The Gloam Fae
Shadow & Truth — The Umbral Court
Lore of the Court
Overview
The Gloam Fae are not inherently evil. They are simply honest about the parts of existence others refuse to acknowledge — and in a world that generally prefers comfortable lies, this reads as threatening. Their emotional magic made them powerful empaths and, in the wrong hands, terrifying manipulators of belief. Most Gloam Fae are not in the wrong hands. They are simply in hands that everyone else has decided to distrust on principle.
Deep purples, near-blacks, and occasional midnight blues. Their eyes glow with a faint cold light that is unnerving in darkness. Their wings move like shadows — present but difficult to look at directly. They reveal nothing by accident and always know more than they have said. They find straightforwardness boring rather than virtuous.
The Gloam Fae who survived the Sundering are among the most adaptable, having always built their survival on operating in spaces others refused to enter. In Lumeris they are found wherever information is currency, wherever difficult truths need to be spoken, and wherever something must be done that more respectable organizations cannot be seen doing.
Children of Shadow
Once per short rest, the Gloam Fae become invisible in dim light or darkness until they attack, cast a spell, or step into bright light. Once per short rest, they whisper directly into the fears of one creature within thirty feet — that creature must succeed on a WIS saving throw or become frightened for one minute. Umbral Sight grants full vision in magical darkness. Truth Sense makes them impossible to deceive with enchantment or illusion magic — the DC to affect them is significantly higher. Shadow Step allows teleportation between dim or dark spaces within sixty feet as a bonus action.
Abilities & Traits
Playable Race Traits
STR
+1
INT
+6
DEX
+7
CON
+1
WIS
+3
CHA
+4
SPL
+6
HP
+2
Racial Traits
Shadowmeld
Once per short rest, become invisible in dim light or darkness until you attack, cast a spell, or step into bright light.
Fear Whisper
Once per short rest, whisper into the fears of one creature within 30 feet. They must succeed on a WIS save or become frightened of you for 1 minute.
Umbral Sight
Full vision in complete and magical darkness with no range limitation. Magical darkness spells do not impede your sight.
Truth Sense
Advantage on saves against enchantment and illusion magic. You always know when a magical effect is attempting to alter your perception.
Shadow Step
Once per short rest, teleport between two dim or dark spaces within 60 feet as a bonus action.
Advantages
- ▲Shadowmeld — invisible in dim light or darkness once per short rest
- ▲Fear Whisper — frighten a target with WIS save once per short rest
- ▲Umbral Sight — full vision in magical darkness
- ▲Truth Sense — advantage on saves against enchantment and illusion
- ▲Shadow Step — teleport between dark spaces as a bonus action
Disadvantages
- ▼Light sensitivity — disadvantage on attack rolls in direct bright sunlight
- ▼Social distrust — many formal institutions apply automatic suspicion to Gloam Fae
- ▼Emotional bleeding — cannot fully conceal emotional resonance from sensitive empaths
- ▼Court reputation — historical War of Veils framing creates persistent prejudice in some communities