Twili (species)
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| “ | “Twili were once a group of criminals who sought the power of the Triforce using magic and were banished from the Light World to the Twilight Realm. They maintain a monarchy much like those in Hyrule, and their leaders are generally those with the strongest magical power.” |
| — Encyclopedia |
Twili have elongated gray-and-black bodies tinged with powerful magic, and glowing eyes capable of seeing in darkness and twilight. Though their ancestors came from there countless generations ago, they've spent so much time banished to the Twilight Realm that to modern twili that Hyrule is like a fairy tale to them.
Hylians Touched by Twilight
These gray-bodied folk share distant ancestors with hylians, and as such share many of the same features. Some are much taller, and some are much squatter. Most striking as that few twili have visible pupils, instead having eyes that dimly glow red, orange, or yellow. Almost universally twili have red, orange, or yellow hair as well.
Each twili has a turquoise-colored glyph covering a portion of its body, usually including the abdomen and hands. These originate from deep within twili history, and are tinged with arcane magic, but have no function.
A few have traits that might seem monstrous to hylians.
A Tainted History
Millenia ago, twili and hylians were once the same people. A minority of hylians now called the Dark Interlopers practiced an esoteric form of spellcasting now called shadow magic in an violent effort to seize control over the Sacred Realm and the Triforce.
For these transgressions the Dark Interlopers were robbed of their power, and banished to the Twilight Realm. This extradimensional realm is a barren alternate plane cast in endlessly twilight, singed with mysterious magic. Over many generations the descendants of the Dark Interlopers evolved into what are known today as the twili, shaped by this odd realm.
Despite these legendary origins, twili themselves are mostly peaceful. Left in isolation, they had no enemies, and only needed to find ways to survive. The modern descendants have some aptitude for magic, but little else in common with their ancestors.
Aliens of a Foreign Realm
Twili themselves are an extreme minority in Hyrule, with most only ending up in this land by recent flukes of magic, often leaving behind not only their family but the entire way of life they knew.
Some had to learn the Hylian language from scratch, as they only spoke Twilight language—a language so warped over the generations that it barely resembles the ancient form of Hylian it split from.
Twili have evolved to the Twilight Realm, and have become so accustomed to life there that they are poorly adapted to the Light World in which Hyrule exists. This is most obvious in their sensitivity to bright light, but also most are unfamiliar with some customs of this world.
| In the official timeline, twili seemingly don't exist outside the Twilight Realm. The only known means of transport between the two worlds was destroyed, sealing the realms apart from each other. Even so, in the legends forged by your narrator, a small sect of twili might have settled somewhere in the Light World as refugees, or you as a twili might've individually been banished from your home-realm without means of return. There are countless possibilities. |
To them blacks and grays are comforting, while the harsh bright colors of Hyrule are markedly unpleasant. Such twili are accustomed to works of magic, and less familiar with the down-to-earth hard work of agriculture or carpentry.
Most twili live only in cities of many mixed lineages, such as the Clock Town of Termina. The strange and often useful knowledge they possess make them valuable among scholars and researchers.
Lineage details
Size. Twili tend to be rather tall, standing on average just over 6 feet. Your size is Medium. If your heritage is imp twili, your size is instead Small.
Age. Twili age somewhat slowly. They may not reach full adulthood until 20 years or more, but can live over a century.
Alignment. Twili hail from usurpers and renegades who threatened to overthrow a kingdom and seize a dark, magical power. Their alignments vary widely from one to another, but historically they have a slight tendency towards chaotic evil.
Diet. As a Medium humanoid, each day you prefer to have 1 pound of food and 1 gallon of water. Twili are familiar with simple dry foods, and have stomachs unaccustomed to meat.
Names. Twili names often incorporate symbols that are less frequently used in modern Hylian—such as z, x, j, or q—but otherwise follow a similar structure. Female names are more likely to end in vowels than male names. Female examples include Midi, Saé, Umbra, and Zara. Male ones include Epoq, Hajar, Qeel, and Xant.
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6′ 0" | +2d12 | 150 lb. | × (1d4) |
Character traits
As a twili, you have the following traits:
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity or Intelligence score by 2.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 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.
Sunlight Sensitivity. Your people evolved to eternal twilight and darkness, and the bright light of the sun is extremely unpleasant to you. While in bright sunlight, you have disadvantage on all ranged attack rolls, and on all ability checks relying on sight. You cannot gain the benefits of rest while in bright sunlight. This weakness can be overcome with the Sunbreaker feat.
Eerie Slide. You can use a bonus action to teleport to any unoccupied space within 30 feet of you that you can see. You can’t use this feature if your speed has been reduced to 0. You can do this a number of times equal to your PB, and you regain all uses of this feature when you finish a long rest.
Arcane Ancestry. What many Hyruleans consider to be arcane secrets is common knowledge in your homeland. You have proficiency in the Arcana skill.
Language. All twili read, write, and speak the Twilight language. A minority of twili, including all twili heroes, are just as fluent in Hylian.
