Homebrew Xylo-Kin (The Saw-Toothed Mischief) Species Details

The Xylo-Kin are the monstrous, subterranean descendants of minor chaos spirits and earth elementals, eternally driven by the urge to cause disruption and undermine the order of the surface world. They spend most of the year beneath the earth, gnawing at the roots of the World Tree, only to surface during the height of the winter solstice to unleash their particular brand of anarchic mischief.

Physical Description

Xylo-Kin are small, grotesque, and wiry creatures with a disturbing mix of human and beast features.

• Build and Stature: They are generally shorter and stockier than humans, with disproportionately long arms and powerful, bowed legs ending in small, cloven hooves.

• Features: Their skin is often charcoal black or muddy brown, covered in coarse, oily fur or patchy, wiry hair. They frequently possess small, ridged horns, glowing red eyes, and a mouth full of sharp, uneven teeth used for gnawing wood and roots. They usually smell faintly of damp earth and smoke.

• Movement: They move with a skittering, quick gait, appearing clumsy but possessing surprising agility.

History and Society

Xylo-Kin society is essentially a non-society—a collection of squabbling, loosely organized bands united only by their singular, destructive purpose and their hatred of the organized surface world.

• The World Tree: Their singular focus is the destruction of the metaphorical (or literal) World Tree, which they believe props up the hated surface realm. They saw and gnaw at its roots all year, only to be forced to the surface when the sun's magic strengthens the roots enough to heal them temporarily.

• Yuletide Rampage: They are most dangerous during the winter solstice (or whatever equivalent festival exists in the setting), as the weakened barrier to the surface allows them free rein to raid pantries, break objects, spoil harvests, and generally sow chaos.

• Reluctant Allies: Those Xylo-Kin found on the surface are typically outcasts or have found a more potent target for their destructive energy, often seeking to dismantle political structures or steal valuable artifacts.

Xylo-Kin Names

Names are guttural and simple, often sounding like the snapping or scraping of wood and stone.

• Names: Gnorl, Skitter, Grick, Rax, Chaw, Pox, Snarl, Grub.

Xylo-Kin Racial Traits

• Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

• Age: Xylo-Kin mature quickly, reaching adulthood by age 8. They rarely live past 60, due to their dangerous lifestyle and internal destructive urges.

• Creature Type: You are a Humanoid.

• Size: Small.

• Speed: Your base walking speed is 25 feet, and you have a climb speed of 25 feet.

• Subterranean Senses: You have Darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.

• Chaos Momentum: You have advantage on saving throws against being Frightened or Charmed.

• World-Tree Sawer: You are proficient with woodcarver’s tools, and you have advantage on any ability check made to quickly undo knots, loosen bindings, or sabotage simple wooden structures (such as breaking a simple wooden lock or sabotaging a wagon wheel).

• Seasonal Surge (Innate Spellcasting): You can use your chaotic energy to create localized mayhem. Once per long rest, you can cast the Chaos Bolt spell as a 1st-level spell. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

• Vulnerability to Flame: Your connection to the cold, damp depths of the earth leaves you susceptible to intense heat. You have Vulnerability to Fire damage.

• Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.

Xylo-Kin (The Saw-Toothed Mischief) Traits

The Xylo-Kin are the monstrous, subterranean descendants of minor chaos spirits and earth elementals, eternally driven by the urge to cause disruption and undermine the order of the surface world. They spend most of the year beneath the earth, gnawing at the roots of the World Tree, only to surface during the height of the winter solstice to unleash their particular brand of anarchic mischief.