Homebrew Firenewt Species Details

 

"In regions that contain hot springs, volcanic activity, or similar hot and wet conditions, firenewts might be found. The humanoid amphibians live in a militaristic theocracy that reveres elemental fire in its worst incarnation."

—Opynas Ocodor, human wizard.

Physical description

Firenewts are humanoid amphibians with glowing red-orange, translucent skin, and visages akin to that of newts. They have short, thick tails, long arms, and webbed feet.

History

Firenewts care little for their history, focusing only on the present. They believe Imix, the Evil Prince of Elemental Fire, created them, but in truth they where once a peaceful, secluded race who were corrupted by Imix. They were at war with a marauding nation of orcs and were vastly outnumbered. So the firenewts turned to dark rituals and sacrifice, and in return Imix granted some of them a share of his power, making them into warlocks of Imix. He transformed their livestock into great, fire-breathing war beasts with an affinity for fire, called giant striders. The orcs still won, and the firenewts fled wherever they could. Some of their greatest warlocks left to join Imix on the Elemental Plane of Fire, where they serve him as honored guardians and wizened advisers.

Society

Firenewt society and culture are based on the worship of Imix. This veneration of Imix leads firenewts to be wrathful, aggressive and cruel. They raid and sometimes destroy nearby towns and villages, with the tribe's leader, its warlock of Imix, taking the best loot and the rest of the firenewts dividing up what remains. Firenewts sometimes capture prisoners, whether for bloody sacrifice or brutal slavery.

Firenewt names

Firenewts typically have short names.

Male: Agarax, Tendris, Thask, Moeg

Female: Shatha, Kilurn, Thandriska, Drana

 

Firenewt Traits

As followers of Imix Firenewts have distinctive traits stemming from their fanaticism of the fire prince.

Ability score increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

 

Age

Firenewts reach adulthood at 5 years and die at around 30 years.

Alignment

 Most firenewts are neutral evil due to their worship of the Evil Prince of Elemental Fire, but a few strive to break the mold.

Size

Most firenewts stand between 6 and 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Amphibious

You can breathe in smoke, air, and water, as well as ingest lava and other flammable liquids.

Spit fire

The creature must make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 fire damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d8 at 6th level, 4d8 at 11th level, and 5d8 at 16th level. You cannot spit fire again until you finish a short or long rest or take time to ingest at least a flask of some flammable liquid like lantern oil.

Fireborn

You are resistant to fire damage.

Heat seeker

 If you spend a week without a source of moist heat, you have disadvantage on all ability checks and attack rolls until you spend a short or long rest with a source of moist heat.

Explosive desires

 You are proficient with either alchemist’s tools or smith’s tools.

Critical Flame

When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, your weapon ignites in flame and you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit. This extra damage is fire damage regardless of the weapon damage type.

Languages

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