Homebrew Echo Species Details

A Voice Echoes Through Time

Echoes are an extremely rare species unknown to most, they are the result of the death of a uniquely magically powerful being. With nowhere for the pure power inhabiting this being to go, the power will latch onto a suitable unborn child of any species. This child will then become an 'echo' of the original being, generally, two features of the host will match that of previous hosts and the original being, this is the only reliable way to identify an echo. Echo power doesn't die, it simply transfers to a new host, which becomes a mental amalgamation of the previous hosts and the current, the longer this cycle continues, the less sanity the newest host will have.

Hosts

In theory, a magical soul can inhabit any host being, but generally, it will seek suitable hosts that can meet its magical requirements and the requirements of its physical features. For example if the original creature had two red eyes and blue hair, and this was the feature replicated, the host will need to have at least two eyes and at least some hair. The most common features for echo'ing are hair colour, eye colour, skin/feather/scale colour, vocal range, or birthmarks.

Common hosts are the core races and species and their subraces, any species that is not capable of magical talent is NOT a suitable host.

Realization

Echoes are not immediately aware of being a host, and will generally be raised with their own unique personality and thoughts. Unfortunately,  this will cause significant strife when the echo reaches emotional maturity, as they will suddenly find their minds full of memories, thoughts and knowledge that is not their own. Many echoes will lose their mind immediately, be ostracised by their species, and even potentially die. Some echoes will have the mental fortitude to control this process and will become an Awakened Echo, becoming an amalgamation of their two conjoined souls, the smaller host soul becoming part of the large echo soul.

Class

Echoes can be any class, it does not need to be the same as their original soul, however many echoes that survive awakening will have a rapid change in personality, often taking on elements of previous classes from older hosts. Therefore, it is common for echoes to multiclass, or to follow a subclass that bridges the gap between their two souls.

Lonely Souls

Despite containing two souls, echoes are remarkably lonely creatures, their mental states are precarious and often changing, pushing others away. The souls within the echo are often at odds rather than harmony too, making the echo lose control unless it is able to form a dominant relationship within, this requires significant mental control.

Names

An echo will often have two names, one that it is born with, and one that it gains when it survives awakening, its original name is based on its host race, its second name will often reflect its echo features.

Examples: Redbreath, Bluewing, Blackscar, etc

 

Echo Traits

Echoes benefit from the combined raw power of their host race and their echo soul, making them more powerful than most individual races.

Mind Fray

 

Your mental fragility can be reflected into your magic, cast Mind Fray twice per day and make your enemies feel your pain.

 

 

Reverberation of Magic

 

The magical power descended through your echo soul allows you to harness more magic than the average creature, but accessing this power harms your mind. You can ignore the use of up to three spell slots of any level per long rest, but to do so you must take an equivalent amount of psychic damage.

Spell slot:

1 - 1d4

2 - 2d4

3 - 3d4 

etc

 

Echo Ability Score Increase

 

Your Wisdom and Intelligence scores are increased by 3, but your charisma is reduced by 2.

 

 

 

 

Age

 

The age of the host body and soul is based on their host race but can be extended through their extensive control of magic, and magical knowledge. 

 

 

 

Size

 

Echoes generally take the size of their host race, but may be a bit taller or smaller than its race if previous hosts were from a smaller/larger race.

 

Speed

 

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.