Hobs
Hobs
Hobs are a small-sized race of fey creatures who were originally created by members of the Seelie Court to sculpt the Prime in the image of The Dreaming. Often sought out for their ability to masterfully create works of art, tools, grow gardens, and generally be useful, hobs were ubiquitous on Baennor, seen in virtually every corner of the realm inhabited by fey. After the Dreaming had passed through the Prime and the portals were severed, hobs withdrew and hid from the now-terrifying world around them. Hobs live solitary, but fulfilling lives amid the creatures of the forest, often never encountering any other race throughout their entire lives.
A hob is a curious, small creature as intelligent as they are reclusive. A typical hob will carve out their home within the base of large trees or cut into the bank of a creek or stream. They almost always live solitary lives, communing with animals as their companions and foregoing the company of other humanoids.
Hobs have a very strong bond with their natural surroundings. They are able to blend into their forested surroundings without disrupting the ecosystem in the slightest. They spend their days growing or mending plants, helping animals who need it, and foraging for food. Their lives are simple and, to them, fulfilling.
Physical Description
Hobs vary in size and stature from 2.5 to 3.5 feet tall and are considered small. Weighing in around 50 pounds, they usually appear stout and well-fed. Hobs usually have long, pointed ears, large bulbous or pointy noses, and males generally have excessive amounts of facial hair. They have skin tones ranging from dark green to tan to pale pink - and virtually every combination in between - while their hair can vary dramatically from pink, reds, greens, and yellows, to blacks and browns. Their eyes appear almond shaped, belying their fey nature, and range in color from hazel to bright blue.
Society
Of the two types of fey, hobs in particular have very little of what most would call "society". The vast majority of hobs are solitary forest-dwellers, living alone with only the forest animals for companionship. Occasionally hobs will convene meetings where fellows will gather from far and wide to discuss problems and come up with - often very simple - solutions. They do not have laws per se, but they do make an effort to adhere to the way of life they knew during the time the Dreaming was resident on the Prime, under the Seelie Court.
Relations
Generally speaking, hobs are inherently naive about other cultures and races. They are most familiar with the aos si, whom they almost revere, but they are aware there are other races out there in the larger world. When they do encounter others, most hobs are apprehensive at first, but generally warm to almost anyone who is nice or pleasant to them.
Alignment and Religion
Hobs are almost always good in their alignment. Like most fey, they are virtually never concerned with laws or abiding by the laws established by others. They do care about the well-being of individuals and the creatures with which they associate. Similarly, they do not have a standard religion. Hob clerics are unheard of, but there is nothing preventing them from revering the dwearh and human gods. The majority of divine hobs are druids, but they tend to follow the way of the Seelie Court, not any overtly divine being.
Adventurers
Hobs have been known to take up the mantle of adventurer from time to time. The urge to travel and see the world outside of their little patch of the forest. There have been recorded instances of among the hobs of those who have been overcome by wanderlust. While overall satisfied with their solitary lifestyle, they nevertheless have the inescapable urge to see more - to do more. Those who answer this call often find themselves in the company of rangers and druids, taking up their causes to protect the greater forest rather than just their tiny section of it.
Names:
Male Names: Teppir, Colkack, Dollbart, Slaaprom, Ludbess, Zarwaakiep, Sniddakust, Slumuppeeg, Raundefinedeempic, Cegangnass
Female Names: Blybnas, Longlyll, Weeddwan, Timbil, Nilkel, Floviwill, Illnesiell, Inaarwass, Phodarbep, Tosynkath
Hob Traits
Ability Score Increase: You receive a +2 to your Dexterity and a +1 to your Wisdom
Age: Like many feyblooded who live on the Prime, hobs do not appear to age at all. You may choose your own age, but you neither gain or are hindered by your age.
Size: You are small sized, averaging between 2'5" and 3'5" tall.
Speed: Small, but spry your speed is 30 feet.
Unnoticed: Hobs tend to avoid notice in combat. If you do not move during your turn, you have half-cover to all ranged attacks until the start of your next turn.
Blend In: A life of solitude has taught you how to blend into your environment and remain unseen. If you are in a woodland environment, you gain advantage on all stealth checks.
Fey Heritage: You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Tool Proficiency: You are proficient with one of the following: Alchemist's Supplies, Carpenter's Tools, Leatherworker's Tools, Potter's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools
Languages: In addition to Seelie, you speak Common and one other language.
Civilization and Culture
History
Most know of the Aos Si (Ees Shee), who watch over the Northern forests of Eryphir - their mound-like forts and homes dot the arboreal landscape beyond the reach of man. Many have even met these fey descendants in their travels. However, the Aos Si are not the only sentient race on the continent who maintains their connection with the Dreaming. Many other beings exist today on this side of the Prime, including the hobs and the boggarts.
Seventy-five thousand years ago, when The Dreaming and The Prime were intersect, Ley Lines of The Dreaming crossed over into The Prime and all manner of fey spilled forth into this new, unexplored realm. At that time, human settlements were present, but almost entirely resident along the Southern coastal regions. The fey flooded into the regions in which the Ley Lines were established and thrived there for hundreds of years. All manner of fey were common amid the forests and hills and mountains.
In the time since then, however, these two planes became once again divergent and many of those connections between the two planes were broken. Only the strongest, those residing within the most sacred of circles, remain today. When the Ley Lines were broken, the ability of the Fey to travel freely back and forth between planes was disrupted and many became trapped on the Prime. Some went into hiding, many were hunted for sport as the human settlements expanded north, others, like the aos si, established their own empires within the Northern forests, and still others attempted to integrate with the expanding human civilization - if not openly, then in the shadowy recesses of their cities.
Among these creatures were the hobs and the boggarts. While the former took to the forests to live out their lives in relative solitude, preferring the interaction with nature over that of even their own kind. The latter hid in plane sight, within the cities of man as humans thirst for expansion continued to push them ever forward into the interior of the continent. These are more colloquially known as the "bogey man", the "man in the closet", "bogle", and many other spooky names associated with children's bedtime stories.
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