Vila (HB)

All spirits belong to a sphere, a central concept around which their essence revolves. For Vilas, that sphere is the land of Zamanora itself; the places where life first flourished, where green leaves unfurl, rivers race bright and untamed, glades lie sun-kissed, and dew glimmers like crystal. That is a Vila. A spirit of life in its most primal form, bound and shaped by the wild heart of Zamanora. Old tales tie their origin to the nourishing goddess Namyra, and from that bond flow their ties to the waters of the land, their affinity for magical healing and their telltale streaming hair.

Physiologically, Vilas are Elementals, yet they look deceptively like members of the mortal races, with peculiarly long hair, that stirs and flows as if alive, even when no wind touches it. They are lithe and graceful, with alterations depending on where they dwell. Much like Humanoids, they form communities and socialize with each other, seemingly for no other reason than the joy of creating bonds. It is commonly believed that this peculiarity is due to Namyra's influence, as Vilas are considered the goddess' favored spirits. This belief is enhanced by their innate ability to use restorative magic, calling upon the healing properties of water and plants to close wounds and restore illness.

True to their goddess and their charge, these spirits display a fondness for music and art. Unlike most spirits, they usually appear in groupings of five or more which the Zamanori call "choruses" for their love of dance and song. They will happily invite passers-by to join them, but one must be careful, for these spirits can dance endlessly, far beyond the limits of mortal exhaustion. Those who betray their kindness witness an entirely different side of these spirits, for the same flowing hair that crowns them with beauty can tighten like a noose, and a chorus of Vilas will strangle the offender without hesitation or remorse.

Vilas are met with mixed receptions by Zamanori communities. Some welcome them for their knowledge of medicinal plants and healing abilities, while others view them with apprehension and fear due to their spiritual nature. Whatever their reception however, Vilas who venture into settlements soon discover an inherent difficulty. Being spirits of the wilderness, they are overcome with unease in the confines of a village, even more so under the roof of a building. The studied shapes and right angles of constructed dwellings vex them, making them unable to settle in such places. For that reason, a Vila never stays among mortals for long. Even in the rare cases where love for a person or community may keep them in a village for years, they eventually succumb to the call of the wilderness, turning to the horizon like the water that drives them.

Elemental (Spirit)

Medium (4-7 feet tall) or Small (2-4 feet tall)

You can use your hair to grasp things. It has a reach of 5 feet, and can lift a number of pounds equal to twice your Strength score. You can use it to perform simple tasks such as the following: lift, drop, hold, push, or pull an object or a creature; open or close a door or a container. You can also use your hair to grapple someone, without requiring any free hands. Your hair can't wield weapons or shields or do anything that requires manual precision, such as using tools or magic items or performing the somatic components of a spell.

Your very nature grants you access to the arcane. Depending on your level, you know the spells described in the Vila Spellcasting table. You can cast each of these spells that are not cantrips once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast them in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. You can't cast these spells if your hair is tied, or if you are using it to grapple a creature or hold onto an object. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for the spells you cast with this trait (choose the ability when you select this species).

Vila Spellcasting:

You have proficiency in the Performance skill.

You appear as a Humanoid to creatures that have a Veilmark score lower than 25, or have a Passive Perception of 13 or lower.

As a spirit, you are sensitive to matters of the Hidden World. You have Advantage on Wisdom and Intelligence checks related to such matters.