The Vividi, known to others as Gnomes, are a diminutive and profoundly vibrant species, their very essence a living testament to curiosity, innovation, and an insatiable hunger for novel experiences. Their origins are rooted in a bizarre confluence of ancient cosmic energies and a latent connection to the primordial chaos of the Rift, lending them an otherworldly perspective and a natural eccentricity. Unlike the pragmatic Ysoki or the driven Humans, Vividi exist in a perpetual dance with their own inner vibrancy, driven by an urgent need to embrace the new lest they succumb to the chilling affliction known as The Fading – a slow, creeping drain of color, memory, and life itself.
Core Identity: Unquenchable Curiosity and the Fight Against The Fading Vividi are defined by their unyielding curiosity and an innate, almost desperate, desire for new experiences. They believe that existence is a canvas of infinite possibilities, and to stagnate is to invite oblivion. This drive is not merely philosophical; it is a biological imperative tied to their very survival. They are natural innovators, playful tricksters, and keen observers, always seeking out unique perspectives and unconventional solutions. For a Vividi, every Yom is an opportunity for a new discovery, every Dei a tool to facilitate further exploration. They process the galaxy's harsh realities through a lens of eccentric logic and boundless optimism, believing that even the deepest darkness holds unseen wonders.
YOU MIGHT...
Seek out new and exciting experiences, no matter how strange or dangerous.
Embrace change and novelty, constantly innovating and adapting.
Use your eccentricity and playful nature to disarm others or solve problems creatively.
Strive to understand the raw, chaotic energies of the Rift to stave off The Fading.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Find your boundless curiosity and eccentricity both charming and bewildering.
Are fascinated by your vibrant colors and the subtle shifts in your appearance.
Are wary of your connection to the Rift and the mysterious affliction known as The Fading.
Seek your unique perspectives or your ability to find unconventional solutions.
Physical Description
Vividi are small, humanoid beings, typically standing between 3 and 4 feet tall, with lithe and often whimsical builds. Their most striking feature is their vibrant and often unusual coloration, which can manifest in their skin, hair, and eyes, and subtly shift with their emotions or connection to Mana. Their faces are expressive, with bright, curious eyes that reflect their insatiable desire for novelty. They often have pointed ears and a mischievous smile.
Vividi prefer eclectic and colorful attire, often incorporating salvaged tech, natural elements, and unique trinkets from their travels. Their clothing is rarely practical in a conventional sense but always expressive and designed to maximize sensory input or facilitate quick movement. Their movements are quick, often unpredictable, and sometimes accompanied by a playful bounce or twitch, reflecting their energetic and curious nature.
Society
Vividi society is highly adaptable and often eclectic, shaped by their constant need for novelty. They rarely form large, unified empires, preferring smaller, tight-knit communities or nomadic groups that can easily seek out new stimuli. Their settlements are often vibrant, artistic, and filled with an almost chaotic energy.
Inner Sphere (Enclaves of Innovation & Experiential Seekers): In the Inner Sphere, Vividi often establish vibrant, if sometimes peculiar, enclaves within or alongside larger species' populations. They thrive in environments that offer constant sensory input, technological marvels, and a myriad of new social interactions. They can be found as avant-garde artists, cutting-edge researchers, eccentric engineers, or even "experience brokers," curating unique sensory adventures for the wealthy. They often maintain cordial, if sometimes perplexing, relationships with the Commission and other Inner Sphere factions, valuing the stability that allows for undisturbed pursuit of novelty.
Outer Sphere (Nomadic Explorers & Rift-Touched Communities): Many Vividi embrace a nomadic existence in the Outer Sphere, constantly seeking out unexplored systems, strange stellar phenomena, or the raw, untamed energies of the Rift. Their starships are often unique, jury-rigged marvels, designed for quick exploration and sensory immersion. They are drawn to the chaotic diversity of the Outer Sphere, finding endless new experiences in the Resource Wars (often as impartial observers or opportunistic scavengers) and the myriad alien cultures. Some even establish small, vibrant communities within stable Rift-Burgs, fascinated by the strange physics and temporal distortions.
Frontier (Deep Explorers & Anti-Fading Researchers): The most daring Vividi venture into the uncharted Frontier, seeking truly alien environments and primordial Rift-fissures where the universe's most bizarre phenomena reside. They are on the front lines of understanding The Fading, often experimenting with raw Rift-Taint (with careful safeguards, or sometimes, reckless abandon) or charting areas of intense time dilation, believing these extreme experiences might hold the key to invigorating their dwindling vibrancy. They might form unlikely alliances with Nomadic Scavengers/Reclaimers or even some Anomalous Cults, as long as the experience promises profound novelty and a stave against oblivion.
Connection to the Rift and the Threat of The Fading
The Vividi possess a profound, almost mystical, connection to the primal forces that underpin existence, especially the Rift. It is theorized that their very essence is imbued with a shard of the Rift's raw, psychoreactive energy, granting them their vibrant colors, inherent magic, and quick wit. However, this connection is also the source of their greatest vulnerability: The Fading. When a Vividi fails to experience novelty, to innovate, to dream, or to embrace new stimuli, the vibrant Mana within them slowly drains away. Their skin, hair, and eyes lose their color, their memories blur, and their very life force ebbs, eventually turning them into a monochromatic, listless husk, a mere shadow of their former selves. This is not simply a disease but a metaphysical atrophy, a chilling warning of what happens when the connection to the universe's dynamic energy is severed.
