Homebrew Shadow Changeling Species Details

(Monsters made playable, meant for high power games)

Shadow Changelings are a race of shadowfell touched changelings whose arms and legs are slightly longer than it would fit their appearance, with no visible skin as what should be seen as skin is more like a shadowy void. These creatures also usually don't grow body hair, and their temporary forms don't change unless intentional. Their eyes are the only discernible feature in their true shadow form however it is possible for this to disappear at the changeling's will. Though they may have no visible eyes, they can still see as if they do. Similarly, their mouths are not visible but they are able to eat and speak with no trouble, though often they sound like their voice echoes from within. If transformed, a changeling's eyes appear normal to others according to what is imitated. On their head beyond their scalp, they have two horn like protrusions that vary in shape and size, however have no physical component as hands and hair go right through them. The base color of the hair is often light and pale, but includes an other color in varying intensity, commonly violet though this is hard to tell in the Shadowfell. Their hair is light and wisps about, similar to if they reside in water. Their ears tend towards a double pointed form, like an elves ear, but with a split-tip.

Other features are obscured by the shadow around them, and when attempting to touch one, their hand will rouse shadow-like dust, which blurs where their hand meets resistance. Not quite physical, but not ethereal, it is more like the hand cannot go any farther due to pressure rather than a solid object. They are often cold and radiate no body heat. That said, shadow changelings are still able to cut and be bled, though wounds in their true form are impossible to inspect by sight alone. Their blood when shifted matches that of the form they copy for a short time before changing to its true look. In their true form, their blood is revealed to be a black ichor that stains anything it touches a black darker than the void. Should they lose a limb, the severed appendage will simply fade from sight like dust and leave a puddle of the dark ichor.

Shadow changelings do not have a united community, as they tend to prefer nomadic or to stay presented as some other bipedal creature of their choice of similar shape and size. Being from the plane of shadows, they are considered cursed and often cast out if not hunted once discovered on other planes. In their home plane they are looked upon with suspicion, doubt, and fear as they're known life leechers similar thereof vampires to a lesser degree. They tend to value freedom above all else, though this most likely comes from the need to keep moving to survive. In this vein, their children often look like the non-changeling parent until reaching puberty unless both parents are changelings, in which their true forms are revealed at birth. Rarely do Shadow Changelings leave their children in place of another, however this does occur with particularly nomadic changelings. 

If in other planes, Shadow Changelings need to have some connection to their home plane to avoid being burned by light. Their true forms are that of pure concentrated, living shadowstuff, touched by fey magic, so extended periods in bright areas or in direct sunlight can take their toll, up to DM's discretion.

Shadow Changeling Traits

Due to being fairly unrestricted on their base forms, these beings can change to match whatever situation they're in.

Dark Vision

You can see in dim light within 120 feet of yourself as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

 

Weakened Shapechanger

As an action, you can polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid you have seen before, or back into your true form. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race and decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, sex, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length and any other distinguishing characteristics. Transforming into someone else doesn't grant you their wisdom, knowledge or manners. Your statistics, other than your size, are the same in each form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn't transformed. You can’t grow extra body parts (Like organs, limbs, tails, etc.), your basic shape stays the same. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection. You revert to your true form if you die, lose consciousness by any means, or if you become frightened. At reaching the 6th level, you become versed with transforming and you don't revert back anymore to your true form upon becoming frightened.

Body Augments

When you use your Shapeshifter trait to transform you can augment your transformation in one of the following ways:
• You web your hands and feet gaining a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.
• You strengthen and harden a part of your form to turn it into a natural weapon such as claws, fangs, horns or other similar features. Unarmed strikes with this feature deal piercing, slashing or bludgeoning damage, appropriate to the feature, equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
• You create a membrane between your arms and body that grants you a glide speed of 20.

Weakened Read Thoughts

You can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait, without the need for components, and you regain this ability when you finish a short or long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this action.

Ability score increase

You're flexible, and are used to the hardships of the Shadowfell. 2+ to DEX and 1+ to CON.

Shadow Dancer

When a Shadow Changeling is in darkness and is in their true form, they blend in to the dark. They have advantage on stealth based rolls only in this condition. However, in bright light, the opposite is true, and they roll at disadvantage in their trueform in the light.

Languages

You can speak common and two other languages of your choice. As a shapechanger, you mingle more with those of different dialects.

Shady Resistance

Being mostly shadow, Shadow Changelings resistant to two types of damage. Both Cold and Necrotic damage don't harm you the same way other creatures may be harmed. However, if one is in bright light, roll a percentile die to see if these resistances remain at a 33% chance.

Aversion to Light

As a being of shadow, Changelings are naturally avoidant of light and light sources, especially in their true forms. Due to this, they're weak to fire and radiant damage, as it pierces their form and harms their very being.