Aura (Theous Supplement)

Aura (Theous Setting)

Authority – The Power of Inner Will

Aura & Authority System Overview

Aura is a mystical energy stored in the heart—a raw manifestation of one’s inner will, spirit, and identity. Though invisible to the untrained eye, seasoned users understand that Authority is tied directly to the heartbeat. The faster and more determined one’s heart beats, the more Aura they can summon.

This energy grants individuals the ability to affect the world around them, manifesting in unique, often supernatural ways. Whether through enchanted strikes, ethereal weapons, or elemental control, Authority reflects who you are—and what you fight for.

But this power comes at a cost. The body can only sustain so much strain before it begins to collapse under the pressure. Push too hard, and you enter a state known as Burnout.

Authority

Authority is what people call the use and manipulation of Aura. While Aura is the energy within, Authority is how that energy is shaped and released. It requires extreme willpower to bend Aura into a functional form—whether altering the world, enhancing the body, or manifesting pure concepts into reality.

Each person's Authority manifests differently, influenced by their emotions, experiences, and ideals. As the user grows, their Authority evolves through three distinct stages:

The Three Stages of Authority

Ketsui – The Moment of Resolve

At this level, the user learns to pour Aura into their body or into objects they hold. This is the most fundamental step of Authority. People at this stage can momentarily enchant weapons, reinforce their limbs, or channel Aura into items for short bursts of enhanced performance. Ketsui forms the base upon which all higher uses of Authority are built.

Sōken – The First Expression

This is the stage where a user’s Expression is first revealed—a unique manifestation of their soul. Everyone has their own form of Authority expression, though it’s rare to find two exactly alike. Sōken allows a person to infuse their Aura into the world itself, shaping it into something entirely new.

At this stage, users can create ethereal bows, swords, whips, claws, floating blades, or more abstract abilities like invisible slashes or Aura-forged platforms to leap from. Your expression is only limited by your imagination.

Expressions are often enhanced by your Elemental Affinities, and Authority is uniquely capable of fusing multiple elements into a single expression—combining fire and lightning, water and light, or more, depending on the user’s mastery.

Kakusei – True Awakening

This is the highest evolution of Authority—a full fusion of Ketsui and Sōken. At this level, the user’s Aura reshapes both the world and their own body simultaneously, creating a perfected, awakened version of their expression.

Only the strongest individuals ever reach this stage. Kakusei transforms the user’s expression and often amplifies their physical and spiritual abilities to overwhelming levels. However, such power is dangerous. Activating your awakened expression risks instant Burnout, as the sheer strain can be too great for the heart to handle.

Burnout

When Burnout occurs, the user's body closes all Authority channels. For one full minute, all magical and Authority-based abilities shut down—rendering the user completely vulnerable. This state typically follows uncontrolled surges or prolonged overuse of power. Mastering Authority means learning to walk the razor’s edge between strength and collapse.

How to awaken Authority

Authority lies dormant in most people and only awakens in moments of intense emotional or physical stress. A sudden spike in adrenaline, emotional catharsis, or near-death experience can spark the first burst of power—an event referred to as Ketsui, or the "Moment of Resolve."

This awakening is deeply personal and chaotic. Many experience it during combat, facing death or despair. Others may unlock it during moments of revelation or sacrifice. What triggers it varies—but the outcome is always the same: you are never the same again.

Reverse Awakening

There is a phenomenon so unusual it is referred to as a Reverse Awakening. This occurs not when the heart accelerates, but when it stops. When a person who is trained in aura dies, the body can automatically replenish itself with stored aura, attempting to jump-start the heart or restart life functions. This is an unusual phenomenon and typically occurs only in those with deep training, fierce will, and a very robust aura core.

Aura Surge

Under extreme stress or danger, one can incur an involuntary event known as an Aura Surge. This experience, an often-termed adrenaline rush, is where the body automatically fills itself up with aura in a final desperate attempt to live, adapt, or overpower said danger.