The Rift-Storm Cataclysm was a terrifying moment for the Vividi. While it brought immense destruction, it also unleashed a torrent of unprecedented new energies and chaotic phenomena, providing a surge of overwhelming novelty that, for many, temporarily staved off The Fading. Many Vividi view the Cataclysm not just as a disaster, but as a chaotic, necessary jolt to the galaxy, forcing species out of stagnation and into new, vibrant struggles. Their innate illusions and ability to bend reality are often a subtle manipulation of the Rift's chaotic potential.
Beliefs
Vividi beliefs are centered on the concept of unquenchable curiosity, innovation, and an insatiable hunger for novel experiences. They believe that existence is a canvas of infinite possibilities, and to stagnate is to invite oblivion. They typically do not adhere to rigid theological doctrines, but rather embody a philosophy of constant exploration, playful experimentation, and embracing the new. They might revere abstract concepts like "The Cosmic Canvas" or "The Ever-Changing Song," seeing the universe as an endless source of wonder.
They believe that every Yom is an opportunity for a new discovery, every Dei a tool to facilitate further exploration. The Rift-Storm Cataclysm was a chaotic, necessary jolt to the galaxy, forcing species out of stagnation and into new, vibrant struggles, reinforcing their core philosophy.
Popular Edicts: Embrace novelty, innovate constantly, seek new experiences, explore the unknown, find joy in chaos. Popular Anathema: Stagnate, repeat old patterns, fear the unknown, succumb to boredom, allow The Fading to take hold.
Vividi Mechanics
Vividi are a Humanoid, Vividi ancestry.
Hit Points: 6
Size: Small
Speed: 25 feet
Ability Boosts: Dexterity, Charisma, and one Free Ability Boost.
Ability Flaw: Strength.
Languages: Common, Gnomish (Vividi). You can learn additional languages equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access.
Traits: Humanoid, Vividi, Low-Light Vision.
Vividi Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following Vividi heritages.
Bleachling Vividi (Against the Fading): You were born with a predisposition to The Fading, perhaps even showing early signs of it. Your daily struggle against this affliction has hardened your will. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Will saves against mental effects that would compel you or inflict a discouraged condition.
Chameleon Vividi: Your skin naturally shifts colors to reflect your emotions or surroundings. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks in environments where your natural coloration can blend.
Glimmering Vividi: Your connection to your inner vibrancy is exceptionally strong, causing you to subtly shimmer with faint light. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Performance checks, and once per day, you can cause your body to emit dim light in a 5-foot radius for 1 minute.
Mechanist Vividi: Your curiosity naturally gravitates towards intricate mechanisms and unusual technology. You are trained in Engineering. If you were already trained in Engineering, you become an expert.
Sensory Vividi: You are intensely attuned to new sensory input. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to notice subtle details, unusual sounds, or strange odors.
Vividi Ancestry Feats
You can select Vividi ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Vividi Lore (General): You are well-versed in the history, traditions, and unusual customs of your people. You gain training in Vividi Lore. If you were already trained in Vividi Lore, you instead become an expert.
Gnome Weapon Familiarity (General): You are trained with gnomish hooked hammers, sling staves, and tinkerer's tools.
Illusionist's Guile (General): Your innate connection to illusory magic is strong. You gain the silent image cantrip as an innate occult spell at will. It is heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded up.
Vibrant Curiosity (General): Your drive for novelty grants you unexpected insights. You gain training in one skill of your choice.
Witness the Unseen (General): Your perception of reality is subtly warped by the Rift. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to notice hidden or concealed creatures affected by illusions or temporal effects.
5th Level Feats
Adaptive Spark (General): Your need for new experiences allows you to quickly learn. Once per day, you can re-select one skill in which you are trained, changing it to a different skill for 1 hour.
Defensive Illusions (General): Your innate illusions can subtly confound foes. As a reaction when an adjacent creature misses you with a melee Strike, you can cause them to become flat-footed until the end of their next turn.
Rift-Sparked Insight (General): Your connection to the Rift provides a jolt of understanding. You gain a +1 status bonus to saves against Rift-Taint and temporal distortion effects.
9th Level Feats
Cosmic Wanderer (General): Your constant search for novelty has led you to a broader understanding of the galaxy. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Recall Knowledge checks about uncharted regions of space or alien species.
Fey Glamour (General): Your connection to the primordial energies allows you to subtly charm others. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks to Make an Impression, and you can attempt to Make an Impression on a creature as if it were one step friendlier towards you.
13th Level Feats
Experiential Mastery (General): Your vast array of experiences makes you incredibly adaptable. When you attempt a skill check for a skill you are untrained in, you can use your Intelligence modifier instead of the skill's normal ability modifier.
