Homebrew Homunculus Species Details

Perhaps cursed, perhaps blessed, a Homunculus is the pinnacle of artificially created life, a triumph of alchemy, and a tragic existence. A humanoid Homunculus and an actual human are near impossible to tell apart - yet the abilities of one unaffected by the struggles of natural life and mortality stand out clearly on and off the battlefield. Some serve their master's every whim, others resist their creators, and others still were left to live on alone after their creator's deaths.

Eerily similar, creepily different

Humanoid Homunculi are virtually indistinguishable from actual human beings. Unlike the grotesque and deformed creations of less practised alchemists, they lack neither a fragile body nor an imperfect, disfigured appearance, having being designed straight from the imagination of masters of the alchemic arts. In fact, their perfect features could be considered eerie and inhuman to some who look upon their graceful forms. Homunculi usually have stature and appearance ranging from that of a small child to a large adult - they are typically fair-skinned and pale, athletic but not bulky, fast and light, but strong and tough. Oddly, their eyes tend towards unnatural colours, violet, orange, red, sometimes heterochromatic - and their hair often a stark white or deepest black.

Most significantly, a Homunculi has no heart - only a core stone, a vital material for their original creation. Their wounds vanish after hours, their body contains organs merely for if they are needed. They feel no pain, a trait that completes the eerie, unnatural image that is their existence.

The gift of learning

A more recently created Homunculus is the world's smartest, stupidest child. Their practical decision-making, ability to take in and recall information and understand the most complex instructions is insurmountable - but they are born with no morals, no emotion, no real personality. Since by nature of their creation they are extremely rare, a Homunculus grows and develops these things through witnessing the actions of others, learning of and understanding their passion, their pain - their happiness, their hopes. A Homunculus can decree one is a murderer if told said person killed someone in cold blood - whether they consider them to be evil however is not something a newly created Homunculus could decide.

A Homunculus wishes at its core to collect information, regardless of if it serves a master or not. Engaging with the natural world around it allows its Core Stone to develop - given enough information, a Core Stone could supposedly pass through different phases until it becomes a Philosopher's Stone - but if such a thing is possible, it is yet to be seen.

Whether a Homunculus throws itself into the thick of society or sticks to the shadows, wandering by its lonesome, all depends on the circumstances that have shaped, or are shaping their personality and journey.

 

Homunculus Traits

Whilst their appearance is vaguely human, a Homunculus' qualities are anything but that.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Homunculi do no physically age, and can live anywhere from 80 to 500 years depending on the quality of their creation. How long a Homunculus has lived will likely drastically affect its personality and the depth of its knowledge.

Alignment

As an unnatural creation, you start out as an indifferent, almost soulless being who changes based on experience. A newly created Homunculus is the truest of truly neutral beings, but based on their experiences as they live, they could grow to be any kind of person. 

Size

 Homunculi range in their slender appearances from young human children of 4 feet to grown adults a little over 6 feet, Either way, your size is Medium. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. 

Languages

You can speak Common and one other language of your choice - however, you may not have been taught or learnt how to read or write.

Core Stone

Instead of a heart, your body contains a Core Stone, originally used as a vital material in your creation. This grants you exceptional healing abilities.

• After a Long or Short Rest, you gain Temporary Hit Points equal to your Level + your Constitution modifier, up to a maximum of 5 + your Constitution modifier.
• If you lose a part of your body or suffer a Lingering Injury, no matter how grievous, you can regenerate it over the course of a Short or Long Rest by expending a Hit Die, as long as your Core Stone remains intact.

Living Construct

 Even though you are technically a living creature, you were still constructed. You are immune to poison and diseases. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can ingest food and drink if you wish. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal. 

Unnatural Life

Due to bring created artificially, you lose some weaknesses of the standard humans you were moulded after.  It is extremely difficult for you to be intoxicated or charmed; As such, you have Advantage on Saving Throws against both conditions.

Processor

Your Core Stone allows you to process information and instructions faster than the average humanoid. You gain proficiency in either Perception or Investigation.