Background

Jovial and quick on his feet, Ollie is known in his community as much for his kindness and compassion as his noticeable appearance. Taller than his halfling kin, and with shimmering  and fin-like ears that he inherited from his dragonborn grandmother, Ollie sticks out in a crowd — but it’s in a crowd that he’s usually found, usually with a lady on one arm and a drink in the other. It’s often the same drink all night, as he’s too busy talking, laughing, and drumming with his ever-present mallets to drink.

If Ollie isn’t laughing, he’s singing and dancing to nearly any musical form imaginable, but he’ll also stop to clean up after himself and his friends if he sees them leave behind a mess, even if they’re not quite finished. This also makes him popular with barkeeps.

The tune changes when he sees pain or oppression, and woe to those who would cause tears instead of laughter. Ollie will stop at nothing to bring the sparkle back to eyes and hearts alike.

Plot Hooks

• Unusual monsters have appeared near the town and are attacking farms in the area. Ollie has fought some of them off, but he can’t be everywhere at once. He sends the party to another farm that also needs help; they must work together to find the source.
• When the party runs into trouble in an inn or similar establishment, or after an encounter with significant property damage, Ollie steps in to calm everyone down and prevent a brawl.
• Ollie learns about a local noble who’s persecuting one or more villagers. Since Ollie is well-known in town, he can’t investigate as easily without being noticed. He asks the party to gather evidence

Medium humanoid (blue dragonborn), Lawful Neutral

Cisgender, she/her

Armor Class 16 (scale mail)
Hit Points 53
Speed 5 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)	15 (+2)	9 (−1)

Skills Investigation +3, Nature +3, Survival +5
Damage Resistances lightning
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Draconic, Minotaur, Sylvan
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Spellcasting. Rivaan is a 7th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). Rivaan has the following ranger spells prepared:
1st level (4 slots): Hunter’s Mark, Snare
2nd level (3 slots): Animal Messenger, Lesser Restoration, Spike Growth

Escape the Horde. Opportunity attacks against Rivaan are made with disadvantage.

Favored Enemy: Beasts, Monstrosities. Rivaan has advantage on Survival checks to track her favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.

Fighting Style: Archery. Rivaan gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls she makes with ranged weapons.

Horde Breaker. Once on each of her turns when she makes a weapon attack, Rivaan can make another attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 ft. of the original target and within range of her weapon.

Natural Explorer: Arctic, Grassland. Rivaan has a favored terrain type. Her proficiency bonus is doubled for proficient skills when she makes an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to it. While traveling for an hour or more in her chosen terrain: difficult terrain doesn’t slow her group’s travel; her group can’t become lost except by magical means; she remains alert to danger even when she is engaged in another activity; she can move stealthily at a normal pace (while alone); she finds twice as much food while foraging; and while tracking creatures, she learns the exact number, sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area.

Primeval Awareness. As an action, Rivaan can expend one ranger spell slot (1 minute per level of spell slot) to sense whether any aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, or undead are present within 1 mile of her (or within up to 6 miles if she is in her favored terrain). This feature doesn’t reveal the creatures’ location or number.

Traits

Altered Growth [IE 4]. Rivaan’s bones grew less than normal. Her height is 40 percent less than the typical minimum for her ancestry.

Disproportionate Growth (Arms & Hands, Legs & Feet) [IE 2]. Rivaan’s limbs are 40% smaller than their typical proportion for her ancestry. This smaller stature allows her to hide more easily, giving her a +2 bonus on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
Arms & Hands. Rivaan can’t use 2-handed weapons effectively. Because she has less leverage, she has a −2 penalty on contested Strength checks.
Legs & Feet. Rivaan’s movement speed is reduced by 10 feet. She also has a −2 penalty on Dexterity saving throws to balance.

Finger Difference (Shape Diversity). Rivaan’s thumbs bend backwards. She has a −1 penalty on melee weapon attack rolls and Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks.

