Homebrew Brightmade Species Details

Creating a Brightmade

Unlike most races, a brightmade is a race that has been altered while still in the womb of it's mother, forever changing it into a celestial being. To create a brightmade, a Unicorn must enchant the womb of a pregnant woman who they have formed a close bond with, by placing its legendary horn near the womb. Once enchanted, the being inside the womb develops celestial features and abilities, as well as features from the unicorn itself. The creature does still retain some features from its mother's race. The mother may stop the transformation at any time before the child is born. Once born, the creature will look the same as it's mother race except for a small horn near the top of their head, as well as glowing golden eyes. As the newly born brightmade matures, it will slowly start to develop more celestial features, as well as heavily resemble the unicorn itself. As the brightmade reaches full maturity, only a few small features of its parent race will remain; like the markings of a goliath, skin color of a drow, ears of an elf, etc. Depening on the parent race, the brightmade may also grow in stature substantially. Brightmade usually turn out to be legendary warriors, or guardians of sacred temples/places.

Physiology

Brightmade physiology includes a unicorn horn, tail, hooves and a horse-like head on top of a large humanoid body. There are unicorns of several colors and patterns, however most unicorn coats are gold, silver, ivory, or ebony. Brightmades usually display the color schemes of whatever unicorn blessed them. For example, a white unicorn with silver mane and golden hooves would likely result in a brightmade with silver hair and golden hooves. Bear in mind that the mother race of a brightmade may influence how it looks once matured, depending on the features that carry over from its mother.

Due to their strange appearance, Brightmades are often either revered or feared. Viewed with jealousy because of their beauty and blessed state or disdain and dislike because they are different. Social ostracizing is a common occurance from the fathers of a brightmade as many consider them to be illegitimate children, or that their original child was stolen from them. 

Brightmade are extremely rare, due to the already rare nature of the Unicorns themselves. 

Brightmade Names

Brightmaid names usually conform to their mother race, but sometimes stand out due to the unusual nature of their birth—for better or worse.

 

Brightmade Traits

Brightmades are the result of a unicorn blessing a baby while still in it's mother's womb.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom, Strength, and Constitution increases by +1 each.

Age

Brightmades usually live about twice as long or more than other members of their parent race, and ages more slowly in adulthood. A brightmade won't show old age until the last 10 years of its life. A human brightmade, for example, reaches adulthood around 18 and can live to be 200.

Alignment

A brightmade is almost always assured to be a good alignment. However, they can turn to the darker alignments if exposed to enough evil.

Size

Brightmades reach around 8 ft in height, and weigh near 300 lbs. Their size is Medium, yet do have a very powerful build. 

Powerful Build

You are considered a Large creature in terms of carrying capacity, as well as lifting, pulling, or dragging.

Gift of the Unicorn

You have a radiant horn that can be used as a natural weapon. It is considered a magical weapon and can pierce through any resistances or immunities. You are considered proficient with the horn. You also know the Light cantrip, and it is cast from the tip of your horn. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Celestial Radiance

You are considered a Celestial creature. You gain resistance to Radiant damage, and proficiency in Insight checks.

Flight of the Pegasus

A Brightmade can ascend to Pegasus status among other Unicorns and be granted wings if they attain enough power. At level 15, you gain large feathered wings, that grant a flying speed of 45 feet.