Crystalloids
As a mineral-based lifeform, the Crystalloids have a different perspective on life, culture, and religion. For one, there are no genders in their society since Crystalloids are born from the Earth and are carefully assembled by performing the rites of nativity on their home plane . They also do not feed as their body is composed of reflections of arcane energies housed in their crystalline minds. Last but not least, they can tinker with their bodies, changing forms in a process known as the crystallization of one’s will.
This strange life form did not come with their stone bodies that housed these crystals. It was the Estalar during their visit, that discovered, thanks to their telepathic abilities, that the crystals that sprung from the planet had a mind of their own. By crafting humanoid bodies to house these thinking crystals, the Estalar were able to share information and knowledge with the nascent crystals. The Crystalloids, once created, marveled at the manner the Estalar were able to move and walk around Cralast , wishing to do the same.
Being attuned with energies that can be housed in magical precious stones, the Crystalloids have a long legacy of arcane studies that rivaled Estalaria itself. It was the collaboration between these two peoples that allowed for Light Spheres to be properly optimized for sailing the stars. The Academy of Deep Study still houses ancient memories of this and many other collaborations with the Estalar.
Crystal Heritage
Born from Cralast’s mineral reserves, the Crystalloid see themselves as the scions of the Quasi Elemental Plane of Minerals as if they share a heritage with the soil itself. As such, society is built in harmony with the minerals, tending to the land to produce as many precious gems as possible.
The crystals that house a Crystalloid mind are spread across the planet and, throughout a year, ceremonies of the nativity are produced across the Crystalline Cave System, in which bodies are built from rock and stone to house the will of the crystal about to be born.
Lesser crystals have wills, but not intelligence. These are separated and tended for another ceremony, the crystallization of one’s will. This ceremony places one of the selected wills into an already assembled Crystalloid, which absorbs that will and enhances their body and energies, adding it to their chorus and changing their personality to match the new will. This does not act as a replacement, but more of a fusion of wills, a calibration of the already existing ego. This particular ceremony is done when a Crystalloid assumes a new function in society as part of their personal growth.
The Crystalloids’ appearance changes to match these functions, their already sculpted bodies react to the crystal energies to be shaped to better serve the new functions they acquired, with students becoming smaller and slender, while guardians or soldiers becoming taller and larger.
- Ability Score Increase. The most recent Crystallization of one’s will (see in this ancestry option entry below) dictates which ability score is increased.
- Age. The Crystalloids can, in theory, live forever, but many choose to shatter after around one thousand years, each splinter containing an important memory that is then housed in the Academy of Deep Study to guide a new generation.
- Alignment. The closeness to Cralast and its nature squares the Crystalloid straight into Neutral, with Lawful and Chaotic tendencies being up to each individual. A Crystalloid that houses a void-corrupted crystal inside their will is always evil.
- Size. Crystalloids usually range between 3 and 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Precious Stone Heritage. The original precious stone that was used in the nativity ceremony is spliced with splinters from older, shattered Crystalloids that shared a crystal type and, thus, a function to the newborn Crystalloid. Depending of which crystal your character was born in, they are proficient with a certain skill in the following manner:
- Agate. Born out of a physical will to move and use a body, you receive splinters of guardians and warriors. You are proficient in Athletics.
- Carnelian. You were born to appreciate the simple things in life. In your splinters, there are loves and passions from those before you. These memories compel you to share that love around. You are proficient in Performance.
- Epidote. You are the rebirth of a broken Crystalloid. The Epidote wraps the splinters, giving a new beginning with new memories to you. You are proficient in Medicine.
- Selenite. Research and knowledge are part of your own will, your own mind. The Selenite splinter is often added in crystals that hold memories to facilitate that connection. You are proficient in Arcana.
- Crystallization of one’s will. The Crystalloids see their original will and mind as the starting point of their journey, not the destination. As they grow older, they go through the ritual of the Crystallization of one’s will to add a different perspective and a boost to whatever aims or goals they seek in their society. When you create a Crystalloid, choose a starting Crystallization - This may be the original crystal that your character was born as (and if so, it shares the same precious gem as their Precious Stone Heritage) or they went through the process at some point of their background story (and thus can be any of the options below). At any point in the game, you may perform a 5 hour ritual to switch to any other precious stone listed here, as long as you consome the precious stone as part of this ritual. You retain your memories, but your body and crystal color change to match the new crystallization:
- Agate. Your body is as big as your desire to protect others. Increase your Strength by 2, and you may select a martial weapon to be proficient in.
- Carnelian. Your body is thin and elegant, just as the dream of love you have every night you sleep. Increase your Charisma by 2, and you know one cantrip of your choice from the bard spell list. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.
- Epidote. Your body is wide and warm, as a promise of recovery. Increase your Wisdom by 2, and you know one cantrip of your choice from the cleric spell list. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
- Selenite. Your body is tall and broad shouldered, a match for your deep desire for knowledge. Increase your Intelligence by 2, and you know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
- Rock hard body. You have resistance to Slashing and Piercing damage but you also have vulnerability to bludgeoning damage.
- Mineral born. You do not have to eat, drink, or sleep. You can still feel the effects of exhaustion by any other means.
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.
History
Being born on the Quasi Elemental Plane of Minerals, with help from the mysterious Estalar, the Crystalloids are an ancient race, and have an alien viewpoint on will and appearances to almost any race. This in turn has led them to becoming great smiths and artisans, although their work is rarely seen on Amyriad’s Material Plane.
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