Homebrew Angulotl Species Details

Found in freshwater swamps, rivers, and rainforests, angulotls (ang-gwa-LAH-tulls) are diminutive, brightly colored amphibious humanoids. Rather than defending their settlements and breeding grounds against hostile creatures, these poisonous frog folk prefer to establish their homes in places that are nigh-impossible for other humanoids to find, such as underwater caves and other enclosed spaces only accessible by water. They are happy to hide and watch a gaggle of noisy adventurers stumble past the entrance to an angulotl clutch without realizing it. Though angulotls prefer to avoid combat, when they’re threatened or pressed, they turn deadly.

Deadly Toxins. Angulotls are poisonous creatures, which suits their preference to avoid aggression—they don’t need to be! The contact toxin secreted by their skin gives them an edge in close combat; they also distill this toxin into more potent forms for coating blades and tipping darts.

Indicator Species. Angulotl physiology is delicately balanced, and it doesn’t take much to upset it. While toxins don’t kill them, they are still affected by pollutants in their waters. Ongoing contamination of their environment can corrupt angulotls, making them aggressive, confused, and angry. Most pollution-corrupted angulotls eventually attack any creature who crosses their path—even other angulotls! Runoff from magical experimentation seems to affect them the most... and sometimes gives them strange abilities.

Moisture Dependent. Angulotls breathe through their skin, but they need to stay damp or they suffocate. They often avoid travel in very dry areas, and they prefer not to stray far from a source of freshwater... unless it’s raining.

Angulotl Traits

Your angulotl character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of angulotl nature.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Angulotls mature to adulthood in a single year, but have been known to live up to 50 years.

Alignment

Angulotls tend towards neutrality. They rarely get involved in the affairs of others, and hope to be left alone in return.

Size

Angulotls stand between 2 ½ and 3 ½ feet tall and average about 30 pounds. Your size is Small.

Arboreal Alertness

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet, and you have a base swimming speed of 30 feet.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

Poison Immunity

You’re immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Poisonous Skin

Any creature that grapples you or otherwise comes into direct contact with your skin must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. A poisoned creature no longer in direct contact with you can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

You can also apply this poison to any piercing weapon as part of an attack with that weapon, though when you hit the poison reacts differently. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or take 2d4 poison damage.

Standing Leap

Your long jump is up to 25 feet and your high jump is up to 15 feet, with or without a running start.

Water Dependency

If you fail to immerse yourself in water for at least 1 hour during a day, you suffer one level of exhaustion at the end of that day. You can only recover from this exhaustion through magic or by immersing yourself in water for at least 1 hour.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Angulotl.