Half-Phoenix

In a world of sapient magical beasts of all shapes and sizes, strange romantic pairings occur more often than you’d think. When a consenting adult humanoid and an immortal burning bird engage in a strenuous, complicated and often painful (for the humanoid) mating ritual, the resulting offspring is known as a half-phoenix.

An Ignited Bloodline

Half-Phoenixes are similar in some respects to fire-genasi, having an elemental bloodline, firey hair, glowing ember eyes and rune-like markings. They differ in one major way, half-phoenixes retain a spark of their phoenix parent’s immortality. When a half-phoenix dies they are reincarnated into a new half-phoenix form, sharing some elements of personality, but no memories.

Half-Phoenix Names

Half-Phoenixes in their first incarnation may have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised but may choose to discard them as they come to understand how the nature of their eternal existence will differ from mortals. From one “life” to the next, half-phoenixes can incarnate as either gender or off the spectrum entirely, and so they tend not to dwell too much on gendered names, instead using one that they feel encapsulates their essence.

Half-Phoenix Names: Ayda, Ash, Aura, Blaze, Brim, Cinder, Dawn, Daz, Elem, Ember, Eterna, Fira, Flash, Fury, Igna, Lumis, Pharos, Pire, Raye, Revan, Ryse, Skrank, Sol, Torch, Viva

Half-Phoenix Traits

Your half-phoenix character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part passed down from their elemental progenitor.

Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age: Half-Phoenixes mature at the same rate as their non-phoenix parent and have lifespans similar in length to theirs, however, they reincarnate upon death. Upon death, a reincarnated half-phoenix rises from the ashes at a maturity of a human 6 to 11-year-old.

Alignment: Half-Phoenixes may change drastically over their many lifetimes, but typically embody some form of neutrality.

Size: Half-Phoenixes match their non-phoenix parent in average size and weight. Your size is Medium. A half-phoenix with human parentage's height is 4'8" with a modifier of +2d10, and their weight is 110 lbs. with a modifier of +(height roll) x 2d4.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision: 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.

Fire Resistance You have resistance to fire damage.

Flight: You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Immortal Flame: On death, you combust into a pile of ashes and remain that way for about ten days. While a pile of ashes, any magic that returns a creature to life will resurrect the last iterative persona of the half-phoenix. If 10 days pass and the ashes are protected, a young half-phoenix, about 2d4+3 years in maturity, will burst forth in a gout of flame. This being will have none of the memories of the previous iterative personas, though a Greater Restoration spell cast by an individual who was present for events with previous personas can return 1-hour of memories to the young half-phoenix. If the ashes are scattered, you can not return to life using this feature.

Innate Spellcasting: You know the Produce Flame cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast Heat Metal with this trait. Once you cast it, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, and Ignan.