Aetherborn (5e Race)

Aetherborn

“	Aether: The primary constituent of the ethereal plane. So easy to define, so hard to understand. Not even those made out of it can understand it. That is probably the most cruel joke that the gods could have ever made.	”
—Fragment of "Aether" by Severion, the Grand Wizard.

The ethereal plane is the most travelled and, even then, probably the less understood of the planes of the multiverse. Battles in this plane are rare and far in between. Sometimes, the blood and flesh of the combatants meet an ether cyclone and it is strong enough to make a hole into the astral plane. The combination of aether, living material, psychic interactions and souls form the aetherborn: The mortal representation of chaos.

History

Aetherborn come into being spontaneously from aether. Their bodies and minds are formed out of some interaction between the volatile elements of aether, material elements, a soul or more coming from the astral plane and the psychic impressions created by the people nearest to where they form. Even as such, each aetherborn is a unique individual, not a mere copy of some other person’s mind and shape. This race is little understood, and few if any aetherborn are willing to waste any of their short lives allowing scholars to study their biological and psychological characteristics. They are particularly fond of reclusion and solitude, although some of them leave that in favor of compensation. This compensation is always knowledge, as they have no interest in the material affairs. Some aetherborn affirm that after death there is only one place this knowledge can be: The place that gave them life and can preserve this knowledge forever.

Physical Description

Although they require material elements to be born, aetherborn are a strange living product of aether, cast in a mostly humanoid form but lacking any of the biological qualities of other races. They don’t eat or sleep, and they don’t reproduce nor do they have any physical sexual characteristics. They look immaterial and have a body made out of what appears to be a colored smoke in constant movement. This smoke is most commonly silver or white, although other colors have been shown like torquoise, red, brown, gray, orange and green. At touch they feel like made out of gelatin at best, nothing at worse and they don't seem to get injured. Although they don't have any physical characteristic that may distinguish them as male or female; some of them take a gender identity, although this is extremely rare.

They don't have hair or a face unless they wish too, although they are perfectly able to act as they have ears, eyes and nose.

Source: Konjaku Hyakki Shūi

History

Little is known about the aetherborn. It is supported that they are always born in the ethereal plane and their constitution, but not much more is known. They don't have interest in wealth or power, although they have been known as protectors of powerful secrets. They are never bound to the material plane and they do not form societies. Although there are some aetherborn in the history books, all of them have been guardians of powerful objects, tricksters in lairs next to conjunctions that go to the ethereal plane or wise beings that help travelers in said plane in exchange for a secret powerful enough.

Society

They are scarce and probably a couple dozen exist in the ethereal plane at any moment, so they don't form societies. Each one is an individual and they only want to fulfill their purpose, if they know what it is.

Aetherborn Names

Their name is given by themselves. They usually use mystic elements as a naming convention. If they get assigned a task by external forces, they sometimes receive a name from their tasker.

General: Chariot, Destruction, Eternity, Love, Space, Time

Aetherborn Traits

Race of aether plane beings born from aether and other elements
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Aetherborn typically come into being as adults. Those that live in the ethereal plane seem to be immortal, while those that live in other planes live no more than 10 years. However there are a few exceptions but these are exceedingly rare, more so than the Aetherborn themselves.
Alignment. Aetherborn are typically driven by their interests, making them chaotic neutral. Some of them, mainly those bound to protect a secret, can be lawful. They usually don't take a side in the moral alignement unless they have no choice but to do so or their soul constituent is extraordinarelly pure either to good or evil.
Size. Aetherborn are about the same size as humans, ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall. They are quite light—only about 60 pounds—and their weight diminishes as they age in other planes different to the ethereal plane. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You are always hovering 2 feet over the terrain. You can't fly or hover over canyons or other empty spaces. If you move more than 5 feet over an open space, you start falling.
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.
Aetherial Constitution. Although you are a living being, you are considered a construct. You can't be healed by magical means and you can only regain HP by rolling hit die or long rests. You don't need to eat or drink, but you can if you want to. You can't wear armor of any kind. Your armor class is 10 + Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. As you are immaterial any attack roll against you not performed by a magical, silvered or adamant weapon or while not grappled or incapacitated is rolled with disadvantage. You have advantage against rolls to get grappled or fall prone.
Aetherial Mind. Aether makes your mind to be always at peace. When you sleep, you remain still for 4 hours, gaining the benefits of a long rest, while being fully aware of your surroundings. You have advantage against magical effects to get charmed or frightened.
Born of Aether. You have resistance to necrotic damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 10''	+2d10	50 lb.	× 1 lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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