Adapting the Races of 5e to Thylea

Odyssey of the Dragonlords accounts for the following races to take part in and exist as a part
of Thylea: humans, elves, half-elves, halflings, dwarves, dragonborn, and gnomes (the settler
races), as well as satyrs, nymphs, centaurs, minotaurs, sirens, and medusae (the native and
cursed races). This document is meant to provide ideas for incorporating many of 5e’s other
races into the game, at the DM’s discretion.

Settlers and Native Races

Settler Races:
● Aasimar (Five Descendent)
● Dragonborn
● Duergar
● Drow
● Kobold
● Orc
● Svirfneblin

Native Races:
● Aarakocra
● Aasimar (Titan Descendent)
● Changelings
● Eladrin
● Firbolg
● Goblinoids
● Goliath (Amazons)
● Grung
● Shadar-kai
● Kenku
● Loxodon
● Tabaxi
● Tortle
● Triton
● Yuan-ti

Aarakocra

Children of the Storms and Sky. Aarakocra are natives of Thylea, one of the favoured children
of Sydon. Aarakocra, Sydon decided, were to test his mighty storms and rejoice in lives led in
his blessed skies - but also to pluck out the eyes of his foes. Aarakocra have a reputation as
daring thrill-seekers, not only being foolish enough to brave Sydon’s storms, but feeling
compelled to do so. No Aarakocra is as happy as they are when beating their wings against the
mighty winds of a great gale.

Siren Sworn… Sort Of. Sirens hold something of an ancient enmity towards Aarakocra, a
relationship that the Aarakocra don’t particularly feel strongly about, viewing the Sirens as a
race of jealous younger siblings, envious that they are not the favourite child. Nonetheless, the
two races share dominion over the sky. Occasionally Aeries of Aarakocra will allow Sirens
entrance to their secretive, isolated roosts, however it is just as likely one will see bands of
Aarakocra battling Sirens overhead.

Aiolos. While Aarakocra have many scattered Aeries in which they roost across Thylea, their
greatest settlement is known as Aiolos, a village carved into the face of a cliff, shielding it from
the worst of their father’s storms, while also allowing the birdfolk to leap into them.

Aasimar
The Aasimar are perfect for this setting. Simply consider them to be a race of divine
descendents of the Five Gods or the Titans.
Consider having any race capable of producing an Aasimar, with divine aesthetics applied and
mechanically making them an Aasimar, but otherwise allowing them to still be an elf, centaur,
etc. No reason only humans can be touched/descended from the gods.

As an Aasimar, you are likely going to want to take The Demigod epic path, and given the racial
stat bonuses, Aasimar are also good candidates for taking on the Demigod Sorcerous Origin,
especially the Scourge Aasimar.

Changelings
Changelings are the servitors, spies, and children of Lutheria. They are despised and distrusted
even amongst other creatures that venerate Lutheria. The Priest of Lutheria and Thief of
Mystros are appropriate backgrounds should you wish to allow Changeling PCs in your version
of Thylea.

Dragonborn
Dragonborn are the descendents of the actual Dragons that once bore the Dragonlords into the
skies of Thylea. During the end days of the First War, they were sequestered away on the
Islands of the Sleepy Dragon, where they still revere their draconic ancestors and their fabled
Dragonlord heroes in secret. The islands are protected by the magic of Mystros the rest of the
Five Gods, which shields their home from the eyes of Sydon and Lutheria, who would surely
visit endless horrors upon them were they to be discovered.

Dragonborn PCs make excellent candidates for either The Gifted One Epic Path or for Oath of
the Dragonlords Paladins given their close ties to the Dragonlords and dragons themselves.

The arrival and sight of a Dragonborn is sure to be a great spectacle wherever they go.
Worshippers of the Five Gods and those who still honour the Dragonlords will consider them to
have been sent directly by the Five and the Dragonlords of old to save the land, slay the titans,
and avenge the deaths of the original Dragonlords. Meanwhile, the Order of Sydon and all other
factions and peoples that revere the Titans are certain to consider the mere existence of the
Dragonborn to be grave insults and are likely to target them in their plots, not to mention in
combat.

Duergar
Consider making the Duergar a ‘betrayer’ group of Thylean Settlers, having thrown their lot in
with Sydon, operating forges and supplying his armies with weapons during the war against the
Dragonlords. Duergar may occupy the Mithril Forge as enemies during that particular Labour.
Alternatively, the Duergar are fanatically devoted to Volkan, the God of Forges, and could be
found at any temple or smithy of his, including his home in Estoria where they act as his guards,
servants, and forge-hands.

Drow
The Drow are a ‘betrayer’ group of Thylean settlers, having thrown their lot in with Lutheria.
They may appear on her barge, Hypnos the Throne of Dreams, or as cultists across Thylea.
Drow ‘settlements’ could be based off of Hypnos, each being a garden barge of deranged
decadence of their own, ruled over by a priestess of Lutheria.

The background Warlock - Priest of Lutheria is a good fit for drow characters.

Eladrin
Make the Eladrin all out faeries. They aren’t elves. Their creature type is fey, and they are
natives of Thylea that exclusively worship the Mother Goddess rather than any of her children.
The Eladrin get along well enough with some settlers (elves and humans more so than dwarves
and half-orcs, for example), but are just as likely to be cruel and capricious, playing horrible
tricks whenever the mood takes them.

