Homebrew Anurian Species Details

Anurian Lore – The Keepers of Water and Sky

The Anurians are an ancient race of amphibious humanoids, believed to have emerged from the great primordial swamps long before the rise of mortal empires. Their bodies reflect the diverse environments they inhabit—some boast brilliant, poisonous skin to ward off predators, while others are clad in earthy hues to blend with murky wetlands. Though small in stature, they are swift and resourceful, relying on agility and cunning over brute strength.

Life Among the Waters

Anurian society is built around rivers, swamps, and jungle canopies, where their unique physiology allows them to move seamlessly between land and water. Many live in stilted villages woven between towering trees, connected by ropes and bridges, while others carve hidden homes in marshy caves or beneath the tangled roots of ancient trees. They see water as the lifeblood of the world and believe in its power to cleanse, heal, and reshape the land.

A Culture of Balance

Anurians hold a deep reverence for nature and the delicate balance of life. They rarely take more than they need and despise waste, often making use of every part of a hunt—bones, skins, and even venom. Many serve as druids, rangers, or monks, acting as silent guardians of the wetlands. They view change as inevitable, much like the cycles of rain and drought, and thus, they embrace adaptability in all things.

Despite their naturalistic ways, Anurians are not primitive. They are master artisans of herbal remedies, alchemy, and intricate woven structures. Their shamans and elders craft potent brews from swamp plants, some of which are said to grant visions, cure ailments, or even mimic the effects of powerful magic.

Anurian Clans and Their Ways

While all Anurians share common traits, different clans have adapted to their environments in unique ways:

• The Rainkin dwell in humid rainforests, their bright skin a warning of the toxins they secrete. They are skilled herbalists and cunning hunters, using their natural defenses to ward off threats.
• The Bogborn are stout and sturdy, thriving in deep marshes where their endurance allows them to outlast predators. They value tradition and are known for their deep, resonant songs that echo through the wetlands.
• The Treewalkers live high in the jungle canopy, their powerful limbs and adhesive grips making them unrivaled climbers. They are elusive and swift, striking from the shadows before vanishing into the leaves.

Legends of the Ancestors

According to Anurian mythology, the first of their kind was shaped from river clay and given life by a forgotten water spirit. This spirit, known as the Ripplemother, tasked them with guarding the sacred places of the world—springs, lakes, and the hidden waterways that sustain all life. Though few modern Anurians still worship the Ripplemother, they honor her through their careful stewardship of nature.

Anurians in the Wider World

While many Anurians remain in their secluded communities, others venture beyond their homelands as wanderers, mercenaries, or sages. Some serve as scouts or spies, using their agility to infiltrate enemy lines, while others seek out lost knowledge, fascinated by the vastness of the world beyond their waters. Despite their small stature, Anurians possess a fierce spirit and a sharp wit, making them valuable allies—or formidable foes.

Anurian Traits

Anurians are amphibious, agile, and deeply connected to nature. With powerful legs and keen senses, they excel at leaping, climbing, and blending into their surroundings. Some possess toxic skin or prehensile tongues, making them versatile and resourceful. Small but swift, Anurians thrive by adapting, enduring, and outmaneuvering their foes.

Amphibious Adaptations:

 

• Amphibious: You can breathe both air and water.
• Standing Leap: Your long jump is up to 20 feet and your high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.
• Sticky Grip: You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks to climb. You can use your hands and feet to cling to surfaces, allowing you to move along walls and ceilings at half your walking speed.

 

Natural Camouflage

 

• You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
• As a bonus action, you can blend into your surroundings. Until the start of your next turn, you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks if you are in natural terrain such as swamps, forests, or riversides.

 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Anurian. Anurian is a language of clicks, croaks, and throat-based sounds.

Ability Score Increases

+2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom

Rainkin Subrace

Toxic Skin:

• Some Anurians have mildly toxic skin. When a creature grapples you or hits you with an unarmed strike, it takes poison damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

Bogborn Subrace

Tongue Grab:

• You can use your long tongue to interact with objects or grapple creatures within 10 feet. You cannot wield weapons with your tongue, but you can retrieve items, pull levers, or even grab enemies. A creature you grapple this way must be no more than one size larger than you.

Treewalker Subrace

Wall-Crawler

• You can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
• Your climbing speed is equal to your walking speed.