Homebrew Fragment (WIP) Species Details

Far beyond our plane and beyond even the furthest stretch that any scholar has seen there exists a plane, this plane entirely constructed by the entity that inhabits it. The being at the core is commonly referred to as "Whole", it is a star, much in the way of our sun, but within exists vast and complicated structures which flow with an unknown energy. Through this mechanism "Whole" formed a creature in it's image, a small, self contained star, that might go out into the void and create and explore. They forged out into the heated cosmos and claim to have pulled chunks of asteroids together, and collected hydrogen and oxygen which fused and formed water. The asteroids were held in place by Whole, and the water clung to itself and floated in cloud-like formations. Among these water clouds, life began, taking unique forms, at first formless, but soon structured creatures began, beings that could take advantage of weightlessness, in water, and the gravity of the land. As these bird-like creatures exited the water and moved to the land, a creature formed that built coral-like structures between the asteroids and gave it rigid form. Next, "Whole" crafted more Fragments to build and explore, to gather information of the distant stars, and collect and preserve it. 

-Excerpt from "Interview With an Aberration"

 

Physiology of Fragments

Fragments, are a composed of two parts, a core- made of 3 structures- and a cloud composed of an organic silicate. The three core structures are as follows; the star, which provides the Fragment with energy, a source of light, and also provides them their method of flight; the matrix which acts as a form brain, and provides them their psychic powers; and the shell, which is resistant to slashing damage, and is comparable to diamond. The cloud is composed of unique silicon based organic compound. It behaves similarly to other silicates usually, but when enacted upon by psychic energy can have its shape and texture changed, even resulting in fluid mimicry. In addition the silicon can be changed to reflect and refract to create and form of color when shape shifted. All Fragments are able to change their shape, size, and weight within a 15 by 15 ft radius, loosing stability beyond 10 ft. They can change their weight easily at will and can even float if they wish, though if they are not actively flying they weigh roughly the same amount as a small race and can be moved easily and are affected by gravity. The cloud can also be used to for glass-like appendages, they are incredibly sharp and very hard, but significant force can destroy the appendages. When under attack, the Fragment will often react by forming the appendages defensively, attacks that pierce through, however, result in significantly more energy drain, compared to a normal strike. A Fragment does commonly take physical damage, but instead takes damage in the form of energy draining from it. Upon the energy being drain, the star will collapse and the Fragment will "die", a "dead" Fragment can be re-ignited by Whole, though it is rare that Infiltrators or Seekers who "die" are returned to Whole to be re-ignited. (Magic in some instances may work in the place of Whole's magic.)

The Caste System

Fragments are subdivided in to seven castes, or subraces. These subraces tend to be physiologically identical to one another but are significantly varied in their skills, and basic behaviors. The castes are as follows; Architect, Spinner, Librarian, Harvester, Singer, Seeker, and Infiltrator.

Architects are the caste responsible for the creation of all structures and infrastructure in the Fragment home plane. They are capable of creating large, solid, and simple structures they seem to demonstrate significantly stronger physical properties able to move heavy objects, faster, and to be able to harden their personal cloud significantly more than other castes.

Spinners, so named for the structures they produce, are the technicians, they weave together glowing, crystalline structures, that hold a form of electrical energy. These structures are used to create complicated devices used for all manners of information gathering, and environment manipulation.

Librarians are of a caste that log and interpret information gathered by other Fragments, storing it and even making certain medias for education and entertainment, the excel at the memorization and recollection of information, or the production of media.

Harvesters gather natural resources, such as water, organic material, and material from the ionized gases surrounding their home, they possess fascination in plants and animals.

The name Singers is a matter of muddled translation as the language for Fragments is sometimes known as "singing"; Singers are responsible for communication, they are the primary method of communication with Whole as well as between individual Fragments. They have increased psychic abilities, name pertaining to communication. 

Seekers are the exploratory caste, their shell is insulated against most forms of environmental damage, significantly more so than other castes. In addition to their environmental protection, they possess innate navigational abilities.

Infiltrators are adept at hiding and lying, they possess above average abilities in the matter of shape shifting, able to easily recreate color, texture, states of matter, and even heat. An Infiltrator when disguised is indistinguishable from normal creature or object, and copies and their voices can be perfectly mimicked with little information.

A Race of Curiosity

Their progenitor and god, known in their language as "Whole" created the Fragments as a means of seeing the planes beyond its own. As such all of it's children are created with an innate urge to search and learn, and some to even create by themselves. Regardless of whether they are Seekers or Infiltrates they will all share innate want to explore the outer reaches of the world around them. It is common for Fragments to be naive, having a generally optimistic outlook, between being optimistic and their urge to explore and learn they can be easily manipulated, tricked, or trapped. Some, especially older ones, will sometimes outgrow these traits during exposure to other cultures. Their curiosity does however give them an edge in learning and studying in their field of interest, usually based on their place in the caste system.

 

Fragment Names

Fragments have an alien manner of designation and referring to each other. Their "names" consists of series of encoded sounds, that roughly translates to the date they came into being, their designated caste, and a unique frequency, when translated to text it usually appears in a manner of seemingly meaningless letters or numbers. 

