Homebrew Banshee Species Details
Banshees are the undead remnants of elves who were cursed by another banshee. Elves afflicted by the banshee’s curse experience no gladness, feeling only distress in the presence of the living. As the curse takes its toll, their minds and bodies decay, until death completes their transformation into undead creatures. Most banshees continue the decay, their minds and bodies rotting away, leaving only an unrecognizable shell of the former person they were.
Some, however, break free of their curse and restore their body and mind to being whole. No matter what they try, they can not be brought back from undeath. Most banshees will then try to return to the world of the living, only to find themselves cast out again; being a harbinger of ill omen, most banshees are something to be feared.
Banshee Traits
Your banshee character has been cursed and died, then rose as a banshee. Breaking free from your curse but remaining, you have gained newfound control of your supernatural abilities.Ability Score Increase
When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.
Age
Banshees do not age. They are cursed to roam the planes for eternity, unless laid to rest prior.
Size
Banshees, like elves, range from heights of under 5 feet to over 6 feet. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Being a banshee, you were to haunt the living in darkness. Breaking free from the curse has, you have realised you have supernatural sight. 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Banshee's Wail
You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip.
Additonally, as an action, you can screech at an ear and mind piercing pitch. Any creature within a 30 foot radius must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell DC. A creature takes 2d6 psychic damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one.
The damage increases by 2d6 when you reach 5th level (4d6), 11th level (6d6) and 17th level (8d6).
At 5th level, you gain more control over your voice and are able to choose which creatures may automatically pass.
After you use your scream, you can’t use it again until you complete a long rest.
Curse of Undeath
You were cursed to be among the hoardes of the undead for all eternity. You have resistance to Necrotic damage. Additionally, you have advantage on death saving throws, as you are forced to roam for eternity.
Detect life
Banshees are cursed to haunt the living, acting as a sign of ill omen. Breaking free from the curse, you realise you always know where to find them if theyre around you. As an action, you can sense the presence of any living creature within 1 mile of you. This does not give you the distance, only the general direction. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus each long rest. You cannot detect undead or constructs this way.
Incorpereal Movement
Part of a banshees supernatural abilities are the ones of flying and moving through physical objects. Recovering your body and mind, you lost the ability to fly, however you can still pass through most barriers that are not magical or marked by magic. However, you cannot remain inside a creature or object without harming yourself in th process.
You can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. If you end your move inside an object or creature, you both take a number of d10 force damage equal to your half of your Character level and you are shunted to the nearest unoccupied space. You cannot pass through any magical barriers or effects that would impede your movement, such as Wall of Force. Additionally, you cannot pass through any wall or surface that has been marked by magic, such as a wall with Glyph of Warding or a door with Arcane Lock.
Languages
You can speak, read and write Common, and one other Language.
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