This rush is euphoric for the user: a wave of clarity, power, and life force that courses through every cell. For a brief moment, the limitations of the body are transcended and the pure potential of the aura is unleashed.

Yet this power comes with volatility. In the upheaval of an Aura Surge, a person's talents or abilities may shift or evolve, typically in unexpected ways. Known abilities may become more potent, acquire new properties, or temporarily shift into something completely different.

Aura Surges are typically a precursor to awakening in beginner aura users, but even veteran warriors can experience them when pushing themselves past their limits. Learning to comprehend and control the Aura Surge is a major milestone in a practitioner's training.

Aura Awakening Conditions

Aura lies dormant within most people, waiting for the right moment of crisis to awaken. Unlike magic or talent, aura is born from intensity—from pushing the body and soul beyond their breaking point. While many train for years to control aura, it cannot be truly accessed until one has been tempered by adversity.

To awaken your aura, the following core condition must be met: You must be below 50% of your maximum hit points during the triggering event.

Awakening Triggers

• Three Natural 20s in a Row: If you roll three natural 20s in a row on d20 checks, saving throws, or attacks while under 50% HP, your body forcibly tears open your aura core, flooding your system with power.
• Take Double Your Max HP and Survive: If you survive an amount of damage equal to or greater than twice your maximum HP in a single combat encounter (even across multiple hits), your aura awakens in response to the sheer trauma your body has endured.
• Kill a Powerful Enemy While Critically Wounded: If you defeat a creature with 4 times your level in CR while under 25% HP, your aura may awaken in recognition of your dominance under pressure.

After you meet a condition to unlock aura you instantly enter into aura surge. Then you unlock Aura as well.

Reverse Awakening

A reverse Awakening can only be achieved while you are unconscious on the ground and dying. When you make a death-saving throw, you can also make a DC25 Constitution saving throw. On three successes you instantly enter into aura surge and unlock Aura.

The Appearance of Aura

Aura is a reflection of the soul, and its appearance evolves alongside the user's connection to their inner self. At first, it may be subtle, barely more than a shimmer but as mastery deepens, it becomes a vivid, unmistakable extension of identity. Each stage of Aura—Ketsui, Sōken, and Kakusei—has a unique visual presence, shifting from faint echoes of power to overwhelming expressions of one’s will. For those attuned to its flow, Aura reveals not just strength, but the very essence of who someone is.

Ketsui – The Veil of Will

In the first stage, Aura manifests as a thin veil of energy that clings closely to the user’s body, typically forming around specific limbs or held weapons. It might appear as soft glowing gauntlets, faint spectral armor, or glimmering lines tracing across the skin. The effect is quiet and controlled, like a heartbeat just beneath the surface—seen only by those who look closely. Ketsui is subtle, but it marks the first step of channeling the energy within into the physical world.

Sōken – The First Expression

With the second stage comes vivid transformation. Sōken allows the user to manifest their first true expression—an externalized form of their inner soul. These expressions often take the shape of weapons, tools, or constructs, glowing with a vibrant color unique to the individual. This color is not chosen, but innate, and rarely changes over a person’s life. Whether it’s a floating blade of radiant crimson or ethereal chains of shimmering blue, Sōken is unmistakable. It is the soul made visible, bold, and alive.

Kakusei – The True Awakening

At the final stage, Aura erupts into its fullest and most dramatic form. In Kakusei, both the body and expression undergo sweeping change. The user’s physical form may be altered—hair rising, eyes glowing, even skin cracking with light or wrapped in shadow. Their expression evolves in tandem, often becoming larger, more abstract, or more terrifyingly refined. The Aura becomes elemental in nature, lashing out with fire, lightning, wind, or raw force. This is the moment when a person’s will aligns fully with the world—and the world trembles in response.

Optional Rule: Guaranteed Progression

While Authority often awakens through narrative or emotional breakthroughs, some campaigns may prefer a structured approach. With this optional rule, players unlock the stages of Authority at specific character levels:

• Level 3 – Ketsui: The moment of resolve. You unlock Aura Surge and 1 Ketsui Authority Feat.
• Level 6 – Sōken: You reach the stage of First Expression. Gain one additional Soken Authority feat.
• Level 9 – Kakusei: Full awakening. You gain 1 Kakusei Authority feat.

