Saoirsidh

Centuries ago, albino children suddenly began to
appear among the Sidh servants of the Danaan race. These children were forbidden
to mate for fear of a major change in the Danaan's standard of living, and
eventually cast out altogether. Embittered, the albinos fled beneath the
surface of the world. Over their long exile, these albinos bread true, and no
darker-skinned children have been born in millennia.

Being
subterranean, these Bahnsidh, or "lost Sidh," did well to survive the
onslaught of the Second Incursion of Kaos, though the shattering of the Isles
did destroy a number of their cities. While a significant portion of their
population remained beneath the Faerie Isles, greater numbers traveled through
the Underdark to settle beneath the World's End Mountains of Ceilar, though far
from the cities and tunnels of the Ædar.          For
centuries, they were generally unheard above the surface, save when their
leader, the Shadowspeaker, and her entourage would travel to the surface to
take part in the Sidh Speakers' Council. Her attendance, even then, was rare as
she was often overlooked by the other, more prominent Sidh subraces.

Before
the rise of Az, the Bahnsidh had nearly fallen entirely into his worship
through the manipulation of his Lwnasidh agent, Melaryss man Ullaryen. The
intervention of adventurers from the surface, however, revealed the true nature
of the fallen archangel before his worship had progressed beyond recovery. As a
result, they turned against the false god and, during the Third Incursion of
Kaos, emerged from their subterranean domain at a critical time in the war and
helped to turn the tides against the forces of darkness.

        As a
reward for their dedication and sacrifice, Aeana, the young eidolon of freedom
and curiosity, rewarded them by removing their high sensitivity to bright light
and restoring them to life on the surface. The goddess renamed them the
Saoirsidh, meaning "elves that have been freed," but which can also
be translated as "the people of starlight," which has earned them the
nickname "starlight elves." Because of her gift, the Saoirsidh
consider the goddess Aeana their racial patron despite her Grynsidh appearance.

        The Saoirsidh have pale skin with a pearlescent,
blue quality that seems to glow in the light of the sun. Their eyes, once pink,
are still pale but tend towards blue tones. Their hair ranges from white to
pale blue or light pink. They often still bear pink markings on their skin
similar to those of the other Sidh races, albeit in less abundance. Now under
the rule of their re-christened Starspeaker, the Saoirsidh have settled in and
rebuilt several previous-ruined Danaan cities on the Ceilari mainland,
including site in the forests along the western coast of the Troubled Lands,
the eastern reaches of Seawn, and the southern expanse of Ancellyon.

## Game Information

In
addition to the traits common to all Sidh, the Saorsidh gain the following
abilities:

* Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score is increased by 1.

* Darkvision. Your darkvision has a range of 60 feet.

* Close-Quarters Fighting. Although they are no longer confined to a subterranean lifestyle, the Saoirsidh are still trained in the traditional weapons and fighting styles that they once used to fight in narrow spaces. You gain proficiency with the shortsword and hand crossbow. Because of your training in wrestling techniques, you add your proficiency bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks for the purposes of grappling, even if you do not have proficiency in Athletics.

* Never Forget the Past. The Saoirsidh race has sworn to never forget its exile, its sacrifices, and its redemption. All of their children are taught to remember these things. You have proficiency in the History skill.

* Magically Gifted. You know one cantrip from the Sorcerer or Bard spell lists. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this cantrip.