Hag Folk

Hag folk are humans who have an ancestry that traces back to hags, the fey creatures of myth and nightmare. Whether hags are all in fact evil is controversial, with some hag folk insisting that their hag forebears are misrepresented in lore and, indeed, are the victim of misogyny targeting older women who chose to live alone and practice natural herbalism. First of all, though hag folk can be any gender, the large majority are women. Second, they tend to age very quickly, but live unusually long lives, taking on an elderly appearance at a young age. They often have intensely focused, sometimes unsettling eyes, as well as claws on their fingertips.

Ancestral Traits

Hag folk descend from hags, an ancestry which grants them some unique traits.

Age. Hag folk reach adulthood at the age of 13 and appear elderly by age 30, but generally live for 200 years.

Size. Hags are human in size and shape. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base speed is 30 feet.

Claws. Hag folk have serrated claws on their fingertips. On a hit, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Senses. Darkvision. Hag folk’s magical ancestry grants them superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Fearful Visage. Once a day, a hag folk can call on their hag heritage to twist their face into a frightful appearance. As an action, you can choose one creature whom you can see and who can see you within 30 feet of you, contorting your face and frightening them. The creature must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened of you for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if you are within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to your fearful visage for the next 24 hours.

Cultural Traits

Hag folk communities most often are removed from civilization, found in remote locations in forests, or swamps, or mountain vales. These groups are matriarchal and practice herbalism and witchcraft. Though they keep to themselves, members of hag folk communities are accepting of others, as long as they are not openly hostile or prejudiced against hag folk themselves. Members of hag folk communities tend to form into triads of three members each, though members of these triads often switch from group to group.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and Charisma by 1.

Alignment. Hag folk society is open minded and accepting of those that accept them as well. They tend toward chaos.

Herb Lore. Hag folk villages usually practice herbalism. You have proficiency with Herbalism Kit.

Witchcraft. Members of hag folk communities practice special magical traditions, both in isolation and together with one of their triads, colloquially called covens. You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the disguise self spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the invisibility spell, without requiring the material component, once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast these spells when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You can speak Common and Sylvan.