Firbolgs

**Firbolgs** are among the very rarest, and the very oldest of the races in Maíandir. When elves came to the Argent Basin, firbolgs had already lived there for hundreds of years, hibernating in small isolated communities hidden deep in the Everglades. Peaceful to their core, they had little quarrel with the elves, and kept mostly to themselves even as the holdings of the Elven Empire sprung up around them. As long as their precious forests remain intact, they are content.

## Description

Firbolgs love nothing more than a peaceful day spent among the trees of an old forest. They see forests as sacred places, representing the heart of the world and monuments to the durability of life. Tall and gangly, with soft placid features and calm soothing voices, they live their lives amongst the trees and wildlife, coexisting as peacefully as they can with nature.

However, despite their peaceful nature, firbolgs can be quite formidable if provoked. They possess a strong affinity with arcane magic, and a small group in every tribe is trained from birth in weaponry and martial skills. Firbolgs understand that nature is harsh and can be brutal, and they do not hesitate to protect themselves as long as the balance is maintained.

## Culture & Society

In their role as caretakers, firbolgs live off the land while striving to remain in balance with nature. Their methods reflect common sense and remarkable re­sourcefulness. During a bountiful summer, they store away excess nuts, fruit, and berries. When winter ar­rives, they scatter everything they can spare to ensure the animals of the wood survive until springtime. In a firbolg's eyes, there is no greater fault than greed. The firbolgs believe that the world remains healthiest when each creature takes only what it needs. Material goods, especially precious gems and gold, have little appeal to them.

Firbolgs have a talent for druidic magic. Their cultural reverence for nature, combined with their strong and insightful minds, makes learning such magic an in­stinctive part of their development. Almost every firbolg learns a few spells, typically those used to mask their presence, and many go on to master nature magic. Firbolgs who become druids serve as tribal lead­ers, a task that is passed on between generations. With every action the tribe takes, the druids weigh not only the group's needs, but the effect each action will have on the forest and the rest of the natural world. Fir­bolg tribes would rather go hungry than strain the land during a famine.

## Properties

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Firbolg Magic.*** You can cast the *detect magic* and *disguise self* spells with this trait. When you use this version of *disguise self*, you can seem up to 3 feet shorter or taller. Once you cast either of these spells with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait.
* ***Hidden Step.*** As a bonus action, you can magically turn invisible until the start of your next turn or until you attack, make a damage roll, or force someone to make a saving throw. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Powerful Build.*** You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
* ***Speech of Beast and Leaf.*** You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with Beasts, Plants, and vegetation. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.