The Mnemosyn, known to some by ancient, forgotten names like Samsarans, are a mystical and deeply contemplative species whose very existence is defined by a cycle of reincarnation and the accumulation of countless lifetimes of knowledge. Their distinctive blue skin tones, ranging from pale azure to deepest midnight navy, and their pallid, pupilless eyes, resemble the moons they might have gazed upon across millennia. Their origins are rooted in a profound cosmic event, perhaps a rare Rift-phenomenon or an ancient Vaelen experiment in transcendent consciousness, which infused a group of humanoids with the ability to reincarnate upon death and recall fragments of their past lives. For the Mnemosyn, the Starfall Galaxy is a grand library, and each lifetime is a unique chapter in their unending quest for enlightenment.
Core Identity: Enlightenment, Cosmic Memory, and Cycles of Existence
Mnemosyn are fundamentally driven to achieve enlightenment—a true, holistic understanding of everything and everyone in the vast universe. Unlike the limited lifespans of other species, Mnemosyn souls reincarnate many times over, accumulating thousands of lived lives, with each rebirth adding new perspectives and fragments of knowledge to their collective consciousness. This cycle continues until the individual Mnemosyn achieves their goal of enlightenment, or irrevocably fails to make progress, at which point their essence passes on, either to peace or eternal misery. They recall parts of their past incarnations as half-remembered dreams, yet by combining these snippets with new knowledge, they view and connect with the world in entirely unique ways. This detachment can sometimes make deep empathy difficult, but their curiosity for others' perspectives is boundless.
Societies Across the Spheres
Mnemosyn society is decentralized, often forming small, tightly knit enclaves focused on sharing knowledge and support. Their communities, often found in academic hubs or philosophical sanctuaries, welcome conflicting perspectives, seeing them as vital components for a better combined understanding.
Outer Sphere (Wisdom Fleets & Nomadic Scholars): Many Mnemosyn are born and reborn in the Outer Sphere, where they form "wisdom fleets" – nomadic convoys of scholars and philosophers traversing the unpredictable Rift-lanes. They seek out ancient ruins, uncharted worlds, and diverse alien cultures, driven by a thirst for new experiences and knowledge. They often integrate into the Free Worlds Union (valuing its open-mindedness and diversity) or establish contemplative enclaves near strange cosmic phenomena, absorbing lessons from the chaotic Resource Wars or the raw energies of the Rift.
Inner Sphere (Hidden Temples & Academic Sanctuaries): In the dense ecumenopolises of the Inner Sphere, Mnemosyn communities are often cloistered within hidden temples, vast libraries, or prestigious psychic academies. They dedicate centuries to studying niche research topics, advising powerful cabals or the Commission on matters of ancient history or esoteric knowledge, or delving into the subtle psychoreactive properties of Mana. Their long history with the Vaelen (who might have inadvertently created or influenced their cycle) makes them uniquely equipped to understand and mediate complex psychic interactions.
Frontier (Temporal Observers & Rift-Philosophers): The most dedicated Mnemosyn venture into the uncharted Frontier, seeking ultimate understanding from the untamed edges of reality. They establish temporary observatories within stable Rift-Burgs, meticulously charting temporal distortions, studying the birth of new anomalies, or engaging in long periods of internal reflection amidst raw cosmic power. They see the Maelstrom as the ultimate expression of the universe's cycles, a boundless source of experiences for their endless journey.
Connection to the Rift and Transcendent Cycles
The Mnemosyn's reincarnation cycle is intimately tied to the fundamental energies of the Rift and the cosmic flow of Mana. Their transparent, colorless blood, resembling crystal clear water, is believed to be infused with pure, magical life essence from a primordial source within the Rift, allowing their souls to return to the cycle of rebirth. When a Mnemosyn dies, their body melts into this pure, Mana-infused water, returning to the cosmic wellspring from which they draw new life.
The Rift-Storm Cataclysm was a period of intense spiritual and energetic flux, which for many Mnemosyn, amplified their connection to the cosmic cycles. While destructive, it also created new opportunities for diverse experiences and a deeper understanding of universal impermanence. They view Rift-Taint as a dangerous imbalance, a disruption to the natural cycle, and their efforts often focus on restoring equilibrium or understanding its metaphysical properties. Their unique perspective gives them a skewed sense of time, as urgency isn't a common concept for a being with potentially infinite lifetimes to achieve their goals.
