Homebrew Lightless Species Details

Enigmatic Visage

The name “lightless” is a colloquialism bestowed upon them from society as they have never named themselves. It was given to them due to their skin’s bizarre interaction when exposed to light, or rather… when light is exposed to their skin. The moment light makes contact with the skin of a lightless, it appears to vanish entirely. Their skin looks and feels completely devoid of texture. Researchers classified this trait as “voidskin.”

In order to blend in better with society, some lightless choose to wear masks and wigs. They believe this gives them a more approachable or socially-inclusive appearance. They tend to adorn themselves in multiple layers of fabrics— favoring cloaks, robes, scarves, and petticoats.

What Killed the Cat

Lightless are a hopelessly curious race, always taking in little observations about seemingly mundane trinkets. Their endless fascination with everyday objects has proven to make them incredibly effective treasure hunters, as their tendency to find wonder in everything tends to make them notice intricacies about items which are usually glossed over.

They unwittingly ignore the unspoken codes-of-conduct of society. Some lightless that are less-acclimated to civilized life may be seen riffling through trash or munching on food right off the stand in the market.

The Abyss Stares Back

The truth of the lightless’ origins is not entirely known to them, for the very concept of non-existence is lost upon them. In truth, they always existed as wanderers of the Void and only find themselves in the material plane as the result of some powerful interplanar incident or spell. Lightless tend to ponder on the meaning of existence, as the concept of origin is foreign and the very nature of a thing coming into being is endlessly fascinating.

Lightless Traits

Your lightless character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Either your Intelligence or Charisma score increases by 2, the one you did not pick increases by 1.

Mysterious Origin

Instead of the normal equipment given to you in your Background, you may instead choose 5 trinkets from the trinkets table on pp. 160-161 of the Player's Handbook.

Darkvision

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.

Living Shadow

Even though you have physical form and expend energy, you do not need to eat or drink. Further, you are always under the effects of the feather fall spell.

Innate Spellcasting

You know the prestidigitation cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the identify spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness spell once per day.

Voidskin

You have resistance to radiant damage.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common and a language of your choice.

Age

Lightless appear on the material plane as “adults.” No one except for other lightless have ever seen a lightless die of old age.

Alignment

Lightless tend toward chaotic alignments. They are typically too interested in exploring as much as they can to really sway towards either good or evil.