Seaborn (5e Race)

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Seaborn[edit]

They say the dead of the sea never are able to leave. The waters churn with their souls and they wish to feel warmth once more.

Physical Description[edit]

Seaborn are created from humanoids who died at sea, usually humans and usually by drowning. As such, their bodies show obvious signs of their ordeal, like kelp and algae mixed in their hair, as well as a pale and clammy complexion. Some seaborn may have slightly bloated bodies, and others may carry the constant smell of lake or seawater. It is also notable that seaborn are typically always chilled to the touch and have constantly wet skin. Their eyes are usually described by many to be sunken, with a white light in the middle. While they are capable of making expressions, most people associate them with that of a haggard, moaning face that looks like a tired zombie. Many seaborn still will wear clothes that they may have drowned in, if they have them. Otherwise, they may wear something similar. Since their bodies are always wet, these clothes will also eventually turn wet. So, it is very uncomfortable to share a bed with a seaborn.

History[edit]

Like in the legends of funa-yurei, those swallowed by the sea are never truly gone. Sometimes, the soup of life strangely foments from death new and strange forms of animus. Such are the seaborn. They are the remnants of those who drowned at sea who have returned to walk among the living. It suffices to say they are a type of undead, and yet also have a slight more semblance of life than your average shambling walker. The theory among necromancers is that certain seas in the world are so rife with life that even those who die in them can "live" once more. Seaborn have typically appeared as sailors that drowned and were risen, having washed ashore weeks or months after having initially died. The races they are usually risen of tend to be humanoid, for reasons left up to imagination. They often have amnesia and have been mistaken to be kelpies or even each uisges. It is said that seaborn carry with them a unique mark of the sea upon returning. Sometimes called a "gift," this mark manifests in various forms for seaborn, sometimes augmenting their bodies or minds.

Attitudes and Beliefs[edit]

Seaborn lack a cohesive society due to being literal waterlogged bodies that washed ashore with a bad case of amnesia. They are also not that common an occurrence in terms of raising up from the sea unannounced. Seaborn are subject to being seen as abominations by creatures of water, like tritons, and are of course seen as potential threats by those on land. In and of themselves, seaborn may lack memory and the same personality they had before they died. However, they experience flashes of clarity, like recalling where they may have come from or a face from their life. These small gems of clarity are fiercely pursued by seaborn, and they will seek experiences to awaken these. Their undying desire to find more fragments of themselves makes them appear brazen and filled with wanderlust when they are, in fact, mostly just driven and desperate.

In addition to the fragments of their past lives they cling to, seaborn also have been reported to hear a voice purported to be "the voice of the deep." This usually comes in tandem with their moments of enlightenment. Many times, seaborn may claim to hear singing or other sounds from the oceans and large bodies of water around them. Because this voice sometimes surfaces with their momentary memories, seaborn often interpret this voice as a potential guide for their actions to discover themselves. Some say it is the cruel trick of marids from the Elemental Plane of Water that perpetuate this manipulation. It is a theory among necromancers that it is a possible vestige connected with the domain of water that reanimated the seaborn and thus speaks to them in this inchoate fashion. To what end, is unknown.

Seaborn Names[edit]

Since seaborn usually don't have the complete memory of who they were before, they don't really keep the names of who they were before they died. They might have an inkling of something that sounds vaguely like it, or has a similar meaning. However, they usually come to choose a name that might sound a bit like syllables in the "voice of the deep" that they are familiar with.

Male: Chonathon, Haile'h, Shalehn, Othirl

Female: Sithrea, Chaunelle, Undir, Kureel

Seaborn Traits[edit]

Those who drowned at sea that came back, with some of the sea's influence
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1, and another ability score of your choice increases by 2.
Age. Seaborn are ageless, but stay at whatever maturity they were before they returned to life
Alignment. Seaborn tend towards neutral to neutral good
Size. Seaborn are most often Medium, with a slender build, but this can vary depending in your former race
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to your walking speed
Undead. A Seaborn doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep. You are immune to diseases. Your creature type is considered undead. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces you to 0 hit points, you must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, you drop to 1 hit point instead.
Gift of the Sea. You have been touched by the essence of the sea in some way that remains with you. Choose one trait from the Gift of the Sea list.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language appropriate to your former race.

Gift of the Sea[edit]

The following are options for your Gift of the Sea trait.

Wa

The effectiveness of healing spells cast at range against you have half their normal effectiveness, however your flesh, laid limp from your body, appears to sew itself back together, becoming whole again. as an action, you may expend a hit dice to heal yourself the number rolled on said hit dice plus your con modifier, you may do this a number of times equal to half your proficiency modifier at a time, and a maximum number of times equal to your hit dice. You must complete a long rest to return the hit dice as per normal.

Variant Background Feature: Voice of the Deep[edit]

When you choose this race, you can choose this background feature instead of one in another background. Be sure to discuss this with your DM beforehand, as you will basically be replacing the feature of your chosen background with this instead.


Random Height and Weight[edit]

Base
Height
Height
Modifier*
Base
Weight
Weight
Modifier**
′ '' + lb. × () lb.

*Height = base height + height modifier
**Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

5.00
(one vote)

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