Homebrew Pheonixborn Species Details

Pheonixborn are individuals that - somewhere in their bloodline - have encountered the legendary bird known as the Pheonix, and their descendants have been blessed with some of the abilities of such a being. not many individuals have this blessing (about 1 in 10,000), and it doesn't change one's appearance or racial background that much or at all. The bloodlines of which may encounter a Pheonix can range from the poor, living in rotten and squalid conditions, to those of noble descent, but they are Pheonixborn all the same.

Shrouded in Mystery

Not many people - scholars or not - understand the nature of how these beings are created, all that is common knowledge is that you can identify a Pheonixborn by looking at 3 areas on their body: 

- Their eyes, they may have a fiery hue inside the irises, or patterns of flames lining their eyelids

- Their arms, which may be almost unbearably hot to anyone touching them, yet the Pheonixborn feels perfectly fine

- Their hair, it may have a flame-like tinge to the colour, similar to that of a ginger-haired person, but deeper colour, or the hair may look like it's smouldering without being set on fire.

Individuals will tend to avoid Pheonixborn because they have been said to be unpredictable and chaotic in their nature, and when something that they're highly passionate about presents itself, they will stop at nothing to become the best at that role, even to a fault.

Due to the rarity of these people, they can be sought after as prized slaves as the Drow (Dark elves) or sometimes even in different planes of existence like the Elemental plane of Fire's City of Brass, or in the Iron City of Dis (in the 2nd level of Hell).

Exceptionally Independent and Driven

Pheonixborn who have discovered their calling in life will typically stick with that calling until they leave this mortal coil, and they may even adopt the name that their specific profession holds - so a Pheonixborn who has found their calling as a shop owner may take their profession name as "Commerce" or "Trade", whereas a Pheonixborn who considers their calling in the area of the military may call themselves "Soldier" or "Strategist", this typically makes these people extremely good at what they do and causes them to come to success quickly, and have boundless energy when it involves their passion.

PHEONIXBORN BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for Pheonixborn include the entertainer, the guild artisan, and the sage.

Pheonixborn Traits

As a Pheonixborn, you have certain traits in common with your people.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1. If you are replacing your race with this lineage, replace any Ability Score Increase you previously had with this.

Age

Pheonixborn typically live as long as their racial background allows - maybe longer, for example if the Pheonixborn is a human, they may live to 110 and reach maturity at age 18.

Alignment

Most Pheonixborn are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Though it mainly depends on what their calling makes them do.

Size

You are Large, Medium or Small. You choose the size when you gain this lineage.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. If you are replacing your race with this lineage, you retain any languages you had and gain no new languages except from Ignan.

Affinity with Flame

Due to the Pheonix essence you carry within yourself, you have a natural affinity with fire. You have immunity to fire damage

Pheonix Outburst

You can unleash the Phoenix fire that blazes within you.

As a bonus action, you can wreathe yourself in the swirling fire granted to you by your Pheonix ancestor, as your eyes glow like hot coals. For 10 minutes, you gain the following benefits:

• You shed bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.
• Any creature takes fire damage equal to your Charisma modifier if it hits you with a melee attack from within 5 feet of you or if it touches you.
• Whenever you roll damage on your turn, the roll gains a bonus fire damage equal to half your character level.
• You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed as fiery wings sprout from your shoulder blades.
• If you drop to 0 hit points you can  use your reaction to instead drop to 1

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Innate spellcasting

Due to your Pheonix heritage, you gain access to many fiery spells, You know the Control Flames cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Hellish Rebuke spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Flame Blade spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.