Authority – The Power of Inner Will

Aura & Authority System Overview

Aura is a mystical energy stored in the heart—a raw manifestation of one’s inner will, spirit, and identity. Though invisible to the untrained eye, seasoned users understand that Authority is tied directly to the heartbeat. The faster and more determined one’s heart beats, the more Aura they can summon.

This energy grants individuals the ability to affect the world around them, manifesting in unique, often supernatural ways. Whether through enchanted strikes, ethereal weapons, or elemental control, Authority reflects who you are—and what you fight for.

But this power comes at a cost. The body can only sustain so much strain before it begins to collapse under the pressure. Push too hard, and you enter a state known as Burnout.

Authority

Authority is what people call the use and manipulation of Aura. While Aura is the energy within, Authority is how that energy is shaped and released. It requires extreme willpower to bend Aura into a functional form—whether altering the world, enhancing the body, or manifesting pure concepts into reality.

Each person's Authority manifests differently, influenced by their emotions, experiences, and ideals. As the user grows, their Authority evolves through three distinct stages:

The Three Stages of Authority

Ketsui – The Moment of Resolve

At this level, the user learns to pour Aura into their body or into objects they hold. This is the most fundamental step of Authority. People at this stage can momentarily enchant weapons, reinforce their limbs, or channel Aura into items for short bursts of enhanced performance. Ketsui forms the base upon which all higher uses of Authority are built.

Sōken – The First Expression

This is the stage where a user’s Expression is first revealed—a unique manifestation of their soul. Everyone has their own form of Authority expression, though it’s rare to find two exactly alike. Sōken allows a person to infuse their Aura into the world itself, shaping it into something entirely new.

At this stage, users can create ethereal bows, swords, whips, claws, floating blades, or more abstract abilities like invisible slashes or Aura-forged platforms to leap from. Your expression is only limited by your imagination.

Expressions are often enhanced by your Elemental Affinities, and Authority is uniquely capable of fusing multiple elements into a single expression—combining fire and lightning, water and light, or more, depending on the user’s mastery.

Kakusei – True Awakening

This is the highest evolution of Authority—a full fusion of Ketsui and Sōken. At this level, the user’s Aura reshapes both the world and their own body simultaneously, creating a perfected, awakened version of their expression.

Only the strongest individuals ever reach this stage. Kakusei transforms the user’s expression and often amplifies their physical and spiritual abilities to overwhelming levels. However, such power is dangerous. Activating your awakened expression risks instant Burnout, as the sheer strain can be too great for the heart to handle.

Burnout

When Burnout occurs, the user's body closes all Authority channels. For one full minute, all magical and Authority-based abilities shut down—rendering the user completely vulnerable. This state typically follows uncontrolled surges or prolonged overuse of power. Mastering Authority means learning to walk the razor’s edge between strength and collapse.

How to awaken Authority

Authority lies dormant in most people and only awakens in moments of intense emotional or physical stress. A sudden spike in adrenaline, emotional catharsis, or near-death experience can spark the first burst of power—an event referred to as Ketsui, or the "Moment of Resolve."

This awakening is deeply personal and chaotic. Many experience it during combat, facing death or despair. Others may unlock it during moments of revelation or sacrifice. What triggers it varies—but the outcome is always the same: you are never the same again.

Reverse Awakening

There is a phenomenon so unusual it is referred to as a Reverse Awakening. This occurs not when the heart accelerates, but when it stops. When a person who is trained in aura dies, the body can automatically replenish itself with stored aura, attempting to jump-start the heart or restart life functions. This is an unusual phenomenon and typically occurs only in those with deep training, fierce will, and a very robust aura core.

Aura Surge

Under extreme stress or danger, one can incur an involuntary event known as an Aura Surge. This experience, an often-termed adrenaline rush, is where the body automatically fills itself up with aura in a final desperate attempt to live, adapt, or overpower said danger.

