Genasi

Summary

Perhaps the most bizarre of Vrashyn’s lineages, Genasi are the elementally-infused offspring of djinni who live in The Rime and The Scathe, though they can be found across Vrashyn. Revered and feared by those who assign divine connections to them, those who get to know a Genasi quickly realize that no sane god would use these hyperactive tricksters as worldly messengers.

Subraces

On Vrashyn, Genasi are born when a moral mother gives birth when elemental energy is particularly volatile, such as during earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, or floods. Some traditions hold that djinni intervene in the birth to ensure the survival of the child, either out of compassion or to secure a loyal servant, though the true mechanism behind this process is not known for certain. Because these natural events are particularly common near The Rime and The Scathe, this is where many Genasi are born. A Genasi’s physical state remains tied to their element for the rest of their lives. They derive sustenance from their element rather than normal food (whether they physically eat it or not is up to the player) and become emotionally elevated when their associated element is in full force.
Air Genasi

As an air genasi, you are descended from the djinn. Air genasi have light blue skin, hair, and eyes. A faint but constant breeze accompanies them, tousling the hair and stirring the clothing. Some 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 Increase Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
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. 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 Increase Your Strength score increases by 1.
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.

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 exalt in it. Fire genasi are feverishly hot as if burning inside, an impression reinforced by flaming red, coal- black, or ash-gray skin tones. 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 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 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.

Water Genasi

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 Increase Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
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.

Appearance

As mentioned in the subrace descriptions, every part of a Genasi’s body becomes colored to reflect their associated element. The shape their body takes is informed by the race of their mortal parents. Unlike Aasimar, they generally lose any distinguishing features of their parents’ race but retain their height, weight, and build. Genasi have unusual aesthetic taste, preferring bright, clashing colors in the rare case that they wear clothing or own a home to decorate. Fire Genasi are the least likely to wear clothes, but can sometimes be seen wearing metal garments that can withstand the heat of their bodies.

Culture

In the habitable parts of Vrashyn, Genasi are usually seen alone or in small groups and don’t seem to have unified cultural values, even within their elemental subgroups. Many wander the countryside, rarely visiting their birth family or cutting ties altogether to become adventurers. Genasi tend towards chaos, seeing themselves as above the laws and values of other beings, many of whom shun or fear them. Genasi have no unifying religious tradition of their own, but they are revered by Giants, Erekis, and Order of the Scathe, all of whom believe that their elemental powers are bestowed by their gods or spirits.

Relations with Others

Most don't know what to think about Genasi, though Tabaxi are one exception. The catfolk attack them on sight due to a superstition that genasi bring cataclysmic natural disasters. The opinions of others are more mixed, often influenced by the few interactions their community has had with a genasi. Some villages may have a story of a Genasi who arrived before a flood or earthquake to warn the populace, but just as many see Genasi burn their barn down as a prank or walk right through their walls because they can’t be bothered to go around. Genasi players should be prepared to see intense reactions to their presence, both positive and negative.

Beyond Human by Khoa Viet

Racial Features

Languages You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Ability Score Increase Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. Though a Genasi's physical form lives for about as long as that of a human, their spirit is able to shed this form and live indefinitely if their body dies among its element. The most common sites are The Rime for Air Genasi, The Scathe for Fire Genasi, the ocean for Water Genasi, and caves for Earth Genasi.
Alignment Independent and self-reliant, Genasi are most often chaotic-neutral.
Size Your size is medium.
Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Population Map