Homebrew Xornen; The Tough-Skinned Species Details

Born in the crushing depths of Abyssia’s trenches, the Xornen are a people forged by pressure, heat, and the eternal grind of survival. They were said to be born of the world itself, with stone and muscle combining to form a hard hide of leathery flesh that dismisses even the sharpest of blades. Ancient Abyssian stories speak of the Xornen as guardians of ancient vaults and deep chasms, their very bodies serving as bulwarks against the horrors below.

Towering and imposing, with angular and stiff forms, heavy brows, squared jaws, and deep-set eyes, Xornen have large frames, and move with a deliberate weight like living statues.

While often perceived as stoic and immovable, the Xornen are not without culture or pride. They revere endurance, craftsmanship, and legacy, passing down not only tools and armor but the very scars of their ancestors as lessons written on flesh. Above all, they embody resilience. When a Xornen chooses to stand against an enemy, they are as immovable as the abyssal stone they descend from.

Xornen; The Tough-Skinned Traits

As a Xornen, you have the following racial traits.

Hard-Hitting

When you score a critical hit, after calculating the normal critical damage, you deal an additional 2d6 damage. The type of damage may be split between the dice as the following damage types: bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing (for example, 1d6 bludgeoning + 1d6 slashing). In addition, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC = 10 + your Constitution modifier) or be knocked prone.

Hardening

As a bonus action, you can activate your natural defense. Roll a d4 and add the result to your AC as temporary armor. Each time an attack hits you, reduce this bonus by 1. When it reaches 0, your AC returns to normal. You can end this effect at will. You can use this feature 4 times per long rest, regaining 1 use on a short rest.

Rigid Limbs

You have disadvantage on all Dexterity-related checks while using your Hardening mode.

Solidified Resistance

You are immune to sashing damage and resist piercing damage while in hardening mode.