Homebrew Fish Folk Species Details

Though unsettling in appearance—at least to most surface races—locathahs are friendly and inquisitive. Unlike many aquatic denizens, locathahs have no inherent distrust of surfacers. In fact, most locathahs enjoy conversing with surface races and often hail passing ships to exchange goods or simply pass along news. Crews who sail in locathah territory know the piscine people as traders of both goods and information, trustworthy so long as they are dealt with fairly.

Locathahs also enjoy the company of aquatic animals, and they can often be found living alongside dolphins, giant eels, whales, and other such creatures. Many locathahs train as eel riders, and a band of locathahs atop giant eel mounts racing through the water is an impressive sight.

Locathahs are slender humanoids who have feathery fins running along the backs of their arms and legs, along the crown of their skulls, and down their spines. They generally have protruding fishlike faces with large, round eyes. Locathahs exhibit a startling racial variety that runs in tribal lines based on the features of the tribe’s matriarch; in some tribes, locathahs might have fins that are rigid rather than feathery or inset eyes protected by a bony ridge. Most locathahs are a dark salmon or ochre color, but their scales and fins can be almost any shade, from black to aquamarine, azure blue, teal, deep russet, vivid coral, or pale silver.

Locathahs emanate a strong fishy smell that is detectable underwater but more pronounced in the air. Most surfacers find this odor unpleasant, but locathahs consider their smell to be an integral quality of their race. Locathahs take great offense to jokes or insults regarding their natural scent. Locathahs rely on this smell to communicate subtly with one another, and they can even read basic emotions from other locathahs through their odor.

Locathah Adventurers: Locathahs enjoy meeting new people from all races, often hiring themselves out as laborers, mercenaries, or guides aboard ships. Though locathahs are slow and somewhat uncomfortable out of the water, they can breathe air and suffer no ill effects from traveling on land. Locathahs work for fair rates but are canny enough to charge more for the use of their aquatic expertise, such as helping a ship navigate dangerous reefs. Locathahs are usually willing to accept useful items as payment rather than coins or gems, so long as their value is commensurate. They prefer artwork, metal weapons, and surface food (especially tubers) as payment for their services.

Locathahs are fast and tireless swimmers, and they enjoy serving as messengers or scouts. They prefer to be at the forefront of a group, both because they can react quickly to danger and because it gives them the chance to encounter a new experience or new potential allies first.

Fish Folk Traits

Locathahs should be played only with your GM’s permission. Locathahs normally have racial Hit Dice, skills, and other abilities. PC locathahs, however, calculate these benefits based solely on their class. Note that these abilities are only an approximation of the locathah monster from Bestiary 2 and may not match exactly. PC locathahs have the following racial traits.

Natural Armor

You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Observant and Athletic

You have proficiency in the Athletics and Perception skills

Leviathan Will

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, stunned, or put to sleep.

Limited Amphibiousness.

You can breathe air and water, but you need to be submerged at least once every 4 hours to avoid suffocating.

Languages

 You can speak, read, and write Aquan and Common