Hex Blood

Key Similarities with Faerun's Version

• Hexblood is not a race in itself, but instead a kind of Kith who through accident or purpose, makes a bargain with a powerful fey or druid, usually a hag. This imbues them with magical powers, while also physically altering them. This might be enacted by the hexblood in question, or their parent or someone else speaking on their behalf (for example a parent offering their first born child to a hag).
• Mostly, they resemble the appearance of their normal race, while having some noticeable alterations. Hexbloods will tend to have greenish skin, at least slightly, and will have eyes that are extremely bright yellow, orange, or green in color. Their hair will grow more long and luscious than other members of their race, and will usually come in shades of green, blue, red, or purple. Finally, their most distinctive feature will be their crown, a kind of natural headpiece which grows from their temples and wraps around or through their hair atop their skull. It might look like vines, thorns, leaves, or some other naturally occurring plant in the shape of a crown. Hexbloods might appear more beautiful than the average member of their race, though this depends on how much they have embraced their call.
• In many parts of the world, Hexbloods are feared and even sometimes hunted. Their association with hags makes communities assume that they are up to no good. That being said, hexbloods who avoid the call can maintain a mostly normal appearance, and in such prejudiced communities might try to pass for another race (for example, they might say that their green skin is such because they are quarter-orc). That being said, hexbloods are so rare, that many folks won't recognize one on sight anyway.

Key Differences with Faerun's Version

• Hexbloods feel a call within them towards the hag that they made their bargain with, or perhaps towards becoming a hag eventually themselves. They may fight off this call, or embrace it, but it will always find a place deep within their hearts.
• Hexbloods tend to live longer than other members of their race (see above) as the fey energy infused within them keeps them unnaturally healthy, and will noticeably look still just as youthful and beautiful well into their older years, not showing signs of aging, like grey hair or wrinkles usually until the last 10th or so of their average lifespan (for example, a hexblood human might not start to look truly aged until their 80s).
• Those hexbloods taking steps to embrace the call towards a hag or coven will begin to physically change in their appearance - their nails will grow long and sharp, their skin will begin to turn leathery and might grow feathers or scales, their eyes will sharpen, similar to a cat's, their hair will become gnarled and patchy, and they will begin to become naturally hunched over as they walk.

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