Wychfiends

Wychfiends, occasionally referred to as etherfiends by those on other planes, are a race of bloodthirsty and warlike extraplanar humanoids from the Ethereal Plane. They plunder the worlds of the Material Plane in search of vast riches, powerful magic, obscure knowledge, and slaves to serve them, all for the glory of their Wychqueen and her consort the Ovarch. All wychfiends live in one of 13 great fortified cities scattered throughout the Ethereal Plane. They boast powerful and true eldritch knights called wychblades, and potent spellcasters called wychlyn (or wylochlyn if a male). Since wychfiends possess an innate magic, they have learned to employ it with great effect in combat over the centuries. Physical Qualities: Wychfiends are humanoid in appearance, standing slightly taller than the average human at six to six and a half feet. Females tend to be lithe and athletic in appearance, typically weighing around 200 pounds, while males usually have a more muscular and robust physique, weighing around 300 pounds. Regardless of gender, wychfiends have prominent ridges along their foreheads, as well as small horny protrusions along their brow ridge and jaw line, though a female’s is less pronounced. Their ears are small and pointed, their eyes tend to be deep blue or green, while their skin can range from a tan flesh tone to a ruddy red, and adorned in tattoos depicting arcane symbols of power.

A wychfiend’s hair is of singular importance and a point of honor, for it denotes ones rank and station within their society. Their hair is typically black, brown, or auburn in color, and worn in elaborate braids at the back and temples if a female, or bound and braided into ponytails by the males and serve as the plumes of their battle helmets. Perhaps the wychfiend’s most unusual feature is their lack of nose. In its place, they have three small breathing holes spaced along each side of their necks just below their ears, which allows them to breath in any elemental atmosphere, be it air, water, poisonous gas, or the like. Like other planar races, wychfiends try to blend in with the inhabitants of their target worlds, primarily as a means of gaining intelligence on their victims. When wychfiends are encountered away from their home plane, they wear lightweight masks or visored helmets to hide their unusual appearance, as well as emphasize their braids and ponytails of rank.

Society: For years, any knowledge pertaining to Wychfiend society has been limited, until recently, when a few brave planar explorers ventured into the Ethereal Plane to study the little-known culture of these dangerous and brutal beings. Upon their return, they revealed much sought after information pertaining to the Wychfiends and their way of life.

Wychfiend society is a hereditary matriarchy founded centuries ago by the first Wychqueen. It was she, who made a pact with a dark entity in return for greater power and long life for those of her bloodline. Long ago, a band of wayfaring humans, half-orcs, and dwarves became imprisoned on the Ethereal Plane, unable to leave. Out of necessity, they were forced to interbreed, resulting in a number of unusual offspring. This, in conjunction with years of exposure to the strange emanations of the Ethereal Plane warped and reshaped them into the wychfiends of today.

The current Wychqueen, Lasheth’yaleen, has ruled for nearly three centuries, alongside her consort, the Ovarch, Alukhan.