Homebrew Cactir Species Details

AFTER MANY HARSH WEEKS OF TRAVEL
Through these barren lands, we arrived at our destination mostly unscathed. And what a sight it was. I have seen desert towns before, and they have their own particular beauty, but this was different. Where others might make beauty in spite of their surroundings, these people—cactir as I was told—worked veritable miracles. Life, of all kinds, flourished around the centerpiece of an enormous oasis. Buildings made of simple sandstone, but covered from bottom to top with flowering plants, chattering people, and animals of all shapes and sizes. They incorporated life in all aspects, and I remained speechless for some time.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           --Beros Nim, Well Traveled

With a passion for life, and a need to preserve it present in all facets of their culture, cactir spend their days busy working together to fight against all the forces that would seek to destroy or reclaim their little slice of paradise. Natural or otherwise.

Arid Home

First and foremost, the lives of the cactir are heavily shaped by the environment they have arisen in. A desert people, they persist despite the harsh conditions, taming all but the most stubborn wastes into an eden to be admired and experienced. While not a choice they made for themselves, they have taken on this monumental task regardless, and their settlements function as popular stops for travelers, adventurers, and other creatures of the land they live in. The cactir do not expand fast, preferring to choose the most suitable areas they can find, and then slowly adapting it to their needs. Their cities are born over centuries, the inevitable tide of new life spilling over while the rest of the desert attempts to hem it in as best it can. When they believe the land can no longer sustain much more life, they happily journey forth in the hopes of finding a place to start anew.

Born of Death

The origin of the cactir is one spoken of in their legends, a tale so old as to be indistinguishable from fact or myth. The stories say that their homeland was originally a paradise, a rainforest blessed by an ancient, powerful fey spirit that had been cast out from the Feywild. It had protected the land, creating a small piece of the Feywild to call home on the material plane. Its fate is a mystery, but all the stories agree that eventually its death came. Perhaps as a result of its banishment from that which had given it life, or possibly as the final term of its punishment, carried out by whatever powers that be had deigned it unworthy.

After its death, its home died with it. The rainforest wilted, and turned to dust, its carcass spreading rot and ruin for miles. Of the parts of its body that remained, new life sprang forth. Fantastic life. Life built to withstand the terrors and trials of the endless sandy dunes. The cactir were the last of these creatures, given minds that could think, and bodies that could build and cultivate. And so they did.

Sanctity of Life

Life is precious in the desert. Hard to find, harder still to keep. The cactir value it above all things, and are both dedicated to its survival, and uniquely talented at protecting it. Their lives are spent exploring all the many varieties there are of that which grows, both flora and fauna, and their love of medicine keeps their society both healthy and happy. For many cactir, the singular pursuit of one field of biology is all they need, and some may spend their entire lives simply trying to grow the biggest, brightest flower, or the strongest, healthiest oxen. This love of life is defined by their origin, given life by that which had to die. They honor their progenitor, holding festivals in its many names, and they seek to use the precious gift given to them to be the catalyst for more such creations. Needless death is the greatest sin, and they respond poorly to those who would seek to do harm for the lesser good.

Cactir Names

Cactir do not distinguish between gender amongst their kind, and they typically choose their own name once they come of age. Before than, they are referred to as a sprout of their parent. Cactir choose their names in reference to an aspect of life they admire, whether that be the name of animal, plant, or some other form of nature. Others can find this naming scheme confusing, a fact cactir find very amusing.

 

Cactir Traits

Your cactir character has a number of near universal traits, all as a result of their cactir heritage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity or Wisdom score increases by 2, and Charisma or Dexterity by 1.

Age

Cactir reach maturity around the age of 15, and can grow as old as 200.

Size

Cactir can vary drastically in height and weight, from as tall and heavy as 8 feet and 250 pounds, to just over 4 feet and 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Waxy Hide

You have resistance to fire damage.

Defensive Spines

You slowly regenerate a spiny defense mechanism to deter predators. When a creature attempts to grapple you, or hits you with a melee attack while within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to deal an amount of piercing damage to it equal to a number of d6 equal to your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Preserve life

You are proficient in your choice of one of the following skills: Animal Handling, Medicine, and Nature.

Desert Denizens

Thanks to your ability to store water, you don't require liquids to survive. you have advantage on resisting the effects of poison.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Cactin. Cactin's spoken dialect is a susurrus of lilting whispers, with a flow almost musical to the ear. Its written alphabet is a series of angled scratches, like claw marks in stone. You also know common sign language.