Starshard
Starshards are minor celestial spirits that embody the luminous essence of the sun and stars. Often mistaken and mistrusted as fey entities which seek to lure wayward individuals into traps, these jovial orbs of light instead tend to help any mortals they come across find their way to safety. Excelling at manipulating radiance and resistant to being brought to ground by those that bring them harm, these small spirits can prove to be a formidable foe, but perhaps a compelling companion.
Amiable Orbs. These heavenly beings are friendly, but quickly defensive at the first instance of violence directed toward them. At times they are not at risk, they often collect in small groups to bob and dance under starlit nights. While interacting with mortals they tend to be heard though liltingly musical tones, rather than typical language, though those that speak Celestial or Common find themselves able to understand their meaning nonetheless. These beings are symbiotically energized by playing and communicating with others, harmlessly feeding from the joy that they create.
Brilliant Boons. Occasionally gifted by good-aligned patrons to their petitioners, these radiant motes act as excellent familiars for warlocks who seek to spread the glory of their masters. Those who are provided with these invaluable allies have found great use in their naturally perceptive nature, as well as considerable utility in a starshard's mastery over bending light. A weak gravitational field also surrounds these creatures, allowing them to carry a slight amount of weight within their ambit.
Art Credit
Lemon Sky Studios (The Elder Scrolls: Legends) - https://www.artstation.com/lemonsky
Starshard
Tiny celestial, neutral good
- Armor Class 13
- Hit Points 9 (2d4 + 4)
- Speed 0 ft. fly 40 ft. (hover)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 2 (-4) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 13 (+1)
- Skills Insight +3, Perception +3
- Damage Resistances fire, radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
- Damage Immunities poison
- Condition Immunities poisoned, prone
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
- Languages Celestial, Common
- Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Shapechanger. The starshard can use its action to polymorph into a beast form that resembles a cat (40 ft., climb 30 ft.), an owl (10 ft., fly 60 ft.), or a badger (20 ft., burrow 10 ft.), or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form, except for the speed changes noted. Any equipment it is carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Magic Resistance. The starshard has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Variant: Familiar. The starshard can serve another creature as a familiar, forming a telepathic bond with its willing master. While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the starshard senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. While the starshard is within 10 feet of its master, the master shares the starshard's Magic Resistance trait. At any time and for any reason, the starshard can end its service as a familiar, ending the telepathic bond.
Actions
Glimmer (Bite in Beast Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw, or take 5 (2d4) radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against this target before the end of the starshard's next turn has advantage.
Invisibility. The starshard magically turns invisible until it attacks, or until its concentration ends (as if concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the starshard wears or carries is invisible with it.