Resonance of the Past (General): You can tap into the vibrant echoes of past events. Once per day, you can spend 1 minute to perfectly recall any event you have personally witnessed within the last year.
17th Level Feats
Eternal Spark (General): You have found a profound way to stave off The Fading. You gain resistance 5 to mental damage, and you treat the duration of The Fading's effects (if applicable per GM's discretion) as twice as long before they worsen.
Weaver of Realities (General): Your connection to the Rift allows you to subtly bend reality. Once per day, you can cast dispel magic as a 5th-rank innate occult spell.
Here are a few adventure hooks designed to appeal to a Vividi Player Character, leveraging their unique traits, their fight against The Fading, and their connection to the Starfall Galaxy:
Adventure Hooks for Vividi Player Characters
The Echoing Labyrinth of the Temporal Anomaly:
Hook: A bizarre, newly formed Rift-Burg in the Frontier is exhibiting highly unstable temporal distortions, causing localized areas where time flows erratically, memories blur, and colors subtly desaturate. This phenomenon is attracting Scaleglitch entities and causing distress to nearby Nomad-Kin communities. The Vividi PC begins to feel a subtle, unsettling pull from the anomaly – a sensation that both promises unprecedented novelty and hints at a potential acceleration of The Fading if not understood. A desperate Ysoki engineer or a curious Android researcher seeks a Vividi, believing their unique connection to the Rift and their resilience against temporal effects might be the key to stabilizing the anomaly or extracting its secrets.
Vividi Appeal: This hook directly challenges the Vividi's existential threat of The Fading while offering immense novelty. The PC would be driven to explore the chaotic temporal labyrinth, using their Rift-Sparked Insight and Experiential Mastery to navigate the shifting reality. The goal would be to find a way to harness the anomaly's energy to stave off The Fading, or at least gain profound new experiences from its bizarre effects, proving their ability to find wonder even in chaos.
The Grand Gala of Forgotten Senses:
Hook: A reclusive, ancient Vaelen "Aesthetic Collective" in the Inner Sphere has announced a galaxy-renowned "Grand Gala of Forgotten Senses." Invitations are rare, but the Vividi PC receives one, hinting that the Gala will feature performances and experiences designed to awaken dormant senses and evoke emotions long thought lost since the Rift-Storm Cataclysm. However, rumors suggest the Vaelen's methods are extreme, potentially involving controlled exposure to Rift-energies or even subtle psychic manipulation, and that some attendees have not returned the same.
Vividi Appeal: This hook promises an unparalleled sensory experience, directly appealing to the Vividi's insatiable hunger for novelty and their artistic inclinations. The PC would be eager to participate, using their Sensory Vividi heritage and Fey Glamour to navigate the social intricacies. They might uncover a darker truth behind the Vaelen's pursuit of "forgotten senses," perhaps finding a way to truly experience these sensations without succumbing to the Vaelen's potentially dangerous methods, and even using their Illusionist's Guile to subtly enhance or protect themselves.
The Bleachling's Last Spark:
Hook: A distress call comes from a remote, dying Vividi enclave in the Outer Sphere, composed almost entirely of Bleachling Vividi who are rapidly succumbing to The Fading. They are desperate for a new experience, a unique phenomenon, or an ancient artifact that could reignite their vibrancy before they are lost forever. The PC, perhaps a Bleachling Vividi themselves or one deeply empathetic to their plight, must embark on a perilous quest to find this "last spark" – which could be a newly discovered Mana-crystal with unique properties, a lost piece of Aether-Synapse tech, or even a living Shimmering entity that radiates pure Mana.
Vividi Appeal: This is a deeply personal and urgent hook, directly confronting The Fading. The PC would be driven by compassion and the desperate need to find a cure or a reprieve. Their Vibrant Curiosity and Adaptive Spark would be vital for improvising solutions and learning quickly in a race against time. The success of the mission would not only save their kin but also provide profound insights into The Fading, potentially leading to their Eternal Spark or Weaver of Realities abilities.
The Cosmic Song of the Derelict Worldship:
Hook: A massive, ancient Kasatha worldship, long thought empty and adrift, has begun to emit a strange, beautiful "cosmic song" across interstellar space. This song is not a simple broadcast; it's a complex, multi-layered resonance that seems to be subtly influencing the emotions and dreams of those who hear it, drawing Pahtra musicians and Shisk archivists to its location. The Vividi PC hears the song and is captivated by its novelty, sensing it holds a profound, undiscovered experience. However, the song also carries a subtle Rift-Taint, and the worldship itself is a maze of ancient traps and forgotten protocols, potentially guarded by Automatons or even a reclusive, xenophobic Kasatha elder.
Vividi Appeal: This hook combines novelty, mystery, and a touch of danger. The PC would be drawn by the unique "cosmic song" and the promise of an unprecedented sensory and intellectual experience. Their Witness the Unseen and Resonance of the Past feats would be invaluable for deciphering the song's true meaning and navigating the worldship's perils. The challenge lies in understanding the song's influence and the worldship's secrets without succumbing to its potentially corrupting effects, ultimately seeking to integrate this new experience into their vibrant existence.
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