Planetouched
The Planetouched are not a singular race in the traditional sense. Rather they are the descendants of those who have interbred with extraplanar beings, or those that bear a planar mark. They include the Aasimar, generally associated with the celestial planes, the Tieflings, associated with the lower planes, and the Genasi, who are associated first and foremost with the elemental planes. The Planetouched are rather rare, with perhaps only one in one hundred people being Planetouched, but are scattered throughout almost every community in the known world. As a result, Planetouched people tend to try to assimilate into their host communities, though the results of these attempts depends on the community in question.
Planetouched people are always seen as oddities, and in many cases even as outright monsters, and as a result struggle to blend into common society. Because of their unusual nature, and often strange supernatural powers, the Planetouched are suited much more to a career of adventure than many other peoples. This has however, only fueled certain stereotypes of them, as their seeming inability to settle down, the mercenary attitudes displayed by many Planetouched, and the already existing belief that many (especially Tieflings, and to a lesser extent Genasi) are outright monstrous sees many people belonging to this race cast out of their communities, and kept at arms length by strangers.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Planetouched, much like their mundane parents possess the same basic body type as most other sentient species in Getninia possessing an upright body posture, two legs, two arms, and one head. Planetouched beings generally have hands with tactile fingers and opposable thumbs, and usually don't have opposable toes. They have two ears, a nose, and two eyes on their face. Most Planetouched beings have body, facial, and head hair, though many Planetouched lack some or all of these, with the exact amount of hair largely being dependent on their mundane and extraplanar heritage.
Biological Traits
The exact biology of Planetouched varies significantly depending on their mundane and extraplanar origins:
Aasimar are generally seen as the most "normal" by outsiders to their community. The one notable exception to this is in terms of lifespan where Aasimar generally live to be twice, or three times the age of their strictly mundane counterparts, and aging very differently as well, maintaining peak form for considerably longer than mundane peers. Aasimar generally have the strongest physical resemblance to mundane members of their communities, appearing as nearly perfect specimens of their mundane parents with often idealized features. Their extraplanar nature reveals itself often in a time of great stress with powers manifesting in response to a significant threat. After this point, it is very difficult for an Aasimar to have a normal life, as many will expect greater of them, often forcing them down a path of adventure. Some, who manifest darker powers (or those that develop those darker powers later in life) are shunned as monsters.
Tieflings, associated with the lower planes, and often possessing more obvious, and seemingly monstrous traits makes them much more obviously not of strictly mundane origin. Tieflings typically live as long as a mundane member of their species or perhaps a little longer. Tieflings often have strange skin tones, including red, purple, dark gray, or rarely blue. They also generally have apparent features such as a tail (that can, on occasion be tactile), and horns (which take a number of shapes including typical "fiendish" horns, or antlers in a wide variety of shapes and patterns. They otherwise have roughly normal proportions for their mundane heritage. They also tend to have flashier powers that manifest themselves at a young age. Their obviously otherworldly nature often sees Tieflings stereotyped as monsters, or at least blatantly otherworldly, though in other societies they are seen as divine ordained fiend hunters, great heroes, or just like anybody else.