Back Stiffness [Triggered, IE 2]. Long walks or other forms of leg exertion cause Rivaan pain in her lower back. Anytime she attempts a Strength (Athletics) check or walks for more than an hour, she needs to make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, she gains one level of exhaustion until she takes a short rest.

Actions

Extra Attack. Rivaan can attack twice whenever she takes the Attack action on her turn.

Breath Weapon. As an action once per short rest, Rivaan exhales lightning in a 5 by 30 ft. line (Dexterity DC 12, half damage on success) for 10 (3d6) lightning damage.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5/+8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4/+7 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Assistive Devices

Wheelsled
AC: 12, HP: 20

Rivaan uses a sled for mobility. As a bonus action, she can pull a lever that lowers wheels below the rails as needed. She uses her javelins like ski poles to move and turn, enabling her to pivot quickly even on the slickest ice. The wheelsled increases her movement to 30 ft. and adds 50 percent to her Dash movement unless on rough terrain, but many actions, such as jumping, are impossible while sitting in it.

Forearm Crutches

When her wheelsled is inconvenient, Rivaan uses a pair of forearm crutches. These allow her to walk longer distances without triggering back stiffness, but don’t affect her movement rate.

Background

Rivaan was born in an arctic gold-mining village. Her mother worked for the mining company as an engineer, and her father worked in the mines until the mining brought the attention of a remorhaz, which attacked the miners and devoured them. Rivaan vowed to find the creature that killed her father and avenge him.

Rivaan was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia, which affects her bone growth and makes walking very difficult, so she uses a wheelsled, designed by her mother, to get where she needs to go. Her mother also designed an adaptive shortbow to allow Rivaan to hold it securely with her differently-shaped fingers. Rivaan spends her days hunting for meat to feed her family and sell in the village. She is often seen careening down the snowy hills on her wheelsled, her bow expertly aimed at a caribou, and she is always watching for the telltale signs of a remorhaz.

Personality

Rivaan is generally friendly, enjoys the company of her townsfolk, and helps those in need, but her first and final loyalty is to her mother and the hunt for the remorhaz. More than once, signs of a remorhaz have caused her to disappear into the arctic wilderness for weeks, only to return disappointed.

Plot Hooks

• A frost giant is rumored to have some remorhaz eggs. Rivaan asks for the party’s help to destroy the eggs without the giant endangering her village in retaliation.
• The party runs into trouble in the arctic, and Rivaan slides in to rescue them.
• The party needs a guide to help them navigate the wilderness, and Rivaan is willing to help for a fee.

Background

Zilji’s family owned a business that repaired farming gadgets. Zilji struggled with some of the more intricate parts but was determined to help his community, so he sought out a local wizard and began apprenticing under them. Zilji found himself quite adept at magic and understanding how it functions, enabling him to easily adapt the somatic components of spells to his physical abilities. Now, he uses his magic to help his community as needed, even occasionally assisting his parents with repairs using Mage Hand.

Personality

Zilji is lighthearted and helpful, quick to jump in wherever he sees a need, usually with a joke. He enjoys playing pranks on people who underestimate him and uses humor to challenge people’s expectations of him and others with disabilities.

Plot Hooks

• The characters are traveling near the gnomish village when chaos erupts; a clockwork creature is rampaging through it! Zilji calls for the party to come and help.
• Zilji went to visit his teacher several months ago and isn’t usually gone this long. His family is concerned and asks the party to go find him. Before they reach the wizard’s tower, they learn that Zilji got sidetracked and went to help someone in need. The party finds someone with general knowledge of the situation, but all they can do is direct the characters to the path where Zilji was last seen.
• Zilji’s teacher has sent him on an errand to find a rare item, but it’s currently in the possession of a goblinoid horde. He asks for the party’s help finding the exact location of the item and recovering it.

Background

In his early years, Orrelius, with the help of household servants, barely escaped a dragon raid on his ancestral homeland, but during his escape, cinders burned his eyes and permanently eliminated his vision. He spent many years training to adapt.

