Homebrew Coatls' Brood (Yuan-ti Variant) Species Details
Description
The Coatl's Brood (pronounced Co-wah-til) are a rare and enigmatic people, born from the miraculous union or divine blessing between a mortal (often an elf or human) and the celestial essence of a Coatl—the noble, feathered serpents of lawful good alignment. They stand as a stark contrast to their yuan-ti cousins, whose bloodline was corrupted by dark powers. Where the yuan-ti are cold and sinister, the Coatl's Brood are graceful, purposeful, and bound by a profound sense of community.
Physically, they combine the best traits of their heritage. They possess the lithe, graceful builds of elves, often with sharp, elegant features. Their most distinctive traits are the subtle, iridescent scales that trace their spine, dust their shoulders, or gleam in patches on their skin, which shimmer with a rainbow of colors in direct light. Their eyes often have serpentine slitted pupils, which glow with a soft, metallic luster of gold, silver, or bronze. Some may have a feathered mane of hair, or vestigial wings that are not capable of flight but hint at their celestial ancestor.
Culture of Kinship and Mastery Coatl's Brood culture is built upon two pillars: the strength of the community (The Brood) and the pursuit of personal excellence (The Soaring). They believe that an individual can only reach their highest potential when supported by a strong, nurturing community, and conversely, a community is only as strong as the individuals who continually strive to better themselves.
- The Brood: Family and clan are the center of their existence. Their enclaves are tight-knit and protective, offering unwavering support to each member. They practice communal raising of children, shared resources, and make important decisions through consensus. This creates a powerful safety net that allows each individual the security to pursue their unique talents without fear of failure. To betray the Brood is the ultimate transgression.
- The Soaring: From a young age, each member of the Brood is encouraged to find their "sacred skill"—a craft, art, or martial practice that they can dedicate their life to mastering. This isn't seen as a path to personal glory, but as a way to strengthen the entire community by adding a master's skill to its collective arsenal. A master baker, a legendary warrior, and a wise historian are all equally revered for their contribution to the whole. This philosophy of self-betterment is why they are naturally drawn to classes like Monk, Ranger, and Paladin, where discipline and refinement of skill are paramount.
Culturally, they are often solitary by necessity, as their communities are small and hidden away to protect ancient wisdom and guard against the forces of corruption. Those who venture into the wider world are often emissaries, protectors, or seekers of lost knowledge, always carrying the values of their Brood with them. They feel a deep responsibility to use their gifts for the common good, fighting to prove that serpentine blood can be a gift of protection, kinship, and mastery, not a curse of malice.
As a child of Coatl's Brood, you have the following racial traits.
Creature Type
You are a Humanoid.
Size
You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.
Speed
Your walking speed is 30 feet.
You also have a climbing and swim speed equal to your walking speed.
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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
Magic Resistance
You have advantage on saving throws against spells.
Poison Resilience
You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the poisoned condition on yourself. You also have resistance to poison damage.
Serpentine Spellcasting
You know the guidance cantrip.
In addition, you can cast the speak with animals as a ritual with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the jump spell with this trait. You can cast these spells a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. These uses reset on a long rest. You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).
Feathered Glide
At level 5, you grow vestigial, feather-adorned frills or a sleek, membranous underside along your arms and back. When you fall at least 10 feet, you can use your reaction to extend these frills or feathers to glide. You can move up to 5 feet horizontally for every 1 foot you descend, and you do not take falling damage when you use this trait. You remain in control of this glide until you land, are Incapacitated, or retract them manually as a Free Action. This glide cannot be used to gain altitude, only to slow your descent and maneuver horizontally.