Homebrew Cactarus Species Details

In the heart of the desert -- far past where most plant and animal life can survive, where the air shimmers with heat and the sands scorch unprotected feet --dwell the jovial cactari. Few folk can claim to have seen a cactarus, and fewer still can claim friendship with them. Cactari wander an austere and beautiful realm of endless expanses of sand, sun, and heat. Their bodies look as if they are giant roving cacti, thick, muscular and green, with sharp needles protruding from their skin. Their hearts are infused with the fiery heat of their searing home, making most cactari passionate, generous, and affectionate. 

Generous Hosts

Life in the desert can be harsh and unforgiving. Cactari are inclined to help each other and will go to great lengths to aid those in distress, for the lack of such aid can lead to swift death. Cactari thus place a premium on community, friendship, loyalty, and generosity, for the group's survival often depends on just such qualities. 

Cactari are trained from early on to give freely to those in need, and are communal and egalitarian by nature. They know life can be short, and thus if they have the opportunity to mitigate suffering or bring joy, they seize it. 

 

Cactari Names

Every cactarus is given a simple name at birth, and often takes another when they enter adulthood--sometimes an adaptation of their birth name, sometimes something entirely new. Cactari rarely have last names as individual lineages matter little in a culture where allegiance to the community is a higher priority than your individual clan. However,  in adulthood, some cactari earn surnames that signal some accomplishment or skill or tendency. 

Cactari names tend to be gender-neutral. Although individual cactari can identify as a specific gender, biologically all cactari can flower and be pollinated by other cactari and create bud-children. 

Birth names (generally 1-2 syllables long): Baz, Direk, Graz, Koogrok, Kuzrog, Meruk, Ogurk, Naz, Norag, Raguun, Vor, Vrotu, Yeenk, Yerub, Zoz

Chosen/Given surnames: Bearkiller, Dawncaller, Fearless, Flintfinder, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Steadyhand, Threadtwister, Twice-Orphaned, Twistedlimb, Wordpainter

Cactarus Traits

Cactari share a number of traits in common with each other.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by 2, and another by 1.

Age

Cactari have lifespans comparable to humans. They enter adulthood in their late teens and usually live less than a century.

Size

Cactari are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Natural Athlete

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Restorative Sap

You can cause thick sap to ooze from your wounds, and heal yourself. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and heal yourself for that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Desert Born

You have resistance to radiant damage and advantage against attacks that would blind you with light.

Languages

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