Heritage. You have one heritage of your choice from elegant twili, imp twili, scarred twili, and usurper twili.
Elegant
Compared to most twili, your facial features take a shape closest to hylians who haven't been twisted by the Twilight Realm. If it wasn't for your smooth gray skin and abnormally colored eyes, someone could even mistake you for an unusually tall and slender hylian.
Among your people, your kind has traditionally comprised the ruling upper class and possibly the monarchy.The few elegant twili who have ventured into the Light World have had a relatively easier time adapting to the alien world and foreign cultures.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Charisma score by 1.
Magic Adept. Your magic point maximum increases by 2.
Twilit Magic. You know one cantrip of your choice from minor illusion, message, and sever. You also know one spell from warping step, conjure wolf spirit, and disguise self. Your casting ability for these spells is the highest from Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
Elegant Escape. As a bonus action, you can consume one use of your Eerie Stride trait to end the Grappled or Restrained condition on yourself.
Imp Twili
A minority of twili are of much smaller stature than their kin, standing at only around 3 feet. Even adult imps have child-like faces with small noses and mouths, but large eyes and hylian-like pointed ears. Some twili are born as imps, while others have been transformed this way due to a curse or as a result of magic gone awry. The smaller size and lighter weight of imp twili makes it easier for them to manipulate their bodies with the innate magical aptitude most twili seem to have.
Ability Score Increase. Increase either your Dexterity or Intelligence by 1—whichever you did not choose for your lineage increase.
Small Steps. Your walk speed is reduced by 5 feet.
Floaty. You gain a fly speed of 25 feet. This fly speed cannot be used to ascend more than 10 feet above ground or water. If you are ever more than 10 feet above the ground due only to this speed, you descend 5 feet at the end of each of your turns.
Twilit Hand. From your head or back you project a third hand. This functions similarly enough to your normal hands that you can use it as an extra limb. When not in use, the hand melds back into your body and can't be seen. This hand can be used to wield weapons, shields, cast spells, and anything else your hand could normally do. When you make a Strength check using only this hand, you can consume one use of your Eerie Stride trait to gain advantage on this ability check. ("Ability checks" do not include attack rolls nor saving throws.)
Scarred
When the false king conquered all the realm, he used accursed masks to transform the twili people into violent beasts that obeyed only him. Many twili were fortunate enough to be restored fully to sanity and healthy bodies, but even after the king fell some still bore scars—both mental and physical. You are one such twili, or one of their descendants. For better or worse, you can still transform into one of those accursed shadow beasts if you try.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength score by 1.
Shadow Maul. When you hit with an unarmed strike using a free hand, instead of the normal damage you can deal bludgeoning damage equal to d4 + your Strength modifier. If both your hands are free, this d4 becomes a d8.
Shadow Beast. As a bonus action, you can consume a use of your Eerie Stride trait to transform into a beastly, jet-black version of yourself with a horrifying visage. While transformed, you have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks, and on all ability checks and saves using Strength or Constitution. When you use this bonus action, and again at the start of each of your turns, you gain temporary heart points equal to your PB.
Maintaining this transformation requires maintaining Concentration. The transformation lasts until your Concentration ends or 1 minute has passed, whichever happens first, but any temporary hit points are retained after the transformation ends.
Usurper
Compared to most twili, your facial features are abnormally flat and plain in appearance, to the extent even other twili may find them eerie. Historically your kind have been associated with rebels, including the false king. Although all twili hail from the ancient race that was banished to the Twilight Realm, your kind has become presumed by some to be the interloping renegades responsible. Even today the scars of that conflict lead some to prejudice against you simply due to your appearance.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Constitution score by 1.
Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice from thaumaturgy, sage hand, and necrotic ray. Your casting ability for this spell is the highest from Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
Usurper's Legacy. Descended from a life of exile, you find your own ways to thrive—even if that means manipulating others. You have proficiency in one skill of your choice from Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion.
Eerie Presence. Just before you make a Charisma check, you can consume one use of your Eerie Stride trait to gain advantage on this ability check.
Lineage feats
The following feats are exclusive to members of this lineage.
| Name | Effects |
|---|---|
| Sunbreaker | After arduous training, your sight and other senses have become capable of enduring sunlight with negligible discomfort. You gain the following benefits:
|
The material on this page is based primarily on content found in Twilight Princess and Hyrule Warriors, both of which are copyright Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Pages with quotes
- Darkvision trait
- Sunlight Sensitivity trait
- Eerie Slide trait
- Arcane Ancestry trait
- Magic Adept trait
- Twilit Magic trait
- Elegant Escape trait
- Small Steps trait
- Floaty trait
- Twilit Hand trait
- Shadow Maul trait
- Shadow Beast trait
- Cantrip trait
- Skill Proficiency trait
- Eerie Presence trait
- Races
- Humanoids
- Twili
- Uncommon
- Content originating from Twilight Princess
- Content originating from Hyrule Warriors