Unique Mnemosyn Traits
Mnemosyn reflect the diversity of their previous mortal ancestries, taking on their unique blue skin and moon-like eyes only upon their first rebirth. They age at the same rate as humans but die of old age at 100 years. Their children are born as the mortal ancestry of their parents' first life, traditionally adopted by non-Mnemosyn communities to experience a "fully mortal life" before their own first rebirth brings them into the Mnemosyn cycle. Their gender, appearance, and perspectives change with each incarnation, fostering an open-minded and adaptable worldview. They are single-minded toward their enlightenment, taking things at a slower pace, and have a deep curiosity for others' perspectives.
Mnemosyn Mechanics
Mnemosyn are a Humanoid, Mnemosyn ancestry.
Hit Points: 8
Size: Medium
Speed: 25 feet
Ability Boosts: Constitution, Wisdom, and one Free Ability Boost.
Ability Flaw: Charisma.
Languages: Common, Samsaran (now Mnemosyn). You can learn additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from Chthonian, Diabolic, Draconic, Empyreal, Jotun, Petran, Pyric, Sussuran, Thalassic, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
Senses: Low-Light Vision (You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.)
Traits: Humanoid, Mnemosyn
Cosmic Echoes (Cryptomnesia): You retain bits of knowledge from your former lives. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to untrained skill checks.
Wanderer's Soul: Your soul is especially able to return to the cycle of reincarnation. When you're the subject of raise dead, reincarnate, or a similar ritual that would return you to life, the primary caster uses the outcome one degree of success better than their roll. You always return to life as a Mnemosyn, even if the ritual would reincarnate you into a body of a different ancestry.
Mnemosyn Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following Mnemosyn heritages.
Healer Mnemosyn: In seeking enlightenment, your past incarnations have wandered through countless systems, encountering diverse medical challenges and healing traditions. You frequently have flashbacks to healing cosmic wounds or alleviating Rift-Taint. You become trained in Medicine. If you would automatically become trained in Medicine (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. When you use Medicine to Treat Wounds on yourself, you can use your special techniques to add your level to the Hit Points you regain from the treatment.
Void-Climber Mnemosyn (Mountaineer Samsaran adaptation): Your past incarnations dwelled in the caves on snow-capped asteroids or survived frigid void-storms, so your body has become adept at enduring extreme temperatures and navigating space. You gain cold resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1). You treat environmental cold effects and vacuum effects as if they were one step less extreme (incredible cold becomes extreme, extreme cold becomes severe, and so on).
Rift-Oracular Mnemosyn (Oracular Samsaran adaptation): Your past lives have provided heightened insight to the spiritual world and current and future events, as galactic history repeats itself. Choose arcane, divine, or occult. You gain one cantrip from that magical tradition's spell list. You can Cast this Spell as an innate spell at will, as a spell of your chosen tradition. A cantrip is heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded up.
Sanctuary Mnemosyn: Your past incarnations were reborn in sanctuaries within hidden enclaves or secure star-stations, and you have recollections of being trained to concentrate and focus for long periods of time. Your hazy flashbacks also reveal useful scripture or ancient data logs your past lives had eagerly consumed. You gain the Tap the Past action.
Activate—Tap the Past [reaction] (fortune); Frequency once per day; Trigger You’re about to attempt a check to Recall Knowledge; Effect You concentrate on the glimpses of a previous life to find a memory of an ancient data file or an applicable lesson from your past. You roll a second time and use the higher result. If you roll a critical failure, you get a failure instead. If you roll a success, you get a critical success instead.
Frontier-Trekker Mnemosyn (Wilderness Samsaran adaptation): Your preceding lives have been reborn in various remote environments away from major galactic settlements, across the Frontier and beyond. Your past manifestations have had to learn how to survive on their own, and you recall this will to survive while possessing very little resources. You become trained in Survival. If you would automatically become trained in Survival (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. You can ignore difficult terrain from dense asteroid fields, strange alien flora, and rough planetary terrain.
Mnemosyn Ancestry Feats
You can select Mnemosyn ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Cosmic Recurrence (All This Will Happen Again) (Common, Fortune, Mental, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: Even in the face of overwhelming tribulation, you find solace in the notion that this feeling is fleeting; all things are merely part of a never-ending cycle. Once per day, when you fail a saving throw against an emotion effect, you can reroll it and take the better result.
Deep Sight (Elucidating Vision) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: Your eyes have seen many things in your past lives, and your sight seems to have grown more powerful over your lifetimes. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to notice concealed creatures, detect illusions, or discern subtle temporal distortions.
Instinctive Comprehension (Innate Understanding) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: Vague connections to the knowledge and prowess of your past help guide you in tasks that this life might not understand. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to untrained skill checks.
