Homebrew Berusian Species Details

Widely considered to be the brightest minds in the Shards, the Berusians represent peak intelligence within the Accord, and are indeed responsible for most of the alliance’s more impressive scientific and metamagical advances. From the development of Spanships to the refinement of magitech, Berusians have had their hand in Accord development since their flotilla arrived at Vasselern centuries ago.

Having fled hordes of corrupted invaders, the diminutive people sought shelter with the Vassellians and with them formed the Accord. While the Accord has since grown in scope and membership, and the Berusians have since reclaimed their home from the dark forces that wrested it from them, they remain the staunchest allies and supporters of the Accord alliance.

Appearance

Berusians are most notable for their small stature, standing no taller than a meter tall, even for their tallest. They sport weighty tails, nearly half their height in length, and thick, stocky legs. Their build tapers upward towards more slender shoulders, with short arms, ending in three-fingered, dexterous hands. All of this is complimented by a larger-than-average head, sporting large eyes, small noses, wide many-toothed mouths, and two large pairs of pointed ears.

At the base level, Berusian colouration varies. Typically it tends towards cooler colors and pastel hues, ranging from soft lavender to pale blue. However, all Berusians have chromatophores in their cells that enable them to change the pigment of their skin. Typically this is a passive process of the nervous system, reacting to moods and emotions. However, as a fear response, all Berusians will adapt to their surroundings, giving them a form of natural camouflage.

Their eyes are often yellows, oranges or pale greens, with large slitted pupils. Many Berusians sport a sort of colorful fringe of hair-like fronds that grow in varying locations about the face and head - sometimes extending down their spines and along their tails. Berusian stylists utilize magic to influence the growth of these fronds into a variety of expressive styles.

Berusian fashion varies between their Foundations, but ranges from conservative tunics and robes, to more garish and vibrant ensembles, using excess brightness to compensate for their species' muted perception of color. When a Berusian wants to dress loudly, they are anything but small.

Berusian Metabolism Berusians have a metabolism that operates at a much faster and more efficient level than found in other humanoids, enabling them to operate on half the sleep needed by other species to function, and they eat smaller meals, but much more often. On the other side of this, however, Berusians tend to have considerably shorter life spans than other species - averaging typically 40-50 years of age, without magical intervention.

Personalities

When presented with the new and unexplained, few can match the excitement of a Berusian, who will expend personal risk and resources to investigate, and further their understanding. The average Berusian will brave danger for the opportunity of discovery. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, Berusians balk at the mundane and repetitive. Emotional conflict, interpersonal squabbles and simple tasks bore them, and can result in them seeming aloof. They prefer direct and straightforward relationships, even romantically.

Either due to their large families, or the fact that their society is focused on collective advancement, Berusians have no discernable economy, and a limited concept of personal possession. This can make Berusians seem highly generous with others, freely offering their property to those who are in need. On the average, Berusians demonstrate very little understanding of the concept of greed.

Berusian language and mannerisms are focused on speed and efficiency, to better facilitate clean, clear and quick communication. When interacting with other species, Berusians can appear to be both simultaneously blunt and rambling, and tend to have difficulty with concepts like analogy and metaphor. While they are not beyond understanding such concepts, they do have difficulty remembering their usefulness, and other species’ dependency on them as conversational vessels, and may tend to take others too literally.

Culture

Berusian culture is defined typically by the Foundations that each Berusian enters when they come of age. While not necessarily physical constructs - indeed each Foundation boasts a large complex in the capitol of Xatitar - a Foundation represents a Berusian’s area of interest, study, and their ultimate career path in Berusian society.

When a Berusian reaches physical maturity (approximately 10 years of age), their family will present them to the Berusian Foundation Authority, to undergo a ritual known as the Formative Inauguration. This ritual amounts to a series of tests that measure physical ability, mental prowess, and each Berusian’s unique personality. Based on the result of this test, Berusians are sorted into a Foundation that is deemed most befitting their unique capabilities and interests.

In almost all cases, the Inauguration placement is fitting for those who treat it seriously, but there are instances where Berusians will find the need to change Foundations - a lengthy process requiring petitions, tests, and the bureaucracy of the Foundation Authority.

While New Berus has returned to their people their ancestral homes, generations of Berusians had grown accustomed to living aboard massive spanships, and they still have an affinity for living in the span - with massive homeships and stations orbiting Berus and Vasselern.

Berusian Traits

Your Berusian character has the following traits.

Languages

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

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Age

Berusians reach adulthood by their 10th year and have shorter lifespans, living to be between 40 and 45 years old.

Size

Berusians have shorter and stockier builds, ranging from 3 feet to 4 feet tall. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Adaptive Camouflage

As a Bonus Action you can adapt your skin patterns to your surroundings, performing Stealth checks with Advantage for the next 10 minutes. Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again before taking a Long Rest.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Accelerated Metabolism

Berusians have a more rapid cycle than most other species, and only need 4 hours of sleep to be considered well rested. After resting 4 hours, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. However, Berusians require twice the amount of daily food that a human does, or they begin to suffer the effects of Exhaustion.

Eidetic Memory

Berusians have a shared proficiency for memory and details. When making an Intelligence check to recall details or information from the past 48 hours, you do so with Advantage.