Pixies

Basic Species Description

Pixies are usually small fey, ranging in height from a quarter meter to a half meter height on average while on Lenida. In Tirae and other locations with higher oxygen content, they grow by two percent per year until reaching a full two and a half meters in height at an age of five hundred years, which is considered the average maximum lifespan without rejuvenation methods. They all have large almond eyes with long pointed ears and long eyebrows. They have wings which allow them to fly, and glamor, which lets them disguise themselves as other creatures of their size. Pixies are mischievous, enjoying a good joke, riddle or prank, though most aren't meaning any harm in it. They are very charismatic, all able to draw upon wild magic quite easily compared to humans, and more beautiful than most races.

Due to their small size, pixies are able to fly faster than even Draconis Dragon-Kin over short or long distances, and able to react more quickly to change their flight, but they are not able to lift very much weight, an average of three kilograms, and they lose speed with every three kilograms beyond that unless aided by magic. They will sometimes make mounts of birds, rabbits, frogs, mice and other small creatures, and have been known on other planets and in other realms to have been the cause of some species evolution as a gift for their services. Pixies love nature and will do anything they can to protect it, some even dying to preserve a hidden glade or glen. While pixies are not magically linked to plants as dryads are to trees, they grow ill quickly from pollution and radiation.

All pixies have magic coursing through their bones, even if not very adept at using it, and as such make great sorcerers due to their link with wild magic. In addition, due to their small size, trickster nature, speed and relative stealth, they can also make excellent rogues. Pixies become unable to access their magic if their skin is exposed to iron, or iron alloys, and in some this additionally causes great pain and sickness. Pixies are able to live up to five hundred years without rejuvenation, and mature at age ten. They have names based off of their culture and area born in, as well as a parental name. Pixies are difficult to raise for other races, but those who are tend to have little difficulty adapting to their adopted family's culture. Pixies typically don't have rites of passage, but if adopted they may. Pixies are born via eggs for the boys, laid under plants and affixed, and live births for the females. The difference in this way is a result of a conscious decision long ago for the pixie species to alter their own genetics with magic, trying to make all births live, but were unable to do so as the males ended up being born too large and killing the mothers, hence a return to eggs for them.

History of the Species

Some time untold millenia ago, a handful of pixies tried to make a bargain with the Pragur and became the first sprites. After a period of war with the sprites, the pixies and other fey in the Spritehollow region ended up creating a spell to phase the sprites partially out of Tirae to a state of intangibility and invisibility except in brief periods where the spell recharged and reactivated itself. Ever since that day, the pixies had been at war with the sprites, though some have tried to find a treatment or cure to aid their fallen cousins. Even more-so, because the vilru infection turned pixies into sprites even without the intervention of the Pragur, overwhelming the spell with sheer number of new sprites created.

Pixies first came to Lenida several million years ago exploring it, and every few centuries they and other fey would be seen on occasion, but few fey ever decided to settle on the planet. With how beautiful and vibrant The Glens of Tirae were, with as much ambiant wild magic and foci available for luxurious use, why would they? However, when the Spritehollow region of Tirae was overrun by a vilru infection, it forced most fey to either flee it deeper into Tirae if they had the time before the quarantine spells went up, or to flee to other planets. Lenida being one of the most explored and being known to support most fey's biology, became the recipient of millions of pixies, gitwerg, goblins and gnomes during The Great Exodus nine hundred years ago. Almost every Pixie race still resides where they decided to settle, mostly on small islands to isolate themselves from other species, or on Lucorene, as it was where their portal was, and the other governments of the world were grateful for the local populations near the portal being present in case of any incursion.

After most of the Spritehollow region was evacuated, those remaining managed to rally behind an infected pixie named Mab Mistleaf who fought her infection and replaced the failing spell keeping the sprites entrapped with another, forcing them to instead flicker between different realms at chaotic intervals, to keep them from causing too much damage to any one place, and granting back their sanity. She died in the process, but infection carried its course unhindered, turning her body into a chrysallis from which she was born anew, becoming Queen Mab, ruler of the quarantined Spritehollow region, still alive and young thanks to the rejuvenation magic Mab's Court has provided her, not yet trusting anyone else to rule after her. Since that day, she had often tried to encourage the displaced fey populations to return, but few individuals let alone cities have taken her up on the offer, most listening to the propaganda of their local courts, who call hers 'The Mad Court'.

Base Species Genetics

The genetics for a pixie are as follows:

(D7) Charming Beauty: +1 on Charisma Checks, Strong Beauty for +2 on Beauty Checks, +1 on Charming Checks when not illusioned, and +1 Size Increase from Size Flexibility when having been 5 months or more in a high-oxygen environment, and may use their Charming Skill Check as substitute for their Bluff Skill Check. [Pixie, 12]

(D6) Winged Gliding: Ability to glide and have +1 speed when gliding.

