Banette (5e Race)
Banette
| “ | "I can feel my grudge building..." | ” |
| —Banette, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team | ||
Physical Description
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| A banette Source |
Dark-gray, doll-like creatures, banettes have long, flat arms ending in three digits and short, stumpy legs. Its head has 3 spikes, a zigzagging ribbon trailing down the back and pinkish/purplish eyes with slits for pupils. Its mouth looks like a zipper which it uses to store its life energy. Lastly, it has a yellow tail resembling a brush.
Some banettes have gray-bluish, tealish skin and lighter eyes. While it is unknown why this is the case, it is believed that these banettes are either much older or their grudges are much, much stronger than their gray skinned brethren and the coloration is indicative of this in some way. However, these hypotheses are unconfirmed.
History
Banettes, and their shuppet youth, were first discovered in the burial sites and garbage dumps of Hoenn. Some banettes were even discovered in ancient ruins, such as the massive Sky Pillar. However, these creatures can be found in most other regions, sometimes seeking refuge in abandoned buildings.
Shuppets are small creatures that look like an animated dark cloth with a round head adorned with a horn-like protrusion, almost resembling hand puppets or stereotypical white sheet ghosts. Though there origins are unknown, they behave similarly to flumphs in that they feed off the negative thoughts and emotions of people. Because of this, some people are grateful for their presence. Since shuppet tend to gather and hide near places where people with strong, negative emotions are, the proverb "Shun the house where Shuppet gather in the growing dusk" is often spoken among the Alolan people.
Like flumphs, shuppets, who are usually neutral or even sometimes good aligned, can become affected by all the negative thoughts they consume. This is what causes them to grow into a banette, but this is only one way a banette can be created. Sometimes evil shuppet will possess a stuffed doll, and the hatred it has consumed transform the doll into a banette. Because of this, some have theorized that banettes are born from dolls that were abandoned by their owners, and feelings of abandonment and betrayal cursed the doll, resulting in it taking on a new, horrific form. Both may very well be the case, since banettes, regardless of how they are created, hold a grudge against the child that once owned it, even if it had never even seen that child before as a shuppet.
Banettes can lay curses on other and will even go so far as to stick themselves with needles and sharp objects in an attempt to inflict pain on those that earn its ire, leading some to believe that banettes might actually have a much darker origin as voodoo dolls.
Society
Banettes usually don't have much of a society, but they get along well with other ghosts and will often live peacefully with them. Though they are vengeful creatures, some banette get along with almost anyone and are even known to go on adventures with non-ghost types. However, their mind is always on seeing their grudge to the end, and often times evil banette will venture with other creatures if it means getting closer to the target of its grudge.
It is actually possible for a banette to forgive the child it holds a grudge against. If the child can appease the banette and convince it that it is sorry for abandoning it, the banette may revert back into the doll it once was and become an inanimate object. Sometimes, however, even if it is appeased, it will remain as a banette more often than not in order to befriend and protect the child it once hated.
Banette Names
Banette usually keep the names they were given if the people who owned them when they were dolls gave them one. If their owner never gave them a name, they will choose a name in Deep Speech which is usually based on the doll they came from.
Banette Traits
Cursed dolls who seek revenge against the ones who threw them away.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity, Intelligence and Charisma scores each increase by 1.
Age. Since banettes are spirits, it is only thought that they are immortal.
Alignment. Banettes, given that they are beings born of grudges and other negative emotions, are usually evil aligned.
Size. Banettes stand at a little above 3 and a half feet tall. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Superior Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120 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 gray.
Ghostly Doll. Your creature type is considered to be both aberration and construct.
Insomniac Plush. Even though you were constructed, you are a living creature. You are immune to diseases. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can ingest food and drink if you wish. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.
Frisk. You are proficient in the Investigation skill.
Shadow Ball. As an action, choose a creature within 30 feet of you. That creature must make a Dexterity saving throw as you throw a ball of negative energy at them. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 psychic damage on a failed save and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d8 at 6th level, 4d8 at 11th level, and 5d8 at 16th level. After you use Shadow Ball, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Hex. You can cast the hex spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
Cursed Body. You are vulnerable to radiant damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Deep Speech and one other language of your choice.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3′ 7″ | +1d4 | 27 lb. | × (1d4) lb. |
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*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
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