Homebrew Beheld Species Details

“Run! It's a Beholder!”

“We need to get out of here!”

“Get away from me!”

Yet again, people are panicking as I walk into town, ignore the seven foot tall dragonborn or the half-orc donning a full set of glowing white armor or the tiefling who is literally on fire, no, just pay attention to the short wizard with a face similar to a Beholder. I'll never understand what problem people have with me, sure I resemble a Beholder but I'm pretty sure I'm not shooting lasers from my worthless eye stalks or getting high on myself. Someone seriously needs to teach people the difference between Beheld and Beholders, or maybe make the names more different.

— Ryan C. Frau, Beheld Wizard

The beheld are a sad species subjected to fear and hatred as a result of their Beholder qualities. This is only made worse as there is no clear reason for the existence of the beheld, no demon to blame, no god to pin it on, causing many to question if they should even exist. Their appearances are near impossible to hide and the resemblance is uncanny which only causes them and their descendants to be discriminated against to a level rivaling the tiefling.

Beholder Biology

Beheld were clearly once human as, to a certain extent, they still look human. This is only to the point that a comparison can be made as their Beholder biology shines more than anything else. Beheld are humanoid in shape but have several eye stalks coming out of their head, these stalks seem to move at their own will almost like snakes. They have sharp almost jagged teeth which have a pigmentation reminiscent of rotting flesh. Their eyes seem to glow certain colors with each beheld having their own color and shade, this only stops when they're asleep or dead. Their skin tones sometimes resemble human coloration, but they are normally a shade or pink or purple with some being green. Their hair has fallen out long ago to make room for their eye stalks, what little remains is often a gray or white associated with those of an older age.

Sarcastic and Strong

Beheld are far and few with many stemming from the few families that survived the initial genocide of the species. This isolation causes many beheld to become anti-social among those outside its own species and surprisingly some Beholders. This isolation helps to tone down the almost Beholder level pride many beheld are born with but it often results in beheld becoming very sarcastic and sometimes outright rude or dismissive.

As a result of their anti-social nature stemmed from years of isolation, beheld are often difficult to befriend as they not only tend to scare away many potential comrades, but they also see themselves as superior at times which makes it far more difficult to form a bond with a beheld. For those who are willing to put up with this, they are often rewarded with a loyal friend who would go to hell and back for them while still managing to stay alive.

Beheld Names

Beheld names often resemble human names if they aren't human names outright but there are the names of the stalk which are secondary family names used to recognize a beheld as well as who they're connected to. These names are often difficult to say or understand for those who aren't fluent in Deep Speech which causes there to be a common version to allow for understanding.

Names of The Stalk (In Common): Cmarh, Parlyzel, Far, Sow, Envarton, Telcino, Ple, Pet, Graed, Edth 

Bond of the Hated

For reasons that can mostly be connected to pack mentality, beheld often bonds more easily with those of species who are also shunned among humans such as the tieflings and, to a certain extent, half-orcs. This certainly does not help the image of these groups among human settlements but it has resulted in the creation of many famous groups made up of these species as well as entire towns in which these species work together and live together. 

 

Beheld Traits

Beheld share certain racial traits as a result of their Beholder-like biology.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Beheld mature at the same rate as humans but live four times as long.

Alignment

Beheld often feel an urge to be lawful evil, reflective of the Beholders they are often compared to. This doesn't mean that all Beheld are of the lawful evil alignment, just that they are normally drawn to it and end up as at least lawful or evil.

Size

Beheld are about the same size as humans with a slightly larger head. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Hover

You have the ability to hover. You can carry up to one creature of Medium size or smaller using this but it will cut your flying speed in half which is normally 30 ft.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon, and Deep Speech.

Magic Eyes

Thanks to your magic eyes and eye stalks, you have superior vision allowing you to see clearly in any darkness within 80 ft of yourself as well as advantage on saving throws against being blinded.

Eye Beam

You can use your action to take control of several of your eye stalks and use them to fire a destructive beam of energy in a straight line. When you fore your eye beam, each creature in the path of it must make a dexterity saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 9 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 3d4 force damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 4d4 at 3rd level, 5d4 at 9th level, 6d4 at 13th level, and 8d4 at 20th level. This ability can only be used twice before you must complete a short or long rest to use it again.

Omnisight

Due to your incredible eyesight, you have advantage in the skill of Perception and you can double your passive perception once a long rest, for one hour.