Somnus Domina: Nephilim (5e Race)

The nephilim are a supernatural race of formerly divine beings for 5th Edition D&d.

Nephilim were crafted by the gods as servants, to protect ancient sites of divine value, guard ancient secrets or act as workers for their divine patrons. However, at some point in history they lost their connection to their gods divinity and were reduced to beings that are less than celestial, but more than mortal. They are a race with finite members, whose experiences and personalities are recycled by a metaphysical source that binds them all. They are born already adult from enchanted gemstone fragments that serve as their heart, and live until they return their essence to be used for the next generation.

This document contains the full race, descriptions of their tendencies, beliefs and social structures, the nature of their birth and unique relationship with death and their lack of an afterlife. Furthurmore, it outlines the various types of nephilim that may be present in their tribes, known as cusps, including a heroic variant that can be conjured as a heroic being to prevent or deter some world-shaking event.

The NPC stat blocks featured are

• Nephilim Fatewatcher (CR 6)
• Nephilim Faultguard (CR 1)
• Nephilim Faulthawk (CR 1)
• Nephilim Faultknight (CR 8)
• Nephilim Elite Faultknight (CR 8)
• Nephilim Silvercounter (CR 16)

Nephilim are a strong choice for players who want to play a character who knows they have a higher purpose. They are born with a goal. This goal is usually to protect some divine aspect or being, and so they can pursue that. They make excellent wizards, have utility in being able to fly and shed light and have the unique quality of being ageless and functionally immortal. A player who has a strong goal in mind for their character may find the directable nephilim to be just what they were looking for.

(The nephilim race was made for the Somnus Domina setting from the Nat19: Vestige of Ophiuchus D&d 5E stream on Twitch, streamed every Saturday at 1 PM PST on the Nat19Official channel. Come join us if you'd like to see it and related material of ours in action!)