Etherean

The Ethereans are a mysterious, humanoid species native to the Ethereal Plane, a realm of mist, echoes, and the space-between. Born of veiled matter and ambient Spirit, Ethereans exist in a liminal state, never fully present nor fully absent from reality. Their forms are elegant and haunting—tall, willowy bodies with skin that seems translucent or faintly glowing, their features subtly shifting with emotion like water disturbed by wind. Their eyes, often pale and luminous, reflect the colors of the veil around them, offering no pupils—only a soft, radiant awareness.

Living in harmony with the spiritual tides and metaphysical currents of their realm, Ethereans do not build cities as mortals understand them. Instead, they dwell in semi-solid structures formed of tethered memory, crystallized thought, and ambient soulstuff. These ephemeral sanctuaries drift through the plane, visible only to those attuned to the Ethereal’s frequency. Their societies are shaped by quiet hierarchy and introspective discipline, with leaders known as Veilshapers who possess deep understanding of planar flow, spirit negotiation, and dimensional lore.

Ethereans are natural travelers between planes, slipping into the Border Ethereal to observe or interact with the Material Plane. Many serve as silent watchers, spiritual mediators, or memory-keepers for otherworldly events. Their connection to the Spirit Realm is profound, and they are often found walking alongside ghosts, soothing them with whispered rituals or guiding them toward rest. Some Ethereans act as messengers of the World Tree, bearing truths and warnings from far-flung corners of existence.

They value perception over possession, thought over action, and memory over material. An Etherean’s name is often not a word but a tone, an emotional chord felt rather than spoken. Their rituals are strange to outsiders—performed in silence, rhythm, or stillness, each one aligning themselves more deeply with the vibrations of the veil. Relationships among Ethereans are subtle, deep connections formed over centuries of shared thought and dream rather than direct speech.

Though not inherently hostile, Ethereans are wary of mortals who pierce the veil without permission. They despise necromancers who bind spirits, mortals who recklessly use teleportation magic, or entities that distort planar boundaries. Those who threaten the delicate balance of planes may find themselves haunted by silent Etherean observers, their presence like breath on the back of the neck, warning before retribution takes shape.

Legends tell of Ethereans who chose to fully enter the Material Plane and never return, becoming ethereal-blooded sorcerers, oracles, or planar monks. Others believe that some Ethereans are dreams yet to be born, echoes of the future who walk backward through time. Whatever their truth, the Ethereans remain one of the Ethereal Plane’s most enigmatic children—always present, always watching, and always just beyond reach.

Geographic Distribution

• Ethereal Cradle
• Ethereal Plane

GSB2

Etherean

HUMANOID

Etherean Traits

Size: Medium (5-7ft)

Speed: 30ft. While on the Ethereal Plane, it increases to 35ft.

As a Etherean, you have these special traits.

Darkvision

Accustomed to the chaotic and often unavoidable lighting of the Border Ethereal, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 gray.

Misty Sight

Your eyes are naturally attuned to the Border Ethereal, allowing you to always see out to your normal range while on the Ethereal Plane.

You can also use a bonus action to focus on seeing the unseen. For 1 minute, or until your concentration ends (as if concentrating on a spell), you can see invisible creatures and objects as if they were visible, and you can see into the Ethereal Plane. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Veil Shift

You can use an action while on the Material Plane to slip into the Ethereal Plane, and vice versa, until the start of your next turn. Any object you take while on this other plane of existence is left there when you return to your original one. While on the Ethereal Plane in this way, you can only affect and be affected by other creatures on that plane, and you still move as if you were on the Material Plane. Creatures that aren’t on the Ethereal Plane can’t perceive you or interact with you while you’re there, unless a special ability or magic has given them the ability to do so, although you can still see and hear them. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.