Homebrew Ghoul Species Details

Ghoul’s are a carnivorous and cannibalistic humanoid species. They are only able to feed on the flesh/blood/organs of humanoid species and even their own kind in some circumstances, any other food tastes bitter and rotten - some have managed to master to act of pretence eating.. others not so much. No one really knows why yet, but somehow coffee is the only regular drink (apart from water) that sustains their hunger.

These creatures are incredibly human variant appearing most of the time, so those who are willing could blend in with the crowd pretty easily - making them all the more terrifying as they could be anyone - your teacher, your friend, your shopkeeper.. your coffee barista. However, their true forms can be anything from crazed black and red eyes to a terrifying insect-like mutated form.

Ghoul Traits

Ghoul’s are a carnivorous and cannibalistic humanoid species. They are only able to feed on the flesh/blood/organs of humanoid species and even their own kind in some circumstances, any other food tastes bitter and rotten - some have managed to master to act of pretence eating.. others not so much. No one really knows why yet, but somehow coffee is the only regular drink (apart from water) that sustains their hunger. These creatures are incredibly human variant appearing most of the time, so those who are willing could blend in with the crowd pretty easily - making them all the more terrifying as they could be anyone - your teacher, your friend, your shopkeeper.. your coffee barista. However, their true forms can be anything from crazed black and red eyes to a terrifying insect-like mutated form.

Ghoul

The Perks and Flaws of Ghouls

Dark vision

Due to having evolved to hunt in the darkness of night and hidden places to keep their identities a secret, the ghoul’s have evolved dark vision of 60ft. This allows them to see in shades of white, black, grey and red - this allows them to follow the blood trails of those that they’re hunting.

Cursed Hunger

Due to their nature as cannibalistic entities, the ghoul race find themselves battling their own instincts to hunt down prey depending on the levels of hunger that they’re suffering from and their personal morals and beliefs. You may find some indulgent ghouls who eat just because and never suffer a day in their life, or you may find those who eat just to survive.. or those who literally starve themselves as they’re against their own nature (normally found in the One-Eye variant.)

The hunger may be suppressed by drinking coffee (one cups worth is usually around 5gp and can be prepared for within 10 minutes and/or during a short rest.), or by simply eating flesh and blood. Below is a table of detriments that certain levels of hunger can bring. The ghoul cannot consume anything other than flesh or coffee, as nothing else will contain nutritional value or even good taste. If they choose not to or unable to, they must make a constitution saving throw (DC: 8 + days of hunger), or take 2d10 poison damage. (At level one when you start, the ghoul does start off with humanoid flesh instead of the regular adventurers rations).

• Drinking coffee sets back the hunger by one day.
•  Eating a meals worth of humanoid flesh, dead, sets the counter back by two days. 
• Consuming a living humanoid sets the counter back to 0.
• When you collect flesh rations, they will have the Same effect as coffee and only last 48 hours after collection before they rot. If you choose to consume rotten flesh it pushes the counter forward an extra day.
• If not well practiced in chewing regular food and drink, or forced to eat it, you have the uncontrollable urge to throw up and can push the counter forward an extra day.

The hunger table:

• 0 days = No effects 
• 1 day = -1 to charisma rolls, irritability and high sense to blood.
• 2 days = -2 to charisma rolls, -1 to wisdom rolls. The ghoul seems obsessive over something to eat and quick to threatening situations.
• 3 days = -3 to charisma rolls, -2 to wisdom rolls and -1 to strength rolls. Movement speed is reduced by 10 feet. The scelera of their eyes uncontrollably turn back to their natural black with a jittery red iris. 
• 4 days = -4 to all rolls. Upon smelling humanoid blood/flesh, you must make a wisdom saving throw (DC: 15) or else be thrown into a crazed hunger. All attack rolls in this state are made with disadvantage and are counted as 1d4+Proficiency bite and claw attacks, which can end the crazed hunger if they successfully hit and consume something. The ghoul MUST attack the closest humanoid to them, ally or not. Taking damage allows the ghoul to retake the save. GHOULS CANNOT ACCESS KAGUNE AT THIS LEVEL OF HUNGER.

