Lutin - A 5e compatible ancestry

Lutin Most lutins carry a mask with them, and wear it
proudly. The design and history of each mask is as
“‘THE FERAL FOLK? I COULDN’T TELL YOU ABOUT THEM IF I personal as their name, and just as important to them.
A lutin without a mask might have been cast out of their
wanted to. They keep to themselves mostly. I home, or abandoned their traditions. To the traditional
suggest you keep to yourself too if you don't want to lutin, expressing ones true self is best done with what
make enemies.’ —It was the same answer no matter they wear. Emotions change by the minute and betray
who I asked. I knew what they looked like, the wearer, but a mask is true to itself always.
supposedly small woolly things with tails, and
almost always masked, but no one would answer a Lutins are hairy creatures, growing long waves of
question I had of them. It wasn't until I found one silky fur off of most of their body. They range as wildly in
hiding under the kirk-house's floorboards that I had skin tone as humans do. Most lutins are colored richly
a chance to find out more. ‘Make prayers and leave like healthy clay, earthy brown and nearing red. Others
offerings. No answers from me. Only from gods. I are as pale as fresh cut wood. They dress their fur as
am guard, not god.’ was the only thing said by the elaborately as the rest of themselves, forcing curls and
creature before scampering away in his tunnels. I braids throughout. Their fur is usually black, but often it
haven't seen or heard from him or another lutin grows in a soft cream color or a vibrant ginger, and may
since.” be patterned.

—John Heraba, Travel Journal IIX LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS

The costumed feral folk of deep lore and dark woods, Lutins are invested heavily in their homes, traditions,
rumors of lutins are rarely spoken. Students of history and heritage, though they rarely remember exactly why.
and adventurers in search of ancient secrets may find They are a race of secret keepers, lore finders, and
themselves face to face with a lutin one day. An guardians of the arcane and divine. For reasons no
unlucky inquirer will find a community. longer known, lutins have always lived in small isolated
communities, often outside of ancient temples. They live
COSTUMED in old forests, treacherous bogs, and vast distant deserts;
Anywhere that great knowledge once was and no longer
Although they are a small race and tend to be far is, lutins can be found, pledged to live there for a long
secluded from societies of taller races, lutins in the forgotten purpose.
traditional sense, are wildly fashionable. A travelling
lutin will decorate itself lavishly with silks, metals, and In smaller numbers, lutins often harbor outside of
jewels, if it can afford such treasures. It will awe at the churches, castles, and thieves' dens, though not for long
styles of elves and dwarves, taking after whatever they at a time. They make a frequent habit of sending scouts
see. Most Lutins are not so lucky as to afford or find rich out to the world around them, investigating any
dressings, but happily make due with bells, reeds, and perceived changes and omens they interpret.
rocks, and any other bauble they find attractive. Lutins
are good at crafting, building their jewelry and clothes When a Lutin is found in the wild, away from its
out of unlikely materials. A lutin might wear weaves of community or home, chances are that it has a goal in
shaved horn, braids of flowers, or intricately cut furs and mind for where it aught to be, though it may likely not
leathers. It is popular among lutins to tie ribbons and know how to get there. Adventuring lutins, unlike their
chimes to their long thin tails. settled brethren, are quick to join in with others. They
offer service and information in exchange for guidance
and protection in the lands they are unfamiliar with.
Although it isn’t common that a lutin should choose to
stay in the wilder lands or foreign affairs after
completing its tasks beyond home, those that choose to
remain among adventurers or new populaces are a
curious and rare sight, welcomed and studied by the
curious.

