Homebrew Arisen (Not Grim Hollow's) Species Details

Magic is not something one can control; it can be used, but attempts to exert full control will lead to disaster. Few know this better than the Arisen, the dead barred from rest. Arisen are undead creatures brought back, usually accidentally, by attempts to control life and death. Whether by a "failed" attempt to bring them back to life or by exposure to powerful magic related to life and/or death. While Arisen typically rise individually or in small groups, entire cities and countries have been known to rise once more, though most of their inhabitants return as mindless dead. However, magic is not the only way Arisens can come back; science, extreme disrespect, or unfulfilled duties can also bring them back, among other ways. Though they are undead, they are far from mindless. Arisens retain their personality, memories, and skills from their former life, even if their brains have already decayed. What an Arisen does after rising is up to them. Some seek a way to return to rest, others seek to use their second chance to the fullest. Arisens often fall into 1 of 6 classifications.

Decayed Arisen

Decayed Arisen refers to an arisen that has most of its flesh (above 30%) and lacks any specific arcane abilities. Decayed Arisens are the most common Arisens, as they have no specific circumstances required to rise. Mostly intact, often decayed, and sometimes mummified, Decayed Arisens are the most resilient of Arisens.

Rattled Arisen

Rattled Arisens are skeletal undead that lack most of their flesh (below 30%). Rattled Arisens typically rise after years of being dead, or if their flesh was destroyed recently. What they lack in flesh, they make up for in speed and agility.

Spectral Arisen

Spectral Arisens are ghostly in appearance. Unlike most Arisens, Spectral Arisens can manifest after being extremely disrespected while dead, such as by a fake ghost story made to make money off their death. Spectral Arisens manifest if they no longer have a physical body in which to rise from, and the magic raising them is strong enough to create a semi-physical body.

Patchwork Arisen

Patchwork Arisens are amalgamated pieces of multiple corpses, either purposely stitched together or risen from corpse piles. A single Patchwork Arisen may have the complete memories of multiple creatures, or bits and pieces. A Patchwork Arisen may not be composed solely of humanoids. Patchwork Arisens can graft parts of other creatures onto themselves.

Beheaded Arisen

Beheaded Arisens, as their name suggests, are Arisens who have had their heads removed prior to rising. Beheaded Arisens are often mistaken for the fey known as the Dullahan, due to their headless appearance. Beheaded Arisens do not require a head to see or talk, and can do as well as they could with their head on. Beheaded Arisens can use head-like objects as a head if their original head is missing.

Reaper Arisen

Possibly the rarest form of Arisen, Reaper Arisen can only rise if a God or other such being purposely raises them as an undead. Whether it was part of a deal or oath, a reward or punishment, a higher power must be the one who raises a Reaper Arisen, hence why they are called reapers.

Ability Scores Increase (Optional)

One of your Ability Scores increases by 2, and the other one increases by 1.

Size

Your size is Small, Medium, or larger; the size range is dependent on your original species.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. If your original species had additional speeds, speak to your GM/DM.

Creature Type

You are an Undead.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light and darkness as if it were bright light for 120 feet. You can not see color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Undead Nature

You do not need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep; you still can, though, but gain no non-magical benefit. To gain the benefits of a long rest, you can spend the 8 hours needed doing light activity. You also can not be put to sleep by magical means.

Arcane Preservation

You are no longer rotting, and you are resistant to Necrotic Damage. You are also unaffected by the decaying effects of the Silverveil Fog.

Turn Resistance

You have an advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns Undead.

Undead Form

You gain specific abilities based on what form of Arisen you are, at levels 1, 3, and 5. If a spell is gained and does not require an ability modifier to use, it will use your Constitution.

-	Level 1	Level 3	Level 5
Decayed Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Poison Damage and the ability to cast Resistance.	At level 3, when you are reduced to 0 Hit Points, you drop to 1 Hit Point instead. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a Long Rest.	At level 5, your Hit Point maximum increases by 5, and it increases by 1 again whenever you gain a level.
Rattled Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Acid Damage and the ability to cast Guidance.	At level 3, your walking speed increases by 10 feet, and you gain proficiency in Acrobatics.	At level 5, you have an advantage against being frightened, and you gain proficiency in Performance.
Spectral Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Cold Damage and the ability to cast Thaumaturgy.	At level 3, you gain a flying speed equal to your Walking Speed (Hover); however, you can only ascend up to 5 ft. If you are above the ascent limit, you descend at a rate of 30 ft per round and do not take damage from your fall as long as you can fly. Once per long rest, you can ignore your ascent limit for 1 minute.	At level 5, you can move through other creatures and objects as if they were Difficult Terrain. If you end your turn within an object or creature, you both take 1d12 + Proficiency Bonus Force Damage.
Patchwork Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Lightning Damage and the ability to cast Mending.	At level 3, more of your mangled memories are "repaired." You gain proficiency in two skills, two weapons, one artisan's tool, and one language of your choice.	At level 5, when rolling hit dice to heal during a short rest, you can reroll any 1 you get, but you must use the new roll.
Beheaded Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Fire Damage and the ability to cast Dancing Lights.	At level 3, you can cast Searing Smite without a spell slot once per short or long rest, using your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. You can also cast this spell with a spell slot of appropriate level.	At level 5, you can cast Find Steed without a spell slot once per short or long rest, using your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. You can also cast this spell with a spell slot of appropriate level.
Reaper Arisen	At level 1, you gain Resistance to Radiant Damage and the ability to cast Spare the Dying.	At level 3, you can cast Cure Wounds without a spell slot once per short or long rest, using your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. You can also cast this spell with a spell slot of appropriate level. You can also cast Chill Touch.	At level 5, as a bonus action, you can give yourself a flying speed equal to your walking speed for 10 minutes. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per long rest.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages.

Arisen (Not Grim Hollow's) Traits

Ability Scores Increase (Optional), Size, Speed, Creature Type, Darkvision, Undead Nature, Arcane Preservation, Turn Resistance, Undead Form, and Languages.