Due to the traumatic loss of his family and friends, Orrelius swore to fight evil in all its forms, and took the Oath of Devotion with an order of paladins who assisted in his training. Through his adaptive techniques, he has been able to productively battle evil and aid to preserve the good in the world. Orrelius hopes to one day soon track down those responsible for the destruction of his family and their holdings.

Personality

Orrelius is fun-loving, loyal to his friends, and devoted to his faith. His drive for perfection motivates and frustrates him at the same time, leading to unwarranted criticism of himself and his allies. Because of the skills he learned in order to navigate the world and vanquish evil independently while blind, he has grown accustomed to acting on his trained impulses but sometimes forgets to include his companions in his plans, which can put them in danger.

Orrelius’s enjoyment of life extends to female companionship, which can distract him and cause him to neglect personal security. He is haunted by the memory of revealing to one woman information that led to a party member’s death, and while he learned from his mistake, he’s still vulnerable to temptation.

Plot Hooks

• The party has a run-in with a dragon and finds themselves trapped. Orrelius appears, applies healing, and joins in the fray as they take another stab at it.
• Rumors of a fire-breathing dragon have spread across the countryside, and Orrelius is looking for valiant warriors willing to test their mettle against the creature. The creature turns out to be a chimera.
• Orrelius has just returned from a rescue mission in the mountains, his wagon hauling three traumatized villagers and a wyvern head. He reports that the wyvern had a nest on a high ledge that was out of his reach, and he wants someone to go destroy the nest before the eggs hatch.

Background

While Veritas was born to a welcoming family, its community didn’t share those values. Not long after Veritas’s birth, the stigma of its infernal ancestry led to community members abducting it to be “purified” by the local clergy. Because no ritual can heal a non-existent curse or ailment,  it instead led to a series of seizures that permanently changed Veritas’s body.

After rescuing their baby, Veritas’s parents fled. While they met many welcoming individuals on their travels, Veritas’s family wandered far and long before finding a community that would at least treat them with indifference.

Veritas learned about the cultures and histories of those that the family encountered, even though the interest wasn’t mutual. This broad education led to a fascination with diverse groups of people. As Veritas learned to navigate the world with curiosity and deft use of its forearm canes, its family found friends among a team of archaeologists who hired Veritas to assist them to manage supplies. As Veritas observed the team at work, its expressed interest in histories and cultures —  along with its keen eye for traps and fine details in the ancient ruins — earned Veritas the respect of the team. It became a full-fledged partner and has worked with them ever since, gathering funding through research and aiding adventuring parties in (literally) unlocking the secrets of the past.

Personality

Veritas is confident in its abilities and skills, which can sometimes give others the impression that it’s being stubborn or domineering. In reality, this comes from years of experience and seeing others get hurt or fail in their goals due to ignorant or careless mistakes. Veritas has a deep reverence for ancient civilizations and wants their artifacts explored in the pursuit of knowledge, but only with respect for their creators.

Since Veritas spends more time among those who have been dead for eons than in present social circles, it may not always follow social norms, instead observing social conventions that only the oldest elves may have encountered.

Veritas’s confidence with traps can lead to a friendly deviousness; it may pretend that a disarming attempt failed, or even allow someone to get temporarily trapped, but Veritas never intentionally hurts anyone. It will do so playfully with its friends and allies, teaching them to be alert and demonstrating tricks of the trade to help them avoid trouble when it’s not around. Those who would misjudge it for its infernal heritage may find Veritas playing into their fears, trapping them and terrifying them until it can no longer keep up the ruse and then releasing them amid raucous laughter. Those who would underestimate it because of its disability will likely find themselves caught in a most elaborate trap. At that point, Veritas will give the captive audience a lecture about the ancient civilization that originated the design — and only release them once the lesson is finished.

