Homebrew Golynn Species Details

From Heliana's Guide

The rich scent of freshly-turned earth may be a sure indicator that a group of nomadic golynn is in the area. Vivacious wanderers, golynn are creatures of nature and have little use for the trappings of modern society. Their shovel-like hands, scaly exterior, and insect-devouring constitution ensures their survival wherever the earth is soft and the soil is fertile.

Heartbeat and Hearth

Golynn adore rhythm. They find joy in the thrum of a lightning-rail, the clip-clop of a riding goat’s hooves, and the heartbeats of their kith and kin. From these everyday occurrences, golynn make wonderfully complex polyrhythms, music whose restorative vibrations can reinvigorate the melancholy and afraid. Indeed, the lead percussionist for the legendary Op-teran band, Wings of a Butterfly, was Hopo Aman, a golynn maestro of the dwarven Tablah. Golynn legend tells of a single, pulsing rhythm that drives all life on the world, the golo’apa, or ‘Heartbeat of the World’. Many golynn’s nomadic existence is a singular quest to explore all the nooks and crannies of the world, searching for this rhythm. In their never-ending pilgrimage, golynn leave a plethora of hidden burrows—warm, safe spaces whose locations are passed on by word of mouth.

Dig a Hole Lotta’ Trouble

This constant burrowing can sometimes bring golynn into conflict with the uto monké, or ‘those that live under the sky’. Golynn have ruined many a quality murderbowl pitch and have even inadvertently undermined castles while searching for the rhythmic clanking of a prisoner’s chains. Conversely, some farmers, recognizing their natural aptitude for digging, engage passing golynn as farmhands whenever possible, promising them all the grubs they can eat in exchange for a day’s work.

Happenstance

Not all golynn are raised by their own kin. Rumor's of the magical healing properties of golynn scales still abound, leading unsavory and desperate individuals to hunt them for these entirely mundane components. Fortunately, orphaned golynn have been taken in by all manner of parents, from Lotol to kobolds who regard them as huge, scaled, dragon-kin. With their fondness for exploration, golynn make natural adventurers. A burrowing golynn might accidentally fall into an underground sepulcher, find a long-buried artifact, or stumble upon the machinations of an evil necromancer bent on raising an army of the undead

Golynn Traits

Let's get diggin'

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Tremorsense

Knowing where the next meal— like a juicy, giant earthworm—can be found underground requires a specific adaptation. You have Tremorsense out to a range of 5 feet. As an action, you can hone your senses, increasing the range of this sense out to 20 feet until the end of your next turn.

Drill Dervish

While burrowing underground, you can shift the ground under a creature’s feet, potentially causing it to fall over. If you burrow directly under a Large or smaller creature that is standing on the ground, the creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Strength modifier your proficiency bonus.

Natural Armor

Your body is covered in thick, keratinous scales. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Shovel Talons

Your wide, powerful claws are perfect for creating tunnels and burrows. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.