Homebrew Dodelig Species Details

Dodelig are a race that were never intended by the gods—their creator was the lich Udodelig, a mad wizard intent on preserving the legacy of undeath.  Their existence is still something of an anomaly to the Underworld; the truth is that their entire species’ animation owes as much to the Great Schism as it does The Conflence. When the body of the Dracoprime fell upon the islands of the halflngs during the Great Schism, countless small folk were instantly crushed to death under its mountainous corpse. The very marrow of their bones was forced into the stones under the draconic idol, simultaneously immersed in the potent and arcane energies of its passing. For centuries afterward their lifeless, crushed bodies remained, mystically ingrained within the very rock. Udodelig was once a simple man, but came to be one of the fist to successfully master the workings of magic before his mortal coil ran short. His distinction as the fist lich did not at all go unnoticed by upperworlders and in his haste, he fled to the Underworld sometime after the Great Schism. For several decades he enjoyed exploring the subterranean seas, jungles and emerging realms, eventually settling not far from the First Hive of the hoyrall, keen to see how their obvious plans for martial domination would play out.  The Conflence changed his demeanor considerably as the colloid arrived and threw the insectoids into disarray. It didn’t take long for Udodelig to realize the alien entity’s intent to destroy all undead it encountered and he fld to the far reaches of the Underworld to plot, scheme and develop a means to combat the
otherworldly threat or preserve his legacy. While he managed to enact one scheme that still puzzles the colloid to this day, the lich would never know the success or failure of his most vital contribution to the Underworld. Unfortunately the colloid is as persistent as it is pernicious and the lich was ill-prepared for the alien’s attack, left encased entirely within its form and fihting a losing battle against its endless minions. In the farthest reaches of the mad wizard’s undertower, Udodelig’s skeletal familiar made a surprising discovery: the skeletons of halflngs were magically fossilized within the very bedrock. Without recourse, the lich played at a gambit that ultimately cost him his very existence, but forever changed the subterranean landscape. Expending his own being in an arcane ritual of a potency unseen since the Progenitors, Udodelig spread his spark of undeath to each and every one of  the halflng skeletons fossilized by the Great Schism, binding it to the very magics that infuse their calcifid bodies. The colloid was largely confused by this fial tactic employed by Udodelig, but as the most powerful undead foe the alien had ever seen, the unusual strategy did not seem so impossible. Besides, it instantly found hundreds of undead souls to destroy, created as a byproduct of the lich’s desperate attempt to escape. The otherworldly creature continues on through the Underworld, undaunted by the few Dodelig it encounters (if it notices them at all; the clever skeletons are able to fool it briefl, often just long enough to hide and escape).  While Dodelig only very rarely remember any part of their life before  transforming into undead, they are much like the mortal halflngs they once were.  Jovial, adventurous and well-suited for traveling the Underworld, these small, intelligent skeletons have become increasingly common across the subterranean landscape not too long after The Conflence. They are reckless, fearless, and durable despite their size, but penultimately concerned with entertaining themselves. 
Their settlements are likely to sprout anywhere— literally; it is said that the Dracoprime’s fall and the energies dispersed by its destruction fling debris (and settlements) all across the world, each embedded deep within the earth by the gargantuan inertia that carried them through the sky. The chief concern of the Dodelig is the preservation of their kind, leaving them to be surprisingly martial when there is a demand for it and encouraging them to search for their kin with regularity as they wander the Underworld. 

Physical Description Dodelig are identical to halflng skeletons, save that they are not made of bone. Their bodies are composed of variously colored stone writhing with a dark blue hue of the magical energies that sustain them. A Dodelig's body is made of whatever stone its skeleton was once encased within, a byproduct of the marrow they once had centuries before and the mystical powers enacted upon it.  Society Loyal to one another without exception, Dodelig value the life of each and every member of their race as if it were their own. The  devotion Dodelig show to one another creates tightly-knit social groups that ensure the safety of their settlements. Despite their light-hearted natures, they are instinctively aware of the massive danger the colloid poses to them all and are woe to ever drop their guard lest it destroy them and their kin.  Once halflngs, their love of surprise, pranks, and merriment surprises none, but upperworlders often find them offputting. Nonetheless, musicians and artists from both Upper- and Underworld show particular reverence for their much sought after talents.

Relations
Initially it is hard for members of any race to befriend the Dodelig—save the enlightened and the necromancers, most of the peoples react poorly to undead, intelligent or not, but the Dodelig themselves are often quite amicable, even if their appearance does engender fear. Alignment and Religion Dodelig take after the essence of the soul that granted them a second chance at existence and are Chaotic in the main. The Dodelig are not sure how they came to be or what they ought to worship, and pay tributes to deities determined by whim more than anything else. Still, some find a kinship in the Dark Governess, Nearru, becoming clerics or warlocks in her name. 

Adventurers
Becoming an explorer is a required obligation placed upon every Dodelig as soon as they are freed from entombment. The remains of the traveler’s blood still haunts their stone bones, but more importantly, all Dodelig are charged with uncovering more of their kin in the Underworld. Once one is found, more are certain to be nearby and every undead settlement carries the name of its founder and savior in respect. While they might not excel as warriors or barbarians, Dodelig are suited for any spellcasting class and are exceptional rogues or—very  rarely—monks.

Dodelig Traits

Your Dodelig character counts as a halflng for purposes of race, with the obvious difference of also being undead.

Harmed by Running Fresh Water.

Harmed by Running Fresh Water. Fresh water dissolves some essential salt involved in keeping your body together. You take 20 acid damage if you end your turn in running fresh water. Exposure to rain or similar weather usually does not have this effct, unless it’s really pouring, and neither are you harmed by submersion in an ocean or salt water. (Subject to GM’s discretion. )

Skeletal Vulnerability.

Skeletal Vulnerability. Due to your skeletal body and the lack of cushioning flesh, you are vulnerable to impacts. You suffer vulnerability to bludgeoning damage.

Stone Body.

Stone Body. Unlike other skeletons, dødelig consist of ossifid bone – whenever you are subject to a spell or effect that affects stone, it compromises the magics that keep you alive. Whenever you are subject to such a spell, you take force damage equal to the spell’s level of the creature generating the effect times d6

Sunlight Hypersensitivity

Sunlight Hypersensitivity. A dødelig takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. Your radiance vulnerability does not apply to this damage, though. While in sunlight, you have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Superior Darkvision.

Superior Darkvision. Seeing the world through ossifid eye-sockets, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 ft. 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 grey 

Undead Immunity.

Undead Immunity. As an undead halflng, you lack the physiology to be affected by poison. You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition, unless the poisons or effect explicitly state that they affect undead as well. Additionally, you have resistance to necrotic damage.

Undead Nature.

Undead Nature. As a skeleton, a dødelig doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Languages.

Languages. You can speak, write and read Common, Halflng and Undercommon.

Ability Score Increases.

Ability Score Increases. Your Charisma and Wisdom scores increase by 1 and your Dexterity score increases by 2

Size

 Your size is Small

Speed

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet – dødelig are surprisingly agile for their size.

Condition Immunity

Condition Immunity. As an undead skeleton, you are immune to the poisoned and exhausted conditions

Light Blindness.

Light Blindness. Abrupt exposure to bright light blinds you for 1 round.

Radiance Vulnerability.

Radiance Vulnerability. Due to your undead nature, you suffer from vulnerability to radiance damage.

Skeletal Resistance.

Skeletal Resistance. You are an ossifid halflng skeleton. You gain resistance to necrotic, piercing and slashing damage.