Alternatively consider making the Eladrin "Half-Fey" descendents of unions between settler
races and nymphs.

Firbolg
The Firbolg are natives of Thylea and are considered as close to nature as any Nymph, Satyr,
or Centaur. Firbolg are devotees of the Mother Goddess and the Oldwood and are fiercely
protective of the untouched lands of Thylea. Otherwise, they get along well enough with the
settler races, provided they remain respectful of Thylea (both the Mother Goddess and the land
itself).

The background suggestions Keeper of the Oldwood and Oldwood Tracker are both fantastic
fits for the Firbolg. The premise behind the Centaur Mystic background is also appropriate.

Gith
I recommend against utilizing the Gith in this setting. But, should you choose to implement or
allow them, Gith PCs should take The Lost One Epic Path. Their great plane-hopping ships
crashed somewhere in the Astral Sea and they found themselves washed up on Thylea’s
forgotten shores.

Goblinoids
Consider making them all Thylean Natives, being children of Sydon (Hobgoblins) and Lutheria
(Goblins and Bugbears) respectively. In this case, it is unlikely they’ll be player characters, but
should you allow it, apply the Monstrous Races ideas to their Epic Path options.

Goliath
Goliaths could be used to create an actual Amazon race, should you prefer that over the idea of
the Amazons being a collection of different races. Alternatively, they could be considered a form
of Giantkin that is less favoured by Sydon, or one that was born from the unions of Gygans and
other races.

The Amazon Warrior, Oldwood Tracker, and Tribal Warrior backgrounds are fitting for Goliaths.

Grung
The Grung can be placed in any rainforest/jungle-like environment. They are Thylean natives
and their use of poisons and toxins to inebriate and domesticate other races as slaves makes
them a fun comparison to the Lotus Eaters.

Lotus Feeders. Rather than outright aggressive slavers, the grung are tricksters who deceive
others into partaking in the pleasures of their hospitality, only for them to never wish to leave.

Foes of the Furies. The grung see their actions as a loophole in the Oath of Hospitality, though
its up to DMs as to whether or not they as a race have become enemies of the Furies because
of their constant transgressions. If they are enemies of the Furies, then their maze-homes may
be a result of that, utilizing tricks and traps to protect themselves from righteous retribution.

Consider utilizing the village of Dungrunglung (Tomb of Annihilation, pg. 49) for encounters with
the Grung and their own twisted form of hospitality.
Shadar-kai
Consider making the Shadar-kai another native race of Thylea, possibly being from Hades over
the actual lands of Thylea.

Bound by Fate. The Shadar-kai see them as servants of the Fates and the Furies and can be
found on the Island of the Fates. They act as assassins, spies, and agents of the Fates.

The Servant of the Fates background is appropriate for Shadar-kai.

Kenku
Kenku could work as a race of Thylean natives who were cursed by the Titans for telling their
secrets to the Dragonlords.
Kobold
The kobolds are servitors of the dragonborn, left to tend the Islands of the Sleepy Dragon by the
Five Gods. See Dragonborn for more information.

Loxodon
The elephant folk could work as inhabitants of the steppes of Thylea, living as nomadic wanders
akin to the centaurs. See Firbolg for ideas on implementing the Loxodons, as the two have
some overlap in their whole ‘gentle giant’ schtick.

Orc
Orcs do not exist in Thylea as per the module, but if you really want to include them, then simply
have it so that generations of half-orcs breeding resulted in full-blooded orcs eventually being
born again or something.

Svirfneblin
The svirfneblin are considered a ‘betrayer race’ for having thrown their lot in with the Titans
during the wars of old. The gnomes were treated far worse than their elven and dwarven
counterparts, being enslaved by the Gygans and used as slaves in their armies. Many
svirfneblin would later go on and attempt to rebel against the Gygans, eventually aiding the
Dragonlords in defeating the favoured people of Sydon. For this reason alone the Five did not
place upon them the Curse of the Dawn (sunlight sensitivity).

Modern svirfneblin are widely looked down upon by other settler races in Thylea, even amongst
other gnomes. Viewed as distrustworthy, fairweather friends, many svirfneblin have been forced
into lives of crime to survive. The Thief of Mystros background is appropriate for Svirfneblin.

Tabaxi
The Tabaxi make a decent addition to Thylea. They live in the wilds as hunters and minstrels,
and may get along well enough with Satyrs. They should be considered Thylean natives with
ties to Lutheria over Sydon.
Tortles
Tortles in Thylea are considered one of the native races, however they were never favoured by
Sydon or the other Titans, and instead were often forced into servitude for their preferred
creations. As a result, the Tortles threw their lot in with the Dragonlords upon their arrival to
Thylea, and continue to venerate them to this day.

For more, please look to my Adapting the Tortle Package to Thylea document.

Triton
Tritons could work well as a race that dwells within the Sunken City of the Sirens. Their lore
makes them feel at home in Thylea.

Tritons are Thylean natives that spurned their creator, Sydon, and now oppose his sauhaguin
servants in battles for control of the deep.

Yuan-ti
The Yuan-ti are a good fit for a race that worships Lutheria, and as one that fills the ranks of the
Cult of the Snake.