Homebrew Death Genasi Species Details

Those who think of other planes at all consider them remote, distant realms, but planar influence can be felt throughout the world. It sometimes manifests in beings who, through an accident of birth, carry the power of the planes in their blood. The genasi are one such people, the offspring of genies and mortals.

As a death genasi, you are intrinsically connected to the Negative Energy plane, otherwise known as the Plane of Death. The circumstances of your birth, even ancestry, can be murky; perhaps a bizarre accident of Negative Energy influence, perhaps a purposeful exacting of ritualistic intent with the Plane of Death. Whatever the means of a their origins, a death genasi lives but harbors the power of unlife as a manifestation of death and finality.

Child of Death

Having the appearance of a living creature but housing the essence of death is quite a juxtaposition for others to behold.

Death genasi most often have stark white, translucent skin with an opalescent sheen, though there have been cases of some with near-opaque black that shimmers like spilt crude oil. With muscles and veins being slightly visible beneath the surface of their skin and eyes black as jet, having a pinpoint glow of dull amber rather than an iris, give death genasi an unsettling presence to be sure. A subtle hair-raising chill emanates from them, noticeable to those in their immediate vicinity, but curiously accompanied by a faint incense-like fragrance. Some death genasi speak with hollow voices, marked by a distant echo, while others speak with a disarming whimsy. Generally, they are hairless, but if a death genasi does have hair, it is white to the point of appearing like strands of glass. 

Cool and Collected

Death genasi are generally patient and perceptive, but can be aloof and unpredictable. They can also be surprisingly humorous. Emotional outbursts are rare, though if they occur, the atmosphere around a them chills into an otherworldly cold verily felt by others.

It should be noted that a death genasi is not inherently evil, as death is merely a doorway through which all living things must one day pass through. 

Genasi Lands

As rare beings, genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great genasi cities or empires. Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they have. Many genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people.

GENASI ON ATHAS

Although any world that includes one or more elemental planes can feature genasi, on Athas, the world of the Dark Sun campaign setting, elemental forces hold greater sway than they do on other worlds. As a people touched by elemental power, genasi are viewed as seers, prophets, and chosen ones. The birth of a genasi, whether a slave, a noble, or a member of a desert tribe, is an auspicious event. Most Athasians believe a given genasi is destined for greatness—or infamy.

Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder time. People there tend to be less accepting of differences. Sometimes a cold shoulder and a suspicious glare are the best genasi can hope for; in more backward places, they face ostracism and even violence from people who mistake them for fiends.

The distant land of Zakhara is known only in legends to most inhabitants of Faerûn. There, genies and spellcasters enter into bargains, and genasi can result from such pacts. Those genasi have been sources of great weal and woe in the history of that land.

DEATH GENASI BACKGROUNDS

The rarity of death genasi even amongst other genasi, especially with their frightening appearance, typically cast them to the fringes of society. However, as mortal life is abundant across the land, a death genasi might find it's uses where it's needed; within sprawling cities as an assassin or merchant of death in the employ of kings and lords. Or perhaps caring for the those in need in a temple, tending to the wounded and dying in a hospice, if the establishment deems it prudent to need the aid of such a being. Fitting backgrounds include acolyte, criminal/spy, and hermit.

Death Genasi Names

Genasi use the naming conventions of the people among whom they were raised. They might later assume distinctive names to capture their heritage, such as Nox, Darke, Graves, or Atropos.

 

Death Genasi Traits

Your death genasi character has some unique characteristics not found among other genasi.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years.

Alignment

Independent and self-reliant, genasi tend toward a neutral alignment.

Size

Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents but are generally built like humans, standing anywhere from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Stillbreather

As a manifestation of death itself, a death genasi does not need to breathe, making them immune to the effects of drowning, suffocation, strangulation, and inhaled poison.

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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Deadsight

You gain the ability to willfully sense the presence of the dying, dead, and undead. As an action, you can open your awareness to magically detect creatures in the various stages of death. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any dying, dead, and undead creature within 60 feet of you. This sense doesn't tell you anything about a creature's capabilities or identity.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Scion of Cessation

You have resistance to necrotic damage and cold damage.

Death-Touched

You know the Chill Touch cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Inflict Wounds spell. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the Gentle Repose spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. Once you cast Inflict Wounds or Gentle Repose with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.