Aesithas, a D&D 5e Experiment by Fading Memory

[XxFellsingxX]

Rerolled!

16
16
6
13
13
13

That's better. I can work with that.

[Fading Memory]

They are able to be assigned as you desire, not in-order. Fair question!

[Vertigo]

@Vertigo As for you, that’s a perfect spread for someone like me lmao.

@Fading Memory

Oh for sure, that "damn" was very much a positive reaction :D

Was thinking of going with a Bladesinger Wizard! Never tried one, but it would go well with the performance proficiency and spindly limbs and all. Maybe their particular way of trying to make sense out of the information overload is to try and convey some stories or work out theories through dance.

[Fading Memory]

That sounds good to me; In my mind the Noctem were definitely on that edge of ‘gypsy performers’ and ‘respected historians’, so a bladesinger makes perfect sense.

[XxFellsingxX]

@Fading Memory Question about starting gear, since I'm playing a Behemoth: are the weapons or armour I start with just the Behemoth approximations of weapons and amour or are they actual weapons and armour that I just have but can't use?

[Fading Memory]

Honestly I hadn’t thought about the starting equipment for a Behemoth; for the most part just disregard it since you can approximate the gear as desired. Unless you specifically want the flavor of Behemoth Barding you don’t even need to take the chain mail unless you want to.

The holy symbol is somewhat important unless you’re going for ‘Oath driven’ rather than ‘religious’ stylisms (which is fine, if so just reflavor it as a symbol of oath; like an oath of conquest might have the Clawed Amulet of Tyrania as an example).

The various packs can all be explained as having pouches in your body to function as backpacks and whatnot; why shouldn’t a Behemoth be able to carry things, after all? Kangaroos can, fantasy chimera nomads can too.

[Fading Memory]

Also, on the Racial Feats since someone asked me about them in a PM;

the Racial Feats are intended to be baked in goals to mechanically represent a cultural heritage. An incentive for a player to pursue race-appropriate goals- though I gave ample room for deviants in each race to exist.

Things like that are just easy little GM tools; usually players will make their characters and go ‘I want to achieve this tangible goal’ and it makes planning simpler for a DM.

Nobody will begin eligible for their Feat, and on the Storied Road and Journey of Du’Eld ones I will elaborate on those tasks alongside my brief language primer and game-start scenario. Those two have very specific requirements, whereas the others are more ambiguous or situational.

[XxFellsingxX]

@Fading Memory Any naming conventions we should be aware of for the various races?

Also, don't know if you're ready for us to be posting our CSs, but I've almost finished mine... aside from the name xP

[Fading Memory]

In broad strokes people can be named whatever, but I do have some conventions if people are interested. By no means is it required to follow these;

Noctem Names tend to be apostrophe based with O and E as an initiator representing feminine; O’Sovoka. E’Lellyr. O’Okosa. Etc. masculine tends towards A and I; A’Soros. I’Rideta. U and Y are for Neuter, and they often take Stage Names; Prospero The Muse is a Noctem.

Behemoths have simple names that are often plays on words with other meanings. Tyrania, Tyranar for example off the word Tyrant. Nobili and Nobu a spin on noble, etc. sometimes they take a direct word that they feel they represent; Power, Strength, Grace. Their names can be varied but try to focus on meaning in convention. They consider it the first step in being respected to have a good name.

The Kin of Du’Eld follow a whimsical convention of slapping two monosyllabic sounds next to each other with a hyphen or apostrophe. Du’Eld. Bo-Hur. Yen’Ka. Vo’Tur. Hra-Sho. There seems to be no distinction between masculine and feminine names.

The Dale Folk use antiquated old english style names.

The Zephyrites take a common name based on their color, but their true names are often complex words hard to pronounce featuring little used letters like Z, X, and Q. Zentar, Quizzya, Xonyz, Qerys, Zaroq, Xixxy, etc. no distinction for gender as it’s a personal choice for them.

The Wooden Ones follow pure whim; some use names of deeper heritage and significance like an ancestor or following the customs of a non Wooden One parent, while others take names following the example of the Everbloom that are reflected in nature. Brook, Babble, Seralyssa, Boulder, Soft-moss, Iskander, driftwood, etc.

[Exit]

Is there still room for this?

[Fading Memory]

@Exit Yep! So far you’re person 5 to say hello, 6 is my soft cap before I begin to think about having to tell people no. So far folks have discussed all the races except Humans and the Kin of Du’Eld!

[Exit]

Awesome! I think I'm looking at the Du'Eld. And I'll be a little slow working out the details as I'm currently still at work.

[Fading Memory]

Also, don't know if you're ready for us to be posting our CSs, but I've almost finished mine... aside from the name xP

@XxFellsingxX

Also, yo, feel free to drop sheets. The more folks can chat about things the cooler.