This rush is euphoric for the user: a wave of clarity, power, and life force that courses through every cell. For a brief moment, the limitations of the body are transcended and the pure potential of the aura is unleashed.

Yet this power comes with volatility. In the upheaval of an Aura Surge, a person's talents or abilities may shift or evolve, typically in unexpected ways. Known abilities may become more potent, acquire new properties, or temporarily shift into something completely different.

Aura Surges are typically a precursor to awakening in beginner aura users, but even veteran warriors can experience them when pushing themselves past their limits. Learning to comprehend and control the Aura Surge is a major milestone in a practitioner's training.

Aura Awakening Conditions

Aura lies dormant within most people, waiting for the right moment of crisis to awaken. Unlike magic or talent, aura is born from intensity—from pushing the body and soul beyond their breaking point. While many train for years to control aura, it cannot be truly accessed until one has been tempered by adversity.

To awaken your aura, the following core condition must be met: You must be below 50% of your maximum hit points during the triggering event.

Awakening Triggers

• Three Natural 20s in a Row: If you roll three natural 20s in a row on d20 checks, saving throws, or attacks while under 50% HP, your body forcibly tears open your aura core, flooding your system with power.
• Take Double Your Max HP and Survive: If you survive an amount of damage equal to or greater than twice your maximum HP in a single combat encounter (even across multiple hits), your aura awakens in response to the sheer trauma your body has endured.
• Kill a Powerful Enemy While Critically Wounded: If you defeat a creature with 4 times your level in CR while under 25% HP, your aura may awaken in recognition of your dominance under pressure.

After you meet a condition to unlock aura you instantly enter into aura surge. Then you unlock Aura as well.

Reverse Awakening

A reverse Awakening can only be achieved while you are unconscious on the ground and dying. When you make a death-saving throw, you can also make a DC25 Constitution saving throw. On three successes you instantly enter into aura surge and unlock Aura.

The Appearance of Aura

Aura is a reflection of the soul, and its appearance evolves alongside the user's connection to their inner self. At first, it may be subtle, barely more than a shimmer but as mastery deepens, it becomes a vivid, unmistakable extension of identity. Each stage of Aura—Ketsui, Sōken, and Kakusei—has a unique visual presence, shifting from faint echoes of power to overwhelming expressions of one’s will. For those attuned to its flow, Aura reveals not just strength, but the very essence of who someone is.

Ketsui – The Veil of Will

In the first stage, Aura manifests as a thin veil of energy that clings closely to the user’s body, typically forming around specific limbs or held weapons. It might appear as soft glowing gauntlets, faint spectral armor, or glimmering lines tracing across the skin. The effect is quiet and controlled, like a heartbeat just beneath the surface—seen only by those who look closely. Ketsui is subtle, but it marks the first step of channeling the energy within into the physical world.

Sōken – The First Expression

With the second stage comes vivid transformation. Sōken allows the user to manifest their first true expression—an externalized form of their inner soul. These expressions often take the shape of weapons, tools, or constructs, glowing with a vibrant color unique to the individual. This color is not chosen, but innate, and rarely changes over a person’s life. Whether it’s a floating blade of radiant crimson or ethereal chains of shimmering blue, Sōken is unmistakable. It is the soul made visible, bold, and alive.

Kakusei – The True Awakening

At the final stage, Aura erupts into its fullest and most dramatic form. In Kakusei, both the body and expression undergo sweeping change. The user’s physical form may be altered—hair rising, eyes glowing, even skin cracking with light or wrapped in shadow. Their expression evolves in tandem, often becoming larger, more abstract, or more terrifyingly refined. The Aura becomes elemental in nature, lashing out with fire, lightning, wind, or raw force. This is the moment when a person’s will aligns fully with the world—and the world trembles in response.

