The Rothi The bitter taste of iron coated Lorelei's throat as she drank deep from the black vein on the wrist of Church Heliot. Immediately her stomach wrenched, and twisted. Her vision grew intense, like all the colors in the room grew more vibrant. More alive. Lorelei fell backwards into a large cushion placed there prior to the ritual, specifically for this circumstance. She laid there and stared up at the ceiling. It was painted with murals of angels and shadows, but most of it was blocked by the face of Church looking down on Lorelei. He clenched and unclenched his jaw muscles for a moment before speaking, "Happy first Birthday Lorelei. Today is the first day of your new...life. Today you join Clan Heliot, and the eternal embrace of the Daggoroth Empire." Dead but still very much alive The Rothi are a race of living dead. Blood still pumps through their veins black, thick, and viscous, but they no longer age. The Rothi, named after their creator Emperor Zinnath Daggoroth, are only twenty years old, though a singular Rothi can be anywhere from ten to a hundred years old. This is because a Rothi isn't born but she is created, and they weren't created until after The Harvest. The first Rothi were chosen by Emperor Daggoroth when he took Darkvale's Throne and given the gift of eternal life. Known as the Shadow Council the first four Rothi work with the Emperor to help lead his people and expand his looming shadow over the world. Each of these four went on to create their own clans, spreading the gift given to them by their Emperor, to those the Four deem worthy. It was quickly realized that only His Darkness, Zinnath Daggoroth and the Four are capable of creating the Rothi. While the Rothi have unique and considerable gifts, they pale in comparison to the Four and even more so to the Emperor himself. The Shadow Council The gift itself is known as The Taste of Shadow. For the gift to be passed on one must drink the blood from the veins from His Darkness Emperor Daggoroth or from one of the Four Shadow Council members: Church Heliot, Drace Trevil, Maeard Thraa'l, and Jek Ruudyn. Only humans and the sparse Valian can receive the gift, for some unknown reason the other races simply die when they drink the blood. Though, it is unknown if the Emperor himself can make the other races a Rothi, as the Four are the only ones known to have received the gift directly from the Emperor. Your Frist Bite Most Rothi start as Initiates: Humans or Valian that wish to be granted the Gift and petition a House for entry. All the houses, but Ruudyn, have initiates. This helps in two ways: subservient slave like cast who will do anything for The Gift, and a steady supply of blood for the House leaders. Though, some houses will give the Gift to a non-initiate if the head Rothi felt that person was especially deserving. Traits No matter what Bloodline you are a part of you share these traits with all other Rothi: Ability Score increase : You are hardier than most other living creatures. Your Constitution score increases by 2.

: You are hardier than most other living creatures. Your Constitution score increases by 2. Age: You live forever thanks to the Taste of Shadow, but you've only been a Rothi for twenty years at most.

You live forever thanks to the Taste of Shadow, but you've only been a Rothi for twenty years at most. Size: Human Rothi can be under 5 feet well over 6 feet tall. Valian Rothi tend to find themselves slightly taller than their human cousins, but tend to be more slender.

Human Rothi can be under 5 feet well over 6 feet tall. Valian Rothi tend to find themselves slightly taller than their human cousins, but tend to be more slender. Speed: You base walking speed is 30 feet.

You base walking speed is 30 feet. Languages: Common and Valian. Even the human Rothi tend to speak and read Valian.

Common and Valian. Even the human Rothi tend to speak and read Valian. Darkvision: You are accustomed to the Shadow of Darkvale. 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 not discern color, only shades of grey.

You are accustomed to the Shadow of Darkvale. 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 not discern color, only shades of grey. Thirst for the Living: Rothi need to eat and sleep just like normal people but they what they truly crave is the blood of sentient living creatures. If you sup on the blood of a living creature as part of a long rest you only need to rest for 4 hours. In addition you gain a blood die. Your blood die is a 1d6. You can only have one Blood Dice at a time. You may spend your Blood dice on any Strength and Dexterity Skill checks. Once you spend your Blood die you can not use it again until you feed on the blood of a sentient living creature during a Long Rest. The creature does not need to be dead nor do they die from this; a friend may offer their blood for a feeding.

Rothi need to eat and sleep just like normal people but they what they truly crave is the blood of sentient living creatures. If you sup on the blood of a living creature as part of a long rest you only need to rest for 4 hours. In addition you gain a blood die. Your blood die is a 1d6. You can only have one Blood Dice at a time. You may spend your Blood dice on any Strength and Dexterity Skill checks. Once you spend your Blood die you can not use it again until you feed on the blood of a sentient living creature during a Long Rest. The creature does not need to be dead nor do they die from this; a friend may offer their blood for a feeding. Four Houses: Each member of the Shadow Council has created their own bloodline by giving the Gift to those who they deem worthy. These bloodlines are known to people, and other Rothi as the Shadow Council. House Heliot, House Trevil, House Traa'l, and House Ruudyn. Choose one of these houses. House Heliot Church Heliot was the highest ranking Human in the Darkvale society before Sorath decimated the Valian people. In order to succeed in such an environment Heliot had to commit deeds that would make even the most vile Valian shy away. When Sorath the Blackwing called the souls of the Valian for The Harvest Heliot immediately took initiative. The city was in chaos, people fleeing into the jungle, looters taking everything in site, important buildings were being torched. With spear and dagger Church Heliot strode into the fray. It is said he left a trail of bodies from one end of Darkvale to the other. Heliot eventually stopped at the Cathedral of the First Shadow, and held the gates by himself, not allowing anyone to enter for two days.

