Homebrew Angiselo Species Details

Wandering around deserted plains and savannas, Angiselos, when discovered, evoke a sense of bewilderment and wonder. Many angiselos live in a world of illusions and stealth, as many wish to capture them and sell them for a hefty price. 

Two races in one

Angiselos were gifted the ability to shift between feline and human. These creatures have a keen sense of hearing and smell from their feline form, and logic and sentience from their human form.

The transformation takes a large toll on their body. Angiselos can only change form twice before a short rest. A short rest replenishes one shift, and a long rest replenishes two.

Both forms share the same stats, however the human form has higher intelligence and the feline form has more abilities such as pouncing and higher speed.

Feline Form

To witness an angiselo change form is a rare site that leaves many in awe. Their body will be clouded in an iridescent mist as it wraps around them and changes everything it touches into a feline. After the formation is done, the mist swirls into patterns on the feline's pelt. Angiselos' feline forms are larger and softer than their natural counterparts, and are sometimes recorded to have magical patterns on their pelts.

When an angiselo shape shifts, they find themselves in their feline form with no armor or equipment. This means their ac lowers to the average ac. Their pelt is tough and adds a +2 to the original ac acting as leather armor. When they shift back, they still have clothes on, but they do need to requip their armor. This is why most angiselos are rogues, as they can quickly switch between forms without worrying about heavy armor slowing them down between forms.

Pounce(melee)(feline only)- The angiselo leaps into the air and pins the enemy, using a bonus action to slash it with their claws. The enemy must roll a strength save(DC 8 + your proficiency modifier  + your strength modifier) or fall prone. If the enemy falls prone, the angiselo can use a second bonus attack to bite the enemy.

Bite(melee)(feline and hybrid)- The angiselo sinks its teeth into their enemy's skin, piercing through armor and flesh, and possibly causing bleeding(dc 5+strength modifier). 1d6+strength modifier

Claws(bonus)(melee)(feline and hybrid)-The angiselo slashes at their enemy with its powerful claws, dealing 1d4+strength modifier piercing damage.

Keeping their sentience in feline form is draining. After 20 turns in feline form, they gain one exhaustion every 5 turns. After four exhaustion points, they become feral. 

Hybrid Form

Anigselos can shift half way into feline, staying bipedal and being able to communicate with other races. It takes concentration to stay in this form for longer than 5 turns. They keep any light armor and have full access to their inventory. They gain +2 to intimidation. 

Quarter-hybrid - There is a choice to shift into a quarter-hybrid, with chosen feline features while staying in human form. Quarter-hybrids have no bonus abilities like the hybrid and feline forms, but it is a fun way to spice up a character. It does however, give away their identity as an angiselo, so they do have to be careful about when they shift like this.

Angiselos in the Great Flourish

Before The Sky's storm, angiselos were known for their overwhelming appreciation for beauty. Obsessed with The Ground's beautiful creations, they tore gardens from the earth, cut down trees, and desecrated the land while collecting these beautiful creations and preserving them in glass, resin, or etc. The Sky, in its furious storm, cursed them with disgust. After The Sky's storm settled, the species found their vision clouded with judgement. Everything seemed dull, disgusting, or below them. They isolated into nomadic prides, being too disgusted to even stay in one space.

Over time, an angiselo can find their disgust for another to lessen as they get to know them. They still, however cannot fight their judgement on people they do not know (roll wisdom check dc 14 with every encounter. If you fail the role, you get -2 to charisma checks to this creature. If you roll a nat 1, you have disadvantage.

 

Prides

Angiselos live in nomadic prides that wander the savvanas, jungles, desserts, and plains. Angiselos look down on any and all that are not a part of their pride. Outsiders are rejected and weaklings are abandoned..

Most adventuring, pride-less angiselos were abandoned by their pack for being weak, injured, or any other excuse for being a burden to the pride.

Angiselo prides are made up of one or two pride leaders, often the ones with the largest and strongest feline forms. Sisters and mothers raise their children together. At the age of 20, all angiselos must pass a ceremonial test or be kicked from the pride(see more in Culture and Legends). 