Native Names: "129030-Seeker-124Hz", "178534-Architect-2684Hz", "223786-Infiltrator-4186Hz"

Often Fragments of the Infiltrator caste will take a name based on the culture they infiltrate, either choosing a name for themselves inspired by the race they choose to most closely imitate or given to them by hosts who may be tricked into believing the Fragment to be an infant and choose to adopt the unit. In some cases, despite what training they are given infiltrators may choose reveal their true nature to a host creature in order to have a more reliable point of contact with the culture they are studying, this usually only proves effective in more modern or advanced creatures. 

In rare circumstances a Fragment might go rogue and will leave their home plane, usually to wander and explore at their own leisure. If they choose to throw off their own name they will usually either designate their own frequency, or name themselves after an object, or concept they attach themselves too.

Rogue Names: "Dust", "Nebula", "Star", "Void", "Happiness", "Construct", "Far", "Wander"

Fragment (WIP) Traits

Fragment traits are based on their caste, but there are some traits and abilities afforded by their unique biology.

Age

Fragments are created with the same general intelligence of a 13 year old human,  finish their training at the age of 5 leaving them roughly equivalent to an 18 year old human. They do no physically age, and are considered functionally immortal.

Alignment

Fragments are not innately any particular alignment, but their urges to study and hide, make them tend to neutral and lawful alignments. Rogues may trend towards chaotic or true neutral.

Size

In their native forms fragments are considered small, but as they change shape they adopt that shapes size class, and relevant stat changes. Weight can be changed independent of size.

{Pending Table of Stat Changes for easy reference}

Speed

Your base speed is 40 feet flying. If the form is attached to the ground then it is still counted as the same 40 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and two languages of your choice. You may spend a long rest with a large piece of text, or a fluent speaker to learn a new language.

Fragment Sense

Your normal range of sight is augmented with a wider range of visible light, able to see from infrared light to gamma radiation. You can also hear all frequencies. Due to your cloud-like body, you can stretch thin strands out giving you blindsight within 15 feet.

Shape Change

Due to your cloud-like body, and the changing properties of it's organic silicate, you can change your shape, size, and texture freely, in addition to the star at your heart allowing you to change the density of your form and the way you interact with gravity itself. For you these actions come as simply as breathing would come to other creatures.

You may use Shape Change to assume a different form. This form can be anything you may think of, an object, animal, or person, you may even assume a form that does not exist, creating your own identities. When changed into a form you automatically beat all passive perceptions under 20, but if something becomes suspicious of you they must roll a perception check against your DC of 10 + Cha.

While in a form you to take the size of the creature/object, but do not take on any other physically traits or abilities. You can fly and float regardless of form, but while not actively flying you weight will be as you choose when taking on a form. 

Parts of your form can be changed independently of the rest of you, used to make Tendrils, Lengthened Limbs (able to reach a maximum of 10ft) or hardened into your Natural Defenses. When this is done you will break your disguise, and creatures around you will know you are not normal. These smaller changes count as Free Actions, and tendrils may be used to hold small objects or interact with things in the environment, you may use them to perform an Attack with your Natural Weapons as a Bonus Action.

Unique Physiology

Characteristics:

• You do not sleep, or breath
• You cannot fall unconscious, unless by magical means, or electrocuted 
• You gain necessary food from breaking down matter in the air, but small objects can be put in the core and deconstructed.
• You cannot smell, or taste
• You are immune to Poison, Venom, and Illness, but do not benefit from potions
• You are resistant to Necrotic
• You are weak to Electrical

Electricity may cause you to fall unconscious if you take more than a fourth of your health as this damage type. 

Upon death you can be resurrected using the remaining for core of your body, the method is different from resurrecting a normal being.

Your Native Form is in a constant state of flux, loose and shifting, making it impossible for you to carry anything you do not actively hold onto with Tendrils. While Shape Changed you may carry things as normal, but drop them when returning or changing.

Although you are typically considered small, you may occupy the same space as any non-hostile creature, or any creature you grapple as if you were tiny.

You can also fit through incredibly small spaces as if tiny.

When grappling in your Native Form you can use your Dexterity in place of Strength as this pertains to staying on the creature, use strength as normal when restraining.

 

Natural Weapons

You can use the natural crystalline hardening and sharpening to create our own blades using parts of your body. These can be made to blend into a disguise, although they will seem to be made of a strange glassy material. In addition to this they can be cast from tendrils and used as a second attack, although it makes your shape changing obvious to those who see it. These blades can also be ejected to perform a ranged attack, at the cost of some health. 

Blade Arm is a melee attack. It deals 1d6 Slashing Damage and you count as Proficient when using it. It is a natural weapon and is affected by shape change, granting Reach when using Long Limbs, and a Bonus Action when using Tendrils.

Shard Strike is a ranged attack. It deals 1d8 Piercing Damage and you count as Proficient when using it. It has a range of 60 feet, but is still considered a natural weapon, it gains a Bonus Action when using Tendrils.

Natural Defense

Regardless of whether you are wearing armor you can apply your constitution to your AC.

When you or a creature within 5ft of you is the target of an attack you can choose to react and increase the AC of yourself or that creature by +3. However you will loose 1d(Hit Die) health as the attack strikes your hardened shell. If the attack still hits with the +3 AC you still take the extra damage. 

When defending in this manner your body turns into the glass-like hard substance, this will give away your true form. When disguised if an attack is made on you do not actively shield it you must feign an injury or risk being found out.