Lineages: Underdark Survivor

When you are creating your character you have the option of choosing between the many fantastical races including those listed above, but that is not your only option. You also have the option of choosing a character lineage. If you choose a lineage, you might have once been a member of another race, but you aren’t any longer. This chapter outlines three new lineage options: Contract Bound, Faefolk, and Underdark Survivor.

Underdark Survivor


The horrid expanse of caverns and tunnels known as the Underdark houses many monstrosities. Those unequipped for the environment rarely survive. A handful of those that do are changed forever. Those that have changed are simple called survivors.

Underdark Survivor Origins

For one reason or another you ended up trapped in the Underdark. You spent years down there doing your best to survive. Finally you saw an opportunity to escape. Though you are finally free, your life is changed forever. Your time in the Underdark has physically changed you. Roll on or choose an option from the Underdark Survivor Origins table to determine how your character gained their lineage.

Contract Bound Origins

d6 Origins
1 You were kidnapped by a group of drow to be used as a sacrifice. You escaped through means of pure luck.
2 As a young kid, you became lost in a cave and stumbled your way to the Underdark. It took years, but you finally found a way out.
3 In an experiment gone horribly wrong, you were accidentally teleported down into the Underdark and had to fight your way out.
4 Every night a strange voice in your head beckoned you to a nearby cave. You have no memory of what happened the night you finally listened, but you don't hear the voice anymore.
5 You brother dragged you into a cave to force you to face your fear of the dark and told you not to come out until you weren't afraid anymore. When you finally came out, your brother was gone without a trace and you felt changed.
6 You adventured into the Underdark to study myconids. When you finally came across a circle, they mistook you for a threat and incapacitated you with their hallucinatory spores. When you finally awoke, you began to perceive the world around you differently.

Underdark Survivor Traits

You have the following racial traits.
Creature Type. You are a humanoid.
Size. You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you gain this lineage.
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
Ancestral Legacy. If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.
If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
Superior Darkvision. Due to the extended time you spent in the Underdark, your eyes have strongly adapted to dark environments. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Underdark Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the frightened condition on yourself.
Survivalist Magic. You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the silent image spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the invisibility spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells (choose the ability when you gain this lineage).
Survivor's Skills. Whenever you make a Dexterity (Stealth) or Wisdom (Survival) check, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the total ability check.