Mummy

Mummies are a type of undead, embalmed in specific rites and bound in cloth wrappings. Their bodies are withered and dry.

Unlike most undead, which are created accidentally or involuntarily, mummies are intentional and are made of willing subjects. Any living humanoid can become a mummy.

Intentional Undead

Mummification is found across the world, with different cultures having their own methods of mummification.

The most well-known and documented examples of creating mummies are typically reserved for the wealthy or nobility.

Although the success rate is not 100%, it’s reliable enough to be considered a normal part of estate planning in certain areas. If the mummification process takes hold, the new mummy continues to operate as they did when living.

There are also examples of self-mummification, typically seen with spiritual or religious individuals. These methods are less common but have a similar level of reliability. The people performing this act typically have to undergo the process in secret and adopt a diet specifically tailored to prepare their bodies for the process. As their body mummifies, they remain alive and conscious but vulnerable to enemies. If they have trained and prepared their body properly, they seamlessly transition into undeath.

The rites to create a mummy are often a carefully guarded secret. While the presence of mummies might be common in certain areas, the methods to create them are not known to the general public.

Remain Covered

A side effect of the mummification process is that a mummy’s skin becomes sensitive to light. Although it doesn’t cause any direct harm, like with vampires, it is unpleasant and uncomfortable. As a result, mummies prefer to keep themselves wrapped or covered as much as possible.

Mummies decorate themselves with extravagant and comfortable clothing, using it as a way to display their status and wealth.

Mortal Mind in Immortal Body

Mummies retain their memories, personality, and most importantly their own soul. Mummification doesn’t impose any additional drives or desires on a person aside from what they already had. They are the same person they were in life, but with an undying body.

Many counselors and psychologists are interested in the mental state of long-lived mummies. Most humanoids have a finite lifespan, and their biology is based around that fact. They’re not meant to live significantly longer than their natural lifespan.

Mummies, however, can live for hundreds of years longer than expected, long enough to see all of their non-mummy friends and loved ones perish. Most people are not used to witnessing the passage of time in this way, and there are concerns about how they process those situations.

At the same time, however, others believe that being untethered from a natural lifespan can usher in new ways of thinking and planning that would be impossible otherwise. After all, decisions that wouldn’t have repercussions until far in the future might still be a concern for a long-lived mummy.

Mummy Traits

You gain the following traits as a mummy.

• Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
• Age. Mummies are of whatever age they were when they died. A mummy does not age any further.
• Size. You size depends on the ancestry you had before you became a mummy. Your size is Small or Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet, regardless of your size.
• Dual 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 Nature (Major Feature). You do not need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Major Features

Choose one of the following major features. You can exchange this major feature for two minor features.

• Cursed Blow. You can bestow a curse on a creature, dealing extra necrotic damage to one target when you deal damage to it with an attack or a spell. The extra necrotic damage equals half your level (rounded up). The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be unable to regain hit points for 1 hour. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. After you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
• Dreadful Glare. As an action, you target one creature you can see within 60 feet. If the target can see you, they must make a Wisdom saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed save, they are frightened of you until the end of your next turn. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, they are paralyzed for the same duration. This ability can’t be used again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Undead Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

Minor Features

Choose two of the following minor features, or four if you didn’t choose a major feature.

• 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.
• Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
• Necromancy Adept. You know the chill touch cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.
• Noble. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks when dealing with someone who is swayed or cowed by those of noble birth or when interacting with other nobles.
• Rites of Resurrection. You have proficiency in the Religion skill.
• Rotting Fist. Your body is filled with necrotic energy, which you can focus into a physical force when making unarmed attacks. If you hit with an unarmed attack, you deal 1d4 necrotic damage instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You can use your Strength or Dexterity modifier when attacking, but you don’t add the modifier to the damage. Your rotting fist is considered to have the Light weapon property.
• Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.
• Undead Energy. You have resistance to necrotic damage.