In these prides, the most dexterous angiselos hunt, while the stronger and more bulky ones guard the pups and their temporary territory. The parents of a cub have the responsibility of hunting for its food and training it. If both parents pass away, cubs must fend for themselves unless a relative angiselo chooses to take them in. 

Prides are named after their current leaders.

Culture And Legends

Angiselo culture varies from pride to pride. They do however, share common legends known only to angiselos.

"The One"

The most common legend is the legend of 'The Angiselos True Form'. This form is said to only appear to "The One". Once found, The One will judge all angiselo prides and choose which ones can enter "The One True Pride". The true form changes depending on the story teller, but many agree on its fur being the irridecent smoke that appears during their shifting. 

The Hybrid God

There is also the story of Silion, an ancient being who was a hybrid god, born in the great flourish as a being who was immortal, but also harnessed the abilities of an angiselo. When the gods chose their specific elements to control, Silion refused. He did not choose a role, and therfore was rejected by the gods. He then became known as the protector of angiselos, as he would hide them from unwanted eyes and keep their territories protected.

There was also a legend on Silion about his brother, who was jealous of Silions abilities and the way angiselos loved him. This story is only known by the elders of the prides, who share it with the cubs to distract them and keep them from wandering off when their parents go hunting.

The Ceremony of Worth

Angiselos at the age of 20 must undergo a set of trials to stay in the pride. Based on their performance, each angiselo is given a respected job in the pride. Those who fail the ceremony, however, are kicked from their pride. Although being kicked is much less disgraceful than being exiled, the families of these kicked angiselos often experience less respect than before.

Angiselo Names

Angiselo's names are often hard to pronounce, as they are made up of growls, hisses, and purrs. Most of their names sound rough on the tongue, and rogue angiselos communicating with other species change their names to become easier to pronounce.

Angiselos often have short names, including: Corrdan, Rrojaan, Hurr, Groatoh.

 Angiselo Backgrounds

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for angiselo include(but are not limited too) Far Traveler, Hermit, and outlander.

Angiselo Traits

As an angiselo, your traits vary with each form. Your ability stats, however, do not change. All angiselos have a specific smell that only other angiselos can recognize.

Ability Score Increase

Your strength score increases by 2, and your dexterity score increases by 2. Your charisma score decreases by 1.

Age

Angiselos reach adulthood around 16 to 18 years. From their average lifespan is to 80.

 

Alignment

Angiselos keep to themselves and are not interested in others disputes. They often only care about themselves.They tend to lean more towards the neutral or evil side. They are usually chaotic, ignoring rules and being spontaneous.

Size

Angiselos are often the same size as humans, standing at an average of 5-6 feet. Your size is medium. Depending on feline form, your size will change.
For example, house cats are smal and tigers are medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet when you are in humanoid or hybrid form. While in feline form, your speed is 40 feet.

 

Darkvision

Thanks to your feline senses, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. In dim light, you can see 60 feet in-front of you with color. In dark light, you can see 30 feet in shades of gray. 

Shapechanger

you can use your action to polymorph into a feline-humanoid hybrid, a feline, or back into your humanoid form. Your statistics are the same in each form, however your feline intelligence lowers by 1. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn't transformed. Some of your features are only available in certain forms, as noted in parentheses next to the features below.

You have two polymorph charges in the first level. A short rest will let you regain one lost polymorph charge, and a long rest will let you regain both. 

Bite (Feline or Hybrid Form Only)

Your have a mouth full of sharp teeth which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your strength modifier. The enemy must roll a successful con save or they will suffer bleeding(dc 5+strength modifier).

Claws(Feline or Hybrid Form Only)(Bonus Action)

Your claws slash forward and deal 1d4+strength modifier piercing damage. 

Keen Hearing and Smell

You have advantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks that rely on hearing and smell.

Pounce (Feline Form Only)

If the enemy is within your movement range +5m, you can knock them prone. The enemy must roll a successful strength save (dc 8+ proficiency + strength modifier) or fall prone. If the enemy falls prone, the angiselo can use a bonus attack to bite.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, feline, and one extra language of your choice.