Wraithborn

The Wraithborn are ethereal, otherworldly beings tied to the plane of death and the Silent Grave.

They exist between the worlds of the living and the dead, embodying the power of the divine and the spiritual realm.

They are deeply connected to the ethereal plane, but through practice and power, they can manifest more fully into the material realm.

As they grow in strength, they become less ethereal and closer to their mortal forms, though they never fully return to the living.

Wraithborn Traits:

• Ability Score Increase:
  Your Constitution score increases by +2, and your Wisdom score increases by +1.
  (These increases represent your connection to both the ethereal plane and your spiritual essence.)
• Age:
  Wraithborn do not age physically, but they carry the weight of time through their memories and experiences. Most Wraithborn have lived for centuries before they are "reborn" into their undead forms.
• Alignment:
  Wraithborn are generally neutral, with alignment influenced by their experiences in life and the guidance of their spiritual beliefs. They tend to have a deep connection to balance, death, and the preservation of the cycle of life and death.
• Size:
  Wraithborn retain the size and build they had in life. Most Wraithborn are Medium size, though some can be more imposing in stature.
• Speed:
  Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision:
  Due to your undead nature and partial connection to the ethereal plane, you have darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, and in darkness as though it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Ethereal Presence:
  You are partially connected to the Ethereal Plane. As a bonus action, you can become partially ethereal for 1 minute. While in this form:
• You have resistance to necrotic and radiant damage.
• You can pass through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain (but not through walls).
• You are incorporeal, meaning you can’t interact with physical objects or creatures unless they are also incorporeal.
• Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
• At level 10, you can use this ability as a reaction when you are hit by an attack, reducing the damage by half.
• Undead Nature:
  You are considered undead for all purposes. You do not require food, drink, or sleep, though you must still take long rests. You are immune to diseases and have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned. You also don’t need to breathe. You are immune to exhaustion and do not suffer from the normal effects of aging.
• Wraithborn Memory:
  You retain the memories and knowledge from your life. This gives you proficiency in two skills or tools of your choice that you had proficiency in during your mortal life.
• Grasp of the Grave:
  As an action, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet. On a hit, the target takes 2d6 necrotic damage, and you regain hit points equal to half the damage dealt. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.
• Necrotic Resistance:
  You have resistance to necrotic damage. The ethereal nature of your body makes you less vulnerable to the forces of decay and corruption.
• Languages:
  You can speak, read, and write Common and Soul Speak.

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Wraithborn Transformation (At 20th Level)

When a Wraithborn reaches 20th level, they gain the ability to fully control their ethereal nature and may choose to manifest as a true living being or remain in their undead, ethereal form.

This transformation allows the Wraithborn to blend their previous mortal life with their undead existence.

• Living Form:
• When in their living form, the Wraithborn appears as a fully fleshed, living version of themselves, though they retain subtle traces of their undead nature (faint glowing eyes, ethereal aura, etc.).
• In this form, they regain their previous mortal needs—such as needing to eat, sleep, and breathe—but retain the physical strength of their Wraithborn form.
• Their hit points and Constitution score are increased as if they were alive again, although they still lack aging or the need for natural sleep.
• You regain your maximum hit points every long rest, like a living creature, and have advantage on saving throws against death effects.
• Undead Ethereal Form:
• As an undead ethereal form, you maintain all the traits of a Wraithborn, including their ethereal abilities.
• You do not need to eat, drink, or breathe, and are immune to aging. You are a being of death, with all the abilities of your undead nature.
• Your resistance to necrotic and radiant damage is enhanced, granting full immunity to necrotic damage while in this form.
• Your Ethereal Presence becomes constant, and you no longer require a long rest to use it.

You may switch between these forms as a bonus action on your turn, and you may remain in either form for as long as you wish.

However, once you switch to one form, it takes a short rest to change back to the other.

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Wraithborn Subraces

The Wraithborn can be divided into subraces depending on their origin or their connection to the divine and the ethereal. These subraces reflect the nature of their bond to the material and ethereal planes.

1. Wraithborn Guardians
   Wraithborn who were transformed into sentinels or protectors of important locations or individuals, often imbued with a strong sense of duty.
2. Ability Score Increase: Your Strength or Dexterity score increases by +1.
3. Guardian's Ward: You can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on an attack roll against a creature within 5 feet of you.
4. Combat Instincts: You gain proficiency with light armor or heavy armor and one weapon of your choice.
5. Wraithborn Scholars
   Scholars, keepers of knowledge, and researchers who retain vast lore about the worlds of the living and the dead.
6. Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence or Wisdom score increases by +1.
7. Scholarly Wisdom: You gain proficiency in two tools or one additional language of your choice.
8. Arcane Insights: You can cast Detect Magic at will, without expending a spell slot.
9. Wraithborn Sentinels
   These Wraithborn are powerful entities who serve as agents of their divine patrons, enforcing divine will and balance.
10. Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma or Wisdom score increases by +1.
11. Divine Resistance: You gain resistance to radiant damage.
12. Aura of Divinity: You can use your action to activate an aura of protection for 1 minute. While active, you and all allies within 10 feet gain temporary hit points equal to your Wraithborn level at the start of each of your turns.