Homebrew Cuttlefolk Species Details

Cuttlefolk dwell deep below the ocean waves of Tempest, living in a world of darkness and almost alien flora and fauna. From the sulphur caves of the Mistire Expanse to the bioluminescent aquatic jungles below the Deepwell Depths, cuttlefolk explore much of the less inhabited dark spaces below the waves.

Deep Sea Dwellers

Cuttlefolk are a cephalopod-like people most comfortable when deep below the waters surface but able to navigate dry land with relative ease. Thanks to this deep sea heritage they are perhaps the most striking of all lineages in Tempest in both appearance and mythos. Adorning their center mass and head is a soft shell like carapace, articulated for movement somewhat like that of a crabs. Similarly their hairless head is crowned with a tough shell that protects their minds both physically and psychically from the not uncommon attacks of ocean predators and deep sea aberrations. In place of a mouth they have a beak like structure, and their faces are often decorated in frills, fins and vestigial tentacle like limbs that help differentiate members of the species as well as denote emotion and social standing. Their hands and feet have minimal shell plating, and are instead more similar to modified tentacles, with their hands having developed prehensile finger like appendages.

A Chromatic People

The colors of individual cuttlefolk can fall nearly anywhere on the spectrum, from bold pinks to vibrant turquoise or warm yellows. This is thanks to their natural ability to manipulate the colors of their skin and carapace to better reflect their mood or intent, they can even create simple patterning. Many cuttlefolk find themselves and their emotional state betrayed by this innate chromatic manipulation, though some gain greater control and instead use it to aid in deception. This manipulation of their own biology is not only one of social purpose but also as a defense mechanism, allowing cuttlefolk to dazzle and potentially incapacitate foes to critical effect.

Cuttlefolk Traits

Chromatic Manipulation

You are able to control the color and patterning of your skin to convey simple concepts to non cuttlefolk, or to fully communicate with other cuttlefolk (no action required).

Hypnotic Display

You can cause the colors on your skin to radiate in discombobulating patterns. As an action you can force any creature within 5 feet of you that can see you to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw, on a failure they become temporarily mesmerized by your patterns rendering them somewhat catatonic. Until the start of your next turn they are incapacitated and their speed is halved.

Rejective Carapace

You have resistance to psychic damage

Creature Type

You are Humanoid

Inky Gambit

Your morphology allows you to expel inky darkness to better maneuver in the heat of combat. As a reaction when a creature moves within 5 feet of you, you may cast the spell darkness centered on yourself and then move up to your speed to an unoccupied space. The darkness remains until the end of your next turn, and doesn't require concentration when cast in this way. Once you have used this feature you cannot do so again until you complete a long rest.

Age

Cuttlefolk age at a similar rate to humans, but it is unknown how long they might be able to live for with some of the oldest known cuttlefolk living to 500+ years.

Ability score Increase

Increase one of your scores by 2, and another by 1

Languages

You can communicate with other cuttlefolk using colors and patterns on your skin as well as hand gestures. You can also speak, read and write Common.

Dark Depth Vision.

You can see in dim light within 120 feet as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. Additionally you can see clearly through cloudy water without penalty