Homebrew Yuan-Ti Serpentine Runt Species Details

Cast Offs of an Empire

The yuan-ti civilization is one of cold calculation, careful plotting, and ruthless efficiency. Every aspect of their society is designed to strip away weakness and cultivate strength. Yet, despite their mastery over flesh and form, not every transformation is a success. Some yuan-ti are born broken—twisted, malformed creatures that do not embody the perfection of their serpentine gods. These aberrations, known as Runts are considered useless defects, cursed with wild impulses and unstable minds. They are slaughtered at birth whenever possible, though some escape into exile, clinging to life in the shadows of a world that has rejected them.

Failures of the Flesh

The yuan-ti have spent centuries perfecting their rituals of transformation, but the process is not without risk. A Runt is a mistake, a mutation—neither fully human nor properly yuan-ti. Where a Halfblood or Abomination bears a controlