Homebrew Nyxian - OOTD Species Details

The Nyxian are mortals touched by the primordial goddess of night, born with talents and instincts tied to ancient principles such as dreams, fate, fear, and mortality. Though mortal in body, their spirits carry echoes of the darkness beyond creation. Their pale skin and black eyes set them apart, for a Nyxian is not merely a person, but a living shadow of the Night herself.

Primordial Goddess

Often referred to as the Dreamer, Nyx is the unknowable force from which dreams and possibility first emerged. She rests beyond the outermost stars, yet her influence lingers in the Nether Sea, an underworld ocean formed from the raw primordial substance she shaped in ages before the world existed.

She embodies mystery, primordial dreams, and the unseen. Light recoils from her, silence follows her, and even the gods speak her name with caution. Nyx rarely acts directly, for her power is woven into the very fabric of existence and moves according to cosmic laws rather than intention.

Her Children

Nyx does not choose her offspring as other gods do. Instead, her essence surfaces unpredictably within certain bloodlines, manifesting when the veil between the mortal and the primordial grows thin. In some eras, one child is born; in others, several siblings share the blessing, though always within the same lineage.

Despite their origins, Nyxian are entirely mortal. They age, bleed, and die as all mortals do. Scholars believe they exist so that Nyx may perceive the mortal world through eyes bound by flesh and fate. Others argue that the Nyxian are simply echoes of the primordial darkness, reflections of Nyx but not Nyx herself.

Feared by the Wise

Most mortals remain blissfully unaware of what a Nyxian truly is. To a farmer or merchant, a Nyxian is simply an unusual child. To a scholar, a god, or a titan, they are something far more dangerous. Those who understand Nyxian’s nature tread lightly around her offspring, fearing the consequences of drawing her gaze.

A mortal who kills a Nyxian suffers no more ill fortune than fate already promised. But when a god or titan slays one of these children, catastrophe inevitably follows.

The Realms of Dream

While their domains brush against one another, Nyx and Lutheria are not the same. Nyx governs primordial dreams and the vast possibilities that existed before creation. Lutheria rules mortal dreams, twisting them with temptation, corruption, and fear.

Nyxian Names

A Nyxian’s name evokes ancient forces and primordial concepts. Parents of a Nyxian always seem to know the child’s name instinctually, as if whispered by the cosmic principle that dwells within them.

• Male: Algos, Erebus, Geras, Hypnos, Icelus, Moros, Oneiros, Phobetor, Thanatos
• Female: Achlys, Arethusa, Atropos, Chrysothemis, Clotho, Eris, Erytheia, Hesperia, Hespere, Lachesis, Lipara, Nemesis, Oizys, Poine

Nyxian Traits

• Creature Type: Humanoid
• Size: Medium

Speed: 30 feet

As a Nyxian, you have these special traits:

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Night Touched

Your presence unsettles higher beings. You have Advantage on saving throws against abilities and magical effects originating from any Celestial, Fiend, and any creature with the Titan subtype, providing that creature has a CR of 10 or higher.

Living Concept

• Beginning at level 1, you must choose a Cosmic Principle from the table below. You radiate a 10-foot Emanation of energy associated with that principle. You and allies within the aura gain the level 1 benefit associated with your chosen Cosmic Principle. If another Nyxian is present, a creature can benefit from only one Living Concept at a time; the creature chooses which concept while in them.
  At level 5, your Cosmic Principle gains a harmful effect. When a creature enters your Emanation for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there, you may force that creature to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it suffers the level 5 effect of your chosen Cosmic Principle. The effect lasts until the start of its next turn.

Cosmic Principles

Principle	Level 1 Benefit	Level 5 Harmful Effect
Dream	You have Resistance to Psychic damage. You have Advantage on saving throws against being Charmed.	The target can’t speak a deliberate lie and takes 2d6 Psychic damage.
Fate	Whenever you make a saving throw, you add 1d4 to the roll.	Whenever the target makes an attack roll or saving throw, they must subtract 1d4 from the attack roll or save.
Fear	You have Advantage on saving throws against Fear.	The target gains the Frightened condition.
Longing	You have Advantage on Insight and Persuasion checks.	The target has the Charmed condition.
Misery	Your Hit Point maximum can’t be reduced. When you take damage, reduce it by 1.	The target’s Speed is reduced to 0.
Mortality	You have Advantage on Death Saving Throws. You gain 1d4 Temporary Hit Points at the start of each of your turns.	The target takes 2d8 Necrotic damage.
Retribution	Whenever you make an attack roll, you add 1d4 to the roll.	The target takes 2d8 Force damage.
Strife	You have Advantage on Charisma saving throws.	The target has the Charmed condition.
Suffering	You have Resistance to Necrotic and Poison damage.	The target has the Blinded and Deafened condition.

Level 1 Benefit

You and allies within the aura gain the level 1 benefit associated with your chosen Cosmic Principle. If another Nyxian is present, a creature can benefit from only one Living Concept at a time; the creature chooses which concept while in them.

Level 5 Harmful Effect

At level 5, your Cosmic Principle gains a harmful effect. When a creature enters your Emanation for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there, you may force that creature to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it suffers the level 5 effect of your chosen Cosmic Principle. The effect lasts until the start of its next turn.