When Zinnath Daggoroth returned to Darkvale after having defeated Sorath he was greeted by a burning city. The Cathedral of the First Shadow stood like a beacon of hope which Zinnath Daggoroth took as his castle until rebuilding could begin. When Emperor Daggoroth decided to create the Four Heliot was the first to get the offer, but the last to taste the gift. Church Heliot is a man who only moves when he wills it, but when he does anyone in his way better watch out. The House of Heliot shares those traits. House Heliot is set up like a military organization. Each member has their rank and knows their place. Church Heliot expects discipline and loyalty from his initiates. The brutal training forges strong bonds among the rank and file of House Heliot. Once training is done only the initiates who excelled are offered The Gift, and to truly join the House. True members of the house are granted much more freedom to pursue their own lives, as long as they stay loyal to House Heliot. The family treats each other with respect due their rank, even if disagreements happen. Occasionally, Heliot has offered The Gift to someone skilled enough to impress him. Many of his top Lieutenants are people he once called enemies. Ability Score Increase: Your Strength is increased by 1.

Your Strength is increased by 1. Heliot Weapon Training: You are proficient with spears, daggers, and hand crossbows.

You are proficient with spears, daggers, and hand crossbows. Blood of Heliot: Your hands are more claw like than other Rothi. Your unarmed attacks deal 1d4+ Strength slashing damage. You can also spend your Blood Dice to increase the claws damage to 1d8 + strength instead for 1 minute, and you add the result to the damage of the first claw attack you make.

Your hands are more claw like than other Rothi. Your unarmed attacks deal 1d4+ Strength slashing damage. You can also spend your Blood Dice to increase the claws damage to 1d8 + strength instead for 1 minute, and you add the result to the damage of the first claw attack you make. Vile Deeds: You have advantage with Intimidate Checks against those who know the name of House Heliot. House Trevil The call of Sorath summoned almost every single Valian around the globe. Drace Trevil heard the call but was not enthralled by the magic behind it. Drace, being curious as always, decided to head to Darkvale anyways. When he got the Vale he witnessed a mass of Valian crowded around the Shadow Tower awaiting their summoner Sorath .Each day more and more Valian would arrive, filling the city to the brink. Within the day Drace had set up a labratory in an abandoned building and began experimenting on the mindless Valian. They appeared to be normal, conscious people but whose only goal was to wait for Sorath. Drace's goal was to figure out the nature of this power, not to abuse it but just for the knowledge and the challenge. His experiments became more and more invasive. Many Valian expired under the care of Drace Trevil, but ultimately Drace discovered the source of the hex. He tried to find someone in charge in Darkvale to explain his findings but he was turned down at every door. After the Harvest, when Sorath took all the souls of the Valian, Drace brought his findings to Zinnath Daggoroth. The new Emperor was so impressed with his findings and his methods he offered him a spot on the Shadow Council. Curiosity got the best of Drace one more time. House Trevil is more of an academy than a school. Initiates are expected to attend lectures given to them by members, and to complete assignments. The experiments they preform are often morally questionable. If an initiate discovers something of worth to the House he or she will be offered the Gift. The family tends to treat each other as friendly rivals. They attempt to spy, and steal each others work, but if an outsider attempts the same thing the whole family will bear fang in defense. Don't be fooled by their internal struggles, as they are a close knit group Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence is increased by 1.

Your Intelligence is increased by 1. Bright Mind: You are proficient with two tools of your choice.

You are proficient with two tools of your choice. Blood of Trevil: You may spend your Blood dice on any intelligence skill check. You may also expend your blood dice in combat to use your intelligence on any melee or ranged attack instead of your strength or dexterity, the dice result is added to the attack.

You may spend your Blood dice on any intelligence skill check. You may also expend your blood dice in combat to use your intelligence on any melee or ranged attack instead of your strength or dexterity, the dice result is added to the attack. Morbid Curiosity: You have advantage on any checks involving creatures that have been killed in that last 24 hours. House Thraa'l Maeard arrived shortly after Sorath's Harvest. At the time of the Harvest Maeard was a young Valian who worked in a pleasure house in Laevel. Tired of the life she picked up and made her way to the Vale hoping to find work, or at least ply her trade in a place with no competition. Maeard set up shop in an old abandoned church on the outside of town. Word quickly spread of her services and she found her self with more work than she could handle. The combination of eternal twilight, and hundreds of Darkvale citizens looking for a sense of normalcy, a sense of comfort, quickly filled Maeard's coffers. Purchasing a newly built inn, Maeard began to hire other women, and men to work the trade. Once things started to settle down in Darkvale her work started to slow down too. Not wanting to return to the small church, or worse back to Laevel, Maeard began breaking the cardinal rule: Do not kiss and tell. Using all the secrets she had gained over the few years of working Maeard blackmailed, bribed, manipulated, and sweet talked her way into trade deals, back ally gambling, the Church of Gerana's dealings, and some say even information about the Emperor himself. Emperor Daggoroth took notice of her work and was impressed. He offered her a deal that she could not refuse. No one is really sure how to become a member of the Thraa'l family, which in it self is part of the test. The main host of the Family live with Maeard in her Inn, The Temptress, a dust den and house of pleasure. Outside the Inn the family tends to work as individuals, no one member really knows who all the other members are. It is not uncommon for small groups of Traa'l Rothi to form their own small family units. Even with this distance between the main House and the small familial units, if Maeard Thraa'l calls all members come running to help. Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma is increased by 1.

Your Charisma is increased by 1. Tools of the Trade: You are proficient in either Deception or Persuasion.

You are proficient in either Deception or Persuasion. Blood of Thraa'l: You can cast the cantrip Friends at will. If you spend your blood dice you may cast Charm Person, add the dice to the result. The casting stat for this is Charisma.