Homebrew Vortigaunt Species Details

"There was a time where they cared nothing for Miss Vance," The G-Man, as Gordon had named him, said in his usual disinterested manner, "When their only experience of humanity was a crowbar, coming at them down a steel corridor." There was a hint of amusement in his voice as he regarded Gordon with a subtly mocking expression. Gordon turned his gaze to the group of Vortigaunts, frozen in time like a diorama, green electricity arcing from their fingers in their attempts to mend Alyx's wounds. The scene evoked a pang of guilt; they really hadn't deserved any of what they'd gone through. Yet despite all that, here they were, doing everything in their power to prevent the brown-haired girl from meeting her almost certain demise. They owed her nothing. And more than that, they owed him nothing. They had every reason to issue him the judgement he was due, but instead they praised him as though he were a god. As his hands tightened around his crowbar - which caused him to remember the haunting sensation of puncturing flesh - Gordon couldn't help but wonder... had they truly forgiven him?

- A scene from Valve's Half-life 2: Episode 2, written in narrative form.      

 

Driven from their homeworld, Vortigaunts now inhabit the Material Plane after being freed from eons of enslavement. They've come to be highly respected by other races and most people are more than happy to have them around. They're commonly seen as oracles and are known for their rather cryptic sayings. Most Vortigaunts prefer to avoid violence if they can, though they are readily willing to attack if they or their allies are threatened. They make up for their lack of physical strength with their excellent teamwork and ability to devise intelligent battle strategies. In fact, some Vortigaunts serve as high-ranking officers in armies. Others dedicate their lives to adventuring, as they have a fascination with their new home Plane. 

Visible Alien Ancestry

A Vortigaunt's distinct appearance immediately divulges the fact that it's not from this Plane. They resemble humanoids with brown-green skin, sharp teeth, a naturally hunched posture, and a third arm sprouting from their chest. Their hands have two clawed fingers and an opposable thumb, and their feet are very similar. Their four red-orange eyes hold deep wisdom gained from their eons of existence. Despite their foreign looks, they're widely accepted into society and some even consider them to be good luck. 

One Connected Mind

Vortigaunts believe that they, and everything else in the universe, are connected through "Vortal Cords" in a binding force they call the Vortessence. They share one mind and can communicate telepathically. As such, they feel each other's pain and will rush to a fellow Vortigaunt's aid without hesitation if the need arises. 

To Vortigaunts, time and space are nothing more than mere barriers that divide the Vortessence. They can see all events regardless of time or location while still retaining temporal and spatial awareness for each one. However, those cut off from the Vortessence may have a difficult time discerning between these events. With the Larval Essence of another alien species, Vortigaunts can enhance themselves and transcend time and space as well as regenerate organic tissue. 

Vortigaunts do not fear death as most other races do. Their consciences are preserved within the Vortessence, even after physical death. While they naturally try to protect themselves when in danger, death means little to them. They pity those whose minds die with their bodies. 

Passive and Resigned

The Vortigaunts' enslavement in their previous home Plane is a defining point of their culture. Their long years of servitude have caused them to become somewhat passive, but they certainly haven't forgotten the wrongs done against them. As such, they feel resentment towards their former master and anyone else who keeps others as slaves, and will fight to free those who are wrongfully in bondage. Because of their shared mind, enslaving one Vortigaunt is the same as enslaving the entire race. 

Vortigaunt Names

Vortigaunts do not give themselves or each other names. Rather, they'll adopt a name someone else has given them and keep it for life. This results in a wide range of names, from Elven to Draconic and everything in between. 

Vortigaunt Traits

The Vortessence grants you and the other members of your species a range of otherworldly abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Vortigaunts grow extremely fast, reaching maturity at 4 years. This maturity doesn't entail much, as they hardly physically change at all through the course of their life. They can live to be as old as 500 human years.

Size

Vortigaunts stand around five feet tall and weigh an average of 70-90 pounds. Your size is Medium. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Alignment

Vortigaunts tend to be neutral, choosing what seems right in the current moment though usually siding with good. They're quick to forgive those who have wronged them, with the exception of extreme cases, such as those who have enslaved them.

Electrical Conduction

You can use your action to call on the Vortessence and generate electricity. It can be used to power or short-circuit machinery or strike an enemy. The amount of times you can summon electricity per day is equal to your proficiency bonus.

You can fire a 5-by-40-foot line of electricity at a target. Your target and any other creature in this line must make a dexterity saving throw, which the affected creatures have advantage on due to the rather long charge-up time of the attack. The DC of this saving throw is 8 + your wisdom modifier + your proficiency score. A creature takes 3d6 lightning damage on a failed throw and half that on a successful one. The damage done increases to 4d6 at 5th level, 5d6 at 10th level, and 6d6 and 15th level. 

Flux Shifting

You can telepathically communicate with another Vortigaunt you've spoken to before (regardless of distance) via flux shifting, the Vortigaunt's native form of communication. It involves their native language as well as a sensory component exclusive to Vortigaunts. As such, it can't be comprehended by "those whose Vortal inputs are impaired."

Darkvision

Accustomed to the natural darkness of your previous home Plane, you can see in dim light 60 feet in front of you as though it's bright light, and in darkness as though it's dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of red.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Vortigese, and one other language of your choice. Vortigese is rather like Draconic in that it sounds quite harsh to other creatures. It's difficult for non-Vortigaunts to learn and is primarily used in Flux Shifting. When speaking common, Vortigaunts tend to use archaic words and Shakespearean phrases.