The Mortalis

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The Mortalis were crafted by the goddess Elyra, who wished to create beings that could embody the essence of free will and creativity in protest to Solarius’ commands. Elyra imbued the Mortalis with a divine spark, granting them unparalleled autonomy and the unique ability to create and shape their own destiny. This blessing allowed them not only to make choices and innovate but also unintentionally influence the divine realm.

The Spark of Free Will and Creation.

Elyra’s blessing was a profound gift, bestowing upon the Mortalis the power of free will and creation. This spark enabled them to make independent decisions, innovate, and create new things, from art and technology to philosophies and societies. The Mortalis' free will was so potent that their collective beliefs and desires had the power to birth new gods into the Pantheon, shaping the divine landscape with their dreams and convictions.

Expansion Across Auros.

The Mortalis flourished and spread across the surface of Auros, their curiosity and creativity driving them to explore every corner of the land. As they expanded, they encountered two other significant races: the Umbrans and the Luminae.

The Umbrans, mysterious beings created by Solarius and shadowy beings imbued a deep connection to artifice and engineering, taught the Mortalis about the hidden mysteries of the world, showing them the depths of the Underdark, the power of ore and crystal, and how to use them to create tools, weapons, and powerful cities. The introduction to technology taught the Mortalis about engineering and artifice.

The Luminae, radiant beings created by the divine union of Elyra and Solarius, associated with magic and celestial wisdom, taught the Mortalis knowledge of the stars, enlightenment, and a connection to magic that enhanced their pursuit of higher understanding. The Luminae instilled an appreciation for the ley lines and magical knowledge, to create with the arcane and to respect the land that provides.

With a combination of these learnings, the Mortalis excelled and expanded across Auros, becoming the dominant race in Thesa.

The Curse of Solarius.

Solarius, a deity who saw the Mortalis as a threat to his authority and control over Auros, grew envious of their potential and influence. In a fit of spite against Elyra, Solarius cursed the Mortalis, stripping them of the divine immortality that Elyra had instilled in them. The Mortalis, once eternal like the Umbrans and the Luminae, became bound to the cycle of life and death, their bodies aging and eventually succumbing to the passage of time.

Caught in the War of the Gods.

The peace of Auros was shattered when Solarius snapped, the combined conflict with Elyra and the creation of the Mortalis sending him over the edge. Solarius sought to seize control of the Pantheon and assert his authority over the world. This sparked an eternal war between Solarius, with his Umbrans, and Elyra, supported by her Luminae. The Mortalis, despite their divine origins, found themselves caught between the warring divine forces. Their lands became battlegrounds, and their lives were disrupted by the celestial struggle. Despite their attempts to stay neutral, they could not escape the devastating consequences of the divine conflict. Being mortal, they suffered greatly, their vulnerability laid bare in the face of such divine might.

Suffering and Resilience.

The Mortalis suffered immense losses during the war. Many lives were lost, and their cities were ravaged. Yet, their spirit remained unbroken. They displayed remarkable resilience, using their creativity and free will to survive and rebuild amidst the chaos. Their neutrality, while it spared them from taking sides, did not shield them from becoming casualties of the war. As the war came to an end and Solarius was imprisoned, the remnants of the Mortalis emerged from their hiding. Their once magnificent cities now in ruins, and the influence of the Luminae and the Umbrans long forgotten to the generations of Mortalis that have lived and died since the beginning of the war. The Mortalis began again, without the influence of the Luminae and Umbrans, but learning from the remnants of their own civilisations.

Legacy of the Mortalis.

Despite Solarius’ curse, the Mortalis persevered, their spirit unbroken. They continued to create, to inspire, and to influence both the mortal and divine realms. They became the divine ancestors of the Human race, their legacy etched into the very essence of humanity. The Mortalis encountered shattered remnants of the immortal races, spawning the first elves in union with the Luminae and the first dwarves in union with the Umbrans.

Mortalis: Playable Race

Racial Traits

Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma score increases by 2, and you can increase one other ability score of your choice by 1.

Age: Mortalis mature at the same rate as humans but live a bit longer due to their divine spark, reaching up to 150 years.

Alignment: Mortalis tend towards neutrality, often balancing their sense of free will with the responsibility of their divine heritage. They can be of any alignment.

Size: Mortalis are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.

Divine Ancestry: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.

Radiant Soul: Starting at 3rd level, you can use your action to unleash the divine energy within yourself, causing your eyes to glimmer and divine constellations to shine beneath your skin. Your transformation lasts for 1 minute or until you end it as a bonus action. During it, you blind any creature that stands within 5 feet of you, and once on each of your turns, you can deal extra radiant damage to one target when you deal damage to it with an attack or a spell. The extra radiant damage equals your level. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Celestial Resistance: You have resistance to radiant damage.

Divine Spark: You can cast the Light cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Healing Word spell once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast the Lesser Restoration spell once per long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.