Satyr

Summary

Satyrs are one of the most numerous and powerful races on Vrashyn. It’s rare for a race to live up to their stereotypes, but many Satyrs exceed even the crudest jokes about their violent tempers and lustful proclivities. Others are more refined in their passions, excelling at art and architecture. Satyrs are the proponents of the Latris (Greek) religion, honoring their gods with lengthy poems and animal sacrifices. Satyrs are a common sight in adventuring parties where they strive to emulate their epic heroes. As a caveat to those familiar with Greek mythology, there are Satyr women in this setting.

Subraces

Satyrs emerged from the Feywild during The Cataclysm. The social divisions among their kind became geographic over time, leading to two distinct groups of Satyrs known as the Sileni and the Fauni. Two smaller groups of Satyrs live on the fringes of civilization. One, the Vathialos, dwell in the Underdark. The other, a mysterious woodland-dwellers called the Leshi, live on the island of Zentho.
Selini

The Sileni rule the Rhovran kingdoms of Sakilos and Mikolosi. They are known for their insatiable appetites for pleasure, whether that be in the form of battle, food, sex, or some other activity. Stronger but less magically gifted than other Satyrs, Sileni have traditionally used their might to take what they feel is rightfully theirs. They are usually neutral or evil-aligned.

Ability Score Increase: As a Fauni, your +1 ability score increase is Strength by default rather than Dexterity.

Sileni Weapon Training: In addition to the other features conferred by your race, you are proficient with Heavy Crossbows, Javelins, and Tridents.

Fauni

The Fauni rule the Laivran Laivran kingdoms of Tanalki and Masyros. Though tamer and more pious than their Sileni cousins, they still display the characteristic hedonism of their people. The Fauni serve as guardians to the Fey Queen's Domain and worship the Fey in equal reverence to the gods. They are usually neutral or good-aligned.

Ability Score Increase: As a Fauni, your +1 ability score increase is Intelligence by default rather than Dexterity.

Fauni Weapon Training: In addition to the other features conferred by your race, You are proficient with Longbows, Javelins, and Nets.

Leshi

The Leshi are a Half-Orc, Half-Satyr people that live on the desolate island of Zentho. There they worshiping dark forest spirits along with other Orcs and Satyrs. Few have seen a Leshi, but oral accounts report that they have glowing white eyes, moss-covered legs, and horns that look like roots. Leshi are almost exclusively evil-aligned. They are rarely seen off their island home and generally unwelcome in any land that knows of their reputation.

Ability Score Increase: By default, your Dexterity increases by 1.

Orcish Influence: This replaces the Reveler feature. You gain proficiency in Intimidation and the Orcish language.

Image of Fear: This replaces the Mirthful Leaps feature. You are immune to the frightened condition. Additionally, you can cast Cause Fear as a 1st level spell at will (spell save DC 13). Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Vathialos

The Vathialoi arose when Satyr priests set up temples to their underworld Gods in the Underdark and were warped by the deep magic. They are similar in appearance to other Satyrs except that they have grey fur and black skin. Though they maintain closer cultural ties to their parent ancestry than most other deepfolk, they are noticeably dourer than surface Satyrs. They trend toward lawful alignments.

Ability Score Increase: As a Vathialos, your +1 ability score increase is Constitution by default rather than Dexterity.

Darkvision: You have darkvision to a radius of 60 feet.

Sunlight Sensitivity: While in sunlight, Vathialoi have disadvantage on Attack Rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Innate Spellcasting: This replaces the Reveler feature. A Vathialos' Spellcasting Ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast the following Spells, requiring no material components:

At will: Minor Illusion

Once per day: Feign Death (self), Crown of Madness

Appearance

Satyrs aren’t much taller than four feet if you don’t include their horns, but they are about the same weight as Humans due to their musculature. A Satyr’s legs usually resemble those of livestock in that they have hooves and are covered with brown fur; other races are fond of joking that this is why Satyrs have such animalistic tastes. Above the waist, they look somewhat like Half-Elves. Satyr men are hairy and usually maintain a thick beard. Satyr women don't grow facial hair but are otherwise as hairy as their male counterparts. Satyr men usually go shirtless, but all Satyrs have clothing for religious observances. Satyrs of means typically wear a toga and/or leather armor when they are clothed.

Culture

Satyrs speak the Sylvan language of their Archfey creators. Though they also revere the Archfey, Satyrs have their own Gods that they honor at large stone temples. Most Satyrs have a few of these gods that they personally worship based on their homeland, trade, or lifestyle. Satyr culture values artistic talent and a lack of inhibition as the highest virtues. However, the implementation of these values differs significantly between the four groups of Satyrs.

