Homebrew Deep Strider Species Details

A large Reaver-like creature from the Shadowfel. These creatures are commonly mistaken to be embodiments of death in scriptures. However these Creatures are Far from Evil and Good. Though from the Shadowfel, they are Neutral in nature, but still pose an extreme threat when Agitated.
 These Creatures are very slim and agile. They stand with Dark grace and an Elegance which matches their Horrifying stature. They Wield the deepest and darkest secrets of the Abyss and the Shadowfel which runs through their Black blood.
The Deep Magic they know is mainly used to help them adapt and survive in other planes as well as aid them in hostile environments.
Their true appearances however are much different from their disguises. They range from smallest 8ft to largest 13ft. They also emit a dark necrotic smog which disipates inches off their body, they can control the smog to alter their outline / sillouette. Their Bones and internal biology are abyssal black, including their blood which makes them immune to Nectrotic damage.
A Deep Strider is Birthed from the blood of a dying NightWalker and matures months after it's creation, They live for up to an average of 1000 years, however the more powerful they become, the longer they live.
When a Deep Strider dies, it's Abyssal soul is released from it's body which when in the Shadowfel, Births a NightWalker once it enters a body of darkness. However, if a Deep Strider dies outside of the Shadowfel, the soul enters the closest living organism; If it is a piece of plantlife, it imediately withers and dies and the soil is perminantly tainted / Poisoned. If the soul is to enter an animal of intelligence score 3 or higher, the creature must make a DC constitution saving throw equal to the Deep Strider's Character level. on a success no Physical side effects take place, however on a fail, the creature takes a point of exhaustion + Deep Strider's Character Level in Necrotic Damage (If the creature's health is dropped to 0, they are not required to make death saving throws and are just rendered unconscious) During the Creatures next Long rest they are Haunted in their rest with a sped up process of the Deep Strider's life and memories. If the creature it enters has an intelligence of 2 or lower, the creature automatically fails it's saving throw and is rendered unconscious. This animal awakens with the memories of the Deep Strider added to it's own and all known allies to the deep strider are now considered friends to the creature, the same goes for known enemies, they become enemies of that creature.
If the Deep Strider dies in the FeyWild, their soul is attracted towards the nearest Fey Plant-life and then it's soul is encased into a it's seed and will become an isolated plant with it's own memories and it's own sentience as well as it's own form of opinions against the worlds it has previously experienced

 

Deep Strider Traits

Ability score Increase, Horrifying Nature, Size, Deep Magic, Abyssal Blood, Thin Flesh, Shadow Slumber

Size

You're size ranges between 8 to 13ft, your size is Large.

Languages

You can only Speak Deep Speech and Common, but you can both Speak and read Abyssal

Shadow Slumber

Instead of Sleeping, Deep Striders enter a state of Idleness where they find darkness and submerge themselves into it and recount their memories which is why they learn quickly. when in this form they are partially visible but not invisible. the average eye would see the shadow with a faint pitch black skeletal face in the heart of it

Ability Score Increase

You are Naturally agile and Learn Quickly which helps you adapt to different planes

Stolen Form

A form which the Deep Strider may use to disguise themselves in other environments.

The Form once belonged to another creature or person before the Deep Strider either stole it, killed it or a corpse they have come across which they want to take for themselves.
the form can be no bigger than Medium and has relative stats to the form they have captured. This Feat works in a similar way to Shrink + disguise self, however the Deep Strider's vulnerabilities and immunities remain the same as do the rest of their stats as this form is merely a containment and survival form to hide their dark nature.
The ritual which takes 1hour and once complete remains casted but is classed as a concentration spell.

 

 

Deep Magic

The Secrets of the Shadowfel runs through your veins, you gain the ability to cast a certain number of spells based on your character level.
The Deep Magic they know is mainly used to help them adapt and survive in other planes as well as aid them in hostile environments.
Level 3: Chill Touch. 
Level 5: Inflict Wounds 
Level 7: Gentle Repose 

Abyssal Blood

You are from the Shadowfel and are immune to Necrotic Damage

Abyssal eyes

You have 120ft of Dark Vision

Thin Flesh

due to your thin flesh, you take blunt hits harder than most do, you are Vulnerable to Bludgeoning damage

Horrifying Nature

Your Evil-looking nature gives you disadvantage to pursuasion but advantage to Inimidation. Your Charisma suffers a -2 penalty