Added the Naming Conventions to the original post.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Very well! Here’s my sheet. ^_^

Meet Amaryllis!

Amaryllis
Wooden One Druid 3

AC 16 HP 18/18 Speed 30ft

Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 11 (0) Wis 20 (5) Int 10 (0) Cha 16 (3)

Attacks
Quarterstaff +1 1d6/1d8-1
Shillelagh +7 1d6/1d8+5




Wisdom +2. Wisdom Cap increased to 22.
Charisma +2. Charisma cap increased to 22.
+1 to a different stat of choice (DEX).

Size - Medium
Speed - 30

One With Nature - You have Climb and Swim speeds equal to your walking speed.

Forest Construct - You do not need to eat, drink, or breathe to survive. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Beasts.

Warden of the Heartlands - You are proficient with the Animal Handling skill and the Nature skill.

The Blessings of Water - While it is raining or you have access to a large body of water such as a river or lake and are standing or submerged in it, you may spend Hit Dice as an action to regain hit points. Add your proficiency modifier to hit die expended in this way.

The Warmth of the Sun - While you are in direct Sunlight, your Move Speed is increased by 10.

The Tendrils of the Everbloom - You may, as a bonus action, touch a tree and travel through its root systems and emerge from another tree within 60 feet of the one you touched. You may do this a number of times per long rest equal to your proficiency modifier.

Everbloom's Fabled Freezing - You are vulnerable to Cold Damage; in addition, your movement speed is reduced by 10 until the end of your next turn whenever you take cold damage. This may stack to a movement speed of 0.

Druidic: You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language automatically spot such a message. Others spot the message's presence with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check but can't decipher it without magic.

Starting at 2nd level, you can use your action to magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. You can use this feature twice. You regain expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Your druid level determines the beasts you can transform into, as shown in the Beast Shapes table. At 2nd level, for example, you can transform into any beast that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower that doesn't have a flying or swimming speed.
Beast Shapes
Level Max. CR Limitations Example
2nd 1/4 No flying or swimming speed Wolf
4th 1/2 No flying speed Crocodile
8th 1 — Giant eagle
You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.
While you are transformed, the following rules apply:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can't use them.
When you transform, you assume the beast's hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.
You can't cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you've already cast.
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.
You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.

Star Map: You've created a star chart as part of your heavenly studies. It is a Tiny object and can serve as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells. You determine its form by rolling on the Star Map table or by choosing one.

A stone tablet with fine holes drilled through it

While holding this map, you have these benefits:
You know the guidance cantrip.
You have the guiding bolt spell prepared. It counts as a druid spell for you, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you can have prepared.
You can cast guiding bolt without expending a spell slot. You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
If you lose the map, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony to magically create a replacement. This ceremony can be performed during a short or long rest, and it destroys the previous map.

Starry Form: As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to take on a starry form, rather than transforming into a beast.
While in your starry form, you retain your game statistics, but your body becomes luminous; your joints glimmer like stars, and glowing lines connect them as on a star chart. This form sheds bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. The form lasts for 10 minutes. It ends early if you dismiss it (no action required), are incapacitated, die, or use this feature again.
Whenever you assume your starry form, choose which of the following constellations glimmers on your body; your choice gives you certain benefits while in the form:
Archer. A constellation of an archer appears on you. When you activate this form, and as a bonus action on your subsequent turns while it lasts, you can make a ranged spell attack, hurling a luminous arrow that targets one creature within 60 feet of you. On a hit, the attack deals radiant damage equal to 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier.
Chalice. A constellation of a life-giving goblet appears on you. Whenever you cast a spell using a spell slot that restores hit points to a creature, you or another creature within 30 feet of you can regain hit points equal to 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier.
Dragon. A constellation of a wise dragon appears on you. When you make an Intelligence or a Wisdom check or a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell, you can treat a roll of 9 or lower on the d20 as a 10.

Discovery: The quiet seclusion of your extended hermitage gave you access to a unique and powerful discovery. The exact nature of this revelation depends on the nature of your seclusion. It might be a great truth about the cosmos, the deities, the powerful beings of the outer planes, or the forces of nature. It could be a site that no one else has ever seen. You might have uncovered a fact that has long been forgotten, or unearthed some relic of the past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who or consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society.
Work with your DM to determine the details of your discovery and its impact on the campaign.