Optional Rule: Guaranteed Progression

While Authority often awakens through narrative or emotional breakthroughs, some campaigns may prefer a structured approach. With this optional rule, players unlock the stages of Authority at specific character levels:

• Level 3 – Ketsui: The moment of resolve. You unlock Aura Surge and 1 Ketsui Authority Feat.
• Level 6 – Sōken: You reach the stage of First Expression. Gain one additional Soken Authority feat.
• Level 9 – Kakusei: Full awakening. You gain 1 Kakusei Authority feat.

Stage I – Ketsui (Resolve)

These feats become available upon first unlocking your Aura through the Moment of Resolve. You may only gain one at the time of awakening, unless granted additional feats through progression or DM discretion.

Aura Surge When pushed to the edge of death, your body unleashes the last reserves of its power. Through sheer instinct and willpower, your aura erupts in a moment of raw, explosive force, a temporary transcendence known as the Adrenaline Rush. Adrenaline Ignition. When you start your turn with 20% or less of your maximum HP, you may attempt to enter an Aura Surge. Make a DC 25 Constitution saving throw. On a success, your body is flooded with aura, entering an Adrenaline Rush for a number of rounds equal to your proficiency bonus + Constitution modifier. While in this state, you gain the following benefits: You receive a +2 bonus to all ability scores, and your maximums for each score also increase by 2 for the duration. Choose a number of additional benefits equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down). These are selected by you or your DM. Each benefit may only be chosen once, unless stated otherwise. Adrenaline Rush Benefits Regeneration. Your body begins healing itself. At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to twice your character level. Enhanced Tendons. Your movement speed increases by 4 × your character level. Enhanced Muscles. You gain advantage on all Strength and Dexterity saving throws, as well as Strength and Dexterity ability checks. New Awakening. Once during an Adrenaline Rush, you may take an action to attempt a completely new technique or surge of power. Make a DC 30 saving throw using any ability score of your choice. On a success, choose one: Gain a new skill. Unlock a new elemental affinity. Add a permanent feature to an existing skill. After this, resolve the action you attempted. This benefit can only be used in combat. Enhanced Swordplay. You gain a +2 bonus to weapon attack rolls for the duration. Enhanced Strikes. The damage die of all your weapon attacks increases by two tiers. Unarmed Master. The damage die of your unarmed strikes increases by two tiers. Aura Body Improvement Rather than projecting your aura outward, you turn it inward—enhancing your own body to superhuman levels. Through sheer will and inner focus, you empower your limbs with supernatural strength, speed, and precision. As an action, you may activate this ability. For the next 1 minute, you gain the benefits listed under the Limb Effects section. You begin by enhancing one limb of your choice. For each elemental affinity you possess, you may enhance one additional limb with its associated elemental bonus. You may switch which limbs are empowered as a reaction, once per round. You may not empower the same limb more than once at the same time. Limb Effects & Elemental Enhancements Legs Double your jump height. Triple your long jump distance. Increase your base movement speed by 15 feet. Lightning Affinity: Increase your speed by an additional 10 feet. You also ignore difficult terrain caused by non-magical effects. Arms Your unarmed strike damage die increases by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus. Earth Affinity: Your fists become coated in stone. You gain bonus damage to unarmed strikes equal to half your Constitution modifier. Hands You may add your Constitution modifier to all Strength-based checks (grapples, lifts, etc.). Darkness Affinity: Once per short rest, you may use your reaction to completely nullify the damage from one source. Torso You gain advantage on Constitution saving throws against poisons and diseases. Light Affinity: At the start of each of your turns, regain hit points equal to your Constitution modifier. Neck You gain advantage on saving throws that would prevent you from speaking. As an action, you may unleash a thunderous shout. All creatures within 30 feet must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they take thunder damage equal to your proficiency bonus in d10s. On a success, they take half. Ice Affinity: Creatures that fail their saving throw also have their movement speed reduced by 15 feet until the end of their next turn. Jaw Any natural weapons that use your mouth (bite, etc.) increase their damage die by half your proficiency bonus in die tiers (rounded down). Fire Affinity: As an action, you can cast the Dragon’s Breath spell once, using your Constitution as your spellcasting modifier. You may only target yourself. Ears You gain 5 feet of blindsight and advantage on Perception checks that rely on hearing. Air Affinity: Your blindsight increases to 15 feet as you sense vibrations in the air itself. Eyes Gain 10 feet of darkvision and advantage on Perception checks that rely on sight. No affinity bonus. Skull Gain advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws to resist mind control and fear effects. Water Affinity: Once per short rest, you may choose to reroll a failed mental saving throw. Blade Aura You have learned to infuse magic into your attacks—a fundamental skill for all swordsmen. Elemental Infusion. As a bonus action, you can imbue your weapon or unarmed strikes with one elemental affinity you possess. While imbued, your attacks deal an additional 1d8 damage of the chosen element. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier. You can extend this duration for an additional number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier, but doing so causes Burnout afterward. Multi-Element Infusion. If you have multiple elemental affinities, you may imbue a second element while the first is still active. Overcoming Resistances. Any attack made with a weapon that is imbued with aura overcomes any Aura-based immunities or resistances and is considered magical. Elemental Effects Acid: Corrodes soluble materials that aren’t being worn or carried. Cold: Extinguishes any open, non-magical flames within 5 feet of the target. Fire: Ignites flammable materials that aren’t being worn or carried. Lightning: Generates a gust of wind that clears fog or smoke in a 5-foot cube occupied by you or the target. Poison: Causes all tiny, non-magical plants within 5 feet of the target to immediately wilt and die. Armor Aura You have mastered the art of defensive aura manipulation, creating a radiant shell of energy that shields your body from harm. Aegis-Bound. Increase your Intelligence or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20. Aura Armor. As a free action, you can activate your innate aura armor. While active, you gain the following benefits: You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-aura attacks. You also gain resistance to all damage types you have a known elemental affinity with. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). When this duration ends, you may choose to extend the armor for an additional number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier. If you do, you immediately enter Burnout at the end of the extended duration. Aura Mana Imbuement By channeling aura through your magical core, you fuse spellcasting with raw willpower. Your aura enhances your elemental force, turning every spell into a burst of personalized power. Elemental Surge. Increase your Constitution or Intelligence score by 1, to a maximum of 20. Mana Imbuement. As a bonus action, you can activate this ability for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While active, you gain the following benefit: When you deal damage with a spell, you may add 1d4 extra damage per elemental affinity you possess. This additional damage is applied to one instance of damage dealt by a spell once per turn. Once the duration ends, you may choose to extend the effect for an additional number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier. If you do, you immediately enter Burnout at the end of the extended duration.

