Homebrew Candellan Species Details

The Candellans are a race born from the will of the Aetherials, created to serve as the curators of knowledge within the vast, interdimensional Athinaeum—a timeless library containing the sum of all known wisdom. Though they were forged to endure, their existence is one of inevitable sacrifice; their bodies, composed of solid and durable wax, slowly diminish over time as their life energy burns away like a flame.

Unlike ordinary wax, their forms are resilient, resistant to simple heat and pressure, yet every thought, word, and action consumes them further. The longer a Candellan lives, the smaller they become—towering scholars eventually shrink into fragile, flickering remnants, their final days spent as whispers of knowledge before they vanish completely.

To the Candellans, this is not a tragedy but a sacred duty—a natural exchange of self for wisdom. They dedicate their existence to the relentless pursuit of learning, carrying out their Sabbaticarium, a journey to uncover and record lost truths before returning to the Athinaeum to offer their findings. Each Candellan wields a Librum Opus, an endless tome capable of transcribing and preserving knowledge beyond the limits of mortal books, ensuring that even as their bodies fade, their discoveries will never be lost.

Appearance and Attire

Though their waxen forms mark them as otherworldly, Candellans are not uniform in appearance. Their wax may range from pure white to deep amber or even obsidian black, with their texture reflecting their age—freshly formed Candellans have smooth, sculpted bodies, while elders bear the marks of time, their forms worn and cracked from the weight of their knowledge. Some bear flickering flames atop their heads or within their eyes, the last embers of their vitality burning ever lower.

Despite their unique physiology, Candellans adopt traditional clothing fitting their professions—scholars in ornate robes, scribes in simple tunics, and philosophers adorned in ceremonial garb. Though their physicality may change over time, their dedication to their craft remains unwavering.

The Balance of Time

Many Candellans accept their fate with dignity, embracing the slow march toward their eventual end, while others seek ways to extend their existence. Some turn to arcane rituals, slowing their burn through careful preservation, while others barter with forbidden knowledge in a desperate attempt to halt time's passage. Yet even these preservationists know that no candle can burn forever—when the last drop of wax falls, even the most powerful among them must return to the Athinaeum, their existence snuffed out, leaving only the words they left behind.

For the Candellans, to burn is to illuminate—a life spent gathering knowledge is a life well spent, no matter how brief the flame.

Candellan Traits

The Candellans are sentient beings of living wax, created by the Aetherials to safeguard and record knowledge. As they age, their bodies slowly diminish, their life force burning away like a candle’s flame—a solemn sacrifice they embrace in their endless pursuit of wisdom.

Flickering Life

Your life force burns away slowly like a candle. You do not require sleep, instead entering a meditative, motionless state for 4 hours, during which you remain aware of your surroundings.

Everburning Knowledge

our mind is a repository of accumulated wisdom. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, or Religion. If you are already proficient in the chosen skill, you add double your proficiency bonus when making checks with it.

Librum Opus

You possess a mystical tome linked to your essence, capable of recording knowledge beyond normal means. You can use this tome as a spellcasting focus, and once per long rest, you can cast Comprehend Languages without expending a spell slot.

Dwindling Form

As a Bonus Action, you can momentarily accelerate the burning of your essence to enhance your mental faculties. When you do, you gain Advantage on your next Intelligence or Wisdom-based ability check or saving throw, but you take 1d4 necrotic damage as your wax form weakens slightly. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regaining all expended uses after a Long Rest.

Waxen Resilience

 Your body is made of durable wax, granting you Resistance to Fire damage. However, you are vulnerable to Cold damage, as extreme cold makes your form brittle.