Homebrew Dauntless Species Details

He stood at the gate, his sword at the ready. His face is scarred from the many battles he'd been in over the years. His armor had some obvious signs of wear and tear, the symbol of an ancient house barely visible upon his shouder. The emblem on his sword worn almost completely away.

Jyohnn had spent most of his life preparing for war. He was ready. No fear. No remorse. He adjusted the shield on his arm slightly. It never quite felt comfortable, and he liked it that way. It made sure he paid attention to its position when in use.

Faced with the angry orcs before him, he charges, knowing he is as ready as can be for this impending battle.

— SlinkPlays, D&D Beyond

Born as a result of magic-infused humans, Dauntless are much more physically imposing than normal humans. Born of the magic of some forgotten celestial being, they are naturally capable of defending themselves and have a knack for learning the martial arts. Some are bigger than others, but make no mistake, all of them pose a large threat to those around them.

Celestial Descendants

Dauntless more closely resemble the human half of their lineage. At first, they often had more Aasimar-like traits, but through the years they were lost in most bloodlines and were heavily dilated with human genes. Typically, the have the same skin-tones as humans, though their eyes can vary depending on how strong their aasimar genes are. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 250 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are strong and well muscled from a youth of training.

Often Dauntless are mistaken for humans. They don't mind, as most races get along with them. 

War-Ready Clans

To most Dauntless, war is life. Dauntless will spend most of their lives training for some inevitable fight in their future. Each Dauntless is expected to take their training seriously, as being unprepared or incompetent in battle is disgraceful. Each Dauntless fights in whatever way they can, so it isn't uncommon to spot a mix of spellcasters and weapon users.

A passive-aggressive attitude defines the race quite well. Dauntless will show their feelings clearly, especially if angered. They hate to fail, and they push themselves to extreme efforts before they give up on something. They see self-sufficiency and combat knowledge as important things to attain, and respect those who are well versed in either.

However, not all Dauntless are cut out for the rough-and-tumble life of their brethren. More often than not, they simply join human society and choose to live in piece rather than feel shamed by other Dauntless.

Dauntless Names

Dauntless names are named very much the same as human. It is often based on parental preference or is perhaps inspired by the names of other family. A childhood name or nickname is often given among friend groups as a rite of acceptance. 

Male Names: Aldric, Benton, Cyneric, Edmund, Erwin, Freyr, Osmund, Tatton, Warwick

Female Names: Astrid, Audrey, Blythe, Delwyn, Eda, Fleta, Illona, Wren

THE TAINTED

In the Kahmulok setting, the followers of the evil god Cyric learned a dark ritual that let them corrupt a group of young Dauntless called The Tainted. The Tainted fought the Daunltess in the War of the Black Dawn. In place of their physical strength, they have unique magical abilities.

Dauntless Traits

Your Dauntless heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other Dauntless.

Ability Score Increase

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

Trained Fighter

You can use your attack to make a strong unarmed strike. As a Dauntless, your skills in hand-to-hand combat have been honed and enhanced. When you make an unarmed strike, you can roll 1d6 + your Strength modifier at first level., 2d6 at 3rd level, 3 d6 at 5th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 and 15 level. You may also use this as a bonus action twice per short rest.

Age

Young dauntless age more slowly than humans. They reach adulthood around the age of 25 and are known to live to the age of 110.

Size

Dauntless are taller and heavier than average humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance against bludgeoning, having been trained to take a punch or ten.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.