Homebrew Empty Species Details

Not quite dead, Empties are soulless vessels of what they once where, literally. An Empty is a creature that has lost its soul but hasn't yet died, and thereby is an outcast to the living, dead, and undead. Naturally, Empties are forced into nomadic and lonely lives. Considered as strangers to everyone, they have no home, no family, and no people, and the Empties like it that way. 

Soul Stolen

Empties lack something very common amongst most other living creatures: a soul. Whether it was stolen by some cruel spellcaster, eaten by a fiend, or lost in a bet with a God, an Empty was a person who had their soul ripped from their still living body. No matter what they once were in life, losing one's soul will physically and psychologically change them. Empties are humanoid creatures that stand between 5 and 7 feet tall. Typically, they weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. Their skin turns into a desaturated grey, their hair into a deep black, and their irises into a glowing white. Unless they reclaim their lost soul, or are given a new one, Empties will remain this depressing echo of themselves until they are destroyed.    

Homeless

With no society or civilisation to return to, the adventuring life appears quite natural to Empties. Lacking a culture and people to ground them leaves Empties with an amoral perspective that keeps them from forming many close bonds with other people. Rare is it to encounter a particularly ambitious Empty. Most merely wish to live their lives wandering, fighting for coin, and drinking until they inevitably waste away with time. Yet, there are some Empties who possess such a strong will that a great fiery ambition may burn within them. This could manifest in either trying to reclaim their lost soul, or to take a new one. Another may wish to challenge society's prejudices against their nature, and so thereby wishes to make themselves a famous academic or inventor. 

DOOMED TO ISOLATION

Regardless of what they may desire, Empties are generally predetermined to live solitary lives. With their soul stolen, so too is their personality, identity, and individuality. Thereby, Empties often struggle to make friends and form relationships. Granted, not all Empties desire to be loved, but they all suffer from this lonely existence to an extent. 

Empties normally lack the ability to be interested by people, history, culture, or art. Being rejected by all others, it is in their nature to reject also. Because of this, most Empties are irreligious and indifferent. With no real care towards themselves and others, Empties find themselves to be incredibly bored by conversation and social gatherings. They often become quite awkward, speaking only when spoken to, and when speaking, they are often brutally honest about what they think. 

That is not to say, however, it is impossible for Empties to try and break this fate, as many do try. The longer one lives the more accustomed they come to this life. Younger Empties, or ones of exceptional ambition, may desperately try to make friends, or even find themselves a mate. Yet, alas, it is rare for an Empty to ever succeed in this, as they are all doomed to isolation from all other creatures.  

Empty Names

Lacking racial history and language, Empties normally retain their names from when they were alive instead of assuming a new identity. This is not the case for all, however. Some Empties have been known to take on entirely new personalities of their own making, in hopes that it may return a part of their soul that they have lost. In doing so they may take on a new name, which could be selected from any race or culture, or perhaps something that is entirely new.  

Empty Traits

Becoming an Empty is not entirely a curse of tragedy, for your character has the following characteristics.

Ability Score Improvement

Becoming an Empty will increase some of your Ability Scores. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Empties do not physically age beyond when they were turned, so a child turned into an Empty will remain mostly as they looked when their soul was removed. After being turned, an Empty will begin an incredibly slow process of decomposition. As they get older they become weaker and more fragile. After 400 years an Empty will erode into a lumpy, black dust. Lacking a soul means they will not go to any afterlife if they die in this way and they can never be resurrected.

Alignment

Empties are typically neutral creatures, caring not for the law of the land, but also not seeking to cause any major problems. Empties are also often motivated for themselves, and so therefore do not care much for thinking on what is good or what is evil. They simply wish to survive and live well.

Size

Empties vary from being 5 to 7 feet tall. If your character was shorter/taller before being turned, then they will grow/shrink to fit this size range. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

 

Hollow

Being without a soul makes you difficult to be affected by psionics and mind-meddling magic. You have resistance to psychic damage. In addition to this, your character cannot be charmed. 

Soulless Nature

Lacking a soul, Empties are incredibly confusing creatures to spellcasters and are naturally resistant to magic. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects. In addition to this, you cannot be detected or located by a spell. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Empties speak the languages which they knew in life, and so it may very depending on their original ethnicity what they may or may not know. Discuss with your DM if your character should know multiple or more specific languages.