Plot Hooks

• The party needs to find or explore a dungeon or ruins, and Veritas can help them.
• The party finds a relic or runes, and they need someone to determine their meaning.
• The party finds themselves the victims of a trap in a ruin or dungeon that Veritas was investigating and is soon rescued when it hears them.

Background

Dread was born in a noble human house. At birth, their mother loved them regardless of their unexpected appearance, but their father rejected them and insisted Dread be eliminated. Dread’s mother gave her beloved child to her handmaiden, who took the child to a local farmer, who passed the child to a traveling merchant. In their first year, Dread moved from home to home, each of their foster parents caring for them but unable to give them a forever family until a vigneron (winemaking) couple in a distant country finally adopted them. Over time, the tiefling chose the name “Dread,” after the reaction their appearance caused, embracing the irony of people’s reaction based solely on their vision.

Dread loved their family and worked hard in the vineyard, learning to assess the health and maturity of the grapes by touch and smell. On the other hand, they found their relationship with their parents strained, both desperately clinging to and pushing them away. As Dread tried navigating relationships with other children in the countryside, they often found themself betrayed by those they believed to be friends.

Dread decided to trust nobody, not even their parents, and set out on their own, hiring themself out to farms but never staying long, always looking for companionship but unable to discern true friends.

Eventually, they met a person they believed to be a fellow tiefling who offered them the promise of true companionship and power to protect Dread from those who would betray them. Though wary, Dread accepted the offer for what they wanted most, and learned too late that the tiefling was a devil. They did finally gain a trusted companion — their raven familiar, Void — and the warlock abilities to protect themself, but their difficulties with relationships remain.

Personality

Dread listens more than they talk, but if asked to commit to anything, they begin talking, asking many often-redundant questions before agreeing. Dread keeps to themself and prefers to work alone but will help those in need if Dread perceives an opportunity to help.

Dread uses Void’s Perception or Gaze of Two Minds when needing to see something, but they find vision disorienting and uncomfortable, so they only use it when necessary.

Plot Hooks

• Dread is investigating rumors of a fiend sighting to determine the truth, and suspects the party’s involvement based on circumstantial evidence. The party must find the truth to clear their names.
• Dread is trying to find their birth family and uncover their origins. They enlist the adventurers to follow a lead while Dread investigates another.
• A local farm has been attacked, and Dread is rushing to investigate and help if possible. Dread encounters the party on the way, notices the adventuring gear, and insists that the party help.

Medium humanoid (tiefling), Chaotic Neutral
Cisgender, he/him

Armor Class 16
Hit Points 87
Speed 50 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	19 (+4)	14 (+2)	11 (+0)	15 (+2)	10 (+0)

Skills Acrobatics +8, Athletics +5, Insight +6, Religion +4
Damage Resistances fire
Damage Immunities poison; disease
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Gnomish, Goblin, Infernal
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

Traits

Muscle Control [IE 4]. Precision's arms and hand muscles don't always act the way he wishes. The muscles are permanently contracted, and allow him only slight fine motor control. Precision’s IE serves as a guideline for specific effects and, generally, a −4 penalty on all Strength checks and saving throws and attacks. Precision has learned to use his feet for unarmed attack rolls and can use his tail to draw and load his hand crossbow.

At the same time, the extra balance and exertion required tires him, so every time Precision attempts a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, he must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or reduce his movement by 5 until taking a short rest.

Abilities

Infernal Legacy. Precision's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: Thaumaturgy
1/day each: Hellish Rebuke, Darkness

Ki. Precision can spend Ki Points to fuel ki features. He has 12 points per short rest, and his Ki save DC is 14.

Patient Defense. Precision can spend 1 ki point to take the Dodge action as a bonus action on his turn.

Step of the Wind. Precision can spend 1 ki point to take the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on his turn, and his jump distance is doubled for the turn.

Stunning Strike. When Precision hits with a melee weapon attack, he can spend 1 ki point to make the target stunned until the end of Precision's next turn if he fails a Constitution saving throw (DC 14).

Evasion. When Precision is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails.

