Homebrew Half-Human Half-Phantom Species Details

 A human-looking man travels peacefully in silence, a large white mass floating closely behind him, following him at a shockingly close proximity. He isn't reacting to it, as if he doesn't notice that it's nearly upon him. A pack of goblin bandits hide among the bushes at the side of the path ahead, noticing the approaching man. Hoping the apparition behind him will help weaken their target, they leap out to attack him as one launches a rock with a sling. However, the apparition then rapidly moves itself, interposing the projectile, and protecting the man. The man flinches slightly at this, before drawing his blade and turning to the now shocked and scared bandits. The phantom floats next to the fighter, who speaks in a humorous tone. "I'm already half-dead. What did you think a measly stone was going to accomplish?"

-Unknown Adventurer

 

Physical Description

Each half-human half-phantom has two bodies: their human half, and their phantom half.

The human half (sometimes referred to as the half-human) appears completely identical to a normal human in every way, though their hair is almost always silver, white or other extremely pale colors, and their eyes also tend more towards pale colors as well. Besides this, the half-human is - for all intents and purposes - a human.

The phantom half (often referred to as the half-phantom) is an extremely large, translucent white mass. The majority of its ectoplasmic matter forms a large, mostly-spherical bulb, with a long, thin, wispy tail coming from it. This half-phantom is nearly the same size as the half-human it is associated with. Despite being identified as a phantom, the half-phantom appears to be corporeal.

History

No one is really sure how half-human half-phantoms came to exist, as even their existence in and of itself is contradictory and nonsensical; the offspring of the living and the non-living seems like nothing more than a myth. In the absence of any definitive facts, theories on the origins of half-human half-phantoms are extremely popular and abundant. Some suggest they're the result of some wicked necromantic ritual gone wrong. Others say that they might be the creations of some wicked underworld deity. Yet others argue that perhaps it is in fact possible for the living and the undead to have a child, and that everyone else is simply over-reacting and thinking too deeply into the matter. Regardless of where these strange, half-dead people came from, it doesn't change the fact that their mere existence is a wonder on its own.

Society

Many half-human half-phantoms tend to try to mingle in where humans settle, though because of their strange nature as a half-undead, they are often subject to prejudice and discrimination, and struggle more than others to get by. Less frequently, other half-human half-phantoms may decide to instead seek out powerful necromancers such as a lich, or intelligent undead beings, and serve under them in exchange for a roof over their head, clothes on their back, a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and most importantly to them, a place to call home that they can come back to.

Half-Human Half-Phantom Names

Half-human half-phantoms almost always use human names, though sometimes those who serve under the undead will take other names, given to them by those they serve.

 

Half-Human Half-Phantom Traits

Your half undead heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other half phantoms.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice each increase by 1.

Age

Half-human half-phantoms mature slower than humans and live much longer as well due to their half-undead nature. A half-human half-phantom reaches adulthood in their late thirties, and can live anywhere from 500 to 1000 years.

Alignment

Half-human half-phantoms lack two of the worldly desires present in humans, making them much less likely to hesitate, and infinitely more loyal. A half-human half-phantom is almost always lawful; non-lawful alignments are nearly non-existent among them. Half-human half-phantoms tend more towards good or neutral, but evil half-human half-phantoms are entirely possible.

Size

Half-human half-phantoms possess the same builds as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

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.

Living-Undead Hybrid

Your creature type is both humanoid and undead. It is treated as undead for effects that target undead, but is otherwise treated as humanoid for the purposes of spells and effects that would have no effect on undead.

Stalwart

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Half-Human

Because you are not fully undead, you have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead. You also have advantage on saving throws against any effects that target undead that allow a saving throw. However, because you are also not fully human, you only receive half as much healing, rounded up, from spells and effects that would have no effect on undead, such as with the spell cure wounds.

Half-Phantom

Because of your half-undead nature, you are more hardy than a normal human would be. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 again each time you gain a level.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.