Callisto (5e Race)

Callisto

"Lest you forget young one, we are stardust, and to it we shall return."

Physical Description

A Nova and Shade Callisto. Art by Astromore

The Callisto are beings that glow like the stars. Varying in color and shade, Callisto look like that of the night sky. Depending on their upbringing, Callisto fall into two variants: Novas and Shades. While Novas shine in the colors of a kaleidoscope, Shades appear as if the cosmos had taken human form. Constellations dot their skin at birth, but new designs may etch themselves into existence as Callisto experience the universe around them. Their faces are opaque and obscured, either by light or shadow, leaving their peers just barely able to discern facial features. In spite of this, it is generally accepted that Callisto have features similar to that of humans. The expressions they make largely consist of the constellations on their face shifting along their almost shapeless features, while a change in mood is denoted by a shift in their glow.

As a Callisto grows older, their color seems to fade, with only a select few maintaining a bold shine in their old age.

In terms of size, Callisto show almost no difference to humans. Their flesh is almost translucent, and their blood shines like that of a celestial body. If a Callisto is wounded and their blood is spilled, it will drift upwards into the sky.

History

It was once said the gods were at war. The resulting conflict gave way to whole stars exploding and sending their contents across the universe. After the war in an attempt to fix the damage done, the gods tried to repair those broken stars they left in their wake. And the resulting residual energy was left in the Astral plane. And with the gods powers of rejuvenation, that left behind energy; in hundreds of thousands of pieces, gained a will of its own. And thus the callisto were born. Finding one another, and venturing to the mortal plane cluster by cluster in order to venture and sate their wanderlust.

A common story told by the elders.

Society

Callisto are ever curious, wanting to find out why they were born and the bounds and ends to the world around them. Not really concerning themselves with long-standing conflicts, they prefer to explore to answer questions to solve those conflicts before they even come to a climax. They study their angelic properties to uncover who the deity was that brought them their corporeal form. Exploration driving them the most. Almost every callisto one would meet has, or is in progress of traveling around the world. They can't stand being in one place too long leading to a very nomadic lifestyle. Clusters of callisto usually consist of a few key members leading the group with 2/3rd's of them leaving and returning frequently. They gather all the good things they've learned from other races and apply them in their cities and homes. Making them as a whole more diplomatic and easy to approach than some of the more aggressive races. They value wisdom and knowledge the most.

Biology

Callisto, at a glance, appear to be a celestial body taking humanoid form. Their is skin warm to the touch and vibrates slightly as arcane stardust swirls inside of them. As they sustain more and more damage, the glow of a Callisto becomes dimmer until they have no color left, a sign of death. A dead Callisto is a grey colorless husk, no longer bursting with celestial power.

In a Callisto's center is a singular organ: their core. Considered to be their most (and only) vital organ, a Callisto's core is the center of their being, acting as both their brain and heart. The core itself is shaped like a lump of crystal, roughly the size of a human heart, but it radiates with the celestial energy that composes a Callisto. This energy seems to pull towards a central destination, the place of the callisto's death, and generates their wanderlust. A Callisto that has its core removed will instantly die, like a human having its heart ripped out. However, because of this unusual composition, attacks that would be fatal to most species, like decapitation, won't cause instant death. While somewhat resilient, a Callisto's core is also delicate, and the most minor of effects on it will be immediately reflected in their constitution.

If a Callisto were to die by unnatural means, their bodies will cycle through a set of stages, starting with their blood beginning to evaporate. Not long after that, their skin hardens into glass. Because of how it produces celestial power, Callisto cores are often sought after by practitioners of the arcane arts, especially to be used as arcane foci and spell components.

Callisto Names

A callisto's name is usually determined by the constellation of white spots formed on the inside of their wrist from birth, as is their gender..

Male: Crux, Orion, Scorpius, Draco, Leo, Gemini

Female: Ursa, Aquila, Corona, Carina, Cassiopeia, Cygnus

Callisto Traits

A faceless glowing race of liquefied stardust adventurers.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity increases by 1 .
Age. The callisto mature around the age of 40 and live until their energy can no longer regenerate itself around the age of 800.
Alignment. They tend not to stray too far into good or evil, preferring the most open and neutral path to exploration, not ruling any methods out.
Size. Callisto tend to stand around 5 to 6 feet tall for the men and 4 to 5 feet tall for the women. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You have the ability to see in the dark. 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.
Claustrophobia. With the need to explore the unknown programmed into their very being, the idea of having their freedom taken away is the most frightening thing to them. When they are locked in a room or bound they become nervous and anxious. You have disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while paralyzed, restrained, stunned, or within a room smaller than 5 by 5 foot.
Glowing Nature. Your creature type is considered both humanoid and celestial. As a result, you are resistant to fire damage and are immune to diseases.
Spark of Life. When your core is in danger of fading away you release a surge of astral energy. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Plasmatic Guidance. Young callisto are known to run off into the wilds in search of the unknown. This cannot be helped and as such it is vital that they are taught to defend themselves from a young age from those who would see them harm. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.

Nova Callisto

Nova Callisto are the most common subrace of Callisto, they're curiosity knows no bounds. Cartographers and Pioneers, they are fueled by their connection to the sun and the stars alike, Their wanderlust is to explore the unknown. Bound by nothing they will go to the ends of the earth to discover that which eludes man. And they do it with fervor.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom or Strength score increases by 1.
Nova Prospect. You know the Produce Flame cantrip. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
Bioluminescence. Due to their nature the callisto have the ability to glow in the dark. As an action, you can glow in the dark for an hour, shedding bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. You regain use of this feature once you complete a short or long rest.

Shade Callisto

Shade Callisto are few and far between. These Callisto have been neglected their wanderlust and in doing so it's said their light "dies out". Leaving them no different to the nights sky in appearance. Most sporting the look of the galaxy at large. These Callisto become more zealous about discovering the powers of the unknown rather than doing so just because they are known to use what they find to further their own ambitions. Nova Callisto treat them with extreme empathy and somberness some breaking into tears just at the sight of them. As such some live a life away from the nova at large, and some find a place coddled and smothered by the Nova.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Charisma score increases by 1.
Astral Spirit. You know the Guidance cantrip. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
Shade Essence. Being one with the Nights sky visually and mentally you are easily able to blend into the shadows of the night. You have proficiency in Stealth.

Random Height and Weight

Callisto females usually stand a foot smaller than the males and 20 or so lbs lighter on average.

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 8''	+1d12	60 lb.	× (2d12) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

5.00

(3 votes)

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