Suggestions to replace Half-Elves

[Nahat Anoj]

Yeah, I agree.. there were a quite interesting discussion on this very topic on the gleemax forums (here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=978627) about a week ago...

Thanks for showing me that thread! Here's what I just posted (I'm Andurion):

(EDIT - Ugh! The basic idea of Celestials as being descended from angels opposed to Asmodeus was already mentioned in that thread!)

Today I was thinking on how I would fit the Celestials into the new 4e cosmology. While Asmodeus and his followers attacked and killed their god, not all of the murdered god's angels committed such betrayal. These loyal angels fought to defend their god, but their effforts were not enough, and Asmodeus was successful. However, before Asmodeus could destroy the loyalists, the dying god's curse imprisoned him and the devils in the Nine Hells.

Masterless and without divine purpose, the surviving angels soon began to discorporate into the Astral essence from which they were made. They would have faded into nothingness were it not for the intervention of the gods. In gratitude for their service and loyalty, the gods allowed these angels to live in the world as mortals, cloaking their glorious astral forms in bodies of flesh.

That was long ago, but the Celestials (as the race would come to call themselves) still retain a connection to the realm of divinity. Their bodies are strong and enduring, suffused with the substance of the gods. They also project the grace that comes from knowing one has the favor of the gods. Their presence is ennobling, uplifting the spirits of those who see them and motivating them to greater heights.

Many Celestials worship Bahamut or Pelor, as both gods dedicate themselves to the service of justice or protection of the innocent. These ideals resonate strongly with the Celestials, for their divine souls still echo with the loyalty and valor displayed by their progenitors. However, Celestials often succumb to hubris and arrogance, coming to believe that others must kneel before them. These tyrannical individuals often find Bane's tenets appealing, smiting those who refuse to yield to their will. The worship of Asmodeus is very rare among the Celestials, because the subversion and treachery of the devils is unfamiliar to the divine race. However, the few Celestials that owe their allegiance to the Nine Hells are among the most prized servants of their diabolical overlord.

Given their resilient bodies and strength of personality, Celestials make excellent paladins. Their natural charisma also makes them good choices for warlords, and their innate connection to the divine makes them good clerics.

I don't know how the mechanics work, but I imagine they would have an aura that increases Will defense, a once per encounter smite, and something that lets them cast divine spells better.

Play a celestial if you want ...
* to be resilient, ennobling, and proud
* to stand at the frontline, smiting your foes
* to be a paladin, cleric, or warlord

 

[Aage]

I like it Andurion/Jonathan Moyer I'd play one of those, for sure

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

I would go with things like eye color and skin tinges that don't exist in normal humans. Stuff like 'alabaster skin' (not to pick on the earlier poster) always makes me think "why do angels have to look like white people." So, something like a silvery tinge or sheen to their skin, maybe a natural glow. Something like the lumi from MM3 (or was it 4?), but less alien - no detached heads, etc.

Point taken. By "alabaster" I meant that sort of unnatural white that really only exists in sickly people and bad Victorian literature. It is technically a very smooth, somewhat translucent white. Its appearance in an otherwise healthy-looking individual is always sort of odd, which is what I was going for.

Metallic tones or a blush of something from the blue side of the spectrum would also work, but my inclination is to lean towards a more human-looking species than the Tiefling, so I wouldn't go very far from natural human tones. A dark-skinned Celestial with a deep bluish hue or out-and-out obsidian is another typical "unearthly" look, that would be great. Perhaps simply exaggerate the coloration of various ethnic groups to a non-human degree to find your variation. Alabaster, obsidian, metallic bronze and gold, etc.

EDIT: Perhaps "Ivory" or even "Mother of Pearl" would be a better (or at least less loaded) term than "alabaster."