Open Foot Technique. Whenever Precision hits with one of his Flurry of Blows attacks, he can impose one of the following effects on that target: fall prone if it fails a Dexterity saving throw (DC 14), get pushed up to 15 ft. if it fails a Strength saving throw (DC 14), or it can't take a reaction until the end of Precision's next turn.

Stillness of Mind. Precision can use an action to end one effect on himself that is causing him to be charmed or frightened.

Unarmored Movement Improvement. Precision can move along vertical surfaces and across liquids on his turn without falling during the move.

Wholeness of Body. Once per long rest as an action, Precision can regain 36 HP.

Tranquility. At the end of a long rest, Precision gains the effect of a Sanctuary spell (DC 14) that lasts until the start of his next long rest (unless it ends as normal).

Actions

Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage.

Flurry of Blows. After he takes the Attack action on his turn, Precision can spend 1 ki point to make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action.

Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. When Precision uses the Attack action on his turn, he can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. Unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity.

Extra Attack. Precision can attack twice, instead of once, whenever he takes the Attack action on his turn.

Reactions

Deflect Missiles. Precision can use his reaction to deflect or catch the missile with his toes when he is hit by a ranged weapon attack. When he does so, the damage he takes from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 16. If he reduces damage to 0 and has a free foot, he can spend 1 ki point to make a ranged attack with the same missile (as with a monk weapon) with range 20/60.

Slow Fall. Precision can use his reaction when he falls to reduce any falling damage he takes by 60.

Background

Precision’s parentage is unknown, as he was found as an infant on the steps of a monastery. The monks sought an adoptive home for him, but the local villages had no home for a tiefling with cerebral palsy. But Precision never missed what he never knew, and he loves the 22 monks who raised him and taught him the Way of the Open Fist, which he adapted to follow using his feet and tail.

As a young adult, he had a vivid dream about other tiefling children being taken by devils, and he believed it to be a sign. Not knowing whether the dream referred to literal devils recruiting tieflings into their army or to the hellish situations many tieflings endure, he dedicated himself to finding other tieflings and helping them choose their own future—a future of hope.

As he travels, he watches for and keeps track of people who seem kind and accepting, who might be willing to foster or adopt an abandoned disabled or tiefling child.

Personality

Many people don’t take Precision seriously, seeing his contracted arms and the way his muscles tend to tilt his head, and underestimate him as a result. He also tends to see humor in most situations in life, and is quick to laugh at irony or add a joke to bring a grin to any encounter. But when he sees someone in distress, especially a child, a tiefling, or anyone being mistreated, his smile disappears as he springs into action, typically leading with the hand crossbow strapped to his leg as he closes any distance, followed by a series of devastating kicks.

Plot Hooks

• Precision asks the party to help him find a kidnapping victim.
• Rumors are reporting that a portal to the hells has opened, and devils are abducting tieflings. Precision is investigating the rumors and invites the party to assist him.
• The party finds an abandoned tiefling child along the road. If they rescue them, they will eventually encounter Precision, who will help them find a suitable home.

Background

In Eilwynn’s village, every young elf spends time adventuring as a rite of passage to expand their perception of the world and to learn to defend themselves and their village against any threat. Eilwynn grew up listening to the stories of those who had set out before her and mourned those who didn’t return. She gets anxious when people leave and is relieved when they get back, she knows everyone currently away, and remembers what she heard about each quest.

Her time has come, and she’s spent her life training with the druids in preparation. She feels as ready as her anxiety will let her. Some in the village have told her that she should take exemption from adventuring because of her anxiety, but she’s determined to prove her competence, both to the village and to herself.

Personality

Eilwynn cares about everyone she meets. Sympathy and empathy motivate her, and she’s known for helping those in trouble. She is trusting to a fault and worries about everyone, even when there is nothing that she can possibly do to help.

