Aster

Asters are humanoids that dwell primarily on the Astral and Outer Planes. Millennia ago, the asters were thralls of a cosmic empire that spanned worlds and planes known as the phorcysites. The thralls served the phorcysites for ages untold, until a champion arose among them who took the name Aster for themself. Aster led their fellows in rebellion against the phorcysites, eventually winning their freedom. In honor of Aster, the thralls took their name and became the aster. In the centuries since Aster’s time, the aster have split into two cultures, one which travels the Astral Plane, raiding those who travel there and searching the multiverse for any remaining phorcysites, and another who adopted a monastic life, retreating to the outer planes in an attempt to rebuild their culture after millennia of servitude. These two groups of aster do not always agree, especially with regard to how central the continued hunt for any remaining phorcysites should be.

Ancestral Traits

Those of aster ancestry resemble tall, gaunt humans with yellow, green, and brown skin, with a variety of hair colors. Asters tend to have certain traits.

Age. Asters mature at the same rate as humans, but spend much of their time on the Astral and Outer planes, where beings do not age. As such, asters can live indefinitely. If they spend their entire lives on the material plane, however, they would live roughly two hundred years.

Size. Asters are human in size and shape. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base speed is 30 feet.

Psychic Scarring. Asters rose up against their phorcysite masters long ago, but the aster people retain vestiges of that rebellion. The phorcysites themselves were powerful psionic users who used their powers to control their thralls, but Aster developed a talent for resisting these effects, a talent which continues in asters to this day. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and frightened, and you are immune to any effect that would read your thoughts.

Raider Cultural Traits

Aster raiders sail the Astral Sea in magical vessels, the designs for which were stolen from their former masters, the phorcysites, long ago. These communities purport to be in the business of hunting down the last remaining phorcysites, but they end up spending much of their time engaged in multiplanar piracy.

When not raiding, the aster raiders dwell on several islands floating in the Astral Sea. The communities there, as well as on the vessels, are militaristic in structure. These communities allow outsiders, but require that they follow the strict codes of the communities.

Most who grow up in aster raider communities share certain traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score by 1.

Alignment. Aster raider communities have a martial culture and tend strongly toward law.

Military Training. The young in aster raider communities learn the ways of war, so that they might participate in the great hunt and contribute to the raids that support aster raider society. You have proficiency with light armor, medium armor, shields, shortsword, longsword, greatsword, and heavy crossbow.

Languages. You speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Monk Cultural Traits

Aster monks retreated to the Outer Planes and there formed several monastic communities, attempting to rebuild – or create anew – a culture and identity not forged merely as a reaction to the phorcysites. These communities welcome any who wish to study the reflective ways of mindfulness and focus that the aster monks revere. Most who grow up in aster monk communities share certain traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score by 1.

Alignment. Aster monk communities focus on self-discipline over all else and, as such, these communities tend toward law and neutrality.

Aster Monk Psionics. Aster monks are not pacifists, but their communities willfully chose to turn away from the sword and toward self-development. Grasping hold of the gift given to the aster by their namesake, the aster monks developed their innate psionic strengths and now teach their young these techniques. You know the mage hand cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the shield spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast these spells when you finish a long rest. When you cast them, you do not need any components, as you use the innate focus of your mind. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

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