Homebrew Mothcat Species Details

"Mothcats... While they may appear absolutely adorable and cuddly as can be, they can be the mischievous lot! We had a mothcat come in for a plate of our hydra sushi, and she very well devoured three whole plates right before she vanished off without paying! Cuties they are, but rascals as well."

— Galien Fitzbur, Barkeeper

In the vast and magical world of Aetheria, amidst the dense forests and moonlit meadows, a race of enchanting beings known as Mothcats roams. Legends say that the Mothcats were born from the harmonious fusion of ancient moonlight and the essence of ethereal moths, creating a race of graceful and mysterious creatures.

Long ago, when the world was still in its infancy, the realm of Aetheria was blessed with a celestial event known as the Moondance. During this wondrous event, the moon bathed the land in a radiant glow, and ethereal moths descended from the heavens, drawn by the moon's enchantment. These moths carried with them a profound connection to magic, and their wings shimmered with vibrant, iridescent hues.

As the moths fluttered through the air, their delicate wings brushed against the plants, infusing them with traces of lunar magic. The plants blossomed with extraordinary beauty and became a source of nourishment and vitality for the Mothcats. Over time, the Mothcats began to develop a symbiotic relationship with these plants, growing a set of delicate antenna-like appendages on their heads, resembling the wings of the moths.

The Mothcats' appearance is a testament to their mystical lineage. They have slender, feline bodies covered in velvety fur that varies in color, mimicking the vibrant hues of the ethereal moths. Their large, expressive eyes glow softly with the moon's gentle light, reflecting their affinity for the night. Each Mothcat's unique color patterns and markings are said to be influenced by the celestial constellations, and they are regarded as a reflection of their individuality and connection to the stars.

Due to their connection to the moon and the ethereal moths, Mothcats possess innate magical abilities. They have an affinity for illusion, enchantment, and nature-based magic. They can manipulate moonlight, casting spells that harness its power to heal, create illusions, or enhance their agility. Mothcats also possess a remarkable empathy towards nature and animals, often acting as protectors and caretakers of the environment.

The Mothcats have built their society in harmony with nature, residing in hidden settlements nestled deep within the enchanted forests. These settlements, known as Moonshade Sanctuaries, are adorned with luminescent plants and mystical crystals that emit a soft, ethereal glow, creating an otherworldly ambiance. The Mothcats' peaceful existence revolves around honoring the moon and nurturing the flora and fauna around them.

Mothcats are renowned for their wisdom, grace, and deep connection to the mystical forces of the world. They are often sought out as advisors, mystics, or guides for those who seek to tap into the secrets of the moon and the natural world. However, the Mothcats are an elusive race, preferring to remain hidden and protect their sacred knowledge from those who may misuse it.

In the realm of Aetheria, the Mothcats are regarded as a race of enchanting beings whose presence brings a sense of tranquility and wonder. They continue to weave their delicate tapestry of magic and nature, safeguarding the balance between the mortal realm and the celestial forces that govern it.

Upon leaving the realm of Aetheria, Mooncats typically leave behind their vibrant colors for more traditional fur designs.

Wandering Souls

Most mothcat remain in their distant homeland, content to live among one another. These mothcat are considered more tribal among the mothcat race.

However, not all mothcats are satisfied with such a life. The Mothman, the mysterious figure responsible for the creation of the mothcats via the Moondance, grants gifts to each of his children. Those gifted with curiosity are compelled to wander far and wide. They seek out stories, artifacts, and lore. Those who survive this period of wanderlust return home in their elder years to share news of the outside world and their wonderful adventures throughout the lands. In this manner, the mothcats remain isolated but never ignorant of the world beyond their homeland.

Knowledge is Power

Mothcats treasure knowledge rather than material things such as coin. A chest filled with gold coins might be useful to buy food or a coil of rope, but it’s not as interesting to a mothcat than an ancient scroll or text. In the mothcat's eyes, gathering wealth is like packing rations for a long trip. It’s important to survive in the world, but not as important as making grand discoveries.

Instead, mothcats value knowledge and new experiences. Their ears perk up in a busy tavern, and they tease out stories with offers of food, drink, and coin. Mothcats might walk away with empty purses, but they mull over the stories and rumors they collected like an ancient dragon telling their life story.

