Phoenix Born

Phoenix born descend from the fiery bird of myth, though the details of this origin are unclear. Some loremasters report that the phoenix born once worshipped an elder phoenix as a goddess long ago and, as a reward, she granted them the gift of resembling her majesty. Other scholars speculate that the phoenix born migrated centuries ago from the elemental plane of fire, due to their fiery affinity. No definitive evidence can establish this, though it is the case that there is a phoenix born community in the City of Brass.

Ancestral Traits

Those of phoenix born ancestry resemble humans with a feathery crest on the top and backs of heir heads of red, yellow, and orange feathers. They also have small feathers on the sides of their arms and legs. Finally, their eyes glow like torches in a dark room.

Phoenix born tend to have certain traits.

Age. Phoenix born mature at the same rate as humans but live to be around 150 years old.

Size. Phoenix born are the same size and shape as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base speed is 30 feet.

Fires of Rebirth. Like their forebears the phoenix, phoenix born can die and be reborn in flame, though only rarely. Once, when you die, you can choose to explode in a ball of flame and return to life with 1 hit point. When you do so, a fiery explosion deals 1d10 fire damage to anyone within 15 feet who fails a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. Once you have been reborn in fire in this way, you cannot do so again until you gain a character level. Whether or not you ever are reborn in fire, you have resistance to fire damage.

Illuminated Eyes. Your eyes glow faintly, like a flickering candle. As an action, you can cause your eyes to flare with fiery light, illuminating the area around you with bright light in 10- foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. The light remains for 1 minute, or until you use an action to extinguish it.

Cultural Traits

Phoenix born communities tend to be found in hot terrains like deserts or volcanically active mountainous regions, though they can be found elsewhere too. Wherever they are, they tend to be small enclaves that develop around a family of phoenix folk and their friends and associates. These extended families of choice take their heritage of death and rebirth seriously, most often adopting clerical and cultural traditions that celebrate cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Such communities usually have one or more shrines to deities of rebirth, such as Osiris, Dionysus, or the Green Man.

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

Alignment. Phoenix born communities practice cyclical traditions and revere the harmony of these patterns. As a rule, their communities lean toward law.

Spirit of the Flame. Phoenix born communities value both their fiery heritage and the cycles of life and death. They keep and teach magical traditions that illustrate these commitments as well. You know the produce flame cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the cure wounds spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the scorching ray spell once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

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