Homebrew Astrani Species Details

Formed from the star-stuff of the Astral Plane, astrani are an ancient race that have showed up across the planes. Regardless of where they wake or have made their home, they have an innate love of travel and mystery. These people seem to have a knack for always landing on their feet in any situation; in trouble or out of it, whether the cause or victim.

Though astrani are what passes for natural on the Astral Plane, dark and powerful forces aware of the hidden identity of their shaper and maker are bent on eradicating them. So, while all astrani have an affinity for one plane or another and subconsciously seek it out, many astrani are refugees, determined to evade their pursuers and find the entity that created their race.

When they gather as more than just a family, astrani- or tähtanak in their own tongue- seem to produce a culture of encouragement, and finding one's purpose; a community of curiosity and mysticism. Being known uniformly as the odd wanderer, empires and conquerors across the planes have taken advantage of nomadic astrani. This has given them a strong sense of justice and freedom, which has always been tied to fulfilling a higher purpose and destiny. Astrani adore bright colors, in general, but are fine with donning any clothes available.

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Size

The astrani are leaner and taller than man, having bones of a lighter and stronger substance; they stand at around 5'8"-6'5" tall, and their weight is in the range of 120-170 lbs.

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Appearance

Formed from the star-stuff of the Astral Plane, astrani are overall humanoid in appearance. Their smooth hides are of pale sandstone and ivory tones. What seems to be their only hair, which is of raven, or deep space-blue or purple hues, are actually sensory filaments: it is almost always worn long and loose, as cutting it is at a minimum mildly painful and uncomfortable. Their noses are flatter and wider than many humanoids, and their voices have a musical ringing tone to them, which grows discordant when angry or upset. The cat-like eyes are green or amber. 

While astrani have varying personalities that can seem masculine or feminine, and voices that may support such assumptions, they in truth reproduce asexually. The method of fertilization is thought to be magical and involve light,  but the astrani seem to only know as much of the method as anyone else. They are immensely protective of their young, keeping them close at all times during their early years.

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Age

The astrani age and grow slowly compared to humans, maturing at around fifty years, and having lifespans that can stretch for centuries.

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Alignment

Astrani can be of any alignment. Each one is drawn to a particular Upper or Lower plane, migrating there over the course of their lifetime. Sometimes, astrani are drawn to the Material Plane, and they eagerly adopt the attitude of the people who populate their arrival point. Though they do not commonly have great ambitions, astrani are just as capable of evil and good, and whimsy and duty.

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Language

The astrani speak Tähtuwit, known in common as Astranisian, an ancient offshoot of the Celestial language. Like Celestial, Tähtuwit is an alien but beautiful language. Over time, after coming into contact with other tongues, it gained some similarities: it is a tonal and highly inflected synthetic language whose long and sometimes sentence-like words have a musical lilt and cadence to them. Their writing uses a form of the Celestial alphabet. Astranisian and Celestial are not mutually intelligible: a speaker of Celestial would be able to understand Astranisian, but an Astranisian speaker would not be able to understand Celestial. Astrani will typically be able to speak Common and perhaps another language in addition to their native language.

 

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Names

Astrani usually just have a given name, but in some places have adopted family names derived from nature or their adopted trade to better assimilate into the culture. Some given names include Meridat, Kumiki, Tähtuin, Ranrantayin, Taivaalangit, Bunduori, Vula, Tulisun, Maghana, Mataavi, Lujakas, Lauwitu, Helmas, Notulin, etc.

Astrani Traits

Inquisitive and graceful, astrani have an infectious inner light.

Astral Guard

Your heritage allows you greater resistance to many effects, the star-stuff of your makeup forming an innate defense against magical attacks. When you are targeted by a spell attack, your AC counts as 2 higher for the purposes of determining if the attack hits or not.

Inner Light

You can focus and manifest your inner light physically, gently glowing. You know and have learned the Light cantrip, and can cast it without the material components.

Fulgent Felicity

Astrani have an innate good luck, which they can occasionally manifest to ward off danger. When you fail an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can add your proficiency to the die but must use the new result. You can use this feature up to proficiency times after a long rest.

Resonance

Astrani physiology isn't burdened with the need for rest of most races. They can instead spend this time resting in planar harmony, rejuvenating their system. You have no need to sleep, and can instead enter a trance for 4 hours to gain the benefit of a long rest. During this time you remain aware of your surroundings.

Mystic Sense

You have an innate knack for knowing what to do in dark and strange environments, thanks to the multitude of sensory filaments making up your hair. You have Darkvision out to 60 feet, and always know which directions are North and up.

Star-Stuff

The astral heritage of the astrani manifests as increased intuition, and can give them enhanced grace and charm, also. You have a +2 bonus to your Wisdom score, and a +1 bonus to your Dexterity or Charisma score.