Homebrew Caligrosto Species Details

“Naesi... What is this"

Musha walks into the room to see blood splattered over every surface. The bodies of their captors mutilated, their organs strewn across the floor. Standing in the middle of the room is their friend, Naesi. But their eyes are not the right color, and their hands are slowly ripping the heart out of a dying foe. The body thuds to the ground, life finally leaving it. Naesi turns to look at their friend, and their eyes are not the same. Their eyes are pale, wild, happy, crazed.

"Naesi isn't here right now." And with a wild grin, they collapse.

- Musha, Human Druid

Demonic Shade

Caligrostos don't often show their forms, but when they do they can look however they'd like. They always look transparent and ghost-like, though. Their normal forms appear humanoid and demon-like, often with horns, wings, tails, sharp teeth, pointed ears, and markings. Horns vary, just like Tiefling's do. When in their visible incorporeal form, they tend to shed black or red mist. 

Bloodthirsty

Caligrostos are almost always Chaotic Evil, and they live to shed the blood of others. They revel in bloodshed, glory on the battlefield, and bathe in massacres. Some wizards in the past have recruited armies of Caligrostos to fight for them, as the demons will sometimes serve others in return for a stream of steady victims. The most successful instance of caligrostos being allied with non-fell creatures would be the time when a country armed its troops will caligrosto-possessed weapons. When the soldiers fell, their weapons fought on, being wielded by the demons. It was a symbiotic relationship and was very successful. 

Caligrosto Names

Caligrosto names fall into two broad categories. First names, and Title names. They give themselves a First name after their first kill, and since then they may be gifted Title names from a group of other caligrostos or from a superior creature. First names are rarely more then two syllables long. 

Masculine First Names: Jok, Pav, Yus, Eir, Yol, Lan, Nau, Nil, Nul, Wux, Nulu, Nasu, Yusn, Nin, Yolu, Lann, Nul

Neutral First Names: Ivo, Ilo, Isi, Kalun, Kae, Ulaw, Io, Anu, Kal, Ran, Taen, Onnu, Dael, Auz

Feminine First Names: Aki, Ura, Osha, Kai, Hei, Van, Tsi, Gae, Gael, Jas, Sae, Isa, Uul, Tae, Oalt, Yal, Sûn, Nasn, Pasu, Rael, Sivan

“Title” Names: Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Silent, Bladed, Bloodied, Reverence, Sorrow, Torment, Weary, Gore, Fear, Screams, Death, Suffering, Dark, Shadow, Villanous, Swift, Cunning, Silent, Merciless, Chaos, Serrated 

 

Caligrosto Traits

Caligrostos share some racial traits as a part of their existance.

Chosen Weapon

Caligrostos can bind themselves to a weapon, inhabiting it and enhancing it at higher levels. They may attempt to possess anyone who touches their weapon. Once it draws blood, they may wield it on their own. Once a caligrosto binds itself to a weapon, they do not abandon it lightly. They will stick to it unless absolutely forced to leave, and will scorn whoever or whatever forced them to abandon their blade. They are also proficient in any weapon they touch.

Silent Speech

You can telepathically speak into the minds of others. You can speak to them, and hear their thoughts in return.

Incorporeal Movement

The incorporeal caligrosto can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Caligrostos are not born, and do not age physically. They manifest in places that are highly saturated with infernal energy and have seen a lot of death or suffering. Ex: a particularly horrific battlefield with large amounts of demonic energy. Ex: a demon lord’s torture dungeon. 

 

Alignment

Calogrotos physically cannot be any kind of Good alignment- it’s just not in their nature. They are heavily skewed towards Chaotic Evil, and can never not be an Evil alignment. 

Size

Caligrostos do not have a specific size— they are mostly intangible and incorporeal with no shape at all. Their presence, so to speak, cannot get larger than Large, but not many can get that big. When they can and choose to be visible or tangible, they can take on any size/shape they want, though it is easier to take on an appearance similar to something they’ve killed. Your default size is Medium or Small. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 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. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Incorporeal Resistances

In your incorporeal form, you are immune to Cold, Necrotic, and Poison. You are also resistant to Acid, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing From Nonmagical Attacks 

Infernal Knowledge

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

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