Homebrew Avatar of The Reach Species Details

Avatars of The Reach are personifications of an ancient entity that desires to learn everything it can about the world and its people. The Reach wants to spread as far as possible and acquire as much knowledge as it can. Few know about this creature, as its avatars cannot reproduce and are thus a finite population.

A Vague Approximation

Avatars of The Reach are fairly humanoid, but with a distinct lack of minor physical details. They can be identified by their uncannily smooth faces, lack of fingernails, undetailed irises with flat colours, and are rarely seen to have any hair at all. They are essentially a molded putty of a being made of flesh and bone, and when they die they dissolve and return to The Reach to pass along what they’ve learned. 

Pieces of a Greater Whole

Avatars are projections of The Reach sent into this world to learn as much as possible and bring what they've learned back to the collective of The Reach. When enough information has been gathered an Avatar can return to reconnect with The Reach and pass on what its learned. While functionally immortal and ageless if left alone, an Avatar can be killed, in which case its body will be returned to The Reach to be absorbed along with all its experience. From then The Reach may spawn a new avatar to replace it, but it is reformed as a new being.

There's Always More

The Reach is an entity of pure curiosity. Every Avatar is a physical manifestation of that curiosity. If there is something new to learn an Avatar will go out of its way to document this new information.  If it's a learning experience, an Avatar will embrace the opportunity, regardless of consequences.

Everyone's a Mystery

Avatars see every individual as an opportunity to learn. They're quick to form generalizations but will alter their perception with the slightest evidence. Their nature is to be curious, clever, alien, and nosy.

Notes on Humans.  "They seem to be the most abundant people, and their tolerance of others varies wildly. Are they the dominant species?"
Notes on Dwarves. “A hearty people. Their preoccupation with gold is surpassed only by their ingenuity. Happy to share information if you join them in revelry.”
Notes on Elves. “Seemingly arrogant. Fairly noble. Usually wary to share knowledge. Must establish an extensive rapport to learn deeper knowledge.”
Notes on Halflings. “While a generally open people, the function of their society seems relatively simple. However they seem to have earned the respect of more prominent species. More research is warranted.”

Strange but Kind

While no one seems to know the purpose of The Reach's quest it seems to be benevolent. Avatars of The Reach are curious, intelligent, but socially awkward and tend to avoid physical confrontation. They are clever, alien, and nosy.

Due to their relative inexperience with social interactions and insatiable curiosity, Avatars of The Reach can display various quirks.

Avatar Names and Ethnicities

The Reach itself does not name its Avatars, and as such Avatars choose their own. An Avatar may choose its name based on just about anything, but is often inspired by a particular area of study that interests it. Their appearance seldom varies much but they can be shaped differently to be better suited to certain tasks upon creation. Skin tones can be just about any colour that occurs in the natural world, to potentially blend in with surroundings on long study expeditions. 

Avatar of The Reach Traits

Avatars are created solely to pursue and acquire information and return it to The Reach, and therefore aren't usually the most stout of creatures. That said, their ability to pass on their experience to future Avatars ensures the longevity of The Reach's quest.

Ability Score Increase

Avatars have +2 Intelligence and +1 Constitution as a result of their shared memory and being built to last

Age

Avatars do not age and are "born" as they will live their lives. Their personality is formed as they experience more of the world for themselves.

Languages

The Reach has been acquiring knowledge for a very long time. As such it has become fluent in the most prominent languages of the world. You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, Halfling, and one extra language.

Alignment

Avatars of The Reach tend towards the Good and Neutral ends of the spectrum. Their quest for knowledge seems to be harmless, but also can lead to less benevolent results to satisfy their unending curiosity

Size

Avatars vary very little in size, usually sitting between 5.5 and 6 feet tall. Average height, average build. Size is medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Living Encyclopedia

As an Avatar of The Reach you have the collected knowledge of all previous Avatars with you at all times. You are proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Journeyman Scholar

All Avatars have a specific area of research instilled in them by The Reach. Usually this is what leads to the name they choose. Gain proficiency in one additional skill.

Legacy of Learning

Starting at 10th level, The Reach may decide that an Avatar's journey is worth continuing before returning to the source. If an Avatar dies the player may choose to spawn a new Avatar to replace it. The new Avatar may retain the experience and equipment of its predecessor (provided your party doesn't take it for themselves), but will be a brand new being. The class and level will remain, and you may choose a new name if you wish, but it is a new body and they will need to get used to it. The new Avatar retains the memories of your adventures but has not lived through them, and as such does not have an emotional connection to them.

If you choose to do this, you effectively cast the Raise Dead spell on yourself. The casting time is increased to 24 hours, and your new body appears somewhere secluded within 1 mile of your previous body.