Homebrew Grippli (Candlekeep) Species Details

At first glance or from a distance, a grippli looks like a large frog. Its head and body are indeed those of a frog, but its front extremities end in hands with fingers that enable it to manipulate weapons and other objects, and its rear legs have similar digits that it can use for grasping and climbing. A grippli can move as quickly on all fours as it can on two legs.

Similarly to elves, Grippli can live for centuries. Some grippli have lived as long as 700 years. Throughout their lives, Grippli continue to slowly grow. When they are young, they typically stand around 2 feet tall and older grippli typically stand around 4 feet tall.

Creating Your Character

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

Grippli (Candlekeep) Traits

As a grippli, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

Your size is Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet and you have a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

Deft Climber

Because of your frog-like hands, you have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. You can’t use this climbing speed if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor.

Expanded Lungs

You can hold your breath for 20 minutes.

Standing Leap

You can leap 30 feet horizontally or 20 feet vertically from a standing position.

Grippli Adaptation

You gain proficiency with one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Nature, Stealth, or Survival.

Mouth Grappler

When you successfully grapple a creature, you can choose to restrain them with your sticky tongue. When you do so, the target becomes restrained and you can’t grapple another creature until this grapple ends.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.