Homebrew Sentient Symbiotic Ooze Species Details

My first memory? My very first moment, yes, I recall it well - though at the time I didn't understand.  I was...cold I suppose, forced from the only world, family, safety I'd ever known. Probably what you might have felt at your birth, if you could remember it. It was...traumatic - I was cast out. It felt like death to me. Maybe that is why I find trust is so difficult.

— Usul Oixhbaun, An Explorer's Life.

 

The birth of a Sentient Symbiotic Ooze is an uncommon and often inauspicious event. They begin their lives as simple cell nodules, little more than clumps - they form in larger ancient ooze or mold colonies. As the nodule clump grows, it forms a core, a sort of brain; it develops consciousness, a sense of self, and loses its connection to the surrounding colony. The surrounding ooze host colony then expels it, as if an infection.

Often, sentient nodule clumps die in this way, unable to survive without the support of the original host colony - the rest of the world unaware anything has happened at all. Very few, however, VERY few indeed, do find the right circumstances - the right environment to feed, to grow! Those few often become parasitic and eventually symbiotic to another host. Even fewer still grow into self-sustaining Ooze masses and are able to live independent of another, often choosing to change their shape at will, which is a racial trait, to mimic those creatures they wish to interact with, forming limbs and extremities. Their personalities and intelligence grow, and they often learn the ways of those around them.

A Variably Biogenesis Form

Sentient Symbiotic Oozes vary in shape, size, color, and appearance. Most are near indetectable, finding comfort in bonding to a host rather than attempting to live as an independent body. As such, they take the appearance of their host form, including some of the host's stats, traits, and abilities; though retaining their own Constitution, Intelligence, and Wisdom stats. They also lend certain abilities to their hosts. They, like any creature, must feed and can do so on their host (host takes 1d8 damage every 24 hours, as determined by your Ooze type), or on any living creature their host comes into contact with (including plants) (Unarmed Strike + Deadly Grasp).

When seen, unattached to a host, their appearance is near translucent with a slight colored hue (color as determined by the ooze type). Sometimes it is possible to see bubbles suspended below their outer surface. In this form they are highly susceptible to certain types of damage: all attacks that would do fire, cold, and lightning damage have advantage, though they are resistant to bludgeoning and the type of damage associated with their ooze type. And so, Sentient Symbiotic Oozes prefer to never expose themselves outside their hosts unless they absolutely must.

A Co-Dependent Race

To a Sentient Symbiotic Ooze, nothing is more important than to be bound to a host - they are driven by that all-consuming desire. They are very slow to trust, but once trust is earned they tend to be willing to sacrifice for the needs of the group, even to the point of death. They are fiercely loyal.

Sentient Symbiotic Ooze Traits

Your Ooze type manifests in a variety of traits you share with other Oozes.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and either your Intelligence or Wisdom score increase by 1, your choice.

Telepathic Ooze

Starting at Level 4, whenever you are within 30 feet of another ooze or mold, you can sense its exact location. You are able to telepathically link with it and can sense what it can sense, hear what it can hear, and perceive what it can perceive - it is aiding you. Your Perception Checks, when aided in this way, increase +3 and nothing is hidden from you that can be perceived by those aiding you.

Starting at Level 15, you are able expel and leave small cellular nodule bits of yourself behind. These nodules are able to exist and function for up to 24 hours, and have AC of 3 and HP of 2. They create a psychic link to you, as long as no more than 30 feet are between each of them and you. If any are destroyed, the link beyond that point is broken.

Sticky Climber

As an ooze, you can extrude yourself just beyond your hosts skin and adhere to surfaces allowing you to climb vertically and even inverted without falling. You base Climbing Speed is 20 feet.

Deadly Grasp

You have a deadly grasp. Choose one additional type of damage from the ooze type table.

Deadly Grasp

Ooze	Damage Type	opponent save
Black	Necrotic	Con. save
Blue	Psychic	Wis. save
Green	Poison	Con. save
Yellow	Acid	Con. save

Deadly Grasp

You may elect to do additional Deadly Grasp damage on a successful hit from Unarmed Strike. Your ooze type determines the damage type of the Deadly Grasp touch. When you use your Deadly Grasp, each creature you've hit in this way must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your Deadly Grasp ooze type. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you've used your Deadly Grasp (4) times, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Ooze type origins.

Gelatinous Senses

You have no eyes, ears, or mouth with which to observe your surroundings or communicate with the world. Instead, you rely on you limited but maturing psychic abilities and your inherent blindsight. You have Advantage on WIS saving throws against psychic attacks.