Homebrew Anguis Species Details

I have never seen a race more dedicated to work and only work unlike the Anguis who seem to take great pride in this fact.  They build cities of stone and marble, some of which rivaling only the Dwarves. 

—Unknown Dwarven Archaeologist

 

Few would actually take the time to understand the Anguis, for its slightly more threatening appearance makes one believe that they are chaotic in nature.  Though, those who decide against aggressive action will realize that the Anguis is actually a very curious creature with a fascination on cultures and want for new arcane information.

Anguis are small creatures, the most prominent feature being the three serpent heads that split off from its neck.  The three heads seem to have a hive mind mentality, each one carrying where the other head might have left off in a sentence or train of thought.  Besides that, they all have humanoid bodies, covered in scales all the way down to their tails.  Each one has its own pattern of vibrant colors, it is said that not one is exactly the same.

 

Origin of the Anguis

The Anguis do not seem to have an original race, if it did, it has long since been extinct.  However, early history has shown that the Yuan-ti used Anguis as a slave race for most of their architecture and vast cities.  Some were kept as house pets and even less were used in wars against other races.

This all changed when there was a raid against one of their mass cities, leading the Anguis to be found by the Dwarves.  

Architects at Heart

Most of the Anguis' lifetime is spent underneath the surface, usually in deserts or tropic jungles.  They have learned from the dwarves to view architecture as more of an art form rather than back-breaking labor.  So, the Anguis have been remarked for their massive cities, most built high into cavern walls or out of giant stalactites.  Each city is always trying to improve where the other had failed.

Not Only Cities

The Anguis live in a monarchy, under the rule of the eldest, given the title of Old Blood.  All decisions come down to the Old Blood and the Anguis are loyal to her, doing whatever task she might need for the good of their society.

Below that are her magicians, powerful mages of fierce magical prowess among the Anguis.  They are the heads of mass construction, usually guiding whatever project the Anguis proceed to do next. 

To the Anguis, magic is the lifeblood of their society and should be respected above all else.   They love magic in all its forms, though this can lead to greed taking hold of an aspiring mage Anguis.  The many who aren't lucky enough to study the arcane have been known to pray to a god or make a dark pact to get their magic, because to them, magic is everything.  To be without magic is to be without your life blood.

 

Lover of Death

One could describe the Anguis as curious, always ready to prove themselves, and almost dangerously bold.  There is a reason that they keep improving on their last cities, as many of them die during the construction of their proud homes.  They will take leaps of faith just to make sure that something was done if they must die.  It leads their lives to be short lived.

Magic users are also affected by this personality, many magicians dying at a young age due to experimentation or lack of preparation.  It isn't uncommon for one Anguis to be replaced with another, even that of higher standing.  For to them, work must go on.

 

Anguis Names

Anguis names originate surprisingly from the dwarvish tongue.  An Anguis name is usually derived from achievements in ones life, whether they be simple such as the first rock they had ever chipped into, all the way to their position of power.  This means that their names are always changing. 

d20	Name	d20	Name
1	Sten	11	Gomok
2	Magri	12	Bom
3	Hjerd	13	Tosid
4	Ebyne	14	Libash
5	Dver	15	Kilrud
6	Gul	16	Datan
7	Drogan	17	Akrul
8	Id	18	Asen
9	Therleth	19	Onem
10	Limul	20	Kan

Anguis Traits

Your Anguis has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your intelligence is increased by 1

Age

Anguis reach adulthood at age 10 and can live up to 200 years but so few can actually reach this.

Alignment

Anguis are usually kind yet chaotic creatures, meaning they lean to be Choatic Good.  Of course, there are exceptions.

Size

Anguis are between 3 to 4 feet tall and weigh between 35 and 45 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

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.

Three Headed Defense

Because of your three heads, you get advantage on all Perception based checks.

Anguis Craft

You have proficiency with artisans tools of your choice from the artisan list.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish.