Phoenixborn
"Like a phoenix from the ashes, they may defeat you, burn you, insult you, injure you, and abandon you. But they will not, shall not, and cannot destroy you. For you, like Rome, were built on ashes, and you, like a phoenix, know how to resurrect."
—Nikita Gill.
History
Phoenixborns are a race of graceful humanoids that descend from the great phoenixes that inhabited the Four Layers of Elysium. There is no sure way to know that the last phoenix has been taken from the realms, but it has been many centuries since one was seen. Phoenixborns are, therefore, the closest thing that we now have to these glorious creatures of myth and folklore.
Appearance
Beautiful and graceful, phoenixborn children resemble the race of their non-phoenix lineage almost exactly. They do, however, have a few key differences. Long, graceful limbs, even for those less nimble races, are common. Red eyes and hair are also extremely common among phoenixborns, although it is not uncommon that they should dye their hair, as not to attract such attention to themselves.
Of course, the main difference between the race the phoenixborn may have been born into and themselves is the pair of wings. Gold or red, or any mix of the two, they are the main physical feature passed down by their fiery ancestors, and they are also the reason that phoenixborns, in their purest form, are so rare.
Parents of phoenixborns often cut off their children’s wings when they are infants, both to protect their lives, and, perhaps more likely, to make exorbitant amounts of gold.
For it is their wings that make phoenixborns so very rare. The ancient phoenixes were hunted for their healing abilities and the beautiful feathers that they possessed. So too, are the phoenixborns.
Phoenixborn Names
Phoenixborns share a naming pattern with the race they were born into. Sometimes the names are more fire-themed, but more often than not, phoenixborn names are no different than any other member of their race.
Phoenixborn Traits
Your Phoenixborn character has the following racial traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. A phoenixborn reaches maturity in their late teens and may live as many years as they like, before they chose to die, or are killed.
Alignment. Phoenixborns tend to be Chaotic Good.
Size. Phoenixborns vary in size based on the race that the phoenix blood has been mixed with.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a flying speed of 15 feet.
Languages. You speak common, primordial, and sylvan
Born to Return
Once you die outright, your soul is destroyed. The spells raise dead, reincarnate, resurrection, revivify, and true resurrection, have no effect on you.
Primordial Flame
You are resistant to fire damage.
Self-Sacrifice
You can, at any time, choose to die. This will completely kill you, and you cannot use From the Ashes to reincarnate.
If you use this ability, flames erupt from your exploding body in a 20ft radius. Each creature in that area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 20d12 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
From The Ashes
Your reincarnation abilities are weakened, but still very effective. If you are killed, you can choose to bring yourself back up to 1 hit point. You can use this ability a number of times per week equal to half your proficiency bonus. This ability has no effect if your body has been completely destroyed. (Under an effect such as that of the disintegrate spell).
However valuable it may be, using this ability comes with a price. Roll a d10 to determine the consequences of letting yourself die. The effects of this roll last a week, unless they are removed with the wish spell.
If you die multiple times, the negative effects stack; however, you cannot roll the same negative effect twice. If you land on an effect that you already have, reroll until you get an effect you have not already landed on.
| d10 | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1 | You become vulnerable to poison damage |
| 2 | Your maximum hitpoints are lowered by 1 of your hit die |
| 3 | Your armour class is lowered by 1 |
| 4 | You become vulnerable to piercing damage |
| 5 | Your constitution is lowered by 1 |
| 6 | Your strength is lowered by 1 |
| 7 | You have disadvantage on initiative rolls |
| 8 | Your wisdom is lowered by 1 |
| 9 | Your movement speed is lowered by 10 feet |
| 10 | You become vulnerable to acid damage |