Bean Síthe (3.5e Race)

Bean Síthe

Introduction

Bean Síthe ([bʲanˠˈʃiːhə], pronounced Bansheehə; Singular: Bean Sí, pronounced Banshee) are a Fey race of mourners, whose cry is said to herald death.

Personality

Bean Síthe wander the land, attracted to places that a professional mourner might be needed. Their sense, however, is too keen, and they tend to show up before the death that drew them. They wail and cry about the death, which has led some to believe that they cause the death.

This ancient belief has also shaped the Bean Síthe. As the driving force of the Bean Síthe is to mourn death, some Bean Síthe have taken to causing that death in the first place. Fear of this has led to a new type of undead: the Banshee.

Physical Description

Bean Síthe tend to match a human's proportions and characteristics. They are often dressed in white or grey robes and have long pale or white hair. Bean Síthe have aspects on both the Material and Ethereal Planes, and can shift between them. The average Bean Sí looks like an old lady, or a hag. However, some Bean Síthe have greater Charisma (>8) and display a new trait. Bean Síthe are as beautiful in the Material Plane as they are frightening in the Ethereal Plane. A Bean Sí can shift (as a free action) between Planes. While she is in the Ethereal Plane, she can still be seen, as if a ghost, and her visage is one of a woman with thin unruly hair, skin drawn taught, and sickly yellow eyes. The greater the Charisma score, the more frightening and intimidating this form becomes. Alternatively, while in the Material Plane, Bean Síthe can appear as beautiful and charming human women, as long as you don't see them in a mirror or with True Sight, which shows their Ethereal form.

As Ethereal Fey, Bean Síthe take on a form of immortality. They can die, or disappear, if they go too long without mourning a death, and they can be slain. However, failing these two criteria, they can live forever. This brings about a price of living in the now. Bean Síthe tend to not think about the past as it quickly fades away, one year is much the same as the next. Further, and average Bean Síthe tends to not think about the future, as they will be doing what they do, and seeking out those who need to be mourned.

Bean Síthe are created when there is a need for them. In a small town, where a death will be heavily felt, the energy of the worry will forge a Bean Sí into existance, appearing as an old hag or as a beautiful ghostly woman. A woman who dies in mourning may provide the energy required to forge a Bean Sí in her image. However, too much of death causes other things, so in wars, Bean Síthe are not found near the battle, but can be created far away to a family who has yet to hear the news.

Males do exist but are rare, and one would be called a Fear Sí (far - shee). Fear Síthe generally take the form of uniformed men (Generals or Contables) who must inform the family of the death. The wail of Fear Síthe is a deep and low and sorrowful rumble that seems to confirm fears and brings tears to the eyes.

Relations

Bean Síthe tend to be focused on Humans, though other Humanoid races may get a visit from them to warn of a great person's death. In a city with a huge mix of races, all sharing a similar culture, the Bean Síthe would treat them all equally, as a death of any race in the city would bring about equivalent mourning.

Bean Síthe tend to look upon the Banshee (the Undead(Incorporeal) creature) with pity. When a murdered woman, or a mother dying in childbirth is filled with too much rage and Negative Energy, they may come back as a Banshee, filled with hate, and incapable of mourning. Dispite the pity and mourning Bean Síthe offer the undead, any undead brought about by rage will be further riled up by this sympathy.

Humans tend to hate Bean Síthe out of a misconception of correlation. Fear, of course, is natural. Rarely, however, a group of Humans might accept a Bean Síthe to help mourn the loss.

Alignment

An average Bean Sí would be Chaotic Good. They seek to bring about peace in way of helping to mourn the loss, but are not concerned with politics or laws.

A Bean Sí who takes it upon herself to cause the deaths would be Chaotic Evil.

Beyond these, any Alignment is possible, and may suggest a Bean Sí who is more tuned in to the world. As a player character, the Bean Sí's memories really begin at the point of tuning in and thought of any time before would just be a haze of the same thing happening over and over.

Lands

Bean Síthe travel the border between the Ethereal and Material Planes, and feel comfortable in either. Bean Síthe tend to focus on Humans, and thus stay near their towns and cities. They are drawn to places where the death will cause great grief, and a small town or hamlet would provide that, however, death is less common in those places, so the Bean Sí would quickly move on.

Religion

Any Human Religion, however, they tend to the religions where death is a sad thing.

Language

Common

Names

Most Bean Síthe go solely by a surname, usually with a Ó or Mc/Mac prefix. Those who have a given name, tend to have names similar to our Gaelic. Their names are generated when they are created, and are not provided by others. However, a mourning woman's death that causes a Bean Sí to be created in her image, would gain her name.

Racial Traits

+2 Wisdom, −2 Constitution, −2 Strength: Bean Síthe have a wisdom of finding where they need to be, but tend not to do much besides mourn.
Fey (Shapechanger*, Incorporeal*): Bean Síthe can switch between the Material and Ethereal Planes, and with >8 Charisma will shift from beautiful to frightening. While in the Ethereal Plane Bean Síthe are Incorporeal.
Medium: No size-based bonuses
Bean Síthe base land speed is 30 feet: Both corporeal and incorporeal.
Split Visage: "A Bean Sí is as beautiful in the Material Plane as she is frightening in the Ethereal". Bean Síthe gain a +4 to Intimidate checks while they are in an incorporeal state, and gain +4 to Charm effects (DC, or roll) while in a corporeal state. A Bean Sí's true form can be seen in mirrors, or with any magic that sees through illusion.