Stage II – Sōken (First Expression) Feats

You must be at level 5 to unlock any of the feats below.

Custom Aura Expression Feat

You have gained the ability to manipulate your aura in a unique way. Whether you create threads to slice down your enemies or create a bow from aura to strike down your foes, it's all up to you how you use it! Work with your DM to see what this feature would look like. You should have at least one passive and one active benefit. One of these benefits should be made stronger based on how many elemental affinities you have. Also, the ability should include a way for you to experience Burnout and bypass your duration limit.

Aura Expression – Bow of Light

Your aura manifests as a radiant bow, drawing pure willpower into shimmering arrows of elemental force—created from light and spirit.

Spirit-Touched Archery. Increase your Wisdom or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Manifest Bow of Light. As a bonus action, you can summon a magical bow composed of aura energy. This bow lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While the bow is active:

• You can make ranged attacks using Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma (your choice) instead of Dexterity.
• These attacks are considered magical and ignore nonmagical cover (including half and three-quarters cover).
• Attacks deal 2d8 radiant damage, with a range of 120/300 feet.
• The bow uses no ammunition; each shot is formed from your aura.

Elemental Focus. If you possess one or more elemental affinities, you may choose one when activating the Bow of Light. While active, attacks made with the bow deal an additional 1d4 damage of the chosen element. You can imbue a number of affinities equal to your proficiency bonus + Constitution modifier. For each element imbued, the bow deals an additional 1d4 damage. This elemental damage applies once per turn to one instance of damage.

