Homebrew Wraith Species Details

'I have met the Wraith itself, once upon a time.

A smokelike figure stands over a dead body, its glowing eyes boring into your soul.

A chill settles into your bones, like death himself has arrived.

It did not harm me; it did not need to. 

It knew that Death would take me, with or without its influence.'

 

-Elmer Commontongue, Writings of the Unnerved

 Wraiths have adopted their names from stories of ghosts come to life, of bad omens in the place of dead. They have no qualms with being mistaken for the dead, as the concept of 'alive' and 'dead' is often foreign to them. Their origin is unknown; some say they are the manifestation of the mists that take over war-torn lands and mass graves, and some suggest that they are born of a dark magic that leaves them indistinct and unnerving. Whatever their true nature is, a wraith is a rare and eerie sight. 

They are drawn to places inevitably marked with death, whether they appear before or after the event takes place. Wraiths find other living creatures fascinating but struggle to connect with them, and so often take their journeys alone. They 'live' for a significantly long time, and the only long tales of their travels are written by elves brave enough to stray close to them.

Mists of Time

A wraith often seems somewhat incorporeal to those who spot them, but if you are brave enough to reach out and touch you will come into contact with flesh and bone (although something about it does not feel quite like human skin.) Wraiths often have an eerie appearance and tend to unsettle those around them without meaning to. They are taller than your average human, ranging from 6 to 8 feet tall. However, you will be hard-pressed to find a large wraith - there is a skeletal quality to them. 

Wraiths lack any colouration; their hair and skin are most commonly in tones of grey and black. They can also appear to be bone-white in rare circumstances. The only variation is their eye colours, which can range from eerie yellows, reds, purples and oranges. Their hair often has a smoke-like quality that defies gravity, rising up slightly into the air above their heads. They have little facial and body hair, although it is not out of the question. A wraith's clothing will mirror their personal tastes; some prefer black armour that blends into their silhouette and some enjoy finer fabrics in bright colours and shiny jewelry. Sometimes they take garments from the dead - after all, they are not using them.

Company of The Dead

Wraiths possess significant longevity; death is less of a 'death' and more of a returning to the mists that they came from. They are born fully-formed and can exist for up to 500 years before their body begins to break down. Rather than leave a corpse, when a wraith passes away it will simply dissolve into smoke as if it had never existed at all.

Mass graves do not affect them, and death does not unnerve them. Their contact with the outside world is often limited to a rare few - wraiths are solitary beings that lack traditional family bonds (although they can forge their own,) and living creatures tend to avoid them, as laying eyes upon a wraith is a sure sign that bad things are to come. Some wraiths possess a sense of curiosity for other creatures and will trail them, whether to haunt them for amusement or out of a desire to discover more about what 'living' truly feels like.

Wraith Names

Born of mist and smoke alone. Lacking any paternal figures, a young wraith will choose their own name when they feel it is time. They will often appropriate monikers from the dead, or are gifted a name in the unlikely event that they acquire a companion along the way. Some wraiths will also choose to remain nameless, detached from life as they wander the world. 

HAUNTING SPECTRE

People are fearful of wraiths, and will often do their best to avoid them. When in densely-populated areas like town squares and busy marketplaces, crowds will part automatically in the wraith's path. Wraiths can react to this in a number of ways depending on their personality; some may enjoy the ease of travelling through populated areas and others may become disheartened by the fear they face in every aspect. Most will be indifferent to it, or may not even realise it is them that the people are avoiding.

Wraith Traits

+1 Dexterity, Darkvision, Ghostly Tales, Shadow Walk, Spirit Hands

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Wraiths come into this world fully-developed and can live (although the term is relative) for around 500 years, at which point their physical form begins to return to mist.

Size

They are tall, but often quite skeletal in appearance, as if their flesh exists only in the abstract. Wraiths range between 6 and 8 feet tall.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Wraiths have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Ghostly Tales

A wraith's connection with the deceased is stronger than the average person, and their abilities follow. You know the Speak With Dead cantrip.

Shadow Walk

Wraiths are slippery, even with this corporeal flesh. As an enemy strikes, you can utilise your underworldly powers once per round to move away from an enemy without an attack of opportunity.

Spirit Hands

You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.