Nyxian • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

The Nyxian are mortals touched by the primordial goddess of night, born with talents and instincts tied to ancient principles such as dreams, fate, fear, and mortality. Though mortal in body, their spirits carry echoes of the darkness beyond creation. Their pale skin and black eyes set them apart, for a Nyxian is not merely a person, but a living shadow of the Night herself.

Primordial Goddess#

Often referred to as the Dreamer, Nyx is the unknowable force from which dreams and possibility first emerged. She rests beyond the outermost stars, yet her influence lingers in the Nether Sea, an underworld ocean formed from the raw primordial substance she shaped in ages before the world existed.

She embodies mystery, primordial dreams, and the unseen. Light recoils from her, silence follows her, and even the gods speak her name with caution. Nyx rarely acts directly, for her power is woven into the very fabric of existence and moves according to cosmic laws rather than intention.

Her Children#

Nyx does not choose her offspring as other gods do. Instead, her essence surfaces unpredictably within certain bloodlines, manifesting when the veil between the mortal and the primordial grows thin. In some eras, one child is born; in others, several siblings share the blessing, though always within the same lineage.

Despite their origins, Nyxian are entirely mortal. They age, bleed, and die as all mortals do. Scholars believe they exist so that Nyx may perceive the mortal world through eyes bound by flesh and fate. Others argue that the Nyxian are simply echoes of the primordial darkness, reflections of Nyx but not Nyx herself.

Feared by the Wise#

Most mortals remain blissfully unaware of what a Nyxian truly is. To a farmer or merchant, a Nyxian is simply an unusual child. To a scholar, a god, or a titan, they are something far more dangerous. Those who understand Nyx’s nature tread lightly around her offspring, fearing the consequences of drawing her gaze.

A mortal who kills a Nyxian suffers no more ill fortune than fate already promised. But when a god or titan slays one of these children, catastrophe inevitably follows.

Cosmic Principles#

Every Nyxian feels something inside them, even in childhood. A presence, an idea, a force that shapes their personality and destiny. Scholars believe there are nine such cosmic principles embodied by the Nyxian: Dream,

Fate, Fear, Longing, Misery, Mortality, Retribution, Strife and Suffering. Each Nyxian is more than this principle, yet these ancient threads influence their choices and the way the world responds to them.

Nyxian Names#

A Nyxian’s name evokes ancient forces and primordial concepts. Parents of a Nyxian always seem to know the child’s name instinctually, as if whispered by the cosmic principle that dwells within them.

Male: Algos, Erebus, Geras, Hypnos, Icelus, Moros, Oneiros, Phobetor, Thanatos
Female: Achlys, Arethusa, Atropos, Chrysothemis, Clotho, Eris, Erytheia, Hesperia, Hespere, Lachesis, Lipara, Nemesis, Oizys, Poine

Nyxian Traits#

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium
Speed: 30 feet

As a Nyxian, you have these special traits.

Born of the Night. You have Darkvision out to 60 feet. Night Touched. Your presence unsettles higher beings. You have Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects caused by creatures of the Celestial and Fiend creature types and by creatures with the Titan tag.

Living Concept. Choose a Cosmic Principle from the table below. You radiate an aura in a 10-foot Emanation. You and your Allies within the aura gain the level 1 benefits of that principle. If another Nyxian is present, a creature can only be subjected to the effects of one Living Concept’s aura at a time, its choice.

Discord. Beginning at character level 5, you can take a Bonus Action to turn your Living Concept aura against your enemies for 1 minute or until you have the Incapacitated condition. Whenever the Emanation enters an Enemy’s space and whenever an Enemy enters the Emanation or ends its turn there, the creature makes a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 plus your Proficiency Bonus and Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier. Choose the ability when you select this species). On a failed save, it suffers the level 5 effects from your chosen Cosmic Principle until the end of its next turn. A creature makes this save only once a turn.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to half your Proficiency Bonus and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. If another Nyxian is present, a creature can only be subjected to the effects of one Living Concept’s aura at a time, its choice.

Cosmic Principles

Principle Level 1 Dream You have Resistance to Psychic damage. You have Advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the Charmed condition. Fate Whenever you make a saving throw, you add 1d4 to the roll. Fear You have Advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the Frightened condition. Longing You have Advantage on Insight and Persuasion checks. Mortality You have Advantage on Death Saving Throws. You gain 1d4 Temporary Hit Points at the start of each of your turns. Retribution Whenever you make an attack roll, you add 1d4 to the roll. Strife You have Advantage on Charisma saving throws. Suffering You have Resistance to Necrotic and Poison damage.

Level 5 The target can’t speak a deliberate lie and takes 2d6 Psychic damage. Whenever the target makes an attack roll or saving throw, they must subtract 1d4 from the attack roll or save. The target gains the Frightened condition. The target has the Charmed condition. The target takes 2d8 Necrotic damage. The target takes 2d8 Force damage. The target has the Charmed condition. The target has the Blinded and Deafened conditions.