Homebrew Celestial Species Details
I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
— Daniel 10:5- 8, The Bible
Many cultures have some form of divine creature sent from the heavens to protect and help humanity. These creations of mythological "angels" were often used as a way for humans to cope with and explain an experience of seeing a celestial. Although they are not quite as divine as the angels of myth, celestials do share many traits with the myths that were inspired by human sightings of them.
Appearance
In their normal form, celestials look vastly different from humans. Their skin can be any color, including any shade or tone of those colors. While most celestials have star-like white freckles all over their bodies, not all do, but every celestial has some form of white birthmark/freckles somewhere on their body. Celestials are the same general height as humans, ranging from about 5'2" to 6'0" on average. However, celestials do tend to be a bit more muscular than humans, weighing in at 125 - 165 lbs. While most celestials have naturally white/pale hair, its common in celestial society to dye one's hair, either to make it the same color (but a lighter shade) as their skin coloration, or to add a fade to it (for example, fading from their natural white to a bright blue).
Celestials also have large wings, which can range from white to grey to black. While most of a celestial's distinguishing features are hidden when they are in their human form, their wings remain, although they are not functional (they can stay folded up, but cannot be used to fly). Celestials must be in their natural form for about 8 hours a day, otherwise their bodies will begin to freeze and their vision will start to fade.
Culture and Values
Despite their stark appearances making it difficult for them to blend in with humans, celestial and human cultures are deeply intertwined. This is due in part to the existence of popular religions that include angels in their texts, such as Christianity. Very early on in their history, once humans had spotted a few "angels" here and there, any human who came into contact with a celestial would regard them as they would a king or noble. Some groups of celestials let this inflate their egos, while some did not; either way, almost all celestial communities have been left with a resounding sense that they're responsible for the safety and protection of any human they come across. Celestials, both in their natural forms and their human forms, are known in the Myth world for saving a resounding number of humans from lethal fates at the hands of natural disaster, disease, and other humans.
Because of this inflated sense of responsibility, celestial society values bravery, courage, and honor above all else. Cowardly or overly cautious celestials are often shunned by their peers and encouraged to work on being more brave on a daily basis. Most celestials, especially those raised in a fairly isolated household, have a very "rush in" approach to most situations in their life, often leading them to make quick, sometimes rash decisions in the spur of the moment. Young celestials will often compete to "prove their worth," becoming very competitive as a result.
Celestials often stick to an individualist approach in life, with children often being raised by either just one parent or another person entirely (usually a hired caretaker). Once a child has grown to maturity, they are pushed to strike out on their own, and they often stay that way for most of their lives, unless they end up raising children, which is not something that's especially desired within celestial society. The most "family" that celestials often get will be other celestials (and sometimes other Myths) that they work with, or possibly coworkers, if they end up holding a job in a human town or city.
Location and Diet
Due to their close ties to humans, celestials almost never live outside human settlements, often preferring large cities to smaller towns or isolated farms. Because they aren't skilled in the ways of survival like many other Myths are, they often have to stay in cities in order to survive. Celestials often hold human jobs, usually ones that involve heroics such as firefighters and soldiers, and use the money they earn from this to pay for housing and food. They usually don't room with anyone else, preferring to stay in lone apartments, where they can rest peacefully.
Celestials do not need any special type of diet; they eat the same foods as humans do.
Common Reasons for Adventuring
Exploration and adventuring aren't things that most celestials think about; they're more focused on helping humanity as a whole. This can sometimes lead to adventures, however, if the celestial has become invested in protecting a particular human, town, or group, or if they feel they can best help humanity by assisting many people among their travels. However, a common rebellious act for young celestials is running off to a life of adventure, and celestials who are more free-willed and spirited will be pushed to start traveling if their peers shun them for their behaviors.
For, nor in nothing, nor in things
Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;
Then as an Angel, face, and wings
Of air, not pure as it, yet pure doth wear,
So thy love may be my loves sphere;
Just such disparity
Two Sides of a Coin
Celestials have an interesting connection with another Myth species; the fiend. The two species diverged from each other a few thousand years ago, but they come from common ancestry. While humans often pit celestials and fiends ("angels" and "demons") against each other in their religious writings, the two species are almost always neutral towards each other, and only ever clash on the individual level, often in instances where a celestial's goal of order and helping humanity wrests with a fiend's goal of freedom and individuality.
Celestial Traits
Your celestial character has several traits, many of which may seem divine in nature.Ability Score Increase
Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age
Celestials reach maturity at around age 21, and live slightly longer than humans, with their average lifespan at 115 years.
Size
While celestials are often the same height as humans, between 5'2" and 6'0", they tend to be a bit bulkier. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Because of your celestial blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of blue.
Angelic Flight
You have large wings on your back that can be used for flight. Your base flight speed is 10 feet. These wings cannot be used when you are in your human form, and cannot be easily hidden by clothing in either form, but can be hidden by magic (such as Disguise Self).
Divine Touch
Because of your innate celestial abilities, you can cast Cure Wounds as a level 1 spell once per long rest.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, English, and one other human language of your choice.
Comments