Free Feat: Skill Expert
You have honed your proficiency with particular skills, granting you the following benefits:
*Increase one ability score of your choice by 1, to a maximum of 20. (CHA)
*You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice. (Insight)
*Choose one skill in which you have proficiency. You gain expertise with that skill, which means your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make with it. The skill you choose must be one that isn't already benefiting from a feature, such as Expertise, that doubles your proficiency bonus. (Survival)

[XxFellsingxX]

Vigil

Vigil
Behemoth Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) 3 LG

AC 18 HP 31/31 Speed 40ft

Str 17 (3) Dex 14 (2) Con 16 (3) Wis 14 (2) Int 6 (-2) Cha 16 (3)

Attacks
Clubbed Tail (Warhammer) +5 1d8+3
Plated Head (Shield)




RACIAL
Ability Score. +4 Strength. Strength cap increased to 24.
+1 to a different stat of choice. (WIS)

Size. Large.

Darkvision. 60 feet.

Keen Senses (smell).

Tyrania’s Heirs. Proficient in Survival.

Quadruped Form. Behemoths are quadruped beasts, and as such cannot hold or wield equipment. Armor can be crafted for them but they require assistance to don or doff it, and it faces increased costs similar to barding.

Warriors of tooth and claw. While incapable of wielding weapons, Behemoth bodies are natural tools of hunting and battle; spines, claws, bludgeoning limbs, and vicious fangs adorn these people. During a short rest, Behemoths can alter their physiologies to approximate up to two pieces of equipment they are proficient with. Ranged weapons without the Thrown property may not be approximated in this way. Heavy and Two Handed equipment require both uses of this ability. If the Behemoth is proficient with Shields, they may manifest one in the place of another piece of equipment and gain the benefit listed under Natural Armor. Ex; a Behemoth Fighter may manifest a Greatsword (Bladed forelimbs), a Spine Tail (Javelin) and Wicked Fangs (Warpick), or Razor Claws (Longsword) and a Hardened Crest (Shield) as examples. If you create a Thrown weapon such as a Javelin, you are assumed to have virtually unlimited numbers of them as your body produces additional spines, spikes, teeth, or whatever you are flavoring your ranged attack as

Natural Armor. A Behemoth’s natural armor class depends on their proficiencies and can be changed at the end of a Long Rest. This represents scales, toughened hide, padded fur, chitinous growths, etcetera.
- Light Armor: 12+Dex
- Medium: 14+Dex (2 max)
- Heavy: 16 (disadvantage Stealth)
- Shield: +2 AC

Note on attuning to magic items: When a Behemoth Attunes to a magic item, it is absorbed into their body and the ability becomes innate. When attuning to weapons and armor, they gain the option of approximating those specific pieces of equipment

Tyrania’s Leap. A number of times per short rest equal to your proficiency modifier, as an Action, you may leap a distance of up to twice your strength statistic.

Prehensile Tail. a Behemoth’s tail may be used to do things such as Open Doors, Hold Keys, Administer Potions, but may not be used to attack or wield equipment besides approximation via Natural Weapons. Additionally, the Prehensile Tail may be used to utilize Tools that the Behemoth is proficient with.

Arcane Conduit. if a Behemoth has the Spellcasting feature, they may use one of their Natural Weapon approximations to approximate either an Arcane Focus or a Component Pouch. An Arcane Focus takes the form of an obviously mystical approximation; Crystalline horns, glowing orbs along the spine or on the chest, etc.

The Shackling of Tyrania. Behemoths have disadvantage on Saving Throws to resist Restrain or Hold type magical effects

CLASS
Divine Sense. The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the Hallow spell. You can use this feature a number of times equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier. When you finish a long rest, you regain all expended uses.

Lay on Hands. Your blessed touch can heal wounds. You have a pool of healing power that replenishes when you take a long rest. With that pool, you can restore a total number of hit points equal to your paladin level x 5.
As an action, you can touch a creature and draw power from the pool to restore a number of hit points to that creature, up to the maximum amount remaining in your pool.
Alternatively, you can expend 5 hit points from your pool of healing to cure the target of one disease or neutralize one poison affecting it. You can cure multiple diseases and neutralize multiple poisons with a single use of Lay on Hands, expending hit points separately for each one.
This feature has no effect on undead and constructs.

Fighting Style. Starting at 2nd level, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.
- Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

Spellcasting. By 2nd level, you have learned to draw on divine magic through meditation and prayer to cast spells as a cleric does.
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Paladin table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your paladin spells. To cast one of your paladin spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
You prepare the list of paladin spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the paladin spell list. When you do so, choose a number of paladin spells equal to your Charisma modifier + half your paladin level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
For example, if you are a 5th-level paladin, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Charisma of 14, your list of prepared spells can include four spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell Cure Wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or a 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of paladin spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your paladin spells, since their power derives from the strength of your convictions. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a paladin spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Spellcasting Focus. You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your paladin spells.

Divine Smite. Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend, to a maximum of 6d8.

Divine Health. By 3rd level, the divine magic flowing through you makes you immune to disease.

