Homebrew Altean Species Details

The Alteans are a magical people from beyond the stars, refugees from an interstellar war when our world was still young. They mix into culture using their chameleon-like abilities to copy the appearance of humanoid races, or embracing their natural beauty to stand apart.

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Alteans appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly taller than humans on average, ranging from over 5 feet tall to just under 7 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Alteans' colouration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of white, blue or red, and eyes like iridescent crystals. Alteans have little facial and body hair. They favour elegant clothing in bright colours, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewellery. Males and females are distinct in appearance from Elves in the coloured vectors found on their cheeks, iridescent blue for males and iridescent pink for females.

A People Dispossessed

Alteans can live to about 300 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They have a strong racial memory of the destruction of their homeworld by the Mindflayers and have a deep longing to return to the stars. They are noble and just, and will join adventures with a noble purpose. When pursuing a goal, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Alteans can be focused and relentless. They are quick to trust, and slow to forget bonds.

A race of refugees, Alteans are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. But when the need arises, Alteans reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.

Chameleon-like People

Most Alteans have fitted into society by mimicking the appearance of humanoid races, only distinguishable by the coloured vectors on their cheeks. They are talented artisans, with a gift of tinkering with mechanical items. Their skills of metallurgy make the Alteans popular amongst most races, and tales of worlds beyond the stars make them gifted story tellers.

Alteans are encountered in most built up societies, working as minstrels, artists, or sages. Human nobles compete for the services of Altean instructors to teach swordplay or magic to their children.

Exploration and Adventure

Alteans take up adventuring out of a desire for adventure. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They enjoy the peace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them relax and set their own pace. With a strong sense of justice Alteans might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

Altean Traits

Your Altean character has a variety of natural abilities, which seem strange to those of only one planet.

Chameleon-Like

Your body can take on the appearance of a chosen humanoid race. This transformation takes a full day to take on the appearance of the chosen race but then will remain until you choose to disband the effect which will take a full day to return to normal. This effect will only work with humanoid races with a similar arrangement of limbs. 

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age

Although Alteans reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Altean understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience.

Alignment

Alteans have a strong sense of justice and respect for all races, so they lean strongly toward the Good. They value life and freedom for all beings as well as their own, they can be found to be anywhere from lawful to chaotic in achieving their justice.

Size

Alteans range from over 5 to under 7 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

From Beyond the Stars

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language. Alteans are quick to learn the language of the society they join and deem it rude to not speak the language of the people they live among.