Runechild

A runechild is a sorcerer whose body collects and stores arcane energy in the form of natural runes, called essence runes, which are invisible beneath the skin when not in use. As runechildren grow more powerful, more runes manifest on their body, and the first is usually on the forehead. When a runechild charges or uses the power of these runes, they shed a bright light. This power can be passed down through a bloodline.

The Runechild sorcerous origin was created by Matthew Mercer and was released as part of the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting sourcebook.

History


Mages and scholars have sought to study runechildren for ages, believing that their bodies contain secrets to the nature of the arcane. Others seek to enslave them, hoping to use their bodies as spell batteries. Their subjugation throughout the Age of Arcanum left a lasting effect on runechildren, who as of 812 PD were still attempting to hide the nature of their talents despite the visibility of their runes. At that time there were not many runechildren, and they were poorly understood.

One runechild, Shaun Gilmore, was a patron and ally of Vox Machina who helped the party and Whitestone throughout the Chroma Crisis, culminating in his direct participation in the slaying of Thordak. Three decades later, in late 842 PD, he was sought for advice regarding a large elemental rune that seemed to be responsible for the creation of a massive, ashen plateau outside Emon.

Powers and abilities
In addition to the typical class traits of sorcerers, runechildren acquire the following abilities as they gain levels:
 * Essence Runes: Runechildren gain 1 Essence Rune for each level in this class. At the end of any turn when the sorcerer has expended a number of sorcery points to use class features, an equal number of their Essence Runes become charged runes. As a bonus action, a runechild can simply expend sorcery points to immediately charge that number of runes, or, as an action, a runechild who has no sorcery points and no charged runes can charge one rune. A runechild with 5 or more charged runes emits bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for 5 more feet. Any charged runes become inert at the end of a long rest.
 * Glyphs of Aegis: At 1st level, when a runechild is damaged by an attack, spell, or hazard, they can use a reaction to expend any number of charged runes to reduce the damage by 1d6 per charged rune. At 6th level, a runechild can use an action to transfer a Glyph of Aegis, which lasts an hour or until used, to a creature by touch; the Glyph reduces damage automatically.
 * Sigilic Augmentation: At 6th level, the runechild can use a bonus action and expend a charged rune to gain advantage on either Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution checks until the start of their next turn. At the start of each turn, they can continue this benefit for an additional turn by expending another charged rune.
 * Manifest Inscriptions: Also at 6th level, as an action the runechild can expend a charged rune to cause any magical marks, runes, wards, or glyphs within 15 feet to glow with dim light in a 5-foot radius for one round.
 * Runic Torrent: At 14th level, when casting a spell, the runechild can expend a number of charged runes equal to that spell's level to ignore any resistance or immunity to the spell's damage type.
 * Arcane Exemplar Form: At 18th level, once per long rest, the runechild may use a bonus action and expend at least 6 charged runes to gain the following benefits for three rounds (plus one round for each additional charged rune over 6):
 * Flying speed of 40 feet
 * Resistance to damage from spells
 * Spell save DC increased by 2
 * When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you regain hit points equal to the spell's level
 * When the Arcane Exemplar Form ends, the runechild cannot take actions or move until after their next turn.

Notable Runechildren

 * Shaun Gilmore - Human owner of Gilmore's Glorious Goods, ally of Vox Machina who participated in the slaying of Thordak, sought for advice in Emon's elemental crisis of late 842 PD.
 * Karzadrawn Sunscale - Dragonborn fashion model in Emon in 836 PD.