Shardmind

A psionic conciousness bound to a swarm of crystal shards, shardminds are shrouded in mystery. Were they the creation of some ancient wizard? Some lost powerful civilization? Or did some powerful psionic being transcend their old body to be reborn in a perfect crystaline form?

Physical Qualities

Shardminds are crystalline creatures consisting of hundreds of small shards of translucent green, white, red, or amber crystal assembled into humanoid form and animated by a force of pure psionic energy. Shardminds choose their forms to mimic the shapes of humanoids; some take on forms that seem more masculine, while others appear more feminine. A shardmind's animating force glows dimly from within each of its component shards, emanating most brightly from where the eyes of a natural humanoid would be. This inner light can be squelched in an instant if necessary-in order to hide in the dark, for example.

The crystalline fragments making up a shardmind's body are psionically controlled by the mind bound to them, and when that mind is affected, their control of their form can slip. When a shardmind is stunned or unconscious, it might lose control of the tight mental reins that keep its body in humanoid form, a few shards slipping free into orbits around its body until the shardmind regains control.

Though they diverge significantly from traditional life, Shardminds are no less living humanoids than Warforged. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.

Shardmind Personality

Shardminds are fragments of pure thought given life and substance. They are logical, emotionally distant, and naive to the ways of society in the world. Some approach life with innocent curiosity, eager to embrace the wealth of experiences the world has to offer, while others remain reserved and aloof, bearing a higher purpose in mind at all times. Though they often seem dispassionate, when a strong emotion seizes them, they experience it powerfully. For example, shardminds don't get annoyed; they become enraged.

Shardmind Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age. A shardmind can be almost any age. The maximum shardmind lifespan remains a mystery; so far, shardminds have shown no signs of deterioration due to age. You are immune to magical aging effects.

Alignment. Most shardminds tend to view the world from a detached perspective, which makes them tend toward neutrality, but shardminds are as varied as thoughts, and can come in any alignment.

Credit: Wayne England, Dragon Magazine #387

Size. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Crystalline Resilience. Your crystal body lends you remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:

You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.

You don't need to eat, drink, or breathe.

You are immune to disease.

You don't need to sleep, and magic can't put you to sleep.

Statuesque Watcher. When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in a motionless state, allowing your consciousness to rest from animating the crystals of your form, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear to be a crystal statue, but it doesn't render you unconscious, you can see and hear as normal, and you can still speak telepathically to those around you.

Crystalline Form. Your body is made of many crystal shards which you can rearrange with only a thought. With focus, you can reshape your body to your needs. This functions as the spell Alter Self, with the following changes:

It takes you one minute to complete a change to your form.

It does not require concentration.

The adaptation is permanent.

You cannot choose Aquatic Adaptation.