Homebrew Byzantine Species Details

Byzantine The Romans of the East never fell. From the golden domes of Constantinople to the fortified themes of Anatolia, the Byzantines are the unbroken chain linking Caesar to Christ. They speak Greek, pray in incense-choked cathedrals, and burn enemies with liquid fire. In a world of dragons and heretics, they are the Empire of the Romans—eternal, bureaucratic, and unyielding.

History and Culture

The Byzantine Empire is the Roman Empire reborn in Christ—a thousand-year fortress of bureaucracy, theology, and napalm. Constantinople’s triple walls laugh at siege engines; its navy sprays Greek fire that burns on water; its monks debate the nature of angels while dragons circle the Hippodrome. Society is layered: Emperors rule by divine right and poison. Varangians guard the throne with axes. Monks copy spell-scrolls in scriptoria. Theme soldiers farm by day, man catapults by night. In a world of magic and monsters, Byzantines weaponize ritual. Icons weep myrrh to blind demons; liturgical processions repel undead; cataphract lances are blessed to pierce dragonscale. Heresy is treason; treason is heresy.

Roleplaying a Byzantine Character

You are a cataphract in lamellar, chanting psalms as Greek fire arcs overhead. Or a court eunuch who funds dragon-hunting mercenaries with imperial gold. Or a hesychast monk whose silent prayer stills the storm elementals. You sign documents in red ink, kiss icons thrice, and never turn your back on the Emperor—living or painted.

Byzantine Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 4–7 feet tall) or Small (about 2–4 feet tall), chosen when you select this species
Speed: 30 feet

As an Byzantine, you have these special traits.

Greek Fire

Once per long rest, you can hurl a pressurized vial of the Empire’s secret weapon.

As an action, you cast Burning Hands as a 2nd-level spell (15-foot cone, 4d6 fire damage, DC = 8 + proficiency + Con modifier).

The flame ignites flammable objects that aren’t being worn or carried and cannot be extinguished by non-magical means for 1 minute.

You must have a free hand and a flask (component pouch or 5 gp alchemical vial).

Orthodox Litany

Your faith is a shield of chant and icon. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip (Wisdom is your spellcasting ability).

Additionally, when you finish a long rest inside a consecrated building (church, monastery, or shrine), you gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

These stack with no other source.

 

imperial Endurance

Centuries of defending walls have forged iron stamina.

You have advantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration on spells or to resist forced movement while you are within 5 feet of a wall, structure, or ally.