Homebrew Deviant Oblex Species Details

Artificial Horrors

The first oblexes were created by the Illithid, otherwise known as the Mindflayers long ago. Horrid experiments which manifested from slimes that existed in the Underdark, these creatures harbour a constant need for absorbing the memories of other intelligent creatures. This need makes their kind hated among the denizens of the Underdark, and if any upon the surface know of them, they likely despise them as well.

 

Unwanted Mutants

Deviants are what other oblexes refer to as these spawn, this spawn being a mutation of their spawning process. The stem of this issue being from the unstable experiments the Illithid had performed upon them. The mutated spawn of an oblex is unwanted, and usually killed when an adult or elder oblex learns of what their spawn may be. They view these creatures as lesser, undeserving of life, something that should not be while all the while unaware the creature itself is the same. Deviants who do survive tend to isolate themselves and mimic the form of their most dominant memory, or hiding amongst the populace of the Underdark.

 

Hanging on a Cliff for Survival

The deviants that do survive in a settlement or make their way to the surface must create a careful balanced between their needs or risk being discovered. Deviants do not to eat as often as other of their kind, surviving on a few thoughts at a time to maintain their form and intelligence. They can eat and consume food and liquids, but they don’t have a need for it as the memories they absorb are their true form of sustenance. If an Deviant gains a thirst for adventure, they might feed on a few memories from an opponent they have felled or taking bits of languages or memories from those they travel with. Life isn’t easy for a deviant, but it’s something.

 

Their dominant personality is always constantly warring with itself, either with other minds that slipped into its form or the constant rambling from the different thoughts.

 

Deviant Society and Biology

What little society exists of Deviants is limited in its capabilities, as the constant need for new memories to survive and to remain hidden outweighs conversing with others of its kind. However, Deviants do have a better chance of detecting others of its kind, but they rarely converse unless they must do it of need. Surprisingly enough, Deviants are capable of reproducing by combining loose memories they’ve gather between a pairing, but this is rare as their numbers are already as limited as can be.

 

Deviant Oblex Traits

The Deviant Oblex race boasts innate psionic abilities along with a ever changing form. Which often helps them escape pursuit or hide among others.

Ability Score Increase

Your intelligence score increased by +2, and you can add +1 to any other stat.

Age

Deviants do not age in a typical manner, it is mostly an age and degradation of their mind more so than actual age. Most deviants survive for a few decades before unraveling at the mind. They mature shortly after spawning and begin their quest for survival shortly thereafter.

Alignment

Most Deviants lean towards neutral alignments as they base their survival above all else as opposed to dealing with moralities. This also often results in deviant attaining a more evil outlook on life as well

Size

A Deviants size is ever shifting, but could never go beyond the size of a medium creature. As they do not possess the ability to make body doubles similar to other oblexes. They can shift between the small and medium size categories.

Distinct Smell

Deviants are constantly masking themselves, which results in the sulfur smell that other oblexes tend to produce.

Fragmented Mind

Due to the destroyed mind of the a Deviant, they are vulnerable to psychic damage. Additionally you only need to rest four hours to gain the full benefits of a long rest, but during this time you are essentially “sleeping.” You are essentially calming your mind from being active for a period of time.

Need to Feed.

Needing to feed on memories, a Deviant can place a part of their form on another creature with an intelligence score of 8 or higher. The creature must also be capable of conveying some form of information, whether it be through language, skills, or knowledge. They do not need much to survive on, maybe a few unused words or a few things not needed for consistent function just to survive. This lasts for a minimum of a week, but may last longer depending on the amount absorbed.

You can eat and drink and be under any effects granted from it, but you do not need it to survive.

Innate Psionic Abilities

A deviant, like other oblex, has innate psionic abilities. They can read the surface thoughts, similar to the detect thoughts spell, when interacting with another creature for longer than one minute.

At level three, a deviant can cast detect thoughts spell once per short or long rest.

At level eight, a deviant can feed using the their variation of detect thoughts, but this only works when the target is within 30 ft.

Additionally at level eight, a deviant can cast hold person once per long rest. The formula for the DC is 8+Proficiency+Int

Amorphous Form

A deviant is naturally a shapechanger, though their form of shapechanging is limited compared to other creatures such as dopplegangers or changelings. This mostly results in discolorations or errors when it comes to specified features. You can change your form after spending 10 minutes concentrating on the form you wish to become, but you can make subtle changes at any time.

Also, you can fit in thin spaces, as small as 1 inch in diameter, or 1 inch wide. Though your limited ability to do so makes the process of getting through incredibly slow, making the movement considered to be difficult terrain. Feats or abilities do not bypass this.

Bonus Proficiencies.

You become proficient in the deception skill, and either the arcana or history skill.
MrEpicDwarf

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