Aura Overdrive. Once the duration ends, you may extend the bow’s manifestation for an additional number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier. If you do, you immediately enter Burnout when the extension ends.

Aura Expression – Aura Wires

You’ve mastered the rare art of weaving your aura into fine, nearly invisible wires that extend from your fingertips or limbs. These threads slice, bind, trip, or pull your enemies with elegant precision.

Threaded Focus. Increase your Dexterity or Intelligence score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Manifest Aura Wires. As a bonus action, you may activate this ability to manifest your aura wires for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While active:

• Your unarmed strikes gain 15 feet of reach and deal slashing damage.
• You gain an unarmed strike die of 1d8 if you did not already have one. If your unarmed strike die is 1d8 or higher, you instead raise your unarmed strike die by 1.
• Use Dexterity or Intelligence for attack and damage rolls (your choice).
• You may use your wires to interact with objects or levers within range as if they were extensions of your hands.
• Your aura wires count as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity.
• Your wires are invisible to any creature that does not have aura. Against creatures that cannot see the wires, you gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls.

Tactical Snare. Once per turn when you hit a creature with your aura wires, you may choose one:

• Pull: Target must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC = 8 + PB + Dex/Int mod) or be pulled up to 10 feet closer to you.
• Trip: Target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
• Bind: If the target is Medium or smaller, they must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be grappled. You may grapple one creature at a time this way.

Aura Overdrive. When the duration ends, you may extend the wires’ manifestation for an additional number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier. If you do, you immediately enter Burnout at the end of the extension.

Elemental Wires. As a bonus action, imbue your wires with elemental affinity. You can imbue a number of affinities equal to your Constitution modifier + proficiency bonus. For each affinity imbued, increase your unarmed damage die by 1. As a reaction, you can change the damage type to any active affinity.

Aura Expression – Floating Blades

Your aura manifests as a set of weightless, magical blades that hover around you like orbiting stars.

Bladebound Control. Increase your Intelligence or Dexterity score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Manifest Floating Blades. As a bonus action, you summon 3 glowing, spectral blades for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1).

• Expend one to make a ranged melee spell attack (30 ft. range) as part of the Attack action or as a Bonus Action.
• You can attack with a number of blades at once equal to half your Constitution modifier (rounded down).
• Each deals 2d8 slashing damage, using Dex or Int for attack/damage rolls.
• Attacks are magical, ignore nonmagical armor/cover, and do not need weapons.
• While at least one blade remains, gain a +1 bonus to AC.
• Once per turn, you may launch two blades at separate targets within range.
• You may have a number of blades equal to your Constitution modifier (increased to Con + PB at level 10, and 2x Con + PB at level 18).

Elemental Arsenal. As an action, summon additional elemental blades equal to your elemental affinities. Each deals damage matching its element. As a reaction, you may change your active damage type to any active affinity.

Aura Overdrive. At the end of the duration, summon additional blades equal to your Constitution modifier. You immediately enter Burnout after this extension.

Aura Expression – Severing Veil

Your aura manifests as magical slashes of raw will, slicing through the air and space itself.

Razor Will. Increase your Dexterity or Intelligence score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Manifest Severing Aura. As a bonus action, you may manifest aura slashes for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While active:

• Replace any melee weapon or unarmed strike with a Severing Slash (ranged 30 ft.).
• Uses Dex or Int (your choice), deals 2d10 slashing damage, is magical, and bypasses half and three-quarters cover.

Adaptive Cleave. If a creature has more HP than you or hasn’t taken damage this round, your Severing Slash gains advantage (once per turn).

Dismantle. Slashes deal double damage to structures.

Elemental Dismantle. As a bonus action, imbue Severing Slashes with affinities. You may imbue a number equal to Con mod + PB. Each adds 1d4 damage of its type (applies once per turn). Lasts 1 minute or until dismissed. As a reaction, you may switch one active element.

Aura Overdrive. Extend Severing Aura for additional rounds equal to Constitution modifier. You enter Burnout at the end of this duration.