Special Attacks

Wail of the Bean Síthe (Su): If the Bean Sí knows the who and the when of the death, the wail fulfills the Geas of Death and does no damage. However, with missing information, or if there is not a forthcoming death, then once per day the Wail deals HD d8 + 4 x HD sonic damage to all in a 30' radius. A Fort save of DC 10 + CHA + HD results in half damage. Deaf creatures only take half damage or save to negate (vibrations still affect the brain). If a death results from this attack, the Geas of Death is fulfilled.
Frightening Rush(Su): The Bean Sí turns incorporeal, rushes through a number of creatures in a straight line and ends at most Speed distance away, wherein she returns to a corporeal state. Like Bull Rush], but with an opposing Dex check (with +2 if the Bean Sí charged). Any creature that fails the Dex check results in 1d4 Cha damage and the target is Shaken. The Bean Sí does provoke Attacks of Opportunity for any threatened space left (which takes place after turning incorporeal). The Bean Sí receives a -2 AC penalty until the beginning of the Bean Sí's next turn. Further, when the Bean Sí finishes its move, it provokes Attacks of Opportunity for anyone who threatens the ending spot (post turning corporeal). The AC penalty occurs after turning corporeal, but before end of move Attacks of Opportunities are taken.
Special Qualities
* Geas of Death (Ex): Bean Síthe must use their Wail to predict/warn/inform of a death once per month. If a month goes by without fulfilling the geas, a Bean Sí loses the ability to become corporeal. If a second month passes without fulfilling the geas, then the Bean Sí fades out of existance. ** Note: The wail usually occurs after the death of the person is past the point of no return, where only an act of Divine intervention can save them. If this Divine intervention occurs, the positive energy used provides for the geas as well. Likewise if negative energy is used on an evil person whose death would still have, somehow, caused great genuine grief, that energy fulfills the geas. If negative energy is used on a good person... chances are that person's fate has become worse than death (whether immediate or long term), and that is enough for the geas to feel the death. A Bean Síthe who travels with a Celestial or other Divine being would arrive when there is a chance that the person can be saved (due to the Celestial being right there) and thus would not have need of a wail, and not fulfill the geas.
Racial Feats
These are Feat options that the character may choose to use a Feat slot for. * Improved Frightening Rush: Pre-requisites - Dex 13, Frightening Rush. The Bean Sí does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity during the incorporeal move (Attacks of Opportunity after returning to a corporeal state still exist); +2 Dex for all opposing Dex checks during the Rush; no AC penalty. * Greater Frightening Rush: Pre-requisites - Dex 15, Improved Frightening Rush. The targets failing the opposed Dex check are Frightened instead of Shaken. The Bean Sí does not provoke end of movement Attacks of Opportunity. * Directed Wail: Pre-requisites - Evil alignment. Bean Síthe can direct the damaging effects of the Wail into a Ray instead of a Burst. However, doing so provokes an Attack of Opportunity. Note, nearby creatures outside the Wail can still hear it. * Varied Appearance: Pre-requisites - Cha 10. Once per day, a Bean Sí can obtain a +HD Cha bonus which lasts until the next Dawn. However, if anyone recognizes her true self (via a mirror and connecting the dots, or with a true sight spell, etc.), the Bean Sí is rendered incorporeal (and thus everyone see's her true self) and has a -HD Cha until the end of the next Dawn. If this occurs during the day, she cannot return to a corporeal state until dusk. ** Allies of the Bean Síthe who already know of her ethereal form, or creatures on the Ethereal Plane do not cause the penalty. Further, the Bean Sí does not receive any benefit from the increased Charisma when dealing with these people. * Automatic Languages: Common. Bonus Languages: Elven, Dwarven, Gnome, Halfling, Celestial, Abyssal, Infernal. Choosing an [SRD:Outsider_Type|Outsider
language should be predictable based on their personality. I.e. choosing Celestial might be due to a Bean Sí constantly praying for the dead to go to a positive Plane, and Infernal might be due to a Bean Sí feeling it is her duty to ward off evil in the last days of the persons life.
Favored Class: Bard. Having knowledge of the lands and people help Bean Síthe determine where to go.
Level Adjustment: 3

Vital Statistics

Table: Bean Síthe Random Starting Ages
Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
15 years	+1d4	+1d6	+2d6

Table: Bean Síthe Aging Effects
Middle Age¹	Old²	Venerable³	Maximum Age
35 years	53 years	70 years	+2d20 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Note: These ages are for apparent ages, and once set, the Bean Síthe remains this apparent age.

Table: Bean Síthe Random Height and Weight
Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 10"	+2d10	120 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
Female	4' 5"	+2d10	85 lb.	× (2d4) lb.

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