Homebrew Catfish Fauna Species Details

Physical Description: Catfish that were reformed to be bipedal creatures with arms instead of fins, they are odd for others to behold. On land, they lumber about, their forms still awkward moving out of water. In water, however, they are still lithe and dangerous. Despite their strangeness being out of water, they are deadly in any environment.

Small, vestigial fins stick out from a shark-folk’s arms and legs, and a dorsal fin runs from the base of their head to mid-back. They have a tail similar to a regular shark, and their skin is smooth and rubbery, ranging in tones of greens and grays with white. Large, dead black eyes stare out of an oversized head, the perfect place for a cattish jaw of small dagger-like teeth.

Society: Catfish have not yet developed what other races may consider a society. Many of these people are loners, coming together only to mate, then go their separate ways. A baby, called a pup, is capable of survival immediately after birth. Indeed, a pup’s instinct is to swim away from its mother immediately to begin its own hunt for food. As the race matures and becomes comfortable with its newfound intelligence, members of the society are beginning to remain together, however to protect themselves from humans who attack.

Catfish Fauna Traits

A catfish person.

Senses

While underwater, you can sense creatures within a 30-foot radius.

Amphibuous

You can breathe air and water. However, you must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 10 + 1 per hour spent out of water) each hour that you remain out of water. On a failed save, you suffer 1d8 nonlethal damage from dehydration.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1. When on land or another terrain that isn’t water, your Dexterity score decreases by 2.

Age

Half-orcs mature a little faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They age noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 years.

Size

Catfish fauna are somewhat larger and bulkier than humans, and they range from 6 feet to 8 feet tall. Your size is Large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks being a bottom dweller, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Menacing

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation.

Relentless Endurance

When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Savage Attacks

When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages

You can speak the language of the catfish. It is a bellowing language with lots of deep vowels. It has no script of its own.