Plot Hooks

• The party is trapped or lost in the woods. A wolf approaches them and helps them out of the trap or guides them to a path, and then transforms back to elf shape. It is Eilwynn, eager to help. She offers to serve as a guide.
• Local ranchers have been complaining about wolves eating their sheep and have called for large-scale hunting. Eilwynn has been listening to the stories and doesn’t believe the accounts reflect typical wolf behavior. She asks the party to help her protect the local wolf packs and find the truth.
• One of Eilwynn’s peers recently died in a quest, and their parents left to investigate. Eilwynn is worried that the parents are looking for revenge more than information and will do something drastic. She asks the party to help her follow them and prevent tragedy.

Medium humanoid (elf), Chaotic Neutral
Nonbinary, fae/faer/faerself

Armor Class 15 (leather armor)
Hit Points 23
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (−1)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	13 (+1)	13 (+1)	15 (+2)

Saving Throws Dexterity +6, Intelligence +3
Skills Acrobatics +6, Deception +6, Insight +3, Perception +3, Performance +4, Persuasion +4, Sleight of Hand +8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish, Goblin, Orc, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Cunning Action. Hadarai can take a bonus action on each of faer turns to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Fast Hands. Fae can use the bonus action granted by faer Cunning Action to make a Sleight of Hand check, use faer thieves’ tools to disarm a trap or open a lock, or take the Use an Object action.

Fey Ancestry. Hadarai has advantage on saves against being charmed, and magic can’t put faer to sleep.

Second-Story Work. Climbing no longer costs Hadarai extra movement, and when fae makes a running jump, the distance fae covers increases by +4 feet.

Sneak Attack. Once per turn, Hadarai can deal an extra 2d6 damage to one creature fae hits with an attack with a finesse or ranged weapon if fae has advantage on the attack roll. Fae doesn't need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and fae doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Spellcasting. Hadarai can cast the Prestidigitation cantrip. Faer spellcasting ability is Intelligence.

Trance. Hadarai doesn't need to sleep but instead meditates semiconsciously for 4 hours a day. While meditating, fae can dream after a fashion; such dreams are mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, fae gains the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Traits

Hair Growth Difference [IE 4]. Hadarai has reduced hair growth relative to faer ancestry. While mostly cosmetic and cultural, it may result in a −4 penalty on certain Charisma checks, depending on the culture. The player and GM should discuss the effect in their campaign world. In extremely hot or cold environments, the saving throws as outlined in official fifth edition sources have a bonus or penalty of 2 accordingly.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage.

Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Background

Hadarai spent faer childhood climbing every tree in the forest and most of the buildings in the village. Since faer parents often couldn’t find faer (usually because they weren’t looking up high enough), fae got faerself into trouble often. Fae would slip down and steal snacks and trinkets from neighbors and wouldn’t be discovered unless a parent later found the item in a pocket or drawer.

As Hadarai neared adulthood, faer hair started falling out until none remained. For a long time, fae struggled with this and faer identity, and faer peers distanced themselves, fearing the hair loss was contagious. Fae tried to cover the hair loss by drawing on eyebrows and wearing wigs, hats, and bandanas, but those attempts seemed to draw attention to faer condition and made faer even more self-conscious. Fae withdrew from social interaction as much as possible, hiding in trees and on rooftops, with the birds and squirrels there making inadequate companions. Fae eventually attempted to ingratiate faerself back into faer social circles by pulling outlandish stunts and having more boisterous interactions; these did help somewhat, but felt uncomfortable.

In faer time on the roofs, fae encountered a hairless squirrel. Fae began feeding it and noticed that faer new friend, “Gulaabee,” didn’t seem bothered by its lack of fur, nor did its fellow squirrels react differently. Inspired by Gulaabee, fae gradually accepted faer new appearance and replaced the rowdy presentation with a quiet confidence, although fae can still draw attention when necessary and has learned to direct faer social interactions to faer benefit.

Personality

Depending on the demands of an environment, Hadarai presents as either quietly confident but cordial, or as the loud center of attention, manipulating conversations or swinging from chandeliers as needed. Fae enjoys wearing a variety of hats and uses them as much for social and performance props as clothing.

