Tylwyth Teg (3.5e Race)

The Tylwyth Teg

The Tylwyth Teg are a distant relatives to pixies but still remain part of the sprite family - if just by a hair - even if they carry no true magic through their bloodline, which is acquired instead of being inherited like many other Fey. They are known for their particular nature for both good and evil deeds and so are called the Tylwyth teg or 'The Fair Folk' as a term of endearment for fear of reprisal. Very few adventurers or even their Fey cousins have ever met and talked with a tylwyth teg as they are very secretive folk, only moving when all backs are turned in order to preserve their mysterious nature - their greatest strength being others fear of their presence. Often they will enter human households uninvited whilst they sleep or vacate and inspect the upkeep of the dwelling, rewarding housewives who are dutiful with gifts of silver. If they are angered however, they have been known to kidnap healthy human children and replace them with sickly Changeling babies, the real child is usually returned upon the removal of all iron implements from the house and an offering of sweet pastries - the size of the offering dependent upon the severity of their wrongdoing. Babies would only be removed from households which are not suitable for the youngling to be raised in. Thoughtless parents have been known to have been struck unconscious by falling pans and pots or have the hems of their clothes catch alight with no warning.

Personality

Tylwyth Teg are light-hearted folk but at the same time carry a heavy burden which is their reputation when away from their hidden homes. If one were to talk with a tylwyth teg the experience would be as if talking to a child, often they would appear shy and bashful - their understanding of common and sylvan languages is only basic amongst the older generations - but when under threat or intimidated retaliation usually comes in the form of a few magical curses and illusions although very rarely will the experience be fatal unless there is an obvious foreboding of danger. The Tylwyth Teg have always been on good terms with the creatures of the forest, for they take little but offer great deals of protection within the small forest glades which they rest - warded against intruders of all kinds. It is because of this ancient bond that many of the tylwyth teg tend towards raising abandoned animals and healing the injured, releasing them from traps and snares hunters set and animals will aid caught tylwyth teg - no matter how unlikely the situation might seem.

Physical Description

Tylwyth Teg have an appearance much like pixies with the exception that they are little more than half the size and bear much smaller, squarer wings upon their back much like the fins of a fish. Their proportions are startlingly similar to that of humans, with the exception of their ears - whose tips reach the height of the crown of their head. Often both the tips of their ears and hair will be a myriad of blues and greens, changing in the light depending upon the angle. They possess very bright and colorful eyes, more present amongst the women than the men. In all aspects they appear limber and unrestricted in movements, their garments usually layered soft silk and fine cloth - a full size tylwyth teg cloth garment fit for a human has been known to be given as a gift for selfless acts such as the release of a tylwyth teg prisoner without ransom or accepting a lost tylwyth teg into your home and making the appropriate arrangements - including the complete removal of all pure-iron implements from the house.

Relations

The Tylwyth Teg are not known for associating long with truly intelligent beings for long, staying close to home and in tight knit kin-ordered groups. However the tylwyth teg in secret migrate to fellow tylwyth teg safe havens in order to cement marriages and prevent the dying out of their ancient civilization. It is often a rule of thumb that all relations with humans and tylwyth teg be only temporary, regardless of the situation with the possible exception of the situation warranting a reward which the tylwyth teg is yet to prepare. The fairies will often watch over children in their sleep should their name be uttered for protection although is often mistaken as a term used to ward off the removal of healthy babies from their cradles.

Alignment

No alignment has been known to capture a tylwyth teg for long, though their tendency for both good and evil is always dependent upon the situation lead an immoveable belief in what actions warrant both positive or negative results - though these may vary from fairy to fairy. The most common aspect of the tylwyth teg is Chaotic Neutral, whimsical beings who will take their own decisive acts regardless of local rules or regulations. Should irregularity not be apparent, the tylwyth teg usually resume small tasks such as planting small seeds and other deeds which it finds fun or amusing.

Lands

The Tylwyth Teg are usually secluded to one protected glade per forest, comprised of several family group and possibly a dozen blood relatives per family given the size and ease of maintenance. Each glade is set in a place of half-shade, warm enough to feel the sun when it rises and yet cool enough to keep the forest floor soft and lush. Each glade has enough room to fit an entire group of tylwyth teg and a handful of large animals while they rest, usually set next to a steam or pond or crystal clear water. This safe haven is usually hidden under more than a dozen wards, one that shield it from sight and discourage further searches - magically imbued thorns, illusions of gigantic spider webs and even sentient plants although these wards will not affect children of any race, for humans those under the age of twelve can safely pass between the barriers without ill effect.

Religion

The Tylwyth Teg devotion to the fairy-gods is a powerful spiritual bond, granting them many of their essential magical abilities. Each family will devote their line to a particular aspect of the fairy-gods, such as luck, growth and even larceny, though these faiths have strangely secretive rituals which are non-aparent to many other races unless specifically shown or directed towards minor actions such as rolling a set of miniature dice to make decisions or divine the future.

Language

Due to their seclusive nature, tylwyth teg often do not know more than two or even just a single language apart from Sylvan, although in regular speech with other tylwyth teg will revert to an ancient ancestor of the tongue. Other fairies might be able to hint at what is being said but very few have the expertese or time to study the dialect long enough to draw a balanced translation apart from other tylwyth teg, this language is known by some as Fatantiquus.

Names

• Male Names: Afon, Cadfan, Dai, Einion, Llew, Pedr, Tudor.
• Female Names: Anwen, Eira, Gwyn, Lleucu, Rhian, Tegan.

Racial Traits

• −4 Strength, +4 Dexterity, −4 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma: Being such small and agile creatures tylwyth teg are near impossible to catch although their miniature size makes them more vulnerable to physical damage and relatively weaker than regular-sized creatures.
• Fey
• Tiny: As a Tiny creature, a tylwyth teg gains a +2 size bonus to Armor Class, a +2 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +8 size bonus on Hide checks, but she uses smaller weapons than humans use, and his lifting and carrying limits are half of those of a Medium character.
• Tylwyth Teg base land speed is 20 feet: It also has a fly speed of 40 feet (good)
• Iron Allergy (Ex): Tylwyth Teg have a natural allergic reaction when they come into contact with iron. Whenever the fairy wields a weapon or dons armor made of any metal forged with iron (including steel) then they will take a -2 circumstance penalty to all skill checks, attack rolls and damage rolls for the duration of contact and for 1d6 rounds after removing said implement from their person. A Tylwyth Teg may weild a wooden hafted weapon such as a spear or sickle, but instruments such as a dagger or swords cause undesireable reactions upon touching.
• +2 racial bonus on Handle Animal, Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
• Automatic Languages: Fatanquituus, Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Common, Dwarven, Elven, Gnomish, Terran.
• Favored Class: Druid
• Level Adjustment: +0

Vital Statistics

Table: Tylwyth Teg Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
10 years	+1d10	+2d10	+2d20

Table: Tylwyth Teg Aging Effects

Middle Age^1	Old^2	Venerable^3	Maximum Age
100 years	200 years	250 years	+2d% 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.

Table: Tylwyth Teg Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	10"	+1d4	15 lb.	× 2 lb.
Female	9"	+1d4	13 lb.	× 2 lb.

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