Homebrew Wandering Undead Species Details
This species remains the race they were when they were living. Having died with a strong desire unfulfilled, their death was stalled by the Spirit of Life, Vitae, as a gift, as she feels that no life should go unfulfilled. These undead variants walk among the living with a purpose, a goal, and when that goal has been fulfilled, their life is truly over, and Vitae herself guides the soul to it's rightful place.
Wandering Undead Traits
This species looks much like their living race, but posses no blood, leaving their skin at a pallor in comparison to what it was in life, as well as becoming gaunt from no longer requiring food to survive. As well as this, though the wounds fail to affect them, they remain visible on their body, never healing.Ability Score Adjustment
As these creatures are pitied by the living, they always get an increase of +1 Charisma, but based on your death you also receive:
- Stupid Death- (Poisoned, drowned, suffocated) +1 to Con, -1 to Wis
- Gruesome Death- (Murdered, burned alive) +1 to Str, -1 to Con
- Clumsy Death- (Crushed, falling) +1 to Dex, -1 to Int
- Natural Causes- (Age/Pre-existing Medical Condition) +1 to Wis, -1 to Str
- Poor Death- (Starvation, Exposure, Preventable Disease) +1 to Int, -1 to Con
Proficiency
- Stupid Death- Proficiency with Survival
- Gruesome Death- Proficiency with Athletics
- Clumsy Death- Proficiency with Acrobatics
- Natural Causes- Proficiency with Insight
- Poor Death- Proficiency with Nature
Vulnerabilities
You have vulnerability to Radiant Damage, and are considered undead in spells that exclude or include undead. As well as this, you cannot be healed by spells that do not require touch. The wounds of your death cannot be closed, so general healing spells will leave new wounds open as well.
Immunities
- Immunity to Necrotic damage.
- Immunity to Poison damage.
- Immunity to Poisoned condition.
- Advantage on saves against effects that force them to do things against their will, like Command.
Life and Death
You cannot die in any of the typical ways. When your health reaches 0, you stay downed until you succeed your death saving throws, or are healed through permitted means, no matter how many times you fail. However, when the goal you were resurrected to complete has finished, your soul immediately begins to leave your body to be guided into death by the Spirit Vitae, no exceptions.
Racial Powers
The race you were when you were still a living being, still bestows upon you its strengths and weaknesses. You may not take it's ability score improvements or any items it bestowed upon you, but you still gain its resistances, immunities, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and skill proficiencies.
Darkvision
You have 30ft of Darkvision.
Languages
In life, you spoke Common and the language of your living race, and in your death, as a helping hand, you could speak to the Spirit Victae who helped you, or other undead. The choice is yours. You may add Celestial or Necrotic to your language proficiency.
Living Dead
You do not breathe, bleed, eat, or sleep.
Unfullfilled
What was missing from you life? Why did the Spirit Vitae put your spirit back into your body? You have a goal, and it must be set. You may wish to discuss it with the DM to ensure it can be reasonably met in a campaign.
Stillborn Undead
The Stillborn Undead are the unfortunate souls who pass before or during childbirth, never being given a chance to learn, to grow, or to have a family. In this they rise back to life, fueled with drive to find a new family with the second chance given to them by Vitae.
Comments