Homebrew Angel of Death Species Details

When a human dies and is infected with a rare spirit, the spirit will take that bodily form, fully grown, and reanimate it. It ends up looking like the reaper. These things have existed almost as long as humans have experienced death, and are native to the plane the person died as. As they are earthly bound, they do not have wings despite their title as angels. These are the origins of the angels of death. This moniker was given by a priestly father who saw them as emissaries to the afterlife.

When the gods of creation and destruction saw how humans were such a race of hubris, the god of death offered to make things interesting. He introduced a parasitic spirit onto the material realm that infected departing souls of humans and prevented their passing into the spirit realm. This parasite warps the human soul trapped in the body and turns it into an angel of death. Stripped of emotion, these resurrected beings do the bidding of death and cut down those of their own kind among others, desiring nothing but to kill. They are known to retain memories of their past lives but their lack of emotion makes them indifferent to anything they may have once cherished or loved, making them cold.

Society

Because of their rarity, angels of death do not have their own society and instead live within other societies or as hermits. They can usually pass off as humans. When they are suspected, they are often pursued and executed if caught. Angels of death are seen as being demonic or cursed, due to their incessant desire to kill, even if they do not act on or voice it. Because of this, they very rarely work normal jobs with a high profile or exposure to society. They instead tend to be criminals of some sort, usually the murdering type. As a result, they are often the dregs of any society they inhabit, associated with bad gossip and the slums due to their inability often to keep the money.

Hermitic angels go in and out of passing societies instead of living in them for extended periods. They kill under quiet cover and leave before a ruckus is made. More angels adopt this measure as it is safer, though being caught usually would mean death. Angels are rarely caught anyway, though, as they are often wily and powerful enough to elude or overpower pursuers.

Angel of Death Traits

Angels of Death have abilities and resistances to things other races do not due to them falling into the realms of undead.

Death’s Body

Because your body has already died, i5 is a bit sturdier against toxins that affect the living. You are resistant to poison damage.

Shadow Blend

You blend in with shadows exceptionally well.

Deaths Embrace

You bring the wrath of death when you strike your foes. When you make a successful weapon attack against a creature, you can choose to deal an extra 2d4 necrotic damage. The damage increases by 1d4 at levels 5 (3d4), 9 (4d4), 13 (5d4), and 17 (6d4). You must complete a short or long rest before using this trait again.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Angels of Death don’t age and live until they are killed in battle.

Size

Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Undead Soul

Due to your undead soul, you do not need to eat, sleep, breathe or drink. Instead, you must enter a semi-conscious trance for 4 hours a day. Remaining in this trance for 4 hours a day gives you the same benefit 8 hours of sleep for a normal human would give. This is due to being brought back from death and having a undead being taking possession of your body.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common, Celestial and Draconic.