Anomlians are parasitic creatures from a dimension known simply as 'the Void.' In their truest form they are gelatinous purple and black blobs. But they are rarely in this form as they leech from other organisms for sustenance. When Anomlians find a host, they enter their being and override their nervous system, assuming complete control over their mind and body through charismatic force. How these beings escaped to the material plane is unknown. They have no true purpose other than to survive.
Of The Void
The Void is a dimension of pure chaos. Matter is in a constant state of being created and destroyed. It is a desolate landscape of darkness with the geography consisting of blacks and purples. Mountains and hills flow like oceans, gravity is in a constant state of changing direction and intensity, and miniature black holes form randomly across its boundaries. Even the fiercest creatures struggle to survive.
Playing Host
In the material plane, Anomlians prefer to host intelligent humanoids, though that is not always the case. Beyond the Void, Anomlians can only survive for about an hour outside of the atmosphere of a host, lest they dry up and die. Once they find a host, they can not leave them until the host dies due to the way in which they overlap their host's brain. Anomlians assimilate their host's knowledge with their own, building a library of resources not only of their host's world, but also of the host's previous life. Anomlians are likely to abandon the social life of a fresh host in pursuit of their own goals, but sometimes they continue their host's life as if nothing happened.
Anomlian Names
Anomlians are inherently nameless, being born through random surges of energy and creation in the Void. In the material plane, Anomlians will often adopt the original name of their host, or make a new one.
Anomlian Traits
Your Anomlian character has certain characteristics in
common with all other Anomlians
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by
2.
Age. The life expectancy of an Anomlian is largely
unknown. This is because they can only live independently in
the Void, which has a tendency create and destroy
spontaneously. In a vacuum, Anomlians live less than 10
years. However, assuming hosts increases the lifespan of
Anomlians tenfold.
Alignment. The unpredictable nature of the Void often
leads Anomlians to have a chaotic alignment.
Size. Anomlians assume the size of their host creatures.
Speed. Your base walking speed is the same as the host,
30 feet if the host is Medium, 25 if they are Small.
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.
Hosting. As an Anomlian, you assume the mind and body
of an intelligent humanoid. If your host's body were to die, you
would be forced out of their body, as their post-mortem
neurochemicals would begin to spread to your being. If you
were not to find another host within an hour, or half an hour
in extreme conditions, you would also die. In order to
assimilate a new host, you must succeed on a DC 20
Charisma skill check. You can only attempt to assimilate to
any single individual once. While not currently attached to a
host, your Hit Point total is equal to your total number of
class levels. If you are reduced to 0 Hit Points you do not
make death saving throws, you die. While without a host, you
can not speak or conduct any actions beside attempting to
assimilate a new host.
Void Sense. You can sense any creature that also has Void
Sense within 60 feet of you and you know the location of that
creature. You can also communicate telepathically with them
even if they are incapable of speech normally.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and
one other language of your choice.
Subraces. Anomlians gain certain advantages based on
the region of the brain in which their core inhabits: Basis in
the Frontal Lobe, Basis in the Occipital Lobe, and Basis in
the Sensory Motor Cortex.
Basis in the Frontal Lobe
The Frontal Lobe is the region of the brain responsible for
logic, reasoning, and personality.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases
by 1.
Personality Overlap. You are able to perfectly mimic the
personality, speech, and thought process of the individual
which is hosting you.
Divergent Thinking. When performing a skill check which
uses Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, you are able to
make two checks simultaneously. For example, if you are
attempting to persuade an individual to follow you down an
alley, you may make a Charisma (Persuasion) check to
convince them and a Wisdom (Insight) check to see how
anxious they are simultaneously. These skill checks consume
the same amount of time as a single skill check normally
would.
Basis in the Occipital Lobe
The Occipital Lobe is the region of the brain responsible for
vision and perception.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by
1.
Keen Vision. You have advantage on any Wisdom
(Perception) checks reliant on sight.
Visual Overhaul. You are immune to being blinded by nonmagical effects.
Basis in the Sensory Motor Cortex
The Sensory Motor Cortex is the region of the brain
responsible for the motor controls of the body.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Strength score
increases by 1.
Aerobic Efficiency. Your base movement speed becomes
40 feet.
Mind Over Matter. You can ignore the effects of having 1
level of Exhaustion, though you still accumulate Exhaustion
levels normally