Slyth

Slyths were a race of humanoid shapechangers of the Underdark who cared deeply for its environment and worked to ensure it was not defiled. Though not a populous race, the ooze-like denizens of the underground had a strong influence in the Night Below and made their presence felt in many ways over the course of their long lives.

Description
In their true forms, slyths were amorphous creatures somewhere between liquids and solids in consistency, resembling puddles of mud, syrup, or oil. They also possessed humanoid forms, appearing as bald humans of varied skin tones, with brown tones being the most common. Compared to humans they were slightly taller than the norm among that race, and had softer, more rounded features.

Personality
Slyths were at peace with nature and wise in its ways, perceiving themselves as the custodians and caretakers of the Underdark and considering it their duty to help others in harmoniously engaging with the world. They demonstrated an utmost propensity towards neutral alignments to the point that there was no known member to not be neutral in some way, a disposition speculated to be the result of environment, breeding, or perhaps the slyths being living extensions of nature.

Abilities
Slyths were reasonaby agile, though not particularly strong, and possessed a plethora of abilities. They resisted sonic-effects, could breathe underwater, and some were born with a dwarf-like sense regarding rock, stone, and construction.

The most notably ability of the slyths was their amorphous form, a boneless, nearly fluid shape they could adopt. When using amorphous form they could pass through narrow openings as small as in diamter, swim as quickly as they moved on land, could not be flanked or struck with critical lethality, and were immune to effects that would stun. This shape-changing ability made them immune to poisons and polymorphing powers even when not using it. Regaining shape took about as long as it did to drop it, only a few seconds, although required greater focus.

Amorphous form also came with several drawbacks, such as the fact that they could not attack normally when using it. It could only be held for a limited time, with more experienced slyths able to hold it longer, the standard time being ten minutes and maximal capacity being several hours, but even they had to stay in their humanoid shape for as long as they were amorphous before turning back. All items worn or carried temporarily fused with the slyth, with any armor, worn or natural, becoming useless for the duration. Magic items no longer worked, supernatural powers were temporarily lost, and unless somehow able to bypass such restrictions, spells with verbal, somatic, material, or focus components were unusable.

Combat
Slyth had an almost unique capacity for caution matched only by the svirfneblin, with many relying more on forethought than physical force. When feuds and raids between other groups broke out into open conflict they refused to take sides, retreating to faraway niches difficult if not impossible to find without their amorphous bodies.

Flutter blades were considered weapons of the slyth, and while still requiring martial training to use, were not considered especially exotic weapons to them.

Society
It was uncommon for slyths to gather in great numbers, quiet lives in small familial bands being much more to their liking. The tendency of their families to settle in an area and become its keepers meant they usually trained to become druids or rangers, the former being particularly favored. Not every slyth was a druid, nor did all have the talent for it, but even slyth commoners and [w[warrior]]s devoted themselves to the study of animal care and the environment in general.

Eventually trained slyths left their communities to find regions with greater need of them, sometimes exploring the world for many years before finding a suitable place.

Language
Slyths generally spoke both Common and Undercommon, and most spoke at least one other humanoid (including monstrous humanoids) or elemental language. Often these were the Aquan or Terran elemental tongues or the Gnome, Dwarvish, or drow dialect of Elven languages. Many powerful slyths also supplemented this linguistic skill with pieces of magical equipment, such as a Helm of comprehending languages & reading magic or a potion of tongues.

Slyth names reflected their interest in nature, the first names often onomatopoeically resembling natural Underdark sounds and their surnames typically being compound words unifying two aspects of the natural world.


 * Example masculine names: Drypp, Garock, Glythum, Ploawp, Rumble.
 * Example feminine names: Ffflla, Mrrwa, Ploosh, Scritch, Shooh.
 * Example surnames: Deepflight, Glowstone, Mushroomlake, Rockridge, Rockriver, Silentcave, Swiftlight.

Religion
Slyths were a deeply spiritual race, which usually manifested in the worship of a deity. Both Chauntea and Shar for example were popular among certain slyth, those who leant towards good or evil respectively.

Homelands
Slyth lived throughout the Underdark, although their population was only large enough to warrant permanent settlements in the Lowerdark.

Biology
Slyths were considered adults at thirty years old, middle-aged at sixty, old by ninety, and had a normal maximal lifespan of a hundred and sixty.