Possessed

The “Possessed” are an unusual and esoteric ‘lineage’ arising from the unintended fusion of ghosts, spirits, or phantoms with mortal beings. These undead entities, motivated by unfinished duties or the pursuit of justice, unwittingly bind themselves permanently to unsuspecting individuals, giving rise to a being forever bridging the mortal and spirit realms.

Physically, the Possessed embody a eurythmic blend of their mortal host and the infused undead essence, resulting in a diverse array of appearances reflecting both mortal features and supernatural elements. Some exhibit radiant eyes, ethereal glows, or subtle alterations to their visage, while others may adopt the behavioral quirks of their bound spirit.

This fusion imbues the Possessed with a profound duality, evident in both their physical form and mental faculties. Their minds become a mosaic of merged memories, emotions, and thoughts, echoing the conflict between the remainder of the host’s mortal life and the eternal desires of the bound spirit. Thus, a new being emerges with a distinct personality and alignment surpassing the sum of its parts.

Notably rare, the Possessed typically arise from hereditary transmission, inheriting their unique undead nature from previous Possessed parents once their life force is unable to support the spirit. This rarity contributes to their mystique and enigma within society, as the fusion phenomenon remains a fortuitous accident from the undead’s perspective.

Within society, reactions to the Possessed range from fear and distrust to fascination and reverence. Some view them as abominations, while others see them as conduits to lost or forgotten knowledge, evoking a blend of curiosity and apprehension.

Ability Score Increase: Choose one of: (a) Choose any +2; choose any other +1 (b) Choose three different +1

Age: Possessed live the average lifespan of the host, while the bound spirit no longer ages.

Size: You are Small or Medium (your choice).

Speed: 30 feet

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.

Race Features

Creature Type. You have two creature types: humanoid and undead. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.

Undead Resilience. Your undead spirit grants you remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You are immune to disease.
• You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Incorporeal Form. Starting at 3rd level, you can use your action to unleash the spiritual energy within yourself, causing your body to take on an ethereal glow. In this form you gain the following benefits:

• You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks.
• You gain a 20 foot fly speed (hover).
• You can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. You take 1d10 force damage if you end your turn inside an object or creature.

Your transformation lasts for 1 minute or until you end it as a bonus action. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.