<img src='https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/011/200/896/large/lily-abdullina-umbra-web.jpg?1528339707' class='image-location-top-right-bottom-left'> \pagebreakNum ## Crystalborne *As I trudged on, hurt, helpless, alone, hunted by a band of bandits, I found momentary asylum from the cold, stinging rain within a cave. I walked on, losing sense of direction in its darkness; the howls of hounds pierced the silence like arrows flying through the air. A glow. A faint glow broke through the darkness, growing brighter and more brilliant as I moved closer. I reached its source; the air here surged with an unknown power, like ionized air during a harsh thunderstorm. Crystals protruded from the walls, some loose on the ground. My hand moved on its own towards one of the crystals on the ground, like a magnet to metal. As I grasped the crystal, energy surged through my arm and into my body, momentarily losing consciousness. When I came to, the crystal was fused within my palm, and I felt its power coursing through me. As the howls drew nearer, I stood, despair replaced with valor.* *— Zar'iel Kieran, Rebirth* The crystalborne are a recently discovered breed of humanoids, having features exclusive to other races while being a separate race of its own. A crystalborne is easily identifiable by the crystal infused with their body. ### Planar Origin Because crystalborne are a race that have been unheard of until recently, it is unknown who the first crystalborne was. Studies conducted by wizards and sages have speculated that these crystals are not of the Material Plane, instead containing arcane energy of different planes. Because of this, they have been given the name "Planar Crystals". ### Multi-Racial Traits Planar Crystals do not fuse exclusively with one race. Because of this, you can come across crystalborne of various sizes and characteristics from their original race. However, creatures lose the features offered by their race of origin. ### Crystal Fusion The true nature of Planar Crystals still remain foreign. However, experiments have revealed that not all creatures are capable of initiating a fusion with a Planar Crystal. Theories suggest that Planar Crystals have a state of consciousness high enough to be capable of "choosing" their hosts. ### Crystalborne Names Crystalborne carry on the name given to them by their original race before fusing with a Planar Crystal. However, some choose to reject their old name and adopt a new name. \columnbreak ### Subrace So far, four main subraces of Crystalborne have been discovered: red crystalborne, blue crystalborne, green crystalborne, and clear crystalborne. There have been rumors of a fifth crystalborne subrace: black crystalborne, and further research may uncover even more subraces. ### Crystalborne Traits Your crystalborne character has an assortment of abilities, given to you by the Planar Crystal fused with you. ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 2. ***Age*** Crystalborne age diffrently, depending on what their race was before. However, fusion with a Planar Crystal increases the lifespan of a creature by 15 years. ***Alignment*** Alignment among crystalborne are varied and are not particularly drawn to a specific alignment, ranging from lawful good to chaotic evil. ***Size*** Because any humanoid creature could become a crystalborne, their size and build are vast. Your size is Medium. Work with your DM if you want to play a crystalborne from a smaller race. ***Speed*** Regardless of your previous race, all crystalborne have a base walking speed of 30 feet. ***Darkvision*** Your Planar Crystal grants you the ability to see in dark and dim light conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 ft 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. ***Innate Focus*** You can select your Planar Crystal as an arcane focus for spellcasting. ***Gemstone Resilience*** Fusion with a Planar Crystal hardens your skin against damage. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor. ***Languages*** You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants. ### Red Crystalborne Red Crystalborne are fused with Planar Crystals hailing from the Elemental Plane of Fire. They have a slight red pigmentation and are capable of shrugging off fire. These are the most feared, capable of defeating their foes with fiery might. ***Ability Score Increase*** Your Charisma score increases by 1. ***Fiery Resistance*** You have resistance to fire damage. \pagebreakNum ***Cinder Blast*** As an action, you channel the power within your Planar Crystal, releasing it as a ball of fire at a point within 60 ft of you. The ball explodes, and each creature in a 10-ft radius has to make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 2d8 fire damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The effort of summoning the raw power of the crystal drains you, and you take one point of exhaustion. After you use your cinder blast, you can't use it again until you complete a long rest. ### Blue Crystalborne Planar Crystals from the Elemental Plane of Water tend to fuse with hosts who are calm, collected, and patient. They are exceptionally sturdy, relying on strategy unlike their red counterparts. Blue crystalborne have a blue tint in their skin and their skin is cool to the touch, like an ocean at night. ***Ability Score Increase*** Your Intelligence score increases by 1. ***Underwater Mobility*** You have a swimming speed of 30 ft. ***Conduit of Water*** You know the shape water cantrip . When you reach 3rd-level, you can cast the armor of agathys spell at 2nd-level once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way again when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell. ### Green Crystalborne The power of the Elemental Plane of Earth swirls around the Planar Crystals of green crystalborne. Wise individuals, most can be found among druidic circles or aiding adventurers through dangerous forests. Green crystalborne have a greenish or brownish hue in their skin, and no matter how much they bathe, there is always a little bit of dirt on them. ***Ability Score Increase*** Your Wisdom score increases by 1. ***Terra Passage*** You know the mold earth cantrip. You also can walk through difficult terrain made of dirt or stone without spending extra movement. ***Earthen Sonar*** You gain tremorsense up to 10 ft. ### Clear Crystalborne Planar Crystals from the Elemental Plane of Air seek out hosts who wish for freedom and adventure. A clear crystalborne does not like to be tied down and travel with no plan, instead choosing to wing it. Clear crystalborne have a lighter skin tone and their hair is constantly in motion, possibly due to the air swirling in their Planar Crystal. ***Ability Score Increase*** Your Dexterity score increases by 1. ***Arcane Aviation*** As an action, you channel the rushing wind within your crystal, giving you a flying speed of 30 ft for 1 minute. You can do this a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (min 1) and you regain all expended uses when you complete a long rest. ***Tailwind*** You know the gust cantrip. When you reach 3rd-level, as an action, you summon a tailwind, increasing the movement speed of any creature you choose, including yourself, within 30 ft of you by 10 ft. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you complete a long rest. \columnbreak ### Dark Crystalborn Rumors among scholars and sages speak of a fifth crystalborne type, few actually having seen it for themselves. Those who have managed to come into contact with a dark crystalborne reported them having black or dark purple pigmentation. A popular theory suggests that Planar Crystals of this nature became tainted by the fell energy of the Elemental Plane of Shadow. ***Ability Score Increase*** Your Strength score increases by 1. ***Necrotic Armor*** You have resistance to necrotic damage. ***Fell Wave*** As an action, you unleash the fell energy within your crystal, unleashing a cold wave of darkness centered on you in a 10-ft radius. All creatures caught in the wave take 1d8 necrotic damage and must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature becomes frightened of you for a minute. After you use your fell wave, you can't use it again until you complete a long rest. > ##### Art Credit > Lily Abdullina (Artstation)