Deva are rare, beautiful, creatures with very commanding presences that enter the world fully grown, intelligent, with no family, and a single, driving purpose. Each one condenses out of the Psywinds, the thought-current that thickens wherever a community's hope and need run ahead of what the world will give. Where enough of that longing pools in one place, it draws together into a single person: fully grown, already knowing how to speak and fight and lead, and carrying one purpose that belongs to the people it formed among. A deva is that community's unmet hope gathered into a single willing agent, which is why it appears where it does and why its purpose fits its home so exactly.
Deva generally have light, gray, blueish, lavender, or red skin, and lack any pupils in their eyes, which are pure white. They are on average, slightly taller than humans, though only slightly. Deva rarely appear looking younger than in their twenties, and rarely older than their fifties, although it does occasionally happen. They are quite rare, and in combination with their striking features, they are generally at the center of attention of any room they enter.
Deva are always "born" with a deep feeling of hope and purpose. The source of that hope and purpose is never clear, but the force with which these drive a Deva on usually results in them pursuing that goal for the rest of their lives. These purposes are usually somewhat noble, such as "freeing the region from tyrannical control by a cruel aristocrat" or "leading their community safely to a new land". These purposes align with the communities in which they spawn, which follows from what a deva is made of.
Deva also are born with a feeling of having memories that are not entirely their own. They do not know how they know so many skills, as they remember nothing of learning them. They may have faint memories of past events within their communities, or even past experiences of other deva before them, but beyond that, it feels as though their lives began when they spawned.
When a deva's purpose is fulfilled, or finally fails, it comes apart the way it came together. The body dissipates into the current it condensed from and leaves nothing behind. A deva has no soul and no shadow, so it makes no passage to the Astral or to Malstaris; the hope it was simply returns to the Psywinds. If the purpose failed, another deva may gather years later. If it was won, another may not condense for centuries.
Aspects
- Core purpose: Choose one for your community
- Hope
Vitals
- Size: Medium
- Height: 5.5-6.5 feet
- Weight: 140-240 pounds
Game mechanics
Naturally Charismatic
Passive ability. Increasing your presence die costs 2 less XP. You do not need to reach PL2 in order to take the Draconic Presence paragon level.
Memories Passed
Major ability. Instant. The psyic energy from which you spawned occasionally provides imagery from others' memories of the past as well, guiding you when you face difficult challenges. You may use this ability to gain advantage on any skill check you make. If the skill check also aligns with your deeper purpose, you instead gain A3.
You also do not have a soul or shadow, and are thus invisible on both the ethereal and nethereal planes. This also excludes you from effects on creatures with souls or shadows.