Genasi are those of elemental planar origins, often having their blood mixed with Djinn. Genasi tend to be unusually hardy in comparison to most other members of their mundane race, typically living one and a half or twice as many years as their mundane counterparts. Genasi themselves are quite varied in appearance, though with some similarities based on planar origin is perpetually blown by an unfelt wind. Those marked by the plane of air typically have blue-grey, or light blue skin, and light blue hair, those with stronger marks will have pupilless eyes and hair that constantly blows as if in a strong wind. Those who are associated with the plane fire have reddish or orange skin. In rare cases they lack body hair, and their head hair takes the form of cool fire. Genasi associated with the plane of earth are unusually bulky, and have metalic skin, and often completely lack body hair. Genasi of the plane of water have blue, or blue-green skin, and dark or blue hair. Many have hair flows like water, or in rare cases being water itself. They universally manifest their powers at a young age. Often Genasi are seen as monstrous, though not to quite the same extent as Tieflings are.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Due to their nature as outsiders, Planetouched people are rarely welcomed into organizations deemed to be a part of "polite society", with the possible exception of Aasimar. There are few exceptions to this, many nobles in Aeilla for example, explicitly try to have Planetouched children in an effort to mingle their blood with the "divine" and strengthen their claims to rulership, a practice occasionally mimicked in societies that were heavily influenced by Aeillans. In other, more accepting societies such persons are regarded as generally normal people, and go about their relatively mundane lives. A universal certainty however is that there has never been a Planetouched state, and only in a handful of societies are Planetouched persons is there access to political power for them barring unusual circumstances. Most Planetouched take up the dominant faith in their home community, though are signficantly more likely to adopt another than their mundane peers. The unique abilities of Planetouched people does see more than a few mercenary groups who welcome the Planetouched with open arms much more so than other elements of society. Martial orders, and select religious fraternities too accept the Planetouched, and indeed for many individuals with extraplanar heritage, this is the most effective route to obtaining some amount of status and power in more hostile societies.
DnD (5e) Traits
For Aasimar
- Medium or Small size
- Base walking speed of 30 feet
- Proficiency with Common, Celestial, Abyssal, or Infernal, and one additional language
- 60 ft. darkvision
- Resistance to celestial and radiant damage
- Learn the Light cantrip
- +2 to Charisma, +1 to one other ability score
Radiant Soul: Triggered as an action. Gain a flying speed of 30 ft.. Once per round deal extra radiant damage equal to your level to a single target. Lasts one minute. One use per Long Rest.
Radiant Consumption: Triggered as an action. Shed bright light 10 ft., and dim light another 10ft.. At the start of each turn, deal radiant damage to yourself and all creatures in a 10 ft. radius equal to half your level. Once per round deal extra radiant damage equal to your level to a single target. Lasts one minute. One use per Long Rest.
Necrotic Shroud: Triggered as an action. On triggering creatures must wisdom save (DC 8+chamod+prof) or be frightened of you until your next turn. Once per round deal extra necrotic damage equal to your level to a single target. Lasts one minute. One use per Long Rest.
For Tieflings
- Medium or Small size
- Base walking speed of 30 feet
- Proficiency with Common Celestial, Abyssal, or Infernal, and one additional language
- 60 ft. darkvision
- Resistance to fire damage
- +2 to Charisma, +1 to one other ability score
Infernal Legacy: Learn the Thaumaturgy cantrip, can cast Hellish Rebuke (as a 2nd level, at 3rd level), and Darkness (at 5th level) once per long rest.
Devil's Tongue: Learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip, can cast Charm Person (as a 2nd level, at 3rd level), and Enthrall (at 5th level) once per long rest.
Hellfire: Learn the Thaumaturgy cantrip, can cast Burning Hands (as a 2nd level, at 3rd level), and Darkness (at 5th level) once per long rest.
Winged Tiefling: Gain a 30 ft. flying speed if you are not wearing heavy armor.
Genasi
- Medium or Small size
- Base walking speed of 30 feet
- Proficiency with Common, Primordial, and one additional language
- +2 to Constitution, +1 to one other ability score
Air: Can hold breath indefinitely if not incapacitated. Can cast Levitate one per long rest.
Earth: No movement penalty for difficult terrain made of earth. Can cast Pass without Trace one per long rest.
Fire: 60 ft. Darvkision. Resistance to fire damage. Learn the Produce Flame cantrip, can cast Burning Hands (at 3rd level) once per long rest.
Water: Resistant to acid damage. Can breathe underwater. 30 ft. swimming speed. Learn the Shape Water cantrip, can cast Create or Destroy Water (at 3rd level) once per long rest.
Planetouched Racial Feats
- Celestial Alignment (Aasimar)
- Greater Celestial Alignment (Aasimar)
- Celestial Ascencion (Aasimar)
- Elemental Strike (Genasi)
- Greater Genasi (Genasi)
- Flames of Phlegethos (Tiefling)
- Infernal Constitution (Tiefling)
