Homebrew Despicable Species Details

Despised by all races but their fellow infernals the tieflings, despicables certainly earn their title. Powerful creatures, many consider despicables the natural enemy of aasimars. Encounters with despicables are rare, due to hunts in the past wiping out large populations of them. Still feared, despicables live in huge, sprawling colonies in caves filled usually with only other despicables and tieflings. 

Infernal Bloodline

Despicables have large horns that take different shapes. They have thick tails, four to five feet long and covered in spikes. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, their pupils are slitted, and their tongues are forked. Their skin tones vary between almost any color, and their hair is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple, though some despicables have been known to have white hair. Despicables also have large wings on their back that grant them flight.

Colonies and Craftsmanship

The sprawling underground colonies despicables live in are quite impressive. Built out of beautiful metals and stone, they showcase the excellent workmanship of the race, some architects and smiths rivaling even the dwarves. They often live among other minority populations when they are born without the company of other despicables.

Marvietanna, known as the Dark Demonhold to dwarves, is the birthplace of the despicable race. While the majority of the population is despicable, their are a great many tieflings, vampires, dwarves, and drow living there. It is also home to some number of kobolds, gnomes, and goblins. Here and there there are other races.

Despicable Names

Despicable names fall into three broad categories. Despicables born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their heritage. Many despicables have names passed down through Despicable lineage.

Male Infernal Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai

Female Infernal Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta

Male Despicable Names: Arcantos, Brimétonne, Chjarma, Dooree, Farashta, Karkas, Prochta, Zefjutis

Female Despicable Names: Arkjana, Babbath, Chorty, Makka, Mortenju, Skjuta, Venja

Despicable Traits

Despicables have the following racial traits

Infernal Ancestry

You have infernal ancestry. Choose one from the lnfernal Ancestry table. Your tail weapon is determined by the infernal type, as shown in the table.

Infernal Ancestry

Infernal	DAMAGE TYPE	Tail WEAPON
Black	Fire	5 ft.   - 1d6 fire damage
Blue	Cold	5 ft.   - 1d6 cold damage
Brown	Acid	5 ft.   - 1d6 acid damage
Green	Thunder	5 ft.   - 1d6 thunder damage
Red	Fire	5 ft.   - 1d6 fire damage
Orange	Lightning	5 ft.   - 1d6 lightning damage
Purple	Poison	5 ft. - 1d6 poison damage

Tail Weapon

You can use your action to release elemental havoc through your tail. Your Infernal ancestry determines the damage type of the hit. When you use your tail weapon, you must make an attack roll + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 1d6 damage of your elemental type. The elemental damage increases to 2d6 at 6th level, 3d6 at 11th level, and 4d6 at 16th level. After you use your tail weapon's elemental feature, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest. You can still use it as a melee weapon as a bonus action, causing 1d4 piercing damage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and one other score of your choice increases by 1.

Age

Despicables have incredibly long lifetimes. They age at the same rate as humans till about their mid-30s, then begin to slow, reaching an "elderly" look by about 700. They can live up to 1,000 years or so, though most are killed before then.

Alignment

Leaning into their reputation, lone despicables tend to evil and chaotic. Despicables who live in despicable colonies, however, are often much more lawful, although fairly neutral on the moral spectrum.

Size

Despicables vary in size and build, coming between four and a half to seven feet. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, your size is Medium. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your base flying speed is 25 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your infernal heritage, 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. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Infernal and Undercommon.