Although material value holds little attraction for the mothcat, they have an insatiable desire to find and inspect ancient relics, magical items, and other rare objects. Aside from the power such items might possess, a mothcats takes great joy in unraveling the stories behind their creation and the history of their being.

Glimpse of Glimmer

Wandering mothcats are mercurial creatures, trading one obsession or passion for the next as the whim strikes. A mothcat’s desire burns bright, but once met it disappears to be replaced with a new obsession. Objects remain intriguing only as long as they still hold secrets.

A mothcat rogue could happily spend months plotting to steal a strange gem from a noble, only to trade it for passage on a ship or a week’s lodging after stealing it. The mothcat might take extensive notes or memorize every facet of the gem before passing it on, but the gem holds no more allure once its secrets and nature have been laid bare.

Crafty and Curious

Curiosity drives most of the mothcats found outside their homeland, but not all of them become adventurers. Mothcat who seek a safer path to satisfy their obsessions become wandering craftsmen and minstrels.

These mothcats work in small troupes, usually consisting of an elder, more experienced mothcat who guides up to four young ones learning their way in the world. They travel in small, colorful wagons, moving from settlement to settlement. When they arrive, they set up a small stage in a public square where they sing, play instruments, tell stories, and offer exotic goods in trade for items that spark their interest. Mothcats reluctantly accept gold, but they much prefer interesting objects or pieces of lore as payment.

These wanderers keep to civilized realms, preferring to bargain instead of pursuing more dangerous methods of sating their curiosity. However, they aren’t above a little discreet theft to get their claws on a particularly interesting item when an owner refuses to sell or trade it.

Mothcat Names

Each mothcat has a single name, determined by tribe and based on a complex formula that involves astrology, prophecy, tribe history, and other esoteric factors. Mothcat names can apply to both males and females, and most use nicknames derived from or inspired by their full names.

Clan names are usually based on a geographical feature located in or near the clan’s territory.

The following list of sample mothcat names includes nicknames in parenthesis.

Mothcat Names: Cloud on the Mountaintop (Cloud), Five Timber (Timber), Jade Shoe (Jade), Left-Handed Hummingbird (Bird), Seven Thundercloud (Thunder), Skirt of Snakes (Snake), Smoking Mirror (Smoke)

Mothcat Clans: Bright Cliffs, Distant Rain, Mountain Tree, Rumbling River, Snoring Mountain

Mothcat Personality

A mothcat might have motivations and quirks much different from a dwarf or an elf with a similar background. You can use the following tables to customize your character in addition to the trait, ideal, bond, and flaw from your background.

The Mothcat Obsession table can help hone your character’s goals. For extra fun, roll a new result every few days that pass in the campaign to reflect your ever-changing curiosity.

Mothcat Obsessions

d8	My curiosity is currently fixed on …
1	A god or planar entity
2	A monster
3	A lost civilization
4	A wizard’s secrets
5	A mundane item
6	A magic item
7	A location
8	A legend or tale

 Mothcat Quirks

d10	Quirk
1	You miss your tropical home and complain endlessly about the freezing weather, even in summer.
2	You never wear the same outfit twice, unless you absolutely must.
3	You have a minor phobia of water and hate getting wet.
4	Your tail always betrays your inner thoughts.
5	You purr loudly when you are happy.
6	You keep a small ball of yarn in your hand, which you constantly fidget with.
7	You are always in debt, since you spend your gold on lavish parties and gifts for friends.
8	When talking about something you’re obsessed with, you speak quickly and never pause and others can’t understand you.
9	You are a font of random trivia from the lore and stories you have discovered.
10	You can’t help but pocket interesting objects you come across.

Mothcat Traits

Your mothcat character has the following racial traits.

Moth Wings

After your various adventures, your body adapts to your journey by sprouting a pair of wings, giving you a 20ft flight speed.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Mothcats typically live up to 120 years of age.

Size

Mothcats are shorter than humans and relatively slender. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You have a cat’s keen senses, especially in the dark. 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.

Feline Agility

Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.

Cat’s Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 25 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you attack with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Cat’s Talent

You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.