Homebrew Pikafolk Species Details

Pikafolk historically lived deep within forests in tight-knit communities, hidden away from the outside world. However, pikafolk were drawn out of their seclusion by their natural curiosity of the world around them. Pikafolk may seem cute and harmless at first glance, but pikafolk can make strong allies to those they have truly bonded with. 

Electric Mouse-people

Pikafolk are curious-looking creatures, resembling chubby, yellow-furred rodents. They are much shorter than humans and have spots of brown fur in alternating patterns on their backs. They sport floppy, black-tipped ears at the top of their head and lightning-bolt shaped tails. Male and female pikafolk are nearly identical, save that female pikafolk have a V-shaped notch in the tip of their tail. Pikafolk have five fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot. On their faces, pikafolk have a circle of red fur on each cheek that contain a pouch that generates and stores electricity. Small amounts of this electricity can be discharged for communication and other utilitarian purposes, but over time, pikafolk learned to expel their stored electricity in greater amounts for both offensive and defensive purposes.  

Forest Folk

After a pikafolk hatches from their egg, they are welcomed into a tight-knit and accepting community. These communities are bound together by a sense of companionship and trust. Though sometimes mischievous and certainly always willful, pikafolk do not let such aspects interfere with their community and relationships. Pikafolk cuisine is largely based around the foraging of berries, with berries seared with electrical shocks being a true delicacy. Patches of grass burned as if from a sudden electrical discharge is a sure sign that someone is near a pikafolk settlement.  

A pikafolk's willfulness will often drive it to leave its village behind to explore the world outside. However, their strong sense of companionship often drive them to bond with members of other races, especially those that travel together in large parties. Something about the closeness of their found companions remind them of the closeness of home and family that they left behind. 

Pikafolk Names

Pikafolk have names bestowed on them at birth by their parents. A pikafolk's name is usually one derived from their unique electrical discharge abilities or some sort of anagram of their race name. 

Male Names: Blitz, Pika, Sparky, Spike, Surge, Zappy, Ziggy

Female Names: Cheeks, Chu Chu, Jiffy, Piki, Static, Taser, Zippy 

Pikafolk Traits

A pikafolk character has a variety of unique and shocking abilities.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Pikafolk age much more quickly than humans, reaching adulthood at 5 years of age. They can live to be around 60. 

Alignment

Pikafolk are willful creatures, tending towards chaos more so than law, though most pikafolk are good or neutral rather than evil. 

Size

Pikafolk are much smaller than humans, averaging between 1 1/2 and 2 feet tall. Pikafolk weigh between 10 and 30 pounds. Your size is Small. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Lightning Rod

You are resistant to damage of the lightning type. 

Static

When you take damage from a melee attack, you may immediately spend your reaction to expel a burst of electricity that may possibly stun your opponent. When you use this ability, the opponent must succeed a Constitution saving throw. The DC for the saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency modifier. If the opponent fails their saving throw, they are stunned until the start of your next turn. 

Thundershock

You can use your action to discharge a devastating electrical attack . When you use this attack, each creature within a 15-foot cone in a direction you choose from you must succeed a Dexterity saving throw. The DC equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 1d8 lightning damage on a failed save, and half as much on a successful save. The damage increases to 2d8 at 5th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 17th level. After you use your thundershock attack, you cannot use it again until you complete a short or long rest. 

Agility

You can take the Dash action as a bonus action on each of your turns. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Pikapika. Pikapika is the language shared by the pikachu people. This language is composed of a blend of rodent-like squeaks and subtle changes in the static electricity in their fur to represent mood and tone.