Thrum

Named for the soft, gentle, low thrumming of their rapidly beating wings, thrums are often mistaken for sprites or pixies, and in a sense they are. Descended from fey who were cut off from the magical Feywild hundreds of years ago, thrums have become fairies without magic. Though they share the personality traits of their fey ancestors, thrums still mourn the loss of many of the abilities their magical cousins still have. Several legends exist for what caused the loss.

Whatever the true cause of the rupture, it is unknown is whether the link can ever be restored.

Tiny and Colorful

From afar thrums strongly resemble their pixie and sprite ancestors, but closer examination reveals that thrums are more muscular and heavier, the result of doing more things physically rather than magically. There is no restriction on the color of a thrum’s skin, hair, or eyes, but pinks, greens, blues and shades of orange are most common. Between their shoulder blades sprout gossamer wings like those of butterflies or dragonflies. Glitter like dust once coated these wings allowing them supernatural flight, but separation from the Feywild has weakened the magic. Thrum wings, often in multiple colors, reflect and refract light as beautiful rainbow-colored patterns.

Beliefs and Causes

Similar to most mundane humanoids, thrums are much more religious than their fey cousins. Most thrums worship deities of nature, but many also worship deities of community, mischief, or dreams.

Deities of magic appeal to those thrum who study arcana in an effort to regain a sense of the magic lost centuries ago. A growing number of thrums revere causes or ideals such as goodness, life, or freedom instead of deities. Prayers to restore the lost fey connection go unfulfilled, for it is not within the power of the deities. They did not sever the link, so they cannot repair it.

Names

The names Thrum have are as varied as their colors. Some take the names of elves or other well known fey creatures. Others name their children in the fashion of the societies that surround them, whether that be dwarf or orc. Still other Thrum change their names frequently, in keeping with their mischievous nature.

Thrum Traits

Your thrum character has numerous abilities and traits, many of which stem from those of your pixie and sprite ancestors.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score decreases by 3, your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
• Age. Due to a high metabolism and the loss of their feyness, thrums have a short lifespan. They mature faster than most races, reaching adulthood at 10 years and living about 50 years.
• Alignment. Most thrums are neutral good, taking after the pixies and sprites from which they have descended. Those lawful thurms are often guardians, while those who lean toward chaos are frequently free-spirited creators. Evilness is rare among thrums, usually the result of some terrible curse.
• Size. Thrums stand between 15 and 21 inches tall and weigh between 4 and 8 pounds. Your size is Tiny. You can only wield light weapons.
• Speed. You are fast for your size but still slower than larger humanoids. Your base walking speed is 20 feet.
• Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
• Stealthy Slightness. Your diminutive size makes it easier for you to perform stealthy actions such as hiding and moving silently. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) ability checks.
• Weakened Wings. Unlike your distant ancestors, you cannot fly freely with your weakened wings, but you can still flutter in any direction. You have a fly speed of 20 feet, but must end your turn on a solid surface, or fall. Alternatively, you can hover 5 feet off the ground for up to a minute, but cannot move until you touch ground again.
• Lightweight. Like many small animals, you can fall short distances without taking any damage. Your light weight and wings reduce all falling distances by 20 feet when calculating falling damage. You take no falling damage from heights of 20 feet or less.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.
• Communities. Thrums have distinct ways of living within their societal clusters that has changes little over the centuries. You can choose to be a country thrum or a city thrum.

Country Thrum

A country thrum’s rural lifestyle gives rise to a strong connection to the natural world.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Rural Affinity. You gain proficiency in either the Nature or Animal Handling skill.
• Vigilant. Viewed as prey by many predators your size or larger, you keep careful watch for possible danger. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to spot hidden enemies.

City Thrum

As a city thrum, your urban lifestyle gives you access to many different magics and people.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
• Urban Affinity. You gain proficiency in either the Arcana or Investigation skill.
• Wariness. Your natural suspicion of strangers has been honed by your time among other folks. You have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks made to see if someone is lying.