Homebrew Inkling Species Details

Inklings are a rare people, and many have never even heard of them, but if you know where to look, you can find hundreds of them. They have beliefs, tactics, and appearances unlike any other race. You couldn't exactly call them war-forged, but battling each other has shaped their cultures and beliefs.

Youthful Personalities

At first glance, you will immediately notice that Inklings closely resemble humans at the age of 10, with the exception of a black figure-eight around their eyes and long, vibrantly colored hair that represents the tentacles of a squid. Also, in addition to appearances, Inklings will think and behave with a youthful charm. Despite childish mindsets, Inklings are known for brilliant battle strategies and tactics. Also, despite a youthful appearance, they can live up to about 200 years old, but usually die sooner from unnatural causes.

Inkling Language

Inklings have adapted their own tongue. Unlike other languages, this language cannot be learned by any creature that isn't an Inkling, as it just sounds like gibberish. Inklings usually just speak common, but the choose to speak Inkling when discussing things like secret plans around any non-Inklings. 

Valiant and Courageous

Very similar to humans, Inklings will go to great lengths to achieve their goals. However, unlike humans, they're not afraid to make sacrifices if they need to. But, of course, some things are just to valuable to give up, even for an Inkling. They don't usually come to depend on certain items unless they are given no other choice. Most Inklings believe that bravery could quite easily be the most useful trait you can have.

Ink Dependency

However, despite Inklings not usually depending on objects, they cannot survive without a healthy supply of ink. This dependency was formed because most Inkling-designed weapons feed off of ink, rather than any type of ammunition. Also, their bodies use ink to generate energy, which an Inkling, like any other race, cannot live without. The more ink an Inkling can get their hands on, the healthier it will be, both physically and mentally.

Cautious and Paranoid

Despite being rather valiant, Inklings often carry with them fear of catastrophe. They have a habit of over-preparing, but they always claim that you can never be too safe. However, this mindset comes with its benefits. They'll always keep an eye out for traps, even if they just seem like decorations or mistakes in the walls or flooring. Also, they have adapted to be more sensitive than most humanoids, so they can occasionally tell whether they're being watched or followed.

Ready For Anything

As a habit, Inklings tend to prepare for the worst-case scenarios, just in case. Usually, such preparation isn't needed, but every now and then, catastrophes occur, and if the Inkling hadn't "over-prepared", they would've been killed. In the past, that used to happen a lot, making Inklings weary about going on adventures and such without preparing for almost every possible outcome.

A Hydrophobic History

By nature, Inklings use ink instead of water to create energy. However, because of its chemical composition, water will diffuse that ink, causing the Inkling to dissolve. Over the course of a century, hundreds of Inklings thought that this was just a stereotype and tried to learn how to swim anyway. But, stereotype or not, it is true for all Inklings, and those who tried to swim simply drowned within the course of about 10 seconds.

Inkling Names

Inklings can have a wide variety of names, even for an entire people. They have names very similar to those of modern-day humans (21-century modern), but some names are a little more unique. It can be difficult to show all the names Inklings can have, but you could just use your own name if you wanted to. However, most Inklings go by titles rather than names.

Inkling Traits

Inklings have very childish looks, traits, and behaviors.

Hydrophobia

Because of its chemical structure, Inklings will start to dissolve in water. As a result, you take 1d4 acid damage for every minute you are in contact with water. However, of course, drinking water or touching a container with water in it is completely harmless. Also, because learning to swim requires spending more than 10 seconds in water, you can't swim, and learning how is impossible unless something somehow negates the trait mentioned above.

Ability Score Increase

You have +2 Dexterity.

Naturally Likable

You have +1 Charisma.

Inkling Morphability

As an Inkling, you were born with the ability to take on an alternate form. You can morph into a squid (or back to your original form) at will, an doing so won't take up your action. While in this state, you have a speed of 20 ft., unless you are on your color ink, in which case, you have a speed of 40 ft. Also, your size is Tiny. Also, you will revert back to your humanoid form automatically if you take any amount of damage.

Languages

You can speak common and Inkling. Inkling is a language developed by your kind, and non-Inkling humanoids cannot learn it.

Super Jump

Inklings have the supernatural ability they call a Super Jump. As an action, you can morph into your squid form and jump to any unoccupied space you can see that is within 60 ft. of you.

Speed

You have a speed of 25 ft.

Alignment

The majority of Inklings fall under a good alignment, but neutral and evil Inklings aren't too uncommon. Nearly all Inklings are chaotic, and almost none are lawful.

Age

Inklings mature at the same rate as humans do, except that they stop growing a around age 10. Also, it isn't rare for an Inkling to live up to about 200 years, but most end up dying sooner because of unnatural causes, like drowning or being killed.

Speak with Squids

The Inkling language was technically developed by Inklings, but it's very similar to the language squids use. As a result, you can communicate basic thoughts and ideas while speaking in Inkling.

Ink Color

Being naturally territorial, Inklings have evolved to have several different colors of ink. Choose an ink color, which will also be your hair color. While on top of your ink, you have a speed of 40 ft. as a squid. Also, your ink is difficult terrain to any other Inkling with an ink color that is different from yours.

Size

Inklings closely resemble young humans, with an average height of a little less than 5 ft., and they normally weigh about 100 lbs. Your size is small.

Speak Underwater

The Inkling tongue was designed using a sound set that's very easy to mimic underwater. As a result, you can speak underwater, but only in Inkling.