D&D 5e Race Features
Ability Score Increase. You add 1 to your Intelligence score. Additionally you gain ability score increases assigned by the sigils you select.
Size. Illumians range from 5 to well over 6 feet tall and tend to have slight builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Illumian, and one extra language of your choice. Illumian is a language only used in special occasions and formal events which often consists sharp consonants, reverberating slurs, and double speak being able to convey long messages in succinct phrases. Mostly it is used in the Cabals, Illumian libraries, Illumians formerly addressing higher Illumians, and the like.
Glyphic Insight: You are proficient in Arcana checks
Born Utterance: It is said that when an Illumian is born in the word it is ushered in by a phrase of creation. As an action you can display a 10 word phrase above your head giving bright light out to 15 feet and dim light out another 15 feet. This phrase is typically in old Illumian but it maybe in any language you know. You can change the phrase or dismiss this as a bonus action. If you should die, regardless of the state of your body, as a reaction you can use this ability over the site of your death. It lasts for 1 minute.
Sigils of the Old Language. As an Illumian your body has detailed birthmarks reminiscent of the language of Truespeech. Though two are more distinct and common among all of the others. You may select 2 of the sigils below gaining their modifications and abilities associated with them.
- Aesh (vigor): Your Strength score is increased by 1. When you would make an attack roll after you would roll but before you know the result you may add a 1d6 to the roll. If it would be successful you add your character level + your strength modifier to the damage (min 2). Once you have used this you must complete a long rest to use it again.
- Hoon (life): Your Constitution score is increased by 1. When you or an ally adjacent to you takes damage you can use your reaction to heal 1d10 + character level + your constitution modifier (min 2) in hit points. Once this is used you must complete a long rest to use it again.
- Krau (magic): Your Intelligence score is increased by 1. You gain a 1st level spell slot, which you can use to cast any 1st level wizard spell you have learned. Use your intelligence for save DC's or attack roll. If the spell has a duration it only lasts 1 minute if it would usually last for more time. Once this is used you must complete a long rest to use it again.
- Naen (mind): Your Wisdom score is increased by 1. After you would roll a mental ability check but before you know the result you may add 1 + your Wisdom modifier (min 2) to the result. Once you have used this you must complete a long rest to use it again.
- Uur (grace): Your Dexterity score is increased by 1. After you would roll a physical ability check but before you know the result you may add 1 + your Dexterity modifier (min 2) to the result. Once you have used this you must complete a long rest to use it again.
- Vaul (soul): Your Charisma score is increased by 1. If you would suffer disadvantage on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw as a reaction you can declare one of the d20 rolls you make to be made with advantage even if it would be normally made at disadvantage as long as it is made by the end of your next turn. Once you have used this you must complete a long rest to use it again.
Creation of Illumians
From Races of Destiny, p. 78, by David Noonan, Eric Cagle, and Aaron Rosenberg [published by Wizards of the Coast]:
The most important event in Illumian history is the founding of the race itself—an event that happened mere centuries ago. Tarmuid was a monk, scholar, and powerful wizard who lived in a far-off island monastery. A natural linguist, he began to notice certain patterns in ancient magic texts he was translating. Over time, Tarmuid discerned a common pattern to how various ancient languages expressed magical concepts. After years of research and experimentation, Tarmuid developed his own language, based on the underpinnings of magical expression. Tarmuid called this language, invented from the bones of long-dead languages, Illumian. As Tarmuid became more adept at speaking Illumian, he noticed that each word he spoke carried residual magical power that infused both the speaker and anyone who heard the words. Tarmuid sought a way to use the language itself to create a vessel that would be receptive to the power within his words. After countless failed experiments, Tarmuid developed the Ritual of Words Made Flesh, a spoken rite that would transform any human who heard it into a creature infused with the power of the Illumian language. Through the ritual, what was once human would become Illumian—the Illumian language in tangible, humanoid form. Tarmuid performed the ritual on himself, becoming the world’s first Illumian. He quickly shared his discovery with the humans living in the monastery, and they too became Illumians. Only after creating several hundred Illumians did Tarmuid begin to worry that the Ritual of Words Made Flesh could be twisted to other purposes, creating less useful transformations or even utterances that would destroy those who heard them.
The inception of Illumians and their language occurred far from Quelmar, but as the centuries passed visitors found their way through the planes to settle among the other races. The largest population of Illumians currently exists within Galik, and they have formed a loose diaspora that covers most of Amusa in one form or another. They occupy the ArchCrystal Tower and contribute greatly to magical study and learning.
Within that sphere of study, the creation of individual Illumians has shifted as well. The potent language of the Words Made Flesh aligns with particularly gifted speakers of it. There are now three methods by which an Illumian may be born:
- One who chooses to become Illumian may undertake the same ritual as Tarmuid did in ages past. They recite the incantation, invite the sacred language within their being, and become forever changed, though largely themselves still.
- Illumians are a natural breeding race, and their offspring are full-blooded Illumian. Cross-breeding with other races has shown the magic in Ilumian blood to be a dominant trait, and more than 3/4 of children born to interracial couples are Illumian.
- The power of the Illumian language can manifest in the very act of speaking it in emotionally charged situations. There are several notable instances of Illumian children forming from the ether itself, as their parent (singular) speaks with their full soul. The child arrives as a baby, the phrase used to create it already glowing above its head. This phrase of creation is the defining characteristic of the new Illumian's soul, and the manifestation of their parent's will shapes much of their personality and growth.