young Syr'thian stay awake for a full week, from dusk until dawn each night, to receive their Chosen Name, proving their endurance and connection to the Veil.
Shadowbinding Pacts: Oaths are sealed with one’s shadow, often used in alliances and sworn brotherhoods.
Common Taboos
Stepping into one’s own reflection: It is believed that doing so weakens the barrier between oneself and Nyth’Rithral.
Speaking an ancestor’s name without reverence: Ancestral spirits are deeply honored, and to mention them casually is an offense.
Breaking a Shadowbinding Pact: This is considered the highest betrayal, punishable by exile or even death in some cases.
History
The Syr'thian, known to outsiders as the Deepborne, are an ancient people whose origins trace back to Nyth'Rithral, the Shadowed Realm. It is believed that in the age before the Fey Gates were sealed, their ancestors walked between realms, existing in both Veth’Arden and the dark echoes of its twin in the shadows. They settled in Bathur, an island within the Indred Archipelago, which is said to be a fragment of Nyth’Rithral itself, carried across the veil and anchored in the material world.
Over the centuries, the Syr'thian adapted to their new reality, forging a society steeped in tradition, mystery, and the reverence of shadow. They remain deeply spiritual, believing their ancestors still whisper through the Veil, guiding them in times of hardship. While once feared as specters or ghosts by outsiders, they have gradually become known as masterful warriors, spies, and mystics, blending seamlessly into the world while maintaining their unique heritage.
Common Myths and Legends
The First Veil-Walker: A legend tells of a Syr'thian who stepped fully into the shadows and never returned, said to be watching over their people from Nyth’Rithral.
The Weeping Moon: A tale of a spirit who fell in love with a mortal and wept silver tears that formed the first Nyxthrys ore.
The Devourer’s Path: A cautionary tale of a Syr'thian who betrayed the Veil and was swallowed by the darkness.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Syr'thian are wary of outsiders, preferring the company of their own kind and those who dwell in the Indred Archipelago. They forge alliances with caution, ensuring they benefit their people above all else. However, those who earn their trust find them to be unwaveringly loyal, enigmatic, and profoundly wise allies. Betrayal, however, is never forgotten—slights against them are carried for generations.
Though rare, unions between Syr'thian and other races, primarily Humans and Elves, have resulted in offspring. Little is known about the long-term implications of such pairings, as these children are few and far between.
Lifespan
200-300 years
Average Height
5' 5" - 6' 5"
Average Physique
Features: Deepborne have elongated, pointed ears. Their fingers are long and nimble, and they often move unnaturally silently.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin: Shades of Dusky Gray, Deep Violet, Deep Red, or Ashen Black, often appearing slightly translucent in dim light.
Geographic Distribution
