Homebrew Zaru Species Details

The Zaru's origins are shrouded in mystery and tales of incredible power. These formidable beings possess an innate affinity for combat and an unyielding drive to constantly push their limits, allowing them to tap into extraordinary potential. 

Ability Score Increases

The Zaru gets a +1 to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution

Languages

The Zaru can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you choose.

Creature Type

Humanoid

Life Span

Zaru have muscular bodies and are mature around the age of 14-15 when their bodies go through a growth spurt going from toddler sized to late teen in the span of a year. This is due to Zaru scientists specifically engineering the Zaru lineage to maximize the fighting capabilities of the race based on proportional strength and size. They further gain a growth spurt at 35, their musculature becoming almost as if sculpted by a god. Gaining 55 or so pounds of pure mass. It's not until a Zaru reaches 90 when their age actually begins to show. Living to about 120 years old. But there are however legends of a Zaru that lived for over 1000.

Rigorous Training

In Zaru society, it is mandatory that from ages 1 through 7, the Zaru begin gravity training for 8 hours a day. This is accomplished by using the technology that is passed through the ages, but none remember where it came from. What they do know is their original home world's gravity was 10 times that of where they are now. They construct pods that they must sit in at first, these don't allow for physical training but they begin to acclimate young to higher gravity. Then, they get upgraded to a room that either pulses the gravity or keeps it constant. Even after this mandatory training, many willingly still use these pods to always be in fighting shape.

Height and Weight

Zaru are often slightly shorter than Humans at 5'8". But there are exceptions to this, however for what they lack in height they make up for in bulk, often being around 180lbs of pure cut muscle without much effort needed to maintain.

Physical Appearance

Zaru are typically a humanoid race with a diverse range of appearances. Their most distinctive feature is their lustrous, gravity-defying hair that can come in various colors, ranging from black and brown to vibrant shades of gold, silver, or even vibrant blue. Zaru tend to possess a muscular build and have a natural inclination towards physical prowess. Their eyes often exhibit a fierce intensity, reflecting their fiery spirits.

Zaru Society

Zaru are known for their close-knit social structure, valuing familial bonds and loyalty above all else. They have a warrior culture that prizes strength and valor, often engaging in friendly competitions to test their limits and foster growth. Zaru society, despite their love for combat, also recognizes the importance of balance and harmony, encouraging their members to develop their non-combative skills and contribute to the greater good.

Zaru Traits

As a Zaru, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Gravity Training

To condition their bodies in training before they reach maturity, they must train for 8 hours a day in a training room/pod where the forces of gravity on them are increased to 10 times normal to mimic their original home world. Thus allowing their bodies to be naturally stronger for their size when they reach maturity. Soldiers will wear armor in this gravity to make it as light as a feather for them.

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

Also, your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Stronger gravity rooms exist which could increase your carrying capacity further. Talk to your DM about whether or not they can be included in the campaign.

Unyielding Warrior

You have advantage on death saving throws. Once per long rest, when you would fall unconscious, treat yourself as if you were benefiting from the Death Ward spell. In addition, you roll a number of dice equal to your Proficiency mod in d10s; regain hit points equal to the result. Then finally, you gain a level of exhaustion. Exhaustion acquired through this trait expire at a rate of 1 per short rest or 2 for a long rest. If you roll the max result on a number on Hit Dice equal to half your Proficiency or more on a short rest, you can choose to regain the use of this feature instead of removing any of the exhaustion levels gained from this trait.

Blooming Potential & Battle Focus

Zaru ignore any effects of having exhaustion levels. For every level of exhaustion a Zaru has, they deal 1 point of extra damage on any damage roll they make. (They still immediately die if they reach 6 levels of exhaustion) Zaru also are immune to charm effects.