(D4) Mesmer: +1 FP, able to use "Mesmer" at start for rank.

Mesmer Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Willful, Severance)
(Natural, 94% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Illuminate [Stratagem], Script [Stratagem])
(4 FP, 2 Attempts, Charisma Check)
This ability allows the user to make those in a cuboid gain the Controlled Status Effect, and lose the last Rank + Dice Pool + Charisma Check turns of memory.
Prerequisites: Pixie species and racial genetics. (12 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 19 points necessary for Controlled)

(R3) Leaping: +2 on Agility Checks, +2 on Reflex Checks.

(R3) Speed: +2 MP.

Ethnicities

The pixnix are green pixies that live in deciduous forests near the canopy mostly, with dragon-fly wings, red or orange or blonde hair, and golden or violet eyes. Pixnix pixies are more beautiful, faster, and have more focus than most Pixie races. They mostly belong to the Summer Court.

(E-4) Slow Winged Flight and Hovering: Ability to fly and hover at -1 MP. [Pixnix Pixie]
(E-4) Glamorous: Those with this trait have the 'Pixie Glamour' ability and +2 on Beauty Checks. [Pixnix Pixie]

Pixie Glamour Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
    (Willful, Severance, Situatonal)
    (Natural, 91% Stability, EP Blowback)
    (Temperance [Perception])
    (4 FP, 2 Attempts, Charisma Check)
          This ability allows the user to create illusions visible to those within a cuboid.
Situational: The user attempts to hide, appearing as something else of equal size to those that fail their WIL check. This appears different to every individual, but not as a pixie ever.
Situational: The user attempts to charm other entities within the cuboid, who gain the Charmed Status Effect.
              Prerequisites: Pixnix Pixie species and racial genetics. (12 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 13 points necessary for Charmed)

(E-4) Quick Focus: +1 FP, and +1 MP. [Pixnix Pixie]

The buldor pixies are orange-green pixies that live in meadows/plains near water, with butterfly wings, brown or white hair, and blue or black eyes. They are slower than most pixies, but are more agile, and more brave. The buldor pixies belong to the Summer Court.

(E-4) Slow Winged Flight and Hovering: Ability to fly and hover at -1 MP. [Buldor Pixie]
(E-4) Glamorous: Those with this trait have the 'Pixie Glamour' ability and +2 on Beauty Checks. [Buldor Pixie]

Pixie Glamour Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Willful, Severance, Situatonal)
(Natural, 91% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Temperance [Perception])
(4 FP, 2 Attempts, Charisma Check)
This ability allows the user to create illusions visible to those within a cuboid.
Situational: The user attempts to hide, appearing as something else of equal size to those that fail their WIL check. This appears different to every individual, but not as a pixie ever.
Situational: The user attempts to charm other entities within the cuboid, who gain the Charmed Status Effect.
Prerequisites: Buldor Pixie species and racial genetics. (12 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 13 points necessary for Charmed)

(E-4) Bravely Agile: +1 HP, +1 to Agility Checks, and +1 to Courage Checks. [Buldor Pixie]

The smodle pixies are blue-green pixies that live in mushrooms and underground, with cicada wings, no hair, and solid black eyes. They are more wise, and have more finesse. They belong to the Winter Court.

(E-4) Slow Winged Flight and Hovering: Ability to fly and hover at -1 MP. [Smodle Pixie]
(E-4) Glamorous: Those with this trait have the 'Pixie Glamour' ability and +2 on Beauty Checks. [Smodle Pixie]

Pixie Glamour Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Willful, Severance, Situatonal)
(Natural, 91% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Temperance [Perception])
(4 FP, 2 Attempts, Charisma Check)
This ability allows the user to create illusions visible to those within a cuboid.
Situational: The user attempts to hide, appearing as something else of equal size to those that fail their WIL check. This appears different to every individual, but not as a pixie ever.
Situational: The user attempts to charm other entities within the cuboid, who gain the Charmed Status Effect.
Prerequisites: Smodle Pixie species and racial genetics. (12 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 13 points necessary for Charmed)

(E-4) Wise Finesse: +1 to Accuracy Checks, +1 to Cunning Checks, +1 to Observation Checks, and +1 to Stealth Checks. [Smodle Pixie]

The caedwin pixies are light gray and yellow pixies that live in conifer forests, mostly inside the trees themselves or in nest villages in the canopy, with wasp wings, red or purple hair, and blue or black eyes. Caedwin pixies have more focus, more might, and more savagery. They belong to the Winter Court.