Fae is comfortable in urban and wilderness alike but prefers places with tall buildings or trees, the higher the better, that fae can climb and prefers to spend long rests high in a tree or on the highest rooftop nearby.

Plot Hooks

• Hadarai has stolen a valuable item from a wealthy person who wants it back and hires the party to track Haradai down and return the item. However, the party discovers that Hadarai had a good reason to steal the item.
• While climbing a tower, Hadarai discovered something disturbing at the top. Fae asks the party to help faer investigate, and respond to, this unsettling discovery.
• Hadarai has been hired to acquire an object, but fae needs some help getting past some obstacles and hires the party to assist.

Medium humanoid (human), Lawful Neutral
Cisgender, she/her

Armor Class 18 (chain mail, shield)
Hit Points 12
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	14 (+2)	15 (+2)	9 (−1)	13 (+1)	11 (+0)

Saving Throws Strength +5, Constitution +4
Skills Athletics +5, Nature +1, Perception +3, Survival +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Giant, Gnomish
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Fighting Style: Dueling. When Naiara is wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, she gains a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Second Wind. Once per short rest, Naiara can use a bonus action to regain 1d10 + 2 HP.

Action Surge. Naiara can take one additional action on her turn. This can be used 1 time per short rest.

Traits

Finger Difference (Shape Diversity) [IE 2]. Eight of Naiara’s fingers bend sideways, away from her thumb. She has penalties to any action using her hands, giving a −2 on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws requiring grip.

Hand Stiffness [IE 2]. Naiara’s fingers on both hands are difficult to move without extreme pain. She has a −2 penalty on any action that would use that joint, including attack rolls. When she succeeds on a melee attack, the vibrations from the impact are painful, and she needs to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution check to fight the pain and continue to hold her weapon.

Actions

Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Assistive Devices

Compression Gauntlets. These gauntlets reduce arm or hand pain by 1 IE for 10d6 minutes per day and require an action to equip.

Weapon Brace. This brace attaches to the forearm and provides a wider grip for most melee weapons, along with a rubber strap for additional stability, reducing the IE or grip-associated actions by 1 IE.

Background

Naiara is a fourth-generation, middle-aged mercenary, spending her life traveling and fighting to provide for her family. She calls no place home, and no nation owns her loyalty, as she has seen both virtue and corruption wherever she has served. The intense fighting that has occupied her life has taken its toll on her hands as she developed arthritis in her fingers. While her fingers are weakened, Naira’s resolve remains undiminished, and her reputation precedes her as she is sought by employers and feared by adversaries.

As her hands stiffened, Naiara worked with an orthotist to develop a brace to help her hold weapons, and her favorite armorer built a compression layer into her gauntlets to aid with the pain.

Personality

Naiara clearly delineates business and pleasure. When she’s fighting, she’s all business; it’s neither personal nor passionate. When she’s off-duty, Naiara enjoys a drink and a tavern song, and woe to anyone who would challenge her or threaten her friends. She doesn’t appreciate “going to work” without payment, so when she’s done with a challenger, she will expect some compensation from the challenger “for time and services rendered.”

Between jobs, Naiara spends time relaxing with her family, most of whom work with her. She also enjoys using her time helping communities damaged by war, even if her own work brought upon the destruction. It was just business, after all, and the civilians bear no responsibility for their leaders’ decisions.

Plot Hooks

• After a massive battle, Naiara is helping the village rebuild, but the magic crystal upon which the city’s economy was built got damaged in the fight. She asks the party to track down a replacement crystal or the necessary ritual to repair it.
• During a recent battle, some of Naiara’s family were taken as prisoners. She asks the party to help her rescue them. “That’s war, but this is family.”
• Naiara’s armorer friend built an expensive suit of armor for a noble, but the noble took it and left without paying. Naiara asks the party to help her exact payment.