Homebrew Chrysophyte Species Details

Long ago, in the hidden corners of the multiverse, the first Chrysophytes emerged, small creatures born from the union of organic matter and the raw essence of magic. These original beings learned to survive by integrating parts of their surroundings into their forms, creating bodies that could adapt to any environment. Over centuries, the ability to bond with nature became an intrinsic part of the Chrysophytes' essence, passed down through generations.

Chrysophytes possess a unique bond with the natural world, allowing them to communicate with plants, animals, and fungi. Their symbiotic relationship with the environment grants them extraordinary adaptability—whether weaving roots through stones for protection or incorporating green leaves for photosynthesis. This connection allows them to thrive in diverse landscapes, from dense forests to arid deserts.

Their innate magic enables Chrysophytes to shape their bodies, growing from their small base form into larger constructs by integrating the materials around them. At higher levels, this transformation allows them to become formidable beings, blending seamlessly with their chosen habitats.

Chrysophytes can live up to 300 years, their lifespans intertwined with the ebb and flow of nature’s cycles. This longevity gives them a profound perspective on the world, as they wander, learn, and adapt, always in harmony with the environment around them.

Creating Your Character

At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation.

Ability Score Increases

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.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

Creature Type

Every creature in D&D, including each player character, has a special tag in the rules that identifies the type of creature they are. Most player characters are of the Humanoid type. A race tells you what your character’s creature type is.

Here’s a list of the game’s creature types in alphabetical order: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, Undead. These types don’t have rules themselves, but some rules in the game affect creatures of certain types in different ways. For example, the cure wounds spell doesn’t work on a Construct or an Undead.

Life Span

The typical life span of a player character in the D&D multiverse is about a century, assuming the character doesn’t meet a violent end on an adventure. Members of some races, such as dwarves and elves, can live for centuries. If typical members of a race can live longer than a century, that fact is mentioned in the race’s description.

Height and Weight

Player characters, regardless of race, typically fall into the same ranges of height and weight that humans have in our world. If you’d like to determine your character’s height or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player’s Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

Chrysophyte Traits

As a chrysophyte, you have the following racial traits.

Nerve-like Roots

The Chrysophyte's defining feature is its Nerve-like Roots, a complex system of organic filaments that run through its body, allowing it to incorporate and control various materials from its environment. These roots are not only essential for the Chrysophyte's survival but also grant it extraordinary adaptability and versatility in form and function.

Base Form (Small):

• Incorporation: In its natural, small form, the Chrysophyte can integrate small objects and materials weighing no more than its carrying capacity. This process takes 1 minute and allows the Chrysophyte to adapt its body for different needs, such as enhancing its armor with bark or stone, or using leaves to photosynthesize.

• Removal: Similarly, the Chrysophyte can remove incorporated materials, taking 1 minute to revert to its base form or prepare for new adaptations.

Medium Form (Level 5):

• Transformation: Upon reaching level 5, the Chrysophyte gains the ability to extend into a Medium size body. This transformation process takes 1 minute. In this form, the Chrysophyte can incorporate larger materials, granting enhanced abilities such as increased climbing speed from integrating vines or added strength from incorporating sturdy branches.

• Capacity: The total weight of incorporated materials cannot exceed twice the Chrysophyte’s carrying capacity in its base form.

Large Form (Level 10):

• Transformation: At level 10, the Chrysophyte’s Nerve-like Roots evolve further, allowing it to extend into a Large size body. This transformation process also takes 1 minute. In this form, the Chrysophyte can integrate even larger and more complex materials, enabling significant adaptations like forming powerful limbs from logs or creating extensive camouflage with dense foliage.

• Capacity: The total weight of incorporated materials cannot exceed four times the Chrysophyte’s carrying capacity in its base form.

Environmental Adptation

Once per long rest, while you are taking a short rest, you can harness your Nerve-like Roots to adapt your body to a specific terrain (such as forest, desert, mountain, etc.). During this time, you incorporate surrounding materials into your form, gaining unique advantages related to the chosen environment. This adaptation lasts until you use this feature again.

To activate Environmental Adaptation, you need to spend at least 30 minutes of your short rest in direct contact with the chosen terrain, allowing your Nerve-like Roots to absorb and integrate the necessary materials. This remarkable ability reflects the Chrysophyte's profound connection to its surroundings, enabling it to thrive in any environment.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Small in your base form.

Medium Size: At level 5, you can use your Adaptable Form to create a Medium size body.

Large Size: At level 10, you can use your Adaptable Form to create a Large size body.

 

Speed

Your walking speed is 25 ft. in your Small form. In your Medium size, your walking speed is 30 ft., and in your Large size, your walking speed is 35 ft.

You also have a climbing speed of 20 ft. no matter your size.

Adaptable Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Symbiotic Communication

You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with Beasts, Plants, and vegetation. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.