# Race: Genasi > [!info] Quick Facts > | | | > |---|---| > | **Rarity** | Rare | > | **Perception in Gryth** | Neutral. Treated as an oddity rather than a threat. | > | **Subraces** | [[#Air Genasi\|Air Genasi]], [[#Earth Genasi\|Earth Genasi]], [[#Fire Genasi\|Fire Genasi]], [[#Water Genasi\|Water Genasi]], [[#Ice Genasi\|Ice Genasi]], [[#Smoke Genasi\|Smoke Genasi]], [[#Mud Genasi (Ooze)\|Mud Genasi (Ooze)]], [[#Lava Genasi (Magma)\|Lava Genasi (Magma)]] | > | **Guide Section** | Rare Races | ## Overview Genasi are native to the elemental planes, and they are the children of powerful elemental beings. On those planes they are not rare at all. They number in the multitudes, hold cities of fire and cities of water, and have cultures as old and as intricate as anything on the material plane, which almost nobody in Gryth has seen or would believe. On Gryth they are something else entirely. Here a genasi is an oddity rather than a people, and there is no genasi homeland and never has been. ## How They Arrive Both halves of the genasi account are true at once, and they are not in conflict. A genasi is the child of a powerful elemental being, and a genasi is born into this world at the places where this world and the elemental planes press together: faultlines in the fabric of things, and the rare regions where elemental energy pools deeply enough to matter. That is why a genasi can appear with no elemental parent anybody can produce. The bloodline arrives through the faultline rather than through a household, and once it is in a mortal line it stays there, which is how the scattered genasi families and small communities of Gryth came to exist. Whatever their size and shape, and whatever their skin is made of, they remain humanoid, and every effect that governs a humanoid governs them. ## Strong Wills and Loud Names What genasi lack in numbers they make up for in presence. They tend towards strong will and considerable charisma, and the combination with a visibly elemental body means that a genasi who does anything at all tends to be remembered for it. Gryth holds a long list of famous genasi out of all proportion to how few of them there are. [[NPC - Redheart|Redheart]], sovereign of the [[Region - The Bleeding Isles|Bleeding Isles]] and the most powerful of the seven Pirate Lords, is a fire genasi and a direct descendant of Anmata the Flame. The frozen island of [[Region - Glaszar|Glaszar]] is said to be ruled by an ice genasi warlock who promised the whole of it to something nameless in the void in exchange for power. Neither is typical. Both are entirely characteristic. ## Tied to the Ground They Stand On A genasi’s body binds them to places that suit it, and most genasi on Gryth drift towards country their element can live in. Fire genasi keep to the thermal vents of the Drymountains, where secluded tribes of them dwell among stone that is never cold. Air genasi have villages hidden in the clouds above the canopy of the Syndani Forest. Water genasi gather on coasts and great rivers, and the para-elemental kinds go to stranger places still. The effect is that genasi are seldom evenly distributed. A traveller can cross three countries without seeing one and then find a dozen living together beside a volcano. ## Four, and Four More Four kinds are relatively well documented, corresponding to the four elemental planes. Four more arise where those planes grind against one another, in the regions old scholarship calls para-elemental. These are far rarer, and a genasi of the para-elemental lines may go an entire lifetime without meeting another of their own kind. ## Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Constitution score increases by 2. **Age.** Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years. **Creature Type.** You are a Humanoid. **Size.** Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents. Your size is Medium or Small; choose when you select this race. **Speed.** Your base walking speed is 30 feet if you are Medium, or 25 feet if you are Small. **Languages.** You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants. ## Subraces ### Air Genasi Air genasi are quick and lightly built, and their hair moves when nothing else does. **Rarity:** Rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. As genasi generally. #### Air Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 1. **Unending Breath.** You can hold your breath indefinitely while you are not incapacitated. **Mingle with the Wind.** You can cast the *levitate* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it. ### Earth Genasi Earth genasi are heavy-boned, patient, and move through broken ground as though it were a cleared road. **Rarity:** Rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. As genasi generally. #### Earth Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Strength score increases by 1. **Earth Walk.** You can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement. **Merge with Stone.** You can cast the *pass without trace* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it. ### Fire Genasi Fire genasi run hot to the touch and their eyes hold a light of their own. **Rarity:** Rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. As genasi generally. #### Fire Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Intelligence score increases by 1. **Darkvision.** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey. **Fire Resistance.** You have resistance to fire damage. **Reach to the Blaze.** You know the *produce flame* cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the *burning hands* spell once with this trait as a 1st-level spell, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells. ### Water Genasi Water genasi are cool-skinned, unhurried, and entirely at ease beneath the surface. **Rarity:** Rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. As genasi generally. #### Water Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Wisdom score increases by 1. **Acid Resistance.** You have resistance to acid damage. **Amphibious.** You can breathe air and water. **Swim.** You have a swimming speed of 30 feet. **Call to the Wave.** You know the *shape water* cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the *create or destroy water* spell once with this trait as a 2nd-level spell, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells. > [!note] The para-elemental lines > The four lineages that follow, Ice, Smoke, Mud, and Lava, arise where two elemental planes grind against one another. They are extremely rare, far rarer than the four core genasi, and almost nobody in Gryth knows they exist at all. A member of one of these lineages will more often be taken for an unusual example of a core genasi than recognised for what they are. ### Ice Genasi Ice genasi carry the blood of the para-elemental plane of Ice, and are built for frozen waste. **Rarity:** Extremely rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. Extremely rare, and almost entirely unknown. Most people who meet one have never heard of the para-elemental lines and have no opinion ready. #### Ice Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 1. **Cold Resistance.** You have resistance to cold damage. **Amphibious.** You can breathe air and water. **Frost Walker.** You can move across difficult terrain made of ice and snow without expending extra movement. **Meld with Ice.** You know the *frostbite* cantrip, and you can cast the *armour of Agathys* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, or Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells; choose when you select this subrace. ### Smoke Genasi Smoke genasi carry the blood of the para-elemental plane of Smoke. Their hair takes the form of billowing smoke and is never still. **Rarity:** Extremely rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. Extremely rare, and almost entirely unknown. The smoke draws stares rather than judgement. #### Smoke Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Charisma score increases by 1. **Darkvision.** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey. **Ashen Body.** You can breathe and see through smoke as if it were clean air. **Reign of Smoke.** You know the *minor illusion* cantrip, and you can cast the *fog cloud* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. The spell produces smoke instead of fog. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, or Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells; choose when you select this subrace. ### Mud Genasi (Ooze) Mud genasi carry the blood of the para-elemental plane of Ooze. They are always dripping with sludge. **Rarity:** Extremely rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. Extremely rare, and almost entirely unknown. Reactions tend to be practical rather than hostile, mostly concerning the furniture. #### Mud Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Wisdom score increases by 1. **Darkvision.** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey. **Poison Resistance.** You have resistance to poison damage. **Body of Sludge.** You can squeeze through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide, provided you are wearing and carrying nothing. You also have advantage on ability checks you make to initiate or escape a grapple. **Moulder of Muck.** You know the *acid splash* and *poison spray* cantrips, and you can cast the *grease* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, or Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells; choose when you select this subrace. ### Lava Genasi (Magma) Lava genasi carry the blood of the para-elemental plane of Magma. Their skin is cracked, and something glows beneath it. **Rarity:** Extremely rare **Perception in Gryth.** Neutral. Extremely rare, and almost entirely unknown. What wariness they attract is about the heat, not the person. #### Lava Genasi Traits **Ability Score Increase.** Your Strength score increases by 1. **Darkvision.** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey. **Fire Resistance.** You have resistance to fire damage. **Volcanic Might.** You know the *thaumaturgy* cantrip, and you can cast the *searing smite* spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, or Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells; choose when you select this subrace. ## Connections - [[NPC - Redheart]] — Fire genasi; sovereign of the Bleeding Isles and most powerful of the seven Pirate Lords - [[Region - The Bleeding Isles]] — Ruled by Redheart, a fire genasi - [[Region - Glaszar]] — Said to be ruled by an ice genasi warlock --- ## Gallery ![[Race - Genasi.jpg]] --- *See also: [[Races]]*