Aura Expression – Divine Flame

Your aura burns with the light of judgment—a fire raging in your heart.

Prerequisite. You must only possess the Fire elemental affinity. If you gain another, you lose access to this feat until only Fire remains.

Divine Conviction. Increase your Charisma or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Manifest Divine Flame. As a bonus action, ignite your Divine Flame. It lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). At the start of your turn, choose one of the following effects:

• Divine Flame Conjuration. As part of the Attack action, make a ranged spell attack (60/120 ft). On hit, the target takes 4d10 fire damage. If reduced to 0 HP, their body erupts in divine flame; each creature within 5 ft must make a DC 15 Dex saving throw or take 4d10 fire damage.
• Divine Flame Imbuement. (Effect details not provided.)

Aura Overdrive. Extend Divine Flame for additional rounds equal to Constitution modifier. You enter Burnout when the extension ends.

Stage III – Kakusei (True Expression) Feats

The following feats may only be taken upon reaching the third stage of Authority – Kakusei (True Expression).

Custom True Authority Expression Feat – Kakusei You have awakened your True Expression, the ultimate form of your Authority. This is your soul made manifest, capable of shaping both your body and the world around you. Work with your DM to design your expression. It should have one major active ability, two passive benefits, and a visual transformation that improves physical capabilities and reflects your identity. Your True Expression always triggers Burnout after use, and it can only be activated once per long rest. At least one part of the ability should scale based on the number of Elemental Affinities you have. This expression represents your final form—make it iconic. True Aura Expression – Zenith Bow Prerequisite: Aura Stage – Kakusei Your aura has reached its final, transcendent shape—both a weapon and a transformation. The Zenith Bow is not a tool you wield; it is a manifestation of your identity, sharpened into form. When summoned, your entire body illuminates in radiant force, haloed by streaks of energy in your unique aura color. Your silhouette warps in speed and intensity, and wings of light erupt from your back. Manifest Zenith Bow As a bonus action, you enter your True Expression, summoning the Zenith Bow for 1 minute. While active: You make ranged spell attacks using Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma (your choice). Your attacks deal 3d10 radiant damage, plus additional effects from elemental affinities. You may make one additional attack per turn with the bow (this stacks with Extra Attack). You ignore nonmagical and magical cover (except full cover) when attacking any creature you can see. The bow glows with overwhelming energy in your personal aura color, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius. Empowered State – Comet Form While the Zenith Bow is active, your body enters a radiant metamorphosis. Your aura surges outward into a visible form: translucent wings of light spread from your back, pulsating with each heartbeat. You gain a flying speed of 30 feet. If you already have a flying speed, it increases by 30 feet. Your movement ignores difficult terrain and allows you to move across vertical surfaces or water as though under the effects of Spider Climb. You have advantage on all Dexterity saving throws and Dexterity ability checks. Opportunity attacks against you are made at disadvantage. Elemental Convergence Upon activation, choose one of your known elemental affinities as your Dominant Affinity. All others become Secondary Affinities. While active: Attacks with the Zenith Bow deal an additional 1d6 damage of your Dominant Affinity’s type. Each Secondary Affinity contributes 1d4 additional damage, applied once per turn. As a bonus action, you may switch your Dominant Affinity once per round. Starlight Barrage (1/manifestation) Once while the Zenith Bow is active, you can unleash a devastating burst of precision and light: As an action, target up to 6 creatures you can see within 300 feet. Make an individual attack roll against each target. Each creature hit takes 6d12 radiant damage, plus the full bonus from Elemental Convergence. If any creature is reduced to 0 HP, they explode in radiant energy. Each creature within 10 feet must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + PB + casting mod) or take 3d10 radiant damage. True Overdrive – Starlight Collapse When the Zenith Bow ends—either due to duration expiring or you choosing to end it—you immediately enter Burnout and suffer 1 level of Exhaustion. This expression is too much for the body to contain. You become a beacon of light and willpower—but every star must burn.

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Campaign Settings → The World of Theous → Custom Job Skills, Skills and Aura