Awakened Weird (5e Race)
Awakened Weird
"So...I've asked this before, but-"
"Yes, I am fire given human form"
"And does that-"
"Yes, it means I can burn anything I touch, provided it can burn."
"So can I-"
"No, you may not roast marshmallows over my head."
-Callum the Ranger, asking his friend Blaze about his elemental nature...again...for the 20th time.
Physical Description
Awakened weirds look similar to genasi, but with less solid forms. An awakened water weird would look like a water genasi with literal water for hair, an awakened earth weird like an earth genasi but with gems for arms rather than in their arms, and so on.
History
Weirds don't have a history of their own, being so rare, but the history of mages that have attempted to create them is well documented throughout history. Most awakened weirds are experiments by notable mages looking for new spells or rituals, but some are made by mages looking to make themselves known. No one truly knows who first created the awakened weirds, or who created up the spells to do so. Most mages with the knowledge to create awakened weirds believe that the first mage to create them died from a freak accident related to the spell, which created the complexity of the spell's effect as it is known today.
Society
Being so rare, awakened weirds don't have their own societies, and either live away from civilization, with the one who awoke them or hide among the closest city to their awakening. Some stay living with the mages who created them, but most leave either by choice of the mage or by sneaking away
Awakened Weird Names
With a weird being uncommon, and those crazy enough to awaken one especially rare, awakened weirds don't usually have naming conventions of their own. An awakened weird typically takes whatever word they like to be their name, usually referring to their elemental type. Though weirds do not have defined genders, they usually pick up on the concept in order to live within society. "Male" names are usually of more powerful and fierce events or objects, while "female" names are of calmer and gentler objects or events.
Male: Ocean, Boulder, Flame, Storm.
Female: Lake, Dust, Spark, Breeze.
Awakened Weird Traits
Elemental weirds given a humanoid form through extreme magics.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and one ability score of your choice each increase by 1.
Age. Depending on the magic used to create their form, an awakened weird can live in an awakened state for extremely varying times. Some live for months, others have lived for millennia.
Alignment. Being newly awakened, awakened weirds do not understand law or chaos, but they can learn it throughout their lives. Good and evil are simple concepts for them, allowing them to decide between the two how they like.
Size. The magics used to create them leave them with a humanoid form, giving them any build from humans, to elves, to dwarves, etc. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Elemental Demise. If you die, your body disintegrates into a harmless substance suiting your subrace and leaves behind an elemental crystal along with your equipment. For the purpose of spells that would return you to life, the crystal is your body. If you are returned to life from the crystal, roll a d4. On a 1, you are returned to life as a different subrace.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, and Primordial.
Subrace. Choose between water weird, earth weird, air weird, and fire weird
Water Weird
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Amorphous Form. You can pass through an enemy's space as though it were difficult terrain, and can pass through an opening as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing.
Waterborne. You gain a swim speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, you don't need to drink and you can breathe air and water.
Suffocation. On a successful grapple check, as a bonus action you may attempt to suffocate your opponent.
Water Magic. You know the ray of frost cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the ice knife spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Earth Weird
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Earthen Step. You can move across difficult terrain created by earth or stone as though it was normal terrain and do not disturb the ground when you walk.
Earthen Form. You are resistant to nonmagical bludgeoning damage.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet 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 brown.
Earth Magic. You know the magic stone cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the earth tremor spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Air Weird
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Airy Form. You can move through an enemy's space as though it were difficult terrain, and can pass through an opening as narrow as 1 inch across without squeezing.
Unbound Body. You have advantage on Dexterity checks and saves to escape grapples and nonmagical restraints.
Air Magic. You know the thunderclap cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the thunderwave spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and retain the ability to do so after a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the levitate spell once, requiring no material components, and regain the use of this trait after a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Fire Weird
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Flaming Form. You can pass through an enemy's space as though it were difficult terrain, and can pass through an opening as narrow as 1 inch across without squeezing
Hidden Flame. You gain resistance to fire damage.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet 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 red.
Flaming fists. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d4 fire damage.
Fiery Magic. You know the produce flame cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the burning hands spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Water Weirds
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 11″ | +2d12 | 80 lb. | × (2d6) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Earth Weirds
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 11″ | +2d12 | 250 lb. | × (2d10) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Fire Weirds
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 11″ | +2d12 | 20 lb. | × (2d6) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Air Weirds
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 11″ | +2d12 | 10 lb. | × (1d4) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Suggested Characteristics
When creating a awakened weird character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics. With quirks, feel free to substitute in your own ideas relating to the examples given.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | My new life is a little strange. I make the most of it. |
| 2 | I abhor other elementals. They're bound by greed and power. |
| 3 | Why are humans and elves so strange? They all look so similar, yet they're so different. |
| 4 | I love the natural world of the material plane! Much different than the elemental planes. |
| 5 | Who in their right mind would ever befriend me? I'm the strangest of my kind. |
| 6 | Um...I can do a cool party trick. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Power: No one will take power from me. Only I deserve to take power from others. It's why I was made, after all. (Evil) |
| 2 | Charity: Even with my strange upbringing, I still give back whenever possible. It's the least I can do for an amazing gift. (Good) |
| 3 | Order: Despite my...unusual appearances, I still do what I can to uphold order, even with the elemental chaos swirling inside me. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Freedom: No one should live under the rule of another unless they wish to. I work to help others realize the same freedom I have. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Survival: Survival of the fittest. No simpler rule in life, even the elemental immortals realize this. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Creation: Everyone can create, no matter their views on life. Even a strange being like myself. It's...calming. (Any) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | To my creator, wherever the old man is now. May the chaos be calmed in his astral wake. |
| 2 | To those I see as friends. For taking a chance on a strange being such as myself. |
| 3 | My enemies, surprisingly enough, have shown me the true meaning of loyalty and purpose. |
| 4 | Whoever gets in my way. Shows me that I'm going the right way. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm too eager to see what this world has to offer. I am often labeled as reckless for this. |
| 2 | If someone wants to fight, I will fight. Sometimes, I start fights just because I'm bored. |
| 3 | I shy away from fights unless I have to. Often times, I just straight run myself into a corner. |
| 4 | I think everyone secretly hates me, most times to the point of paranoia. |
| 5 | If someone hates me, I hate them with every inch of my being. If someone is kind, I will be a loyal friend to a fault. |
| 6 | Why does everyone think I'm evil just because I'm elemental? It's that question that leads me to isolation. Even among friends. |
| d6 | Quirks |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sometimes your elemental nature can reveal itself more prominently. A little wave of water across your skin, a tiny rock falling from your hair, a puff of smoke from your nose, a random wind whipping your hair gently, etc. |
| 2 | Whenever you are nearby a source of your elemental nature, it tends to motion towards you harmlessly. |
| 3 | Although you don't exactly need to impress humanoids, your base humanoid body is...more "noticeable" |
| 4 | Whenever you use elemental magic, parts of your body harmlessly shift to that element briefly. Even if those elements conflict with your subrace. |
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