Homebrew Ashen Soul Species Details

 

Among the shattered souls of the damned, soul dust gathers on the surface of the spawn pits. This dust is melted and compressed inside the liquid fire eventually forming a twisted soul. Most of the tortured life that comes from these pits is full of pain and malice adding to the harshness of the environment. But sometimes, very rarely a soul is forged containing the hope of escape, and the memories of life. These souls are quickly demolished by the heat and torment of the others. But even more rarely one of these curious souls finds a way to survive. By forming a shell to protect itself out of the only thing that is safe from flames, the Ashen Soul climbs out of the pit. Through strength, cunning or intelligence they manage to sneak, barter or force their way out of hell through a portal or dungeon. The Ashen Soul now free of the torments, uses the memories it gains from the shards of old souls to form its body and skills of survival in this new and old world.

 

Curious but Cautious

The Ashen soul survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, pretending they are something else. Standing about 4 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless if not for the cracking body made of black and grey ash and red or yellow infernal eyes,  weighing between 60 and 65 pounds.

Ashen skin ranges from Black to pale on the greyscale , and their hair is usually on the same color scale unless they dye the skin or hair. The hair tends to constantly break in the wind giving a slight ash dust behind their hair. The gender is whatever they decide to look like on a particular day having memories and desires from so many different souls decides their most comfortable look. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and practical clothes, favoring Dark colors that hide the cracked skin.

Wise beyond their years

Ashen are formed from many lives as such they often know when people are lying, know a weird assortment of skills, and find themselves always the most level headed in a given situation.

From The Many, One

Ashen are the remnants of many memories, giving them flashes of past times in incredible accuracy. They struggle to find a mindset or a personality that fits all their pieces.

Demon but Trying

As Ashen are demons they tend to avoid anywhere paladins or any other demon hunters would gather, and they are wise enough to avoid anywhere anyone would look for a demon.
Some seek solitude in nature, some seek night jobs hoping to hide their skin But all avoid the spotlight. Ashen are fast learners especially if one of their memories resonates with the skill. They make excellent cooks or black smiths due to the immunity from fire. They may dye their skin and hair pretending to be many other races. 

 

If ashen are discovered there is a high chance gods or their disciples with be required to kill the demon interlopers.

Exploring Connections

Ashen usually set out on the adventurer’s path to find the missing parts of knowledge and try to form a clear picture of their internal shattered soul. Inherently curious they always want to learn new things but are usually subdued in their excitement trying to avoid bringing attention to themselves.

 

Ashen Names

Ashen pick a name when they encounter civilization they usually pick one that matches whatever race they are pretending to be.

 

 

Ashen Soul Traits

The traits for Ashen Soul are heavily influenced by the pits of hell as well as the inborn need to explore

Ability Score Improvment

Your wisdom score increases by 2.

You remember things that happened in your past lives.

History Increases by 2

Age

An Ashen Soul does not know how long they have been alive but they usually escape hell within the first two years that they are self aware. They tend to live extremely long lives in excess of 1000 years if they are not killed before then.

Ashen Body

Ashen souls are made from ashes and charred matter, as such healing magic does not heal them, nor do health potions. Long rest do not heal either unless they are near a fire or ash. Instead the Ashen heal by absorbing ash or dust to fix their bodies. They can reshape their bodies to change their appearance. They do not require food, and their bodies do not require rest, they can suffer from mental exhaustion.

 Ashen Body can be used to form a brittle natural slashing weapon out of any part of your body, but if the weapon breaks you will lose the ash losing health.

after hitting an attack make a Constitution saving throw, on a failure you lose 1d6 + Constitution Modifier.

Ash Absorbtion can be used as an action to heal a small amount of damage , but only if they are within 20 feet of ash(fire that produces ash counts)

Ashes to Ashes can be used once per long rest to reform the ash body in any shape the Ashen desires the size cannot increase and the color of the skin cannot change. 

 

 

Survivor of the Pit

When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Size

Ashen Souls average about 4 feet tall and weigh about 70 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Unless you are Soaked.

Then you are slowed and have disadvantage on all Dexterity, Strength, and constitution checks and saving throws until you are dry.

Languages

You can speak infernal.

The myriad memories in your soul allows you to know an additional language.

Born of Flame

You are born of fire so you take no damage from heat or fire. 

Poison damage does not effect the Ash body either.  You are weak to radiant and bludgeoning damage and healing magic hurts you for half the healing amount. 

Darkvision

Thanks to your infernal heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.