Homebrew Chromarin Species Details

Chromarin

The Chromarin were once an invading force from another realm. They were created by others of their kind as tools meant to conquer other planes of existence. After a time, their incursion failed as many of them lost faith in their cause. 

A large number of Chromarin eventually rebelled against their tyrannical commanders and the rest of their people. Being treated as little more than pawns of war, unable to be free, they allied themselves with the biological races and struck crushing blows against the invading Chromarin. This led to them destroying many powerful Chromarin authorities, creating disarray on their home plane, and finally closing the portals the Chromarin used to invade. While this was a decisive victory, it left many of the Chromarin stranded in a foreign world. Now they struggle to find a place they belong.

Made of Light

A Chromarin's body is comprised of light that is manipulated and formed solid by the core of their being. While they are able to change their shape upon forming, there are limitations to this ability. Their cores are a mixture of magics and materials. While it is unclear exactly how they are constructed, they are highly resistant to effects that would negate the magics in their core. This innate defense allows them to naturally resist any attempt to destroy their core by simply dispelling the magic within it.

The Chromarins come in many shapes and sizes which tend to align with their core color and the purpose for which they were designed. Chromarin do not reproduce like other races. In fact, their means of reproduction are a well kept secret, even to most Chromarians. While there are many rumors of this process, the only thing that is known for certain by any other than the Chromarin elite, is that they are able to produce "offspring" without a partner and that a Chromarin matures rapidly and seemingly stops aging once they reach adulthood. A Chromarin reaches adulthood after just a year and shows no signs of deterioration due to age.

Upon first forming, the typical Chromarin has a sexless body shape based upon their core and designed purpose. This form changes very little in the short time leading to their maturity. When it comes to gender, some Chromarin ignore the concept entirely, while others adopt a gender identity and/or slight variations in body shape in emulation of other races and their ideas of gender and sex.

Chromarin Personality

While their exact origins are something of a mystery — even to them — they have found ways to relate to other races and discover new identities along the way.

While Chromarin are designed to conquer and serve an authority, many have found purpose is the exact opposite. Taking ques from those they once attempted to dominate, many Chromarins explore their newfound freedom in a multitude of ways. Some emulate other races and attempt assimilation into their societies. Some maintain their stalwart and stoic personalities by joining knightly orders to serve new commanders or monarchs. Some leave society behind entirely and become stewards of nature. Some join gangs and become adept criminals. While it is often rare for a new Chromarin to be created since the invasion ceased, when a new one is brought into existence, they often need to overcome their initial programming.

Quirks

Many Chromarin conform to a set of rules and restrictions based on their designated purpose. Some, however, can often develop personality traits or odd behaviors that may not entirely match the standards put upon them. A Chromarin player can choose to roll or select one or more traits from the Chromarin Quirks table if they so wish.

1d10	Quirk
1	You often analyze situations and comment on them out loud.
2	Emotions are a foreign concept to you and you often misread emotional cues.
3	You are fiercely protective of those you care for and that loyalty is unshakable.
4	You tend to speak in the third person.
5	You try to apply wartime tactics to every situation.
6	You are prone to dramatic emotional outbursts.
7	You love to indulge in food, drink, and other things which other races need to survive, but which you do not require.
8	You are obsessed with your appearance. If something is asymmetrical or dirty it drives you mad.
9	You live for a good fight. Through dialogue or combat, you need conflict to feel whole.
10	Rules agitate you. You follow your own path, even if it is dangerous or impractical.

Chromarin Names

Chromarin are often referred to by the color of their cores or variants of that color. While many are content to be referred to in this manner, there are those who adopt other names and titles as a means of conforming more easily or seeming more approachable to other species.

Names: Amber, Aquamarine, Burgundy,  Celadon, Cyan, Flax, Indigo, Lavender, Lemon, Mauve, Navy, Olive, Orchid, Periwinkle, Russet, Salmon.

Chromarin Traits

Your Chromarin character has the following traits.

Reform

As part of a rest, when waking from unconsciousness, or being revived from death, a Chromarin can alter their appearance by reverting back into their core for a short time. When you alter your appearance, you can change minor aspects of yourself such as, but not limited to, hair length and style, height within four inches of your normal height, and small tattoos or markings. You are, however, unable to change the colors of your features such as eye color or hair color. These changes last until you next reform at which point you may either revert back to normal or change again relative to your normal appearance.

When you reform, you revert back into your core. Your equipment may revert with you should you so choose, though it cannot be altered upon reforming aside from minor size changes to fit your new body. When you regain hit points after being knocked unconscious, you may chose to remain in your core. While in your core, you are not conscious of your surroundings.

Instantaneous reforming takes a considerable toll on the Chromarin and one often requires a short time to adjust. Unless you spend at least one hour inside your core while reforming, you must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 10). You must make this saving throw even if you regain hit points after being knocked unconscious. If you fail, you suffer a level of exhaustion. This level of exhaustion is unique, but not separate from other exhaustion levels, and only lasts one hour before it is automatically healed.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

While they keep many details of themselves hidden from other races, some things one can't help but notice. The maximum lifespan of the Chromarin remains a mystery; however, Chromarin have shown no signs of deterioration due to age and rumor has it that they are incapable of aging at all.

Alignment

Most Chromarin take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law. But, as with all other races, one may find Chromarin ranging all along the alignment spectrum.

Size

Your size is Medium. Most Chromarin stand between 5 and 7 1/2 feet tall. Weight and build are affected by subrace.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Made of Light

Your body is not hampered by the limitations of most biological creatures. This is represented by the following benefits.

• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You don’t need to sleep and magic can’t put you to sleep.
• When you reform, you may alter your appearance to a minor degree.

You still need to spend at least 6 hours each day relaxing in order to maintain your form. This rest can be spent performing light activity such as reading or meditating. This time counts as a Long Rest.

Fragile Heart

When you drop to 0 HP your body disappears, leaving your Core behind as you revert back into it. While your Core is exposed, you are susceptible to damage. All attacks against you while in this state count as a critical hit.

Weapon of Light

You can summon a weapon from your Core as a Bonus Action and receive proficiency with your chosen weapon type. The weapon receives a bonus to attack and damage rolls based on character level, +1 at level 5, +2 at level 10, and +3 at level 15. Any weapon which consumes ammo instead automatically creates a piece of ammo when loaded. If the weapon is out of your reach, you can summon it to your hand as a Bonus Action and it disappears automatically if wielded by a creature other than the summoner. Once you reach 8th-Level, your summoned weapon counts as magical for the purposes of bypassing resistances.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Chromarin. Chromarin is a telepathic language. It can only be spoken between Chromarins and is done by touch. However, it is much faster than common speech. Communicating in Chromarin takes 1/10th the time of a spoken conversation.