Homebrew Zodiac Child Species Details

Zodiac Children

“	These Zodiac children... always 12 of them in any time of history... just there, being the reminder that, sometimes, heavens just look for someone to mark as their favorite... but that reminder is fear-inducing to anyone that wants to forget that fact. And marking also the road of these children to either eternal glory or eternal damnation. Nothing in-between	”
—Fragment of "Words from the sky" by Orinta, the Grand Wizard. Page 932

 

Blessings, future heroes, great destinies, unavoidable curses, born from demons... The zodiac children have known all this appellatives from the moment they are born. Being born from apparently normal families, the zodiacs don't know where they come from, why they live, why they are different from the rest of their family. Some say it’s a gift by the gods, others a curse. And while everyone is just trying to understand what are they, they grow stronger, their road gets clearer and their birthmark gets brighter as their sign stars are visible in the night skies.

Physical Description

Born from any combination of humanoids, a zodiac child is like any other humanoid expected from their parents combination at birth. They always have their zodiac birthmark somewhere visible on their body, generally the shoulder, but neck, cheek, one of the hands or any part of the face are frequent locations. While most of the birthmarks are not bigger than 1 inch, there are some that cover the entirety of their chest. These birthmarks are so visible that thay will even project themselves on top of their clothing and metal armors when they try to cover it.

Their skin color and hair begins being the same as their parents, but it starts changing as the zodiac grows, variations depending on their zodiac sign. Although their constitution is closer to humans, their size varies tremendously depending on the races that gave them birth, from almost 4 feet if born from halflings, to almost 7 from goliaths, although their size can change depending on their sign, getting either smaller or taller. The characteristics of their birth parents' race start dissapearing as they reach puberty, being almost unnoticeable after they reach 20 years old. When the zodiac is fully mature, they resemble nothing of the parental races. Some parents even reject their sons and daughters after this transformation starts.

History

When the first human societies were built, some children started being born with a strange birthmark. An old astrologist linked these with the constellations in the sky, and so the name “zodiac child” was born. The reason for their arrival stays unknown to this day, but it is known that people reproducing with zodiac children have a higher chance to give birth to one as well. Additionally, the type of zodiac mark isn’t decided by the type of parent, but it almost always coincides with the constellation the sun is in on the time of birth.

These "children of the skies", as some tales refer to them, have appeared in history and they have always left a mark or even changed it: From the most revered magicians to the worst destructive tyrants, leaders of robbers, magnificent musicians or painters, unstoppable explorers, some being the best artifact makers or the most powerful rival of a king. History either reveres them or condemns them. One detail historians have noticed is that they usually die under their solar sign, speculating this happens so to keep always 12 different zodiac signs represented in the world.

Society

Some societies worship these beings, while others see them as outcasts, due to their terrible “curse”. One legend speaks of a city that tried to collect all twelve variants, but when they were put together, the city just vanished in thin air, leaving the 12 children as their only memory. As only these 12 children exist at any moment, they form part of normal societies, mostly doing the best they can do with their abilities. They rarely contact with different zodiacs and these contacts are usually chaotic and short for reasons never understood.

Having descendants with this race is problematic, as they seem less fertile than the rest of the races. These children, however, are almost always zodiacs too, but conflict with their zodiac parent is frequent, sometimes culminating in tragedy, specially if both have the same solar sign, although this is legendarily rare.

Zodiac Child Names

Zodiac children use the names of the society they were born in. As they grow up they usually adopt the name of their sign as a nickname or even as their first and only name. They rarely keep their family names as they grow up.

Zodiac Child Traits

Zodiac Children gain unique powers and strengths based on the sign they were born under, as well as what time of year it is, but share the following traits in common:

Zodiac Mark

You have a zodiac mark on a clearly visible spot on your body. If you try to cover your birthmark, it will project itself on top of the covering. This mark may not be removed at any time by anything shorter of a wish spell or divine intervention. If it does get removed you have to roll every saving throw, attack roll or ability check with disadvantage until you regrow it. You may also use your mark as a spellcasting focus. When you cast a spell using your birthmark as focus, it will project itself in front of you, clearly visible to anyone who can see you.

Alignment

The whole spectrum is available. Their sign of birth tends to determine certain alignments, but this is not a norm.

Ability Score Increase

Increase your Constitution score by 1.

Amplified Power

On the cusp of your sign, your zodiac mark will begin to glow intensely, unlocking powers you never knew you had, but also powers that may be a little too powerful to control. Review the amplified power trait of each sign for the bonifications and specifics of each sign. You must roll a Constitution Saving Throw each day during this time, with a DC equals to 25 minus your total level or you can't use these powers until the next day. If your zodiac mark gets removed, you grow a new mark during the transcourse of the month instead of the power amplification.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, the language of their parent race, and one extra language dependant on your sign.