Souless
Much like their soul-having kin (see Iosan), soulless are similar to
Humans in build, reaching upward of six feet tall. Physically,
the soulless are similar to the Iosans: willowy yet vigorous.
Soulless generally don’t live as long as their Iosan relatives,
typically no more than 100 years. While rumors persist there
have been soulless that have lived beyond of 200 years, that
has yet to be seen. Soulless are pale like a common Iosan
and may have various shades of hair color, but it is not
uncommon for them to be bald. Tattoos that cover much
of their body are a holdover from their time serving the
Retribution of Scyrah. Since the Sundering, it is unknown if
those traditions have persisted among the soulless. Unlike the
Iosans, all soulless have eyes of pure black that appear as oily
pools of nothingness, yet they see as normal Iosans would.
The typical xenophobia and secret-keeping of the Iosans applies to the soulless as well. However, after the Sundering, these traits seem magnified or heightened.
No one in western Immoren has kept secrets better than the Iosans. They tightly patrol their borders and expel or outright kill any unwanted guests. Thus, little is known of the nation of Ios, much less of their people and ongoing plight. While once a rarity, the soulless are now the majority and one of the darkest secrets kept by the Iosan people. Starting not long after the Rivening and the return of the goddess Scyrah, Iosan births were marred with the unique circumstance of infants born without souls. With the death of the goddess Ayisla, Suzerain of the Fallen, Iosan souls could no longer be reincarnated into a new vessel. The result of which has finally come full circle with the Sundering: the assassination of the remaining Iosan gods, Nyssor and Scyrah. Partnered with their Eldritch allies, the soulless are now the only living Iosans within the nation of Ios. Those coming to the edge of the borders of Ios—or worse, beyond its borders—are likely to find the last things they see are a pair of onyx eyes and a blade edge.
Prior to the Sundering, Iosans were rarely seen outside of their homeland. Soulless, by comparison, are nearly nonexistent outside of Ios. Those that are living abroad are either agents of the Retribution of Scyrahor former agents of the Retribution that never returned home. Since the Sundering, soulless have been seen more and more as they work tasks their Eldritch allies cannot.
The typical xenophobia and secret-keeping of the Iosans applies to the soulless as well. However, after the Sundering, these traits seem magnified or heightened.
A WELL-KEPT SECRET
No one in western Immoren has kept secrets better than the Iosans. They tightly patrol their borders and expel or outright kill any unwanted guests. Thus, little is known of the nation of Ios, much less of their people and ongoing plight. While once a rarity, the soulless are now the majority and one of the darkest secrets kept by the Iosan people. Starting not long after the Rivening and the return of the goddess Scyrah, Iosan births were marred with the unique circumstance of infants born without souls. With the death of the goddess Ayisla, Suzerain of the Fallen, Iosan souls could no longer be reincarnated into a new vessel. The result of which has finally come full circle with the Sundering: the assassination of the remaining Iosan gods, Nyssor and Scyrah. Partnered with their Eldritch allies, the soulless are now the only living Iosans within the nation of Ios. Those coming to the edge of the borders of Ios—or worse, beyond its borders—are likely to find the last things they see are a pair of onyx eyes and a blade edge.
Prior to the Sundering, Iosans were rarely seen outside of their homeland. Soulless, by comparison, are nearly nonexistent outside of Ios. Those that are living abroad are either agents of the Retribution of Scyrahor former agents of the Retribution that never returned home. Since the Sundering, soulless have been seen more and more as they work tasks their Eldritch allies cannot.
Age. Soulless mature around the same age as humans but
live longer. Most soulless will live at least a century, with a
rare few living to around 120 years old.
Alignment. The soulless have always run the gamut of alignments with a tendency toward neutrality, but recent events have shown their truer natures, which lean more toward chaos.
Size. Soulless are similar in height to humans but tend to be leaner. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Arcane Anathema. You can’t cast spells, even if you have taken levels in a class that grants the spellcasting ability. In addition, when you are targeted by a spell, you have advantage on saving throws to resist the spell’s effect. If you are subjected to a spell that allows you to make a saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw and only half damage if you fail. You can use magical weapons as normal.
Darkvision. As with Iosans, the soulless 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.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Martial Society. When you make an attack roll and roll a 1, you can reroll the die but must use the new roll, even if it is another 1.
Skill Versatility. The longer lifespan of soulless gives them the opportunity to master many skills and crafts. You have proficiency with any combination of two other skills or tools of your choice.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Shyr and one other Caen Languages you have picked up in your travels.
Alignment. The soulless have always run the gamut of alignments with a tendency toward neutrality, but recent events have shown their truer natures, which lean more toward chaos.
Size. Soulless are similar in height to humans but tend to be leaner. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Arcane Anathema. You can’t cast spells, even if you have taken levels in a class that grants the spellcasting ability. In addition, when you are targeted by a spell, you have advantage on saving throws to resist the spell’s effect. If you are subjected to a spell that allows you to make a saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw and only half damage if you fail. You can use magical weapons as normal.
Darkvision. As with Iosans, the soulless 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.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Martial Society. When you make an attack roll and roll a 1, you can reroll the die but must use the new roll, even if it is another 1.
Skill Versatility. The longer lifespan of soulless gives them the opportunity to master many skills and crafts. You have proficiency with any combination of two other skills or tools of your choice.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Shyr and one other Caen Languages you have picked up in your travels.
Optional Feat: Arcane Void
A soulless character can choose the following feat instead of one granted by the character’s essence.
Arcane Void
Prerequisite: Character must be soulless.
When a friendly creature within 5 feet of you is targeted by an arcane spell or a divine spell, you can use your reaction to take damage as you shunt the arcane energy into your own body and away from your ally. The allied creature is not affected by the spell. You take damage equal to the level of the spell + the spellcaster’s proficiency bonus. If this damage reduces you to 0 hit points, the caster takes damage equal to the level of the spell + the spellcaster’s proficiency bonus. Once you use this feat, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
WHERE ARE THE NYSS SOULLESS?
For a long time, the Nyss never gave birth to soulless
children; the Sundering completely changed that. With
Nyssor gone, the living Nyss, should they give birth, will
have soulless children. With the majority of their race already
decimated by their corruption at the hands of the dragon,
Ethrunbal (commonly known as Everblight), the Nyss, like
the Iosans, are now truly running out of time before they
are no more.
A soulless character can choose the following feat instead of one granted by the character’s essence.
Arcane Void
Prerequisite: Character must be soulless.
When a friendly creature within 5 feet of you is targeted by an arcane spell or a divine spell, you can use your reaction to take damage as you shunt the arcane energy into your own body and away from your ally. The allied creature is not affected by the spell. You take damage equal to the level of the spell + the spellcaster’s proficiency bonus. If this damage reduces you to 0 hit points, the caster takes damage equal to the level of the spell + the spellcaster’s proficiency bonus. Once you use this feat, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
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