Homebrew Aethorion Species Details

Aethorion used to be travelers of the realm, but due to a horrible disaster that stuck their homelands, were forced into the Underdark. Once fierce warriors, now working to return back to the surface, causing as little interruption possible.

Living in Darkness

Aethorion are born through gems in their parents bodies, once of age to speak and articulate, they join the masses, whether it's mining, building, or joining their army. Around 10 years of age, they are ready for life outside their home, though the vast majority don't, waiting to stage a reappearance when the time is right.

Aethorion don't breed as many other races do, instead they create what are known as 'Heartstones'. It takes an Aethorion about a week to create one, but the majority of Aethorion take weeks or months of careful carving and polishing. They can be made of any gems, the gems color determine the eye color of the ashen who uses it. Once the gem is prepared, it takes around a day of focusing and meditating on the gem to impart some of their mystical energy into it. The body is then slowly created over the course of another week, in which, the stone is transported from the Plane of Earth, to the body. Once fully assembled, the Heartstone ends in the center of the Aethorion' chest, where they then spring to life and start their journey.

Heartstone

Aethorion are created by the power of a Heartstone, talked about in the section above An Aethorion would refer to the one who created a Heartstone as a Heartgranter, usually treated with respect, but not forced to. Once an Aethorion dies, the Heartstone stays active for a full 24 hour cycle, afterwards, its rended inert, being unable to be revived until the Heartstone is made active again. An Aethorion can either create a new Heartstone, or reactivate a Heartstone in a lifetime. An Aethorion is also capable of repairing a Heartstone over the course of an hour. If the stone is repaired before the 24 hours are up, it can be revived, otherwise, needs to be reactivated. An Aethorion also can't be revived if its Heartstone is shattered.

A stone that is reactivated and then brought back to life, brings the soul of the Aethorion back, keeping any memories, but none of the tools, weapons, armor, or anything of the like. A new body will be created for the revived aethorion if the original one is unavailable. If a new body is created, it will take another week of creation time and won't have any of the originals scars or marks that the original body had.

Beliefs

Aethorion have few faith in the pantheon, leading the the majority of the Aethorion only lying to Mystra, Selûne, and Silvanus. Very few gods have ever stepped in for the survival and safety of the Aethorion, leading to their small list of faith.

The Sides of War

Aethorion are skilled in physical and magical combat, very often combining the two. While Aethorion mages are rarer then their close combatant counterparts, they still thrive in battle. Aethorion become one of two parts of their race when appearing.

Adventurers at Heart

Aethorion used to be world travelers, and great allies of many societies before their downfall. Knowledgeable about many things in their time, and even better defenders of themselves and their friends.

Aethorion find beauty in basic things in lives, birds flying overhead, the way trees sway in the wind, and how the grass blows with passerby's.

Aethorion enjoy learning new skills. They craft their own tools and weapons out of skillfully carved stone, gems, and metals. They are good at building structures and fortifications. They marvel at the works of other civilized creatures, humans in particular, and can lose themselves for years in a city, studying its architectural wonders.

Aethorion love learning and hearing new perspectives, why and how things happen, and understanding everything that crosses their paths.

Aethorion Names

Aethorion often change their names, sometimes to match a friend of theirs or because they read a more interesting one. Plenty of them choose names of other cultures, be it Dwarves or Elves. Aethorion don’t have surnames or family names.

Aethorion Traits

Your ashen gain abilities that allow it to survive in the no longer primal world they used to call home.

Eyes of Light

Your darkvision has a radius of 120 feet. Being underground for centuries leads to needs, and necessity is the catalyst to change. You also gain the ability to cast the light cantrip at will.

Molten Blood

When you take damage from a melee weapon attack, the attacker suffers 1d4 fire damage. The blood that runs through your body is burning hot.

Clattering Skin

You gain disadvantage on Dexterity stealth checks. Having bodies made of rock and stone means its hard to hide and keep quiet movement.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Young Aethorion crawl for a few days after birth before learning to walk on two legs. They reach adulthood by the age of 10 and live for an average of 1,000 years.

Alignment

Aethorion tend to lead orderly, ritualistic lives. They develop customs and routines, becoming more set in their ways as they age. Most are lawful good. A few can be selfish and greedy, tending more toward evil, but it’s unusual for an ashen to shuck off order in favor of chaos.

Size

Aethorion adults stand 6 to 9 feet tall and weigh between 320 to 550 pounds. Their rocky bodies weigh more then most creatures of their size. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Having bodies made of rock leads to a harder time moving then your average humanoid.

Natural Armor

Due to your rocky skin and the shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. Your skin provides ample protection, however; it gives you a base AC of 16 (your Dexterity modifier doesn’t affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield’s bonus as normal.

Proficiencies

You gain proficiency in the Athletics and Arcana skills. Ashen are finely tuned in both strength and magic.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Primordial and Common.