Homebrew Broodspawn Fiendling Species Details
Deep in the Underdark, a nest resides. It is a hive of Brood Mothers and their spawn -- feral creatures that survived the Great War and since have continued to evolve and expand. There are innumerable species and evolutions of demons and devils spawned from these Mothers, but oftentimes the result of their breeding creates only hungry armies of low-level abominations. These armies soon after birth battle to the death, dwindling down to only a few in number, who thereafter eat their own Mothers and beget the next generation of Broodspawn.
For ages this cycle had been much overlooked by the more powerful creatures of the Underdark, who step into the nests only to devour the newly hatched abominations. However, in more recent years the cycle changed. Certain more powerful Brood Mothers have migrated to the center of the nest where they demand their bellies be filled with the children of their lesser siblings. Weak Brood Mothers feed strong Brood Mothers and therefore a more powerful race has been brought out of their bellies. These humanoid creatures have come to be known as Broodspawn Fiendlings.
Unlike the other Broodspawn, these creatures do not kill and eat their mothers. Instead, they are marked by them and gain a natural ability to call forth less powerful Brood Mothers from the Underdark to do their bidding. Because of their power and abilities, Broodspawn Fiendlings have become something of a champion for the nest in the Underdark.
Fighting more powerful fiends to keep the cycle safe and to spawn more and more of these creatures, the Broodspawn Fiendlings tend to make a name for themselves in the Underdark. These names are typically given by their foes or the Mothers and speak of their victories, personalities, or fighting styles. Examples of names are Broody Hagslayer, Ruddy Sharpslinger, Slaadkilling Ambusher, and Longlegged Crusher. Oftentimes these names get shortened into nicknames. For example, Broody Hagslayer might become Broodiglay, Ruddy Sharpslinger might become Ruddlinger, and Slaadkilling Ambusher might become Slaasher.
Broodspawn Fiendling have long legs with double knees, padded and hairy feet much like a lion's with claws, long arms with sharp nails, a forked tail, and long horns with barbs on the end. They grow a bit of hair on their heads but it never gets very long. They are sharp, angular, and lanky but surprisingly strong for their size. Their skin is tough and typically mottled with blacks, browns, and greens.
Every once in a while, one of these creatures will find their way to the surface. They are typically met with fear and loathing but can find a home amongst any race who is welcoming to them. Surprisingly, they find the most difficulty getting along with Tieflings who often consider them monsters of the Underdark rather than fellow comrades in an Abyssal heritage.
Broodspawn Fiendling Traits
As a Broodspawn Fiendling, you gain the following traits:Creature Type
You count as both a humanoid and a fiend.
Ability Score Increase
Your Constitution Score increases by 1 and you gain 2 points in either Strength or Dexterity.
Age
Unlike other Broodspawn, rather than being ready to go out and fight right after birth, Broodspawn Fiendlings mature very slowly. They mature at 5 years old but live to be 100 years exactly.
Alignment
Because of their harsh upbringing and the nature of their species, Broodspawn Fiendlings are almost never of a Good or Lawful alignment. They typically tend to be Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Evil. Those who make their way to the surface and choose to stay there often tend to be Chaotic, otherwise it is difficult for them to survive without getting along.
Size
Broodspawn Fiendlings are much taller than humans, ranging about 7 to 8 feet tall and weighing around 250-300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Broodspawn Fiendlings use their claws to dig into the earth and burrow through the various layers of the Underdark. Their tough skin keeps them from hurting themselves while doing so. They can also use their long limbs and claws to climb, although it is a frightening sight to see them scale walls.
Darkvision
You were born and bred in darkness. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Abyssal. You can only speak Common in simple terms but cannot read or write it.
Tough-Skinned
You have a +1 bonus to AC while you are not wearing armour.
Must I get Mother Involved?
Once per long rest, as an action you can summon a Brood Mother from the Underdark to fight with you. The following requirements must be met in order for you to do so:
- You must be in battle.
- You must be at half health or less.
- You cannot be exhausted or prone (you can be restrained).
When you choose to summon a Brood Mother as your action, you will go into a trance-like state for 5 rounds. You cannot take actions or reactions during this time. An aura of black mist will surround you for the duration which soaks up damage equal to 2 times your character level per hit every time an attack is made against you. However, if you take any additional damage that is not soaked up by the aura on your turn while the summoning is still active, you immediately fall unconscious.
During the summoning, you can still be the target of spells, including those that would move you. If anything causes you to move from your current position, regardless if no damage was taken, you immediately fall unconscious.
If you successfully stay in one place without taking damage (that is not soaked up by your aura) for the duration of the summoning, you summon a Brood Mother with the following stats and abilities:
Strength 17 (+3)
Dexterity 15 (+2)
Constitution 20 (+5)
Intelligence 12 (+1)
Wisdom 10 (+0)
Charisma 5 (-2)
The Brood Mother you summon has hit points equal to twice your maximum hit points. It is considered a large fiend. It has an armour class of 18 (natural armour), a walking speed of 30 feet, and a burrowing speed of 30 feet. It has darkvision and can speak and understand the Abyssal language. It has advantage against being frightened.
Damage resistances: Force
Protective: The Brood Mother you summon is protective of you. It will stay close to you in battle and attack any opponent that attacks you.
Actions:
Whip. The Brood Mother uses the long whip-like structures on its head or its forked tail to attack a creature within range. Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+ character level bludgeoning damage.
Burrowing Burst. The Brood Mother burrows underground towards and opponent and bursts to the surface underneath them. Melee attack: affects all creatures within a 10ft. cube who must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8+ character level force damage and be knocked prone. (Any space the Brood Mother leaves in order to make this attack becomes difficult terrain.)
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