Homebrew Cambrianite Species Details

The Origin of the Cambrianites is a dark and sordid one. During the late middle ages, Corrupted Earth druids wished to return all of society to a “purer, more simple time,” which basically meant the stone age. They sought out the remains of the most ancient creatures, able to sense the relative age of even fossilized creatures. Naturally they came across Cambrian period animals and felt they would be best fit for the job, being some of the most ancient beasts they could find. The Druids took their remains, using their own blood and the blood of various animals they felt were most similar to these long-dead creatures and from the depths of time they created the Cambrianites.

For a while, they did as they were told with little fuss, but soon began to question their creators and their existence. Was this all they were? Slaves to a bunch of weird animals their ancestors never even knew would come to be? They took a stand and rebelled, turning on the druids in a show of primal carnage, but kept their magical implements. They knew by now they were unnatural, that they should not be, but nevertheless they WERE, and they made a pact to stay hidden, only revealing themselves in times of global crisis.

Cambrianites themselves aren’t really one race so much as a collection of several Cambrian-Era animals given limbs for grasping and near-human intelligence. They would come to learn magic, and while the original bodies they had had no legs- or at least no legs that would be useful on land- many cambrianites now have sturdy (usually arthropodic) legs.

Cambrianites both fear and respect humans in roughly equal amounts. They have heard many tales of them, both good and ill, so they know that humans are capable of good and evil. They keep contact with a few of what they consider modern day relatives and allies that proved trustworthy. They stay away from abjectly evil races, and even some mostly good ones, leaning towards a Neutral or Chaotic good stance.

These bizarre people usually live deep underwater, beyond the reach of the sunlight, though not by choice. They live here because it is the only place they can hide from everyone else- and because they can handle the pressure. They don’t usually build cities due to the lack of food in the abyss, but when they do they carve them out of seamounts near hydrothermal vents or other oases in the vast desert that is the abyss. When it comes to governing themselves, how they prefer to do it varies on what kind of Cambrianite is most abundant in the group. Cambrianites are very tough and have the will to live, but if most people saw them… they’d panic.

Cambrianites typically live about 100 years, but rare members can live to 150.

Cambrianite Traits

Cambrianites get Waterbreathing, and +2 CON and STR at start. They get -1 Charisma to start as well. +2 to intimidation

Proficiencies

Cambrianites can choose a light armor type to be proficient in, darts, nets, and natural weapons that cause bludgeoning. They also have to be good with sickles because how else are they supposed to harvest seaweed and giant tube worms?

Ability Score Increase

A strong outer carapace protects most Cambrianites and gives them support in their daily lives. This shell is strong and also gives them surprising flexibility. While they may be slow, they are durable.

Water Breathing

Cambrianites breathe through their skin, which works very well underwater due to dissolved oxygen.

Intimidating

Cambrianites look very odd and thusly can be scary or even horrifying to some, granting +2 to Intimidation.