A living person becomes a Specter through death, by contacting the realm of the dead, or through magic that breaks the body’s ties to the material world. This Transformation tears at the substance of body and mind, until what is left is a spiritual shadow.
Specters have a tenuous grasp on reality, and some fade into oblivion while others become monsters that sow the same. Few cursed with this Transformation have the fortitude to remain whole.
Becoming a Specter
Methods of becoming a Specter vary, and few find their way willingly. One that dies of an unjust or violent cause may find their spirit refusing to depart, despite their physical form fading. Contact with the forces of death can drain the soul of vitality—a would-be hero is corrupted by the force they wanted to fight. Sinister rituals can also infuse a body with the powers of unmaking from the realm of the Aether Kindred.
Alongside incorporeal beings and the magic of death stand entities that exist in a reality untethered from the material world as mortals understand it. These others and their minions, manifestations of otherworldly chaos, can infuse a person with that chaos, making the victim’s ultimate home a dream of cosmic horror.
Specter Stages
At each stage of this Transformation, follow the instructions provided for that stage.
Achieving a New Stage
To move from one stage to the next higher one in this Transformation, an event or some other notable occurrence tied to the story of the character should take place. The following events are suggestions for ones that might trigger a move to the next stage of the Transformation:
- Defeat a powerful, ghostly Undead and absorb its power.
- Defeat an Aberration that has powers over space, time, or death.
- Use a ritual that infuses your body with the forces of death or primordial chaos.
- Survive a near-death experience caused by a ghostly Undead creature or an Aberration, especially one in which your Hit Point maximum is reduced, such as by a Wraith's Life Drain, or in which you drop to 0 Hit Points.
- Kill a significant foe with Necrotic or Psychic damage, or by using Necromancy.
- Infuse other willing people with the power that corrupts you.
- Interact with ghosts and similar spirits, or beings of other realities, perhaps as a conduit between them and other mortals.
- Open a gate or path to places of the dead or the dreams of the Aether Kindred.
Specter Stage 1
When you initially undergo the Specter Transformation, you gain the Spectral Form Boon and one other Stage 1 Boon of your choice. You also gain the Stage 1 Flaw.
Stage 1 Boon: Spectral Form
Specter Stage 1 Boon
You are considered to be Undead in addition to your existing creature type(s). You cannot be excluded from Turn Undead.
Additionally, you have Resistance to Necrotic damage. If you have Resistance to Necrotic damage from another source, you have Immunity instead.
Finally, you stop aging. You are immune to any effect that would age you, and you cannot die from old age.
Stage 1 Boon: Ghastly Touch
Specter Stage 1 Boon
You can deliver a soul-chilling jolt through your attacks. Once per turn, when you hit a target with a melee attack when you are within 5 feet of the target, you can deal an additional 1d6 Necrotic damage.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus plus your Transformation Stage. You regain all uses of this feature when you finish a Short Rest or Long Rest.
Stage 1 Boon: Incorporeal Movement
Specter Stage 1 Boon
You are able to loosen the binds that tie you to the material world to move through solid objects and creatures. As a Magic action, you can make yourself incorporeal until the start of your next turn. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:
- You can move through solid objects at your full Speed. You take 1d10 Force damage if you end your turn inside a solid object and are moved to the nearest open space.
- You have Resistance to all damage types except Force damage.
- You are Lightly Obscured.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and regain all uses after finishing a Long Rest.
Stage 1 Flaw: Drawn to Darkness
Specter Stage 1 Flaw
Your body and soul are bound to the cold darkness of the realms of death. You have Disadvantage on Death Saving Throws as your life force is drawn to oblivion.
Previous Versions
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11/11/2025 2:14:17 PM
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