Ancestries Part II
After receiving feedback, I took a hard look at the classic fantasy tropes I initially used for the Light and Dark Fae. While recognizable, they lacked a distinct identity for Sentius: Last Enclave.
I realized that by leaning too heavily on existing archetypes, I wasn’t creating something unique. Other games thrive without relying on familiar ancestries, so I began reformulating my vision.
What emerged was a new take on the Fae, one that feels more primal, more alien, and deeply woven into the setting's post-apocalyptic magic.
The Light Fae
The Light Fae once served as guardians of balance, connected to the natural world and its cycles. Their forms are adaptations of nature itself, but don’t mistake them for peaceful—they fight as fiercely as they protect.
-
🛡️ Spriggan – The Guardians of the Wild
Tall, wiry humanoids with bark-like skin, glowing eyes, and the ability to shift their size.- Strength: Powerful and resilient, they can grow larger for combat or shrink to evade danger.
- Weakness: Their heavy, rooted nature makes them slower than others.
-
🌿 Briarfolk – The Keepers of the Earth
Resembling living brambles and thorned vines, they possess a deep connection to the land.- Strength: When resting in raw, unworked earth, they regenerate wounds at an accelerated rate.
- Weakness: Less intuitive than their kin, they struggle with adapting quickly to new situations.
-
🪵 Hollowknot – The Living Marionettes
Miniature, wooden creatures with hollowed-out bodies, resembling eerie dolls when still.- Strength: Can briefly reanimate the dead, allowing them to extract last words or momentary aid in combat.
- Weakness: Not physically strong, but they compensate with unshakable willpower.
The Dark Fae
The Dark Fae embody primal survival, fear, and instinct. Where the Light Fae protect and nurture, the Dark Fae endure and adapt. Their brutality kept them alive, and they continue to serve Enclave Sentius as enforcers, assassins, and executioners.
-
🔴 Redcaps – The Frenzied Hunters
Small, wiry fae with bloodstained caps and a chilling smile.- Strength: After killing a foe, they enter a frenzied state, gaining enhanced damage output as long as they keep fighting.
- Weakness: They lack reasoned problem-solving, preferring brute force and intimidation.
-
🌙 Nightborn – The Silent Shadows
Pale-skinned, slender fae with an unsettling stillness to their movements.- Strength: Can blend into shadows, enhancing their stealth and perception.
- Weakness: Their eerie presence makes intimidation difficult, as they come across as cold rather than imposing.
-
🔥 Ashwraith – The Scarred Warriors
Burned but unbroken, the Ashwraith were once warriors caught in magical fire, now cursed to carry the scars.- Strength: Resistant to fire and extreme heat, they exude an aura of dread, making them fearsome foes.
- Weakness: Their anger is uncontrollable, making them vulnerable to manipulation and outbursts.
The Neutral Fae
Two anomalous fae lineages refused to take sides in the war—both choosing neutrality and preserving knowledge rather than fighting.
-
✨ Hollowborn – The Eternal Observers
Their hollowed bodies glow with stardust, their eyes seeing into realms beyond.- Strength: Hold vast knowledge of both Light and Dark Fae histories.
- Weakness: Their physical bodies are frail, reducing their movement speed.
-
💎 Shardlings – The Living Crystals
Crystalline beings with light-refracting skin, shifting colors like a prism.- Strength: Their bodies naturally deflect energy-based attacks, making them resistant to laser weapons.
- Weakness: Their fragile crystalline structure makes them more susceptible to physical trauma.
Final Thoughts
This shift in ancestries gives Sentius: Last Enclave a unique identity, distancing itself from generic fantasy tropes while keeping the mystique and danger of the Fae.
By leaning into the eerie, the primal, and the alien, these new ancestries expand the world’s depth and mystery.
This is just the beginning—there’s more lore to build and mechanics to refine. If you have thoughts, let’s discuss!