Harness Divine Power. Also at 3rd level, you can expend a use of your Channel Divinity to fuel your spells. As a bonus action, you touch your holy symbol, utter a prayer, and regain one expended spell slot, the level of which can be no higher than half your proficiency bonus (rounded up). The number of times you can use this feature is based on the level you've reached in this class: 3rd level, once; 7th level, twice; and 15th level, thrice. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

SUBCLASS
Tenets of the Ancients. The tenets of the Oath of the Ancients have been preserved for uncounted centuries. This oath emphasizes the principles of good above any concerns of law or chaos. Its four central principles are simple:
- Kindle the Light. Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair.
- Shelter the Light. Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren.
- Preserve Your Own Light. Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can't preserve it in the world.
- Be the Light. Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds.

Channel Divinity. When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:
- Nature's Wrath. You can use your Channel Divinity to invoke primeval forces to ensnare a foe. As an action, you can cause spectral vines to spring up and reach for a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see. The creature must succeed on a Strength or Dexterity saving throw (its choice) or be restrained. While restrained by the vines, the creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, it frees itself and the vines vanish.
- Turn the Faithless. You can use your Channel Divinity to utter ancient words that are painful for fey and fiends to hear. As an action, you present your holy symbol, and each fey or fiend within 30 feet of you that can hear you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage.
A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can't willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can't take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there's nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
If the creature's true form is concealed by an illusion, shapeshifting, or other effect, that form is revealed while it is turned.

BACKGROUND
Why Are You Here? Separated from tribe/kidnapped(?)

Where Are You From? Badlands.

All Eyes on You. Your accent, mannerisms, figures of speech, and perhaps even your appearance all mark you as foreign. Curious glances are directed your way wherever you go, which can be a nuisance, but you also gain the friendly interest of scholars and others intrigued by far-off lands, to say nothing of everyday folk who are eager to hear stories of your homeland.
You can parley this attention into access to people and places you might not otherwise have, for you and your traveling companions. Noble lords, scholars, and merchant princes, to name a few, might be interested in hearing about your distant homeland and people.

FEATS
Athlete. You have undergone extensive physical training to gain the following benefits:
- Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
- When you are prone, standing up uses only 5 feet of your movement.
- Climbing doesn’t cost you extra movement.
- You can make a running long jump or a running high jump after moving only 5 feet on foot, rather than 10 feet.

Edited with extra stat bonus. Hope it's all okay now.

Edit 2 Electric Boogaloo: Fixed weapon slots.

Edit 3 Changed AC and saving throws.

[Fading Memory]

@XxFellsingxX

Woops! Forgot to give the Behemoths ‘+1 to a different stat of choice’. Cheers, happy bonuses.

[Fading Memory]

@XxFellsingxX

- Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

I had to go back and double check, but it appears you didn’t actually choose a shield as one of your two ‘slots’ for gear; on top of that, I noticed you did a greatsword example + a club. The greatsword would take ‘both’ equipment slots; i.E it and nothing else.

If you wished to use a shield, I can remove the Natural Armor reaction so you can freely use Protection as a fighting style, and thus you’d get the normal +2 AC instead.

[XxFellsingxX]

@XxFellsingxX

- Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

I had to go back and double check, but it appears you didn’t actually choose a shield as one of your two ‘slots’ for gear; on top of that, I noticed you did a greatsword example + a club. The greatsword would take ‘both’ equipment slots; i.E it and nothing else.

If you wished to use a shield, I can remove the Natural Armor reaction so you can freely use Protection as a fighting style, and thus you’d get the normal +2 AC instead.

@Fading Memory

Actually, I might change that. Sorry that's my bad ^^; I'll change to shield + club, if that works better.

[Fading Memory]

You could do any weapon you’re proficient with; I’m just making sure you’re specifically wanting a club instead of a mace or morningstar or warhammer or flail, etc.

And would you prefer the shield to be a reaction that becomes better than a normal shield long term, or the normal shield bonus? The Behemoth is a wily thing for me to get into 5e terms due to its beastlike nature and I want you to enjoy the experience.

[XxFellsingxX]

You could do any weapon you’re proficient with; I’m just making sure you’re specifically wanting a club instead of a mace or morningstar or warhammer or flail, etc.

And would you prefer the shield to be a reaction that becomes better than a normal shield long term, or the normal shield bonus? The Behemoth is a wily thing for me to get into 5e terms due to its beastlike nature and I want you to enjoy the experience.

@Fading Memory

Actually, got an idea (bear with me, still newish to 5e):

If I changed my fighting style to Interception instead (when a creature you can see hits a target, other than you, within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 0 damage). You must be wielding a shield or a simple or martial weapon to use this reaction) and be the tail hammer be more like a morningstar, which is a two-handed weapon so would take up both 'slots' and kept the shield as a reaction, would that work better?