Homebrew Race: Planestouched

Where aasimar are touched by the celestial plane, planestouched are people who hold a similar spark of the other outer planes, also known as astral dominions, within them. These are different from genasi, which are descended from elemental creatures - instead planestouched have the influence of the outer planes, not just the elemental planes, in their blood and in their genes that don't necessarily show up in all members of their family lineage. Much like the appearance of aasimar they are very rare, and may not show up for multiple generations. Some may have started off as ordinary people but were gifted a spark of the outer planes by a deity or another powerful being. They can look like ordinary people from their race or may have influences of their outer plane within their appearance. Planestouched are not restricted by race, and so can appear as humans, elves, orcs, tabaxi, etc. Because of this, there is no set appearance or markers than denote a typical planestouched, and instead can only be recognised by a demonstration of their abilities. Like aasimar, planestouched people can live up to 500 years, and if born as planestouched, become a fully matured adult at 50.

Playing As A Planestouched Character

When first making a planestouched character you must decide on whether or not they were born planestouched or some event in their life made them planestouched. While this will not affect any racial bonuses it may affect when your character is considered a fully matured adult. If your character became planestouched later in life these racial abilities replace the racial abilities of your original race.

All planestouched can be medium or small sized. They have darkvision up to 60 feet. They know Common and one other language of your choice that best suits the planestouched influence of your character, at your DM's discretion. For example, an abyssal planestouched may know Abyssal, or a fire chaos planestouched may know Ignan.

Planestouched Subtypes

Each planestouched has a subtype, depending on which outer plane has influenced them.

Gloomwrought - Gloomwrought planestouched are influenced by the Shadowfell. They are resistant to necrotic damage, have superior darkvision up to 120 feet and the ability to become invisible for up to one minute (10 rounds) in areas of dim light or darkness. They immediately become visible again upon moving into an area of bright light, and an enemy can use an Investigation action against a contested Stealth check to suss out their location. They may have black eyes, or dark hair that ends in wispy shadow, as an example.

Arcadian - Arcadian planestouched are influenced by the Feywild. They have advantage against spells or effects that cause the charmed condition. At level one they learn the Minor Illusion cantrip. At level three they can cast Charm Person at 1st level once per day without using any components or spell slots. At level five they can cast Counterspell at 3rd level once per day without using any components or spell slots. They may have small satyr-like horns or skin that gently glistens like glitter, as an example.

Abyssal - Abyssal planestouched are influenced by the the Abyss. They are resistant to cold damage and can hold their breath for up to one hour before needing to breathe, which makes them immune to breath-based attacks (E.G Cloudkill, Stinking Cloud, etc) while holding their breath. Once they have held their breath for a total of an hour, they can't do so again until a short or long rest. They may have slightly webbed hands and feet, green or blue tinged skin or tentacle-like hair, as an example.

Zerthadlun - Zerthadlun planestouched are influenced by the Astral Sea. They are resistant to psychic damage and can telepathically communicate with one other sentient creature that share a language with them at a time to a range of 30 feet. They must know the target and have a general idea of where they are standing in order to communicate this way. This telepathy can pass through walls and other structures, but not against structures that are designed to block telepathy or psychic manipulations. They can allow this target to telepathically reply but only for one minute at a time. They can use this telepathy equal to their proficiency bonus. They might have hair that floats around them like it's underwater, glowing eyes or sharp, angular features, as an example.

Chaos - Chaos planestouched are influenced by the Elemental Chaos. They are resistant to their chosen type of element (Fire, cold, lightning or thunder), and have the ability to pass some of their elemental power into their weapons or unarmed strikes equal to their proficiency bonus. The damage die for this ability is 1d10 at 1st level, 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level and 4d10 at 17th level. This ability can be used as part of an attack action. They might take some appearance from their elements, such as fire-like hair, stony or icy skin, static electricity that constantly jumps between their fingers, or a loud, booming voice, as an example.

Chronurgy - Chronurgy planestouched are influenced by the Temporal plane. Once they become a fully matured adult they have the ability to alter their age once per day, but never younger than their original age. They can also bend space-time to protect themselves or others from harm, effectively casting the Shield spell without using any components or spell slots to a range of 30 feet. They can use this ability equal to their proficiency bonus. They might have brassy or metallic coloured hair or skin, or gear shaped pupils, as an example.

Kaorti - Kaorti planestouched are influenced by the Far Realm. As a bonus action they can harden their skin into alien-like chitinous plates, giving themselves natural armour of 13 plus their DEX modifier. They cannot receive this bonus while wearing other armour. While in this chiton form they gain an unarmed claw attack with the finesse property, and the damage die for this ability is 1d6 at 1st level, 2d6 at 5th level, 3d6 at 11th level and 4d6 at 17th level. They can add their STR or DEX modifier to this attack. Also while in their chiton form they gain resistance to piercing and slashing damage. They can use this ability equal to their proficiency modifier, and their chiton form lasts for 10 minutes (100 rounds). They may have horizontal pupils or an extra set of eyes underneath their original eyes (that do not offer any advantage to perception), as an example.

(Source: Wizards of the Coast)