Race - Vaen

Attribute Adjustment

Vaen can increase any single attribute of their choice by two (2).

Description

Vaen are tall, lean and long of limb and said to be as fair as the sun to look at. Their skin varies in hue but seems to have a shine or glow to it, especially in daylight, which compliments their near flawless skin and builds the legends of fairness. Vaen features are perfectly symmetrically, which is somewhat unsettling to most, along with their lean forms, which vary little from waist to chest, making them seem even taller. Vaen eyes have slit pupils and are amber to blue in color.

Short History

Vaen are old, with a history reaching back deep into the past. They once blanketed the expanse of Mearoc but in recent times have declined, their only true home in the White Wood. Born somewhere in the EverFae, Vaen seemed to spring fully forth into the world around the First Dawn, when the Fae Lords, Titans and Dragons walked the land and world and worlds beyond it seemed without end. The Vaen have been powerful and weak, growing vastly in strength during the Primal Wars but dying out at their end and suffering mightily during the chaos.

They rebounded, however, and once they recovered sealed their home from the world, choosing only to go out into to “purge” the pollution they saw there. Pollution, at that time, was demon born, since demonic beings entered Mearoc in the vacuum of power left by the ending of the war. 

Vaen, at first glance, seem aloof, even arrogant, and cruel but this comes from the outlook of an immortal lifespan and a culture that stretches back to the First Dawn (or so they claim). The Vaen are sophisticated and cultured, proud, very proud of their people, who tend to prefer calculating warfare to diplomacy, but still like to apply subtlety over brute force. In combat, Vaen warriors move with innate grace and fluidity, seeking the perfect opening before striking with surgical precision. The Vaen are renowned tacticians, who may overcome near-insurmountable odds through their innate power and brilliantly deployed maneuvers, ruses and stratagems. 

Notes: Vaen are physically incapable of tasting the sweetness of things, which makes them indifferent to sweet things.

Common Cultures:  Landolai, White Wood

Common Names:   Terylin, Lelliwyr, Cautlia, Quinsicosn, Taun.

Language: Vaen. It has a high and low spoken form as well as writing.
Common Faerie Lines: Arwydd Caol, Fdych Feolor, UthenVaen

Game Data

Vaen are immortal, immune to the effects of aging, and do not die unless slain. Vaen look upon life differently and unlike the shorter-lived races that are driven to excel and succeed, Vaen take a longer view, concerned with different machinations of the world.

Vaen have keen senses, with both proficiency and advantage in Perception.  They also see 60 ft in dim or dark conditions (though not absolute darkness).

Vaen have command over one kind of beast among the insects, plants, and animals of the

forest. The beings commanded will attempt to follow out the commands given by the Vaen when spoken (they automatically understand and can communicate in return) but cannot act outside of their ability. A being will follow commands from the Vaen for 1 hour before the force behind it fades. If the being stays in the presence of the Vaen then the command is reinforced perpetually until you leave. Gm adjudication is required; some entities, such as a hive of bees or swarm of fish, can be commanded as one being instead of individually.

Vaen are ruled by a condition of the Faerie that you choose at creation: Cannot tell a lie, cannot speak a truth, vulnerability to some element or thing (iron, silver, lead, twig of an oak, etc.), bound to your word (once you declare an action you must fulfill it), ruled by a specific circumstance (cannot draw a blade first, cannot enter a home unless invited, always go left when a choice of left or right is presented, etc.), drawn to possess something, cannot thank another, and so forth.  

Vaen are immune to all illusions, charms, enchantments, beguiling, domination or other forms of the same or similar power.  They cannot be compelled or forced in this manner, an effect that extends to their form, making them immune to polymorph or shape change by any force less than divine.