Sileni

Sileni Satyrs identify both of the above traits with prowess in battle and revere fallen heroes the way other cultures do lesser gods. The Sileni have a highly prescriptive conception of family life. While both men and women spend time on the front lines in Sileni kingdoms, women are expected to settle down in their early adulthood and devote themselves to childrearing or face ridicule and reprisals from their neighbors. Conversely, Sileni men not fit for battle are treated with the same contempt, and both of these victimized groups often find refuge in other Satyr kingdoms or as adventurers.

Fauni

In addition to the Satyr gods, the Fauni also worship the Fey, especially Nymphs. Some Fauni from Tanalki worship the Fey exclusively, shunning the traditional Satyr gods. In general, the Fauni are less motivated by a hunger for violence than their Sileni brethren. That said, they share the same tendency toward pleasure-seeking. Though they do form families, monogamy is rare and promiscuity is socially accepted. Rather than emphasizing physical strength, the Fauni elevate the virtues of rhetorical and artistic expression and aren’t as picky about gender or social standing when judging a person’s worth.

Vathialoi

The Vathialoi are not permanently depressed as some would have you believe. That said, their society lacks the emphasis on frivolity present in most surface Satyr communities. The Vathialoi typically worship underworld gods and have a somewhat different construction of their pantheon that places Hades in the position of chief god. In terms of cultural pursuits, the Vathialoi exist somewhere between the Fauni and the Sileni. Most view war as a great and honorable pursuit, are preoccupied with sex, or elevate great poets and artists. Their art tends to be more somber than celebratory in tone and is more likely to be religious in nature than that of other Satyrs.

Livelihood

Satyrs rely on their Human, Gnome, and Halfling subjects to perform much of the hard labor and artisan’s crafts. In the case of the Sileni, Lizardfolk slaves are also employed in this kind of work. Instead of getting their hooves dirty, Satyrs throw themselves into academics, art, and religious devotion. Satyrs claim to be the most talented sculptors and painters on Vrashyn, though this is disputed by Dwarves and Gnomes respectively. They also love architecture, and their stone buildings are indisputably the largest and most impressive in the modern era. However, it is said that for every one Satyr devoted to their work, there are another nine who view it as nothing more than a break from the drunken parties that are their true passion.

Upbringing

Due to the cultural differences noted above, Satyr family life can vary wildly. Unlike the extended family households typical of most races, Satyrs have professions dedicated to the care of the young and old. This allows parents to be somewhat absent from caring for their parents and offspring, ideally freeing them up to fight in wars or tend the local temple. This doesn’t mean the idea of the family isn’t important to the Satyrs, however. Rather than being a place for nurturing and learning, Satyrs use the family primarily as a method to pass property and titles from one generation to the next. Particularly among Sileni and Vathailoi, a lot of pressure is placed on the oldest male child to marry a Satyr wife of similar social standing. His siblings, on the other hand, are free to practice the traditional Satyr pastime of sleeping with anyone and everyone.

Relations with Others

Satyrs are reviled by some for their violent tendencies and loose morals and loved by others for the same reason. Because they are among the more populous races on Vrashyn and can adapt to almost any climate, nearly everyone on Vrashyn has at least one Satyr-related story to tell. Generally speaking, Lizardfolk and Elves get along worst with Satyrs because they are often at war with one another. Athrada and Masyros, two tightly-intertwined monarchies in East Laivra, are an exception to this rule. Many Dwarves have no great love for Satrs either. Though they share a lot in common culturally but resenting the Satyrs for conquering territories they once ruled. Satyrs get along best with Halflings and Half-Orcs who share their love of drunken debauchery and blood sports respectively.

Setessan Oathsworn by Scott Murphy

Racial Features

Ability Score Increase: By default, your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age: Satyrs mature and age at about the same rate as humans.

Alignment: Satyrs delight in living a life free of the mantle of law. They gravitate toward being good, but some have devious streaks and enjoy causing dismay.

Size: Satyrs range from just under 4 feet to about 5 feet in height, with generally slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Fey: Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid.

Ram: You can use your head and horns to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.

Magic Resistance: You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Mirthful Leaps: Whenever you make a long or high jump, you can roll a d8 and add the number rolled to the number of feet you cover, even when making a standing jump. This extra distance costs movement as normal.

Reveler: You have proficiency in the Performance and Persuasion skills, and you have proficiency with one musical instrument of your choice.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

Population Map