Nephilim

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Bible5e custom species. Its special traits and setting lore are retained.

The Nephilim are referenced in several places throughout the Bible as a special race of beings that possessed preternatural beauty and talent. According to legend, these attractive features come from a celestial heritage.

In the earliest days of creation, scripture references a special group of angelic beings known as Watchers. Unlike other celestial beings who reside in the spiritual realm, the Watchers were uniquely given physical bodies to walk among humans and were entrusted with guarding the physical world.

Some of these Watchers eventually married human spouses and had children with them. These children became known as the Nephilim.

Nephilim in the Bible

Details about the nature and history of the Nephilim in the Bible are scarce. Aside from their celestial lineage, little is recorded about their culture or activity. In some places, the Bible seems to conflate the Nephilim and Anakim, seeming to lump them together as simply giants.

In this module, many creative liberties have been taken, based loosely on a few ancient apocryphal writings. For Bible5e, this lineage exists for fun and is not meant to be an authentic interpretation of who the Nephilim really were.

Beautiful and Talented

The Watchers, who are also called the Sons of God in some translations, were endowed with great power and grace. Their children, the Nephilim, have both of these qualities. Nephilim are nearly indistinguishable from regular humans, but tend to be extraordinarily beautiful.

Immortal Wanderers

Nephilim children age at the same rate as regular human children. However, when a Nephilim reaches the age of idealized maturity and physical perfection, their body ceases aging forever. A Nephilim is physically immortal and will live until killed.

Many of the Nephilim have been walking the earth since just after the Great Flood, but few would remember this. Although their bodies are timeless, they possess the intellect of mortals and rarely hold on to memories for more than about 100 years at a time.

Forgotten Memories

The prospect of living forever, only to watch everything one loves and cares for pass away, is too much for most Nephilim. When the weight of a lifetime of pain and loss becomes too much to bear, a Nephilim undergoes a process called the Diluvium.

The Diluvium washes away all memory from the Nephilim, who awakens one morning to find that their memories of the past are fading away. Most Nephilim welcome the Diluvium, which offers a chance at a fresh start. Since the Diluvium is triggered by a desire to start anew, it usually occurs every 60 to 100 years, and often coincides with the death of loved ones.

Nephilim Names

Nephilim live in human societies and take human names. Nephilim will usually retain one name until it becomes unfashionable, at which point they may choose a new name for themselves.

Nephilim Traits

Your Nephilim character has these traits.

Creature Type. You are a Celestial.

Ability Scores. Your background provides your ability-score increases; this species grants no additional increases.

Age. Nephilim are immortal, but most appear to be in their late teens to early 30s (whatever age they consider themselves mature) for their entire lives.

Size. Nephilim appear as beautiful and athletic humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Celestial Awareness. You can cast the Detect Evil and Good spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so after finishing a short or long rest. You may also cast this spell using any spell slots you have.

Holy Light. You know the Sacred Flame cantrip. Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for both this cantrip and Celestial Awareness (chosen when you take this lineage).

Natural Talent. You gain proficiency in Athletics and one other skill of your choice.

Languages. You know Common and two other languages, chosen using the character-creation language rules.

Forgotten Past. You gain proficiency in one skill and one language you do not already have proficiency in. These proficiencies are echoes of your life before your most recent Diluvium.

Handling the Diluvium

Players should choose to play a Nephilim that has recently undergone the Diluvium. If the event occurs during play, it should be discussed with the GM, as it may represent a major life event for the character.