The Aether

Whether through incredible personal loss or some other tragedy, you have been left bereft of understanding in a seemingly cold and cruel multiverse. However, in your darkest hours you were given clarity and knowledge from an unexpected source- the brilliant, blinding, empyreal majesty of a denizen of the Aether. Deep below the Astral Sea, so deep that the first light of creation has not yet dawned upon those murky depths, there lies a vast white void. A thick layer of white clouds litter the sky, stretching from infinite horizon to infinite horizon in one unbroken blanket. The ground- if it can truly be called ground- is soft and earthy, yet cold and smooth to the touch. Some have even spoken of a vast meadow of pure white flowers stretching off into infinity. This is the Aether, the foundation of all creation.

The Aether is not well understood, even by those who directly draw their power from it. What is clear is that the laws that govern the multiverse are bound into the Aether and its energies, giving them the power to allow stars to shine and water to flow in the Material Plane. The beings that dwell in the Aether- although few and far between- are strange and alien to those found elsewhere in the cosmos. Each one is incredibly powerful, holding some sway over the foundational laws of space and time, even moreso than almost all lesser deities, however they remain fairly unknown beyond half-remembered myths and legends. These beings are usually referred to by their titles, which also serve as names, descriptions and personalities for these beings: The Soul Pariah; The Temporal Outsider; The Light Matron; The Phantasm; and The Star Dragon to name a few.

These beings act as living manifestations of the Aether itself, serving as conduits through which its power is channeled. This godlike entities are sympathetic in nature, reaching out to lost souls across the multiverse to offer solace through knowledge. However, these transactions of power often turn out poorly for the chosen mortal, whose mind is more likely to soften into thick sludge than embrace the full wisdom that the Aether grants.

Aetheric Manipulation

Starting at 1st level, you gain limited control over the fabric of reality. You learn two manipulations of your choice. You learn one other manipulation at 7th, 10th and 15th level. Each time you learn a new manipulation, you may replace one manipulation you know with a different one.

You may use a number of manipulations equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1) between short or long rests.

Annihilate Object

As an action, choose one small, non-magical object you can within range (for example, a letter or a dagger). If it is not being held by a creature, the object vanishes in a flash of white light, leaving behind the faint scent of ozone. Once destroyed in this manner, only wish can restore the object to existence.

Light Burst

You emit a bright flash of pure white light, temporarily dazzling those nearby. As a bonus action, all creatures within 10 ft of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they are unable to take any reactions until the start of your next turn.

Singularity

You twist and compress the folds of reality into a singularity for but a moment. As an action, choose a creature you can see within 60 ft. They must make a Dexterity saving throw using your spell save DC. If they fail, the target takes 2d6 force damage, or half as much on a successful save. In addition, a Medium or smaller creature who fails the saving throw is knocked prone.

This damage increases to 3d6 at 7th level, 4d6 at 10th level, and 5d6 at 15th level.

Tear Spacetime

You cause a minute fracture in the fabric of reality, just large enough to cause inconvenience for those trying to traverse that area. Using a bonus action, pick a 10 ft by 10 ft area you can see within 60 ft. Until the start of your next turn, that area counts as difficult terrain.

Time Dilation

You reach into the aetheric weave of time, and warp the flow for one creature you can see within 60 ft. As an action, the creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a fail, their movement speed is halved for the next minute. In addition, the remaining duration of all effects the creature is under is doubled as well.

Vacuum Blast

You open a small rift in the fabric of reality, creating a strong vacuum which crushes those nearby. As an action, creatures within a 20 ft radius of a space you can see must make a Constitution saving throw. On a fail, they take 6d10 force damage, or half as much if they succeed.

This particular manipulation may only be used once per short rest.

Warp Gravity

As a bonus action on your turn, you may attempt to move one creature you can see within 60 ft of you. The affected creature must make a Dexterity saving throw, using your spell save DC. If they fail, they are flung 10ft in one direction of your choice, including upwards, as if under the effect of reverse gravity.

Secrets of the Multiverse

Starting at 6th level, when you make an Intelligence (Arcana) or Intelligence (History) check, you are considered proficient in this skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, as opposed to your normal proficiency bonus.

In addition, if you roll a 9 or less on either of these checks, you may choose to replace the roll with a 10 instead.

Empyreal Essence

Beginning at 10th level, your spirit is infused with the aether itself. For every 100 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year, and you are immune to being magically aged.

Behold and Despair

Starting at 14th level, when you hit a creature with a spell attack, you can use this feature to instantly transport them to the depths of the Empyrean. There, in a void of blinding light, the creature is imprisoned for a thousand years, with no way to escape or die. 

At the end of your next turn, the creature returns to the space it previously occupied, or the nearest unoccupied space. The target takes 10d10 psychic damage and is driven insane by the experience. Its madness can only be cured by either greater restoration or wish.

You may only use this feature once per long rest.