 

Kagune

Ghouls have a certain biology which separates them from other humanoids which is that they have an extra organ hidden within the back part of their bodies. This organ is one of the main sources for their healing factor and contains their very own biological weaponry.
This is called the Kagune.

You possess the ability to alter your body into a hunters state, discarding your humane disguises away in order to access your innate powers. During this transformation they grow claws equal to 1d6 slashing damage. The Kagune usually lasts for one minute, however it is able to be pushed longer but it will result on an automatically added day to the hunger counter.

Ghoul Traits

Ghouls are almost indistinguishable from other races. Unless hungry.

Dark Vision

Due to having evolved to hunt in the darkness of night and hidden places to keep their identities a secret, the ghoul’s have evolved dark vision of 60ft. This allows them to see in shades of white, black, grey and red - this allows them to follow the blood trails of those that they’re hunting.

Ability Score Increase

Your ability scores each increase by 1.

Age

Ghouls reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.

Size

Ghouls vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Cursed Hunger

The hunger may be suppressed by drinking coffee (one cups worth is usually around 5gp and can be prepared for within 10 minutes and/or during a short rest.), or by simply eating flesh and blood. Below is a table of detriments that certain levels of hunger can bring. The ghoul cannot consume anything other than flesh or coffee, as nothing else will contain nutritional value or even good taste. If they choose not to or unable to, they must make a constitution saving throw (DC: 8 + days of hunger), or take 2d10 poison damage. (At level one when you start, the ghoul does start off with humanoid flesh instead of the regular adventurers rations).

• Drinking coffee sets back the hunger by one day.
•  Eating a meals worth of humanoid flesh, dead, sets the counter back by two days. 
• Consuming a living humanoid sets the counter back to 0.
• When you collect flesh rations, they will have the Same effect as coffee and only last 48 hours after collection before they rot. If you choose to consume rotten flesh it pushes the counter forward an extra day.
• If not well practiced in chewing regular food and drink, or forced to eat it, you have the uncontrollable urge to throw up and can push the counter forward an extra day.

The hunger table:

• 0 days = No effects 
• 1 day = -1 to charisma rolls, irritability and high sense to blood.
• 2 days = -2 to charisma rolls, -1 to wisdom rolls. The ghoul seems obsessive over something to eat and quick to threatening situations.
• 3 days = -3 to charisma rolls, -2 to wisdom rolls and -1 to strength rolls. Movement speed is reduced by 10 feet. The scelera of their eyes uncontrollably turn back to their natural black with a jittery red iris. 
• 4 days = -4 to all rolls. Upon smelling humanoid blood/flesh, you must make a wisdom saving throw (DC: 15) or else be thrown into a crazed hunger. All attack rolls in this state are made with disadvantage and are counted as 1d4+Proficiency bite and claw attacks, which can end the crazed hunger if they successfully hit and consume something. The ghoul MUST attack the closest humanoid to them, ally or not. Taking damage allows the ghoul to retake the save. GHOULS CANNOT ACCESS KAGUNE AT THIS LEVEL OF HUNGER.

Kagune: Rinkaku

Ghouls have a certain biology which separates them from other humanoids which is that they have an extra organ hidden within the back part of their bodies. This organ is one of the main sources for their healing factor and contains their very own biological weaponry.
This is called the Kagune.

Rinkaku Ghouls are generally considered the most physically powerful Ghoul Subrace. With a kagune shaped like tentacles (normally 2-5, but there are some with only 1, and some with over 5) that are normally powerful enough to slice a human in half instantly, the Rinkaku Ghouls could usually defeat any other Ghoul Subrace. However, Rinkaku Ghouls have a brittle kagune with weak RC Cell bonds compared to other Ghouls, so if it breaks, and they don’t have time to reform it, then a Rinkaku Ghoul could easily be slaughtered by any other Ghoul Subrace.

You possess the ability to alter your body into a hunters state, discarding your humane disguises away in order to access your innate powers. During this transformation they grow claws equal to 1d6 slashing damage.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Humans typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.