Persistent Echoes (Remnants of the Past) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: Memories of your first life are strong and continually return to you, even after several incarnations. You can gain training in one skill that was a signature skill of your first life (GM's discretion based on your first life's assumed background/role). If you would automatically become trained in this skill, you instead become trained in a skill of your choice.
Mnemosyn Lore (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: You have untold ages of knowledge beneath your belt, focused on the pursuit of enlightenment. You gain training in Mnemosyn Lore. If you were already trained in Mnemosyn Lore, you instead become an expert.
Echoed Proficiency (Samsaran Weapon Memory) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 1: The training of your past lives and even of those of Mnemosyn who came before is deep-seated and guides your movements in combat. You gain proficiency with all simple weapons. If you would automatically become trained in simple weapons, you instead become trained in a martial weapon of your choice.
5th Level Feats
Temporal Familiarity (All This Has Happened Before) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 5: You instantly recall a memory from one of your countless past lives that heightens your awareness of your surroundings and quickens your response. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to initiative rolls.
Unburdened Spirit (And Will Do So Once More) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 5: Prerequisites Cosmic Recurrence. You’ve learned how to let go of most worries and move past them. You gain a +1 status bonus to Will saves against emotion effects.
Aether-Blood (Blood Like Water) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 5: The watery, Mana-infused fluid in your veins doesn’t flow in the same way as traditional blood. You gain a +1 status bonus to Fortitude saves against disease and poison.
Cosmic Weariness (Thousand-Year Grudge) (Common, Occult, Mnemosyn) Feat 5: You can call upon your former lives and project all of your accumulated frustration, failure, and despair through your eyes at a target, overwhelming their senses. As a single action, you can target one creature within 30 feet. That creature must succeed at a Will save against your class DC or spell DC (whichever is higher) or become frightened 1. This is a mental, emotion effect.
9th Level Feats
Cycle's Call (I Will Return) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 9: Your special connection to death and rebirth allows you to sense when it’s your time to enter the Great Beyond, and now isn’t the time. Once per day, when you are reduced to 0 Hit Points, you can choose to remain conscious with 1 Hit Point instead. You are then immune to further damage from that specific attack or effect.
Mana-Infused Vitality (Life's Blood) (Common, Healing, Mnemosyn, Vitality) Feat 9: Your journey to enlightenment has made your blood possess nigh-immortal properties, allowing you to heal others. Once per day, as a single action, you can touch a willing creature and grant them temporary Hit Points equal to your level for 1 minute.
Echoed Skill (Memory of Skill) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 9: Your years of training in a previous life didn’t go to waste with your death, and you can call upon this training when you most need it. Once per day, when you attempt a skill check, you can roll twice and use the better result. This is a fortune effect.
Deep Archive (Secrets of the Past) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 9: You’ve established a stronger connection with your past selves and can play out the memories of your lifetimes in an instant, helping you draw on knowledge that lives deep within your mind. Once per day, when you Recall Knowledge, you can ask two additional questions on a success, or one additional question on a failure (instead of none).
13th Level Feats
Reincarnated Mastery (Memory of Mastery) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 13: Prerequisites Echoed Skill. Flashes of past selves surface in an instant, especially when you’re under duress. Once per day, as a free action, you can use a skill action even if you do not meet its prerequisites, treating your proficiency rank in that skill as expert for the purpose of that action.
Aether-Flow (Water to Water) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 13: You allow your body to collapse into Mana-infused water, then reconstitute your corporeal form elsewhere. Once per day, as a 2-action activity, you can become incorporeal for 1 round. While incorporeal, you gain a Fly Speed equal to your normal Speed and can pass through objects. At the end of the round, you reappear in an unoccupied space.
17th Level Feats
Transcendent Rebirth (The Cycle Continues) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 17: Death is as natural as breathing to you, and you can move past it as easily as the other troubles in your life. Once per day, if you would die (not simply be reduced to 0 HP), you instead vanish in a flash of Mana and reappear as a new, infant Mnemosyn in a safe location chosen by the GM, retaining all your memories and class levels, but losing all items. This is a powerful form of reincarnation, indicating your ultimate success in the cycle.
Cosmic Detachment (This Too Shall Pass) (Common, Mnemosyn) Feat 17: Prerequisites Unburdened Spirit. Mortal worries are such simple matters to you that you leave them behind almost as quickly as you experience them. You gain a +2 status bonus to all saving throws against emotion effects and gain resistance 5 to mental damage.
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