(E-4) Slow Winged Flight and Hovering: Ability to fly and hover at -1 MP. [Caedwin Pixie]
(E-4) Glamorous: Those with this trait have the 'Pixie Glamour' ability and +2 on Beauty Checks. [Caedwin Pixie]

Pixie Glamour Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Willful, Severance, Situatonal)
(Natural, 91% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Temperance [Perception])
(4 FP, 2 Attempts, Charisma Check)
This ability allows the user to create illusions visible to those within a cuboid.
Situational: The user attempts to hide, appearing as something else of equal size to those that fail their WIL check. This appears different to every individual, but not as a pixie ever.
Situational: The user attempts to charm other entities within the cuboid, who gain the Charmed Status Effect.
Prerequisites: Caedwin Pixie species and racial genetics. (12 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 13 points necessary for Charmed)

(E-4) Savage Might and Focus: +1 FP, +1 to Might Checks, +1d10/2 Daily Damage Advantage. [Caedwin Pixie]

The hujinde pixies live in jungles in the understory, but off the ground mostly, with blue-purple skin, vestigal wings, black or green hair, and black or golden eyes. They have even more focus than even pixnix pixies, more strength, no glamor, and more courage. Hujinde pixies are Solitary Fey mostly, few belonging to either Court.

(E-4) Pheromonal Loyalty: Those with this trait have the 'Pheromonal Loyalty' ability, +1 on Courage Checks and +1 on Charisma Checks. [Hujinde Pixie]

Pheromonal Loyalty Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Lasting, Beneficial, Limiting)
(Natural, 87% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Instinct [Perception])
(2 FP, 1 Attempts, Stealth Check)
This ability allows the user to create a cuboid of pheromones, making those within gain the Controlled Status Effect.
Conditional: Those in the cuboid must have a sense of smell.
Prerequisites: Hujinde Pixie species and racial genetics. (6 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 19 points necessary for Controlled)

(E-4) Mighty Vanish: Those with this trait have the 'Pixie Vanish' ability and +2 on Might Checks. [Hujinde Pixie]

Pixie Vanish Rank I:
(Self, Cuboid, None)
(Lasting, Beneficial, None)
(Natural, 87% Stability, EP Blowback)
(Instinct [Perception])
(2 FP, 1 Attempts, Stealth Check)
This ability allows the user to create an illusion visible to those within a cuboid, camouflaging themselves with the Vanish Status Effect.
Prerequisites: Hujinde Pixie species and racial genetics. (6 points from cost, 1 point per FP for up to 20, 6 points necessary for Vanish)

(E-4) Focus: +2 FP. [Hujinde Pixie]

Generally pixie utilize a language unique to their court, but many also know the language of the nearest other fey populations, as well that of the nearest naiad population. This is not to say that some do not speak others rather than those particular languages, or in addition to it, merely that they are the most likely languages for them to speak. While pixie were considered of middle, upper and noble class after The Great Exodus, most pixie cultures pushed themselves toward more simple lifestyles, preferring to start rebuilding their civilization with great care toward a lasting presence, rather than solely utilizing magic as much to speed up the process. Humor and the arts are extremely important to fey culture, and most contracts with their courts have precise wording that can be twisted for amusement of either party, if they are clever enough to find a way to use it. While some claim that most fey cannot lie, merely twist the truth, this is in fact a lie put forth by a pixie explorer long before The Great Exodus, who thought it was more amusing to befuddle ancient human and dragon populations with their antics and actual truthfulness with twisted meaning for the sake of showmanship. There are still some who believe this to be true, when it has been proven false. However, it is true that out of all fey, pixies prefer not to lie when they can, as some of the numina they typically follow prefer honesty and compassion to all species.

Sexes

Over all, the different genders of pixie are largely alike, with males being more mighty but being 5 cm shorter for their age on average, and female having more knowledge due to maturing faster physically and mentally by having live birth rather than hatching from eggs.

(m1) Those with this sex gene have +1 HP and +2 on Might Checks. [Pixie]

(m2) Those with this sex gene have +1 on Beauty Checks, +1 on Charisma Checks, +1 on Grip Checks, and +1 Breath Domain Adaption. [Pixie]

(f1) Those with this sex gene have +1 MA and +2 on Knowledge Checks. [Pixie]

(f2) Those with this sex gene have +2 on Beauty Checks, +1 on Charisma Checks, and +1 Harvest Domain Adaption. [Pixie]

(n1) Those with this sex gene have +1 FP and +2 on Learning Checks. [Pixie]

(n2) Those with this sex gene have +1 on Beauty Checks, +1 on Charisma Checks, +1d10/2 FP Recovery Rate Advantage, and +1 Madcap Domain Adaption. [Pixie]

For the sake of this playtest, the rules for food and drink that are optional are not being utilized, and respiration is utilizing the two-fail check mechanic for reducing from one level of respiration to another, rather than the more advanced mechanic.

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