Swanmay

A swanmay is a humanoid that can transform into a swan, via an induced form of lycanthropy.

Description: Swanmays are intelligent rangers (or druids) that can take the form of swans, mostly for mobility purposes. In humanoid form, they resemble beautiful women, often wearing light armor or attendant garb. The swan form gives some advantages in combat, but mainly improves communication with natural beings. As swanmays become more experienced, they can charm people, and speak with animals, as well as with plants. The most experienced swanmays can charm monsters and even gain a high resistance to weapons other than cold iron, which applies to both forms.

Behavior: These induced lycanthropes keep themselves to their own kind, never divulging about their true nature. They dislike noisy, ferocious, and evil beings.

Combat: In swan form, the creature takes reduced damage except against cold iron and has higher resistance to magical spells. In this form, they attack with flying leaps, buffeting their wings, and biting. In human form, they fight in light armor, and attack with swords and daggers at close range, and bows at long range.

Society: Such creatures are part of a secret order that wishes to protect the wilderness from evil. Only good-willed females are permitted to join the order, and must have history in protecting the wild. The order has additional requirements for recruits, such as being able to speak Sylvan and the ability to speak with animals. As well as meeting these requirements, an initiate must perform a great deed for another swanmay before being accepted into the order. When they are officially a part of the order, they accept a feathered token that allows them to change forms. The token can also be a signet ring or a feathered garment.

Homelands: Swanmays rarely travel outside a specific area, as they prefer living in sororities near rivers, lakes, and forests teeming with wildlife. Some can be found across the forests of Cormanthor. They are known to be found in the freshwater rivers and lakes of the Moonshae Isles, where the Swanmay River winds across the island of Alaron. There are legends of the Seven Swanmays who live in the King's Forest of Cormyr, granting good fortune to those who revere and protect life and nature of the woods, and bringing misfortune on those who endanger the forest with fires and poaches.

Beyond the Prime Material plane, swanmays can be found in the Beastlands.

Relationships: Swanmays get on well with like-minded forest dwellers, such as dryads and wood elves.

History: The first swanmay was a human ranger named Fionnghuala. Fionnghuala gave her life defending King Oberon of the Seelie Court from the Queen of Air and Darkness. In reward for her selfless bravery and sacrifice, Oberon raised her from the dead and made her a demigod, while his wife Titania offered her the magic white feather that transformed her into a part-fey being and made her into a swanmay.

Notable Swanmays

• Albaeryl Tanthlyn
• Dathae of Essembra
• Fionnghuala
• Lharave