HOME AND FAMILY EXPLORING THE WORLD

Lutins keep a loose structure of hierarchy. Anyone who Lutins are by their nature a solitary race, living in
knows something another doesn't is important, but all isolated pockets; however, once in a great while, a
lutins have well kept secrets. Age tends to be the defining stray lutin can be found on a well-travelled road. The
factor in their hierarchy, where the eldest are revered for adventuring lifestyle comes to a lutin because of a deep
their many years of experience and knowledge. seeded need to discover new stories to keep and teach.
Travelling lutins might decide that they are unconcerned
In lutin society, secrets are passed through lineage with protecting old forgotten secrets. They might desire
and marriage. After enough time, an entire community to create their own.
might grow to know what was once a single well-kept
secret; but a lutin's family secret, what is called a true Lutins are well suited for travel despite their typical
secret... that is one that no wedding band or threat will obstinacy against it. They fair very well in a variety of
ever suss out. Lutins believe that revealing such secrets difficult places, moving quickly through difficult terrain
outside of their blood line will curse every living member and blending in with the environment easily. As
of it to a terrible fate. adventurers, Lutins tend to find themselves occupying
physical roles, despite their stature, though they also
BANDITRY excel in magical studies. They love to move and exert
themselves, and they love to learn, finding a deep
In lutin communities, dutiful protection is the pride of a satisfaction in dedicating themselves so wholly to a
warrior. They live and die to guard their home and the defined task.
knowledge kept within. Even a very old lutin, reaching
the peak of his life, will have lived an honorable and NOVELTY IN NEIGHBORS
envious life if he fought no battles yet still stood his
guard dutifully. For a lutin, it is pride worthy to guard Lutins are fascinated by the history and appearance of
what is treasured, even where there is no foe to defend it other races. “If I knew all there is to know of you, I could
from. fill a mountain of books with the subject.” They are rarely
surprised by the revelation of person's character, but are
Marauding tribes of goblins and orcs typically have almost always delighted to learn something new of them.
little want of the lore that lutins hold sacred, but they will
pillage and kill for their land, their food, and for the Dwarves. “They're gruff and rough, and they're very
pleasure of it. Lutin warriors are tactical, and make a good with their hands. I've never seen a prettier stone or
keen study of guerrilla battle. They are experts at using shinier bracelet than one worn by a dwarf. I've learned to
their terrains to their advantage, hiding where no one stop asking to examine their arts without first giving many
thinks to look, and moving through slick mud pits and compliments to their beauty.”
rocky inclines much easier than an orc or goblin could.
Elves. “They live so long and know so many things, I
Lutins are also wary of adventuring parties that lurk wonder that they make for better lore masters than I do. I
too near their homes. The belief that their secrets are have much to learn from them. I've never seen an elf that
both valuable and sought, encourages paranoia . It is doesn't have a story to share, and I've never spoken with
uncommon, but not unheard of for a band of curious one that doesn't love to share it if it flatters elves.”
travellers to disappear in the woods that lutins live in.
Humans. “They do so many great things and find so
many terrible truths, I fear that the deeds of humans will
be the ruin of all my kind. There is no one who can keep up
with what they accomplish. I do not hate them for it. I love
them for it, but I am afraid of them all the same.”

LUTIN NAMES Size. Lutins typically stand between 3'6"and 4'6" tall,
and average about 60 - 90lbs. Your size is Small.
A lutin's given name is typically borrowed from popular
stories, never minding whether a name is traditionally Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
male or female. The importance of the name is what Natural Conjurer. As an action, you can conjure a tiny,
matters, and could be pulled from the tale of a dragon small, or medium sized object in an unoccupied space
princess and her seven vanquishers, the true name of a within 5 feet of you. You can conjure a boulder, bush,
long destroyed wizard-god, or the location of forgotten stump, icicle, or other naturally occurring feature. When
wretched items. As lutins explore the world, they learn it appears, you can choose for the object to be attached
new names for their children to adopt, taking from new to a surface that it could attach to in nature, such a tree
heroes and new monsters that fascinate their in soil, or a stalagmite to a stone floor. The object
imaginations. vanishes after 1 hour. Once you use this trait, you can’t
use it again until you finish a long rest.
Given Names: Abon, Ardol, Athre'nur, Crystal, Strong Form. When you make a Strength or Dexterity
Beabranda, Brack, Dyrul, Everoth, Evhrriath, Saving throw, or a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity
Felkarus, Gardaluste, Gilgon, Harmenian, Hildorath, (Acrobatics) check, you can add a bonus equal to 1d10 to
Il-Hamar, Ismal, Jerico, Liamandus, Nevred, Nubrian, the roll. You can wait until after rolling before adding the
Oceana, O'drias, Randolfr, Rian, Serthu, Silgarotte, bonus, but must decide before the DM says whether your
Tiamat, Tuvra, Valian, Verch, Wynan, Yestella, Yongu roll succeeds or fails. After you use this trait, you can’t
use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
LUTIN TRAITS Lore Guard. You have advantage on saving throws
that you make to resist effects that force you to speak the
As a Lutin, you have a talent for working in natural truth, or to have your mind read.
environments, and you are difficult to knock down. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common
and one extra language of your choice. A lutins use of
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases Common is sometimes broken and incorrect.
by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age. Lutins mature at the same rate as humans, but
they live a little longer, typically living into their early
100's.

Alignment. Most Lutins are neutral, trusting in the
traditions of Lore, putting their values above all foreign
law. They typically see themselves as observers, removed
from the restraints of arbitrary obedience, yet always
rooted in the narrative. Most Lutins do not believe in
chaos, imagining it is only a word that means "unkown,
yet there is still to learn." They seldom care whether a
story comes from a good or evil place, or how it comes
into their possession.