Homebrew Coldvein Species Details

Coldveins are rather tame in appearance compared to most undead. Oddly enough, necromancers have been unable to create coldveins from any race other than elves, specifically high elf remains. Coldveins have incredibly pale skin and dark eyes, as well as pointed elf ears. Despite being undead, coldveins do not rot. But their wounds do not close either. Often times, coldveins eventually wrap almost their whole bodies up in bandages to hide these glaring wounds they accumulate. One day, when their lifeless bodies can no longer hold themselves together, their spirits escape, tragically remaining bound to the mortal plane and leaving their broken body for all to see.

History

According to the oldest coldvein spirit, the process by which they are created was developed by the powerful wizard Greylin Sorel. The mad man was quite fond of the bodies of high elves and desired to be able to make them into impervious undead soldiers. He was caught and executed for his heinous practices, but his recipes were gone from his study, taken by his apprentices.

Since then, his apprentices have passed this knowledge along to the necromancer circles scattered around the world. There has been a history of looting the corpses of high elves to continue this barbaric practice. Coldveins have endured histories of slavery at the hand of necromancers who raised them, and abuse at the hands of the fearful ones that glanced upon them.

Society

Coldveins are often able to pass off as Drow-High Elf mixes. That is, so long as they avoid chapels and clerics. On rare occasions, however, their unfortunate nature is accepted by townspeople and even the church. It is rare for coldveins to take on careers that involve traveling, as most seek to remember who they were before they died, and they often believe that they are reanimated close to their living home. Some coldveins, however, accept their lot in life, taking to traveling and taking advantage of their second shot to create a new life.

Coldvein Names

Coldveins often pick names for themselves that come from the naming conventions of the most common race in their area.

Male: Ulfgar, Heimund, Juuraat

Female: Farsha, Raata, Klyynlin

Coldvein Traits

Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement.

Undead Nature

Your creature type is undead instead of humanoid. As such, spells like cure wounds don't affect you, and you are immune to spells like crown of madness or dominate persons because they specifically target humanoids. You are immune to diseases unless they are capable of targeting undead. You do not need to eat or breathe, though you may do so if you wish.

Spiritual Resonance

 Being created from an elf, it makes sense coldveins still have some magic ability, however minuscule. You are proficient in the Arcana skill.

Grave-Minded

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and magic can't put you to sleep.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Coldveins do not age, and even upon the destruction of their bodies, their souls remain tethered to the mortal plane. This being said, if their bodies are destroyed before their souls can grow to their true form, they become powerless specters.

Alignment

Coldveins can be of any alignment, though they tend towards chaos rather than order.

Size

 Coldveins stand within the same general sizes as high elves. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Black Eyes

Whenever you make a Wisdom (Perception) check while in darkness, you are considered proficient in the Perception skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Darkvision

 You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Death's Boon

You know the prestidigitation cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the aganazzar's scorcher spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this racial trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

Coldveins can speak, read, and write in Common, Elvish, and one other language of your choice.