FAUN

Thom couldn’t believe his luck. Last night he

stole the Ajaneus ruby, and tonight a gorgeous
woman had come to his room. He didn’t care
what she charged. She looked like she’d be
worth it, even with those furry legs. The horns
were actually kind of cute. She sat so close that
she was practically in his lap, and the low-cut
bodice gave him a spectacular view. “So, what
do you want to do tonight?” Thom asked with a
gap-toothed leer.
The woman leaned close to Thom’s ear and
whispered, “Damage.” Her hand drifted to his
crotch… and then Thom heard the sound of a
spring-loaded blade and felt the kiss of steel
between his legs. She pulled her bodice a little
lower, and Thom gulped when he saw the mark
of the assassin’s guild on her breast.

Fauns have a reputation as decadent creatures who

enjoy food, drink and... companionship... but they
actually seek art and knowledge more than they
seek pleasure. Fauns prefer trickery over brute force;
they do value physical prowess, just not on the
battlefield. Fauns are lovers and scholars, and they
have equal appreciation for fine wine or a good book.

Hands and Hooves

A faun is human from the waist up except for a pair
of curling horns or branching antlers on her head. A
faun has the legs and hindquarters of a deer or an
antelope. Fauns have the same range of skin, hair
and eye colors found in elves, and their ears are
either pointed or deer-like. All fauns are female.
Wine and Song
Fauns love strong drink. They like nothing better
than a good party with free-flowing ale and good
music, but they also have a dark side. They can fall
prey to deep depression or violent lust, especially
when drunk. Because of this most fauns partake of
alcohol only when they are among friends – but they
really cut loose when in faun settlements.
Faun culture is as musical as it is mercantile; in
their villages some things can literally be bought for
a song. Faun-made musical instruments are always
beautiful and well-crafted. Nearly all fauns own at
least one instrument, and they put as much effort
into maintaining their instruments as a warrior puts
into caring for his weapons.
True-ish Love
A faun's love life consists of a series of torrid long-
term affairs, brief flings, one-night stands or any
combination thereof. Their idea of fidelity is to have
only one lover at a time. Children born of unions
with humans, elves, half-elves, or satyrs are of the
father's race if male, while girl children are always
fauns. Matings with other races are never fruitful. A
boy child is given up to be raised by his father’s
people. Fauns prefer that their sons be raised by
their fathers, but this is not strictly necessary.
Fauns who leave their homes to travel among
other races are often scholars seeking knowledge.
Many others are artisans who trade in high-quality
musical instruments or examples of the brewer’s art.
The race also produces many rogues and sorcerers,
but fauns are best known as bards and entertainers.

One for the Books
Fauns go adventuring for one of two reasons (though
each has a multitude of variations); to seek new
knowledge and experiences, or to gain fortune and
glory. Any faun worthy of the name will ensure that
her adventures are immortalized in songs… even if
she has to write them herself.
Heroic fauns avoid the worst excesses of their
kind, but they still love rowdy songs, full cups and a
steady supply of lovers. In matters of the heart the
main difference between a faun and a satyr is that
the faun makes sure that all of her partners are
willing and that they know up front that the
arrangement is temporary.
Faun Names
F aun names have a Hellenic (Greco-Roman) sound
and usually end in "a," "e" or "is." The "ch"
combination is pronounced like a "k," and the "ae"
combination sounds like a long "a." An "e" at the
end can sound like "ee" or "ay."
A faun usually includes her mother’s name when
introducing herself for the first time. A full formal
introduction will also include the name of her
birthplace or hometown.
Faun Names: Alanthe, Brisatis, Chyra, Elpheda,
Galandre, Gaera, Herais, Ina, Irodane, Koranthe,
Lernis, Morathis, Nema, Pherene, Romache,
Senia, Tartelis, Urchaea, Vaelis, Yole
Full Names: Chyra, daughter of Koranthe; Pherene
born of Tartelis; Galandre Yoleschild of Waterdeep
Faun Traits
Fauns are as varied as the many species of deer and
antelope, but there are a number of traits that they
have in common.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score
increases by 2.
Age. Fauns mature slightly faster than humans
do; they are physically adult by age 16. They can live
to be about 500, and they retain their youthful
appearance and vigor well into their 400’s.
Alignment. Following rules is rarely high on a
faun’s list of priorities; they lean heavily toward the
gentler aspects of chaos. Their love of fun and frolic
– and their insistence that fun times be fun for all
involved – gives them a preference for good.
Size. Fauns are petite and slight of build. They
range in height from 4 to 5 feet and typically weigh
90-120 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Fauns are quick on the hoof. Your base
walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision. You are accustomed to the gloom
beneath the forest canopy. 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.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving
throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put
you to sleep.
Head Butt. You are proficient with unarmed
attacks with your horns, which do 1d4 + Strength
modifier damage of a type appropriate to your
subrace.
Virtuoso. You are proficient with the musical
instrument of your choice.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write
Common and Sylvan.
Subrace. The major difference between faun tribes
is whether their affinity is for forests or plains.
Choose one of these subraces.
No Boys Allowed
As written, fauns are an all-female race. If you prefer it in
your campaign you can ignore the reproduction rules
above and treat fauns as a case of sexual dimorphism;
they are the females of a species of which satyrs are the
male. Or you can simply allow male fauns – especially if
your campaign features female satyrs.
Leafdancer
Leafdancers resemble the deer that roam the world’s
forests; they have antlers rather than true horns.
They are the most creative of their kind and have a
natural gift for social skills.
While all fauns are flirts leafdancers literally treat
seduction as an art form. Their goal is not (usually)
to break hearts but to create a good time. An
encounter that doesn’t end in a tryst is still worth it
if the banter is sufficiently entertaining.
Your horns do piercing damage.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score
increases by 1.
Beguiling Melodies. You know the friends
cantrip. At 3rd level you learn the charm person
spell, and at 5th level you learn the calm emotions
spell. You can cast each of these spells once per day
without material or verbal components if you play a
musical instrument. Your spellcasting ability for
these spells is Charisma when casting this way.
These spells do not count against your spells known
or use spell slots when cast in this way.
Doe Eyes. You have advantage on Deception and
Persuasion tests if the target is a humanoid who is
attracted to your gender.
Plainstrider
The fauns of the grasslands have the horns of
antelopes. They live and travel in herds, and long
periods living in close quarters make it impossible to
avoid interpersonal friction. Plainstriders comprise
the majority of mean drunks among fauns.
What plainstriders lack in creativity (relative to
their leafdancer kin) they make up for in
combativeness. They are the warriors of faun-kind,
but because of their small stature they tend toward
the “fight smarter, not harder” school of thought.
Your horns do bludgeoning damage.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score
increases by 1.
Home on the Range. You have advantage on
Nature and Survival tests that pertain to grasslands.
Songs of Woe. You know the vicious mockery
cantrip. At 3rd level you learn the heroism spell, and
at 5th level you learn the blindness/deafness spell.
You can cast each of these spells once per day
without material or verbal components if you play a
musical instrument. Your spellcasting ability for
these spells is Charisma when casting this way.
These spells do not count against your spells known
or use spell slots when cast in this way.
College of the Vine Sage
“Let me buy you a drink,” she said, “It’s the least I
can do, seeing as it will be your last.”
For fauns wine and music aren't merely social
lubricants; they are also sources of power. Vine
Sages value wine and song for the power that they
grant over others and for the magic that music and
drink unleash from within themselves.
Fauns created this bardic college, and fauns and
satyrs are its most common adherents.
Bonus Proficiencies
When you join this college at 3rd level you gain
proficiency in the Insight skill. If you are already
proficient in that skill you may select another skill
from the bard skill list. You also gain proficiency
with brewer’s supplies if you don’t already have it.
In Vino Veritas
Also at 3rd level you can hear the truth in a person’s
words, especially if those words are slurred. You
double your proficiency bonus for Insight checks to
tell if someone is lying. You have advantage on the
check if the person has consumed alcohol within the
last hour.
For Medicinal Purposes
At 6th level you can infuse healing magic into wine
and spirits. You may expend one of your uses of
Bardic Inspiration to cause a single drink to act as a
potion of healing. If the recipient of the drink has a
Bardic Inspiration die from you the beverage acts as
a potion of greater healing instead.
Haunting Melody
At 14th level you learn the hold person spell if you
don’t already know it. You can maintain the spell
without making concentration checks by using your
bonus action to play a musical instrument. The
target has disadvantage on saving throws against
the spell for as long as it can hear you playing. When
used this way the spell has no effect on a creature
that cannot hear the music.