Woodsprites (3.5e Race)

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Woodsprites

Woodsprites are regarded by many as a bit on-edge and slightly paranoid. They often seem react to danger before realizing what they're doing, and sometimes even react when no danger is present. Despite this, they have a thriving society in certain arboreal settings, with treetop villages that can put elven communities to shame. These communities aren't very hospitable to outsiders, however, as they are designed for small beings with wings.

Personality

Their somewhat jumpy nature causes them to be a bit reserved when dealing with new people or situations, unconsciously on the alert for the first sign of trouble. Once trust is earned, they ease up, but even a long-lasting friendship can be put in peril if it is stretched too much. They prefer the tried-and-true to the experimental, the calm to the exciting, and the open air to the cramped dungeon.

Physical Description

Woodsprites resemble a cross between human children and halflings, with key distinctions being their pointed ears, odd coloration, and wings. Their skin ranges in shades from pale white to dusky gray to ruddy brown, while their hair comes in red, green, blonde or brown. Sprouting from their back are two insectoid wings which can be ovular like a housefly or more elongated like a dragonfly. They can be translucent or transparent, with a hue that generally matches their hair color. Women and men are both of roughly equal builds, 2-3 feet tall and 20-30 pounds. Their bones are hollow, but strong. Both sexes usually lack body hair, but some men have a light smattering on their forearms and lower legs.

Relations

Woodsprites get along with elves despite their slightly chaotic natures, and their reserved nature meshes with dwarves, though their jumpiness can grate on a dwarf's nerves. They do pretty well with humans and half-elves and the odd darkaralome that they meet. Half-orcs are viewed with suspicion. Gnomes and halflings are tolerated, at best. A woodsprite often finds himself the brunt of practical jokes from those two races, usually just to see him jump. However, gnomes and halflings have been known to lose an eye or two when the reaction turns out to be more than was expected.

Alignment

Woodsprites tend toward lawfulness, as it tends to minimize the potential for surprises. They also tend towards good, as the life of evil leads itself towards a life of always watching your back. However, individual woodsprites can be of any alignment, and their nature helps them survive being chaotic or evil better than other races can manage.

Lands

Temperate forests and jungles are the most likely places for woodsprites to live. Most mountains are home to sudden changes in weather that can throw a woodsprite off-kilter, but certain forested peaks are settled, as the terrain capitalizes on their natural affinity for high places.

Religion

Woodsprites revere gods of the sun, forests and nature, but they hold their patron god Ailalea in the highest regard.

Language

Woodspritish resembles Sylvan in many respects, even using the Elven script. Its sounds are sighing, melodious, and sometimes whispered. It's not impossible to have a shouting match in Woodspritish, but it's not made for such coarse usage.

Names

Children are named by their parents at birth and it's very rare that the child ever grows up and changes it. Naming a child after an ancestor is common, as is blending the names of the parents or other relatives. Nicknames are unheard of, and a woodsprite often won't even respond if an outsider tries to give him one.

Male Names

Alvar, Breiden, Dag, Harwan, Hauk, Lassen, Siv, Stian, Tauno, and Urya.

Female Names

Aila, Eeva, Froya, Karin, Laurah, Liisa, Linnea, Tora, Ulla, and Valma.

Racial Traits

• +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Woodsprites are in touch with the world around them, but their twitchiness makes them about as friendly as Dwarves.
• Humanoid: Despite their name, woodsprite physiology differs enough that they are not considered sprite, nor even fey.
• Small: As small creatures, woodsprites gain a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but they must use smaller weapons than humans use, and their lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters those of Medium-size characters.
• Woodspritish base land speed is 30 feet.
• Low-Light Vision: Woodsprites can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• Bonus feat: A woodsprite can choose either Lightning Reflexes or Improved Initiative as a bonus feat. The bonus granted by the chosen feat is considered a racial bonus.
• Glide: A woodsprite with his wings free takes no damage from a fall from any height. Furthermore, he can travel horizontally four times the distance that he fell, with clumsy movement.
• +2 racial bonus to Climb, Jump and Balance checks, when his wings are free. A woodsprite making use of this bonus flaps his wings madly. He may keep his wings still and forgo this bonus at will (when silence is necessary, for instance).
• Automatic Languages: Common and Woodspritish. Bonus Languages: Elven, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. Smart woodsprites learn the languages of friend and foe.
• Favored class: Ranger.

Feats

Improved Glide and Woodsprite Flight are feats that improve a woodsprite's use of his wings.

Vital Statistics

Table: Woodsprite Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple^1	Moderate	Complex
30 years	+1d10	+3d6	+5d8
Woodsprites starting as a ranger use the simple column.

Table: Woodsprite Aging Effects

Middle Age^1	Old^1	Venerable^1	Maximum Age^2
—	—	200 years	+8d% years
Woodsprites do not take physical penalties or mental bonuses from aging. Woodsprites do not die until slain by disease or injury. However, if they live long enough, they "ascend" to a higher being and depart the Material Plane. Most become a form of air elemental, but strongly aligned woodsprites may become a celestial or fiendish creature.

Table: Woodsprite Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	2' 2"	+2d4 in.	25 lb.	×1 lb.
Female	2' 0"	+2d4 in.	20 lb.	×1 lb.

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