Homebrew Kotolux Species Details

The Kotolux: a most quizzical species indeed. A tribal race possessing razor-sharp talons, scaly legs and arms, fur-covered torsos, and two long curved horns, their peculiar appearance often leads other creatures to fear them. Their faces are perhaps their most unusual feature; they lack a mouth and instead have three eyes, a large central one and two smaller ones where a human's mouth would be. They are relatively short, usually not reaching heights greater than five feet, and they speak by vibrating a small area of scales on their back at specific frequencies. They feed on water and fruit juice; to eat, they retract their central eye, leaving an orifice into which liquid can be poured and digested. Kotolux breathe through their scales, and their blood is black. They age much more quickly than humans, typically reaching maturity by only 20 years of age. The oldest Kotolux lived only 40 years before it died of natural causes.

Kotolux are genderless and reproduce asexually. Kotolux shed their scales often, and sometimes will bury a scale in the earth, as if they are planting a seed. The original kotolux, and sometimes its friends and family, will pour water or other liquids on it over the course of six months, during which time the scale changes. After around a month, the scale begins to form roots, which spread through the dirt and pull nutrients to the scale. It forms a shoot, which usually surfaces at the two-month mark. The shoot grows into a thick vine, which at three months begins to grow a single large fruit on the end. The fruit starts as a soft pink globe, but over the next two months it darkens to a dull magenta or mauve color and the rind becomes extremely thick and scaly. A month later, the mature fruit, called a gift of earth, begins to blossom bright pink flowers, signaling that it is ready to be opened. The "parent" of the scale then takes their "kolo," a sacred bladed tool designed for this purpose, and carefully cuts open the fruit, revealing bright pink fruit flesh and a tiny young Kotolux. The remaining fruit is edible and tastes like somewhere between a strawberry and a mango, but the Kotolux believe it is sacrilegious to eat it. Around 5% of the time, the fruit contains no offspring; in this case the fruit may be eaten.

Kotolux are deeply ritualistic and worship the god Jyx the Many-Armed, the god of riddles and puzzles. Long ago, the Kotolux were engaged in a war with the much stronger Omurites, and were losing badly, on the brink of extinction. In desperation, they called to Jyx for help, and he responded by running his hands through the earth around them, rapidly transforming it into a sprawling labyrinthine fortress riddled with traps, dead-ends, and pitfalls. The Omurites were completely unable to navigate the fortress, and the few who did not die to the traps gave up and left the Kotolux alone. Since then, the Kotolux, in reverence for Jyx, have perfected the art of constructing all manner of twisting mazes, archives, and catacombs in which to hide when necessary, filling these constructions with deadly traps only the most observant pathfinders could notice. Powerful evil creatures often take up residence in abandoned Kotolux fortresses, leading to the stereotype.

Each Kotolux wears a hand-crafted intricately carved mask of bone; these masks are never removed, as they are how Kotolux recognize each other since their faces are not distinct enough to be easily distinguished. The carvings in the mask are in fact a unique form of writing which is generally what would be considered the name of the Kotolux. The masks are enchanted such that the eye holes can only be seen through one way, meaning that a Kotolux's eyes are not visible from the outside while the mask is being worn. A Kotolux whose mask has been lost or destroyed becomes called "nameless," and must find a mask maker to create a new mask as soon as possible and may give a new name to be carved onto it, but it cannot use its old name. Until then, the Kotolux goes into solitude and is essentially shunned by other Kotolux. When the new mask is complete, it adopts its new name.

Kotolux Traits

The Kotolux are a unique race with several qualities stemming from both themselves and their history.

Trap Expert

When making a check or saving throw to locate, disarm, or dodge a trap, add your proficiency bonus to the roll. You also have Advantage.

Liquid Eater

You can eat no hard foods; only fluids. A day's rations for a Kotolux consists of at least 1 liter of fruit juice or meat broth.

Tough Composition

Your tough internal system makes poison less effective on you, giving you resistance to it.

Scaly Hide

Thanks to your tough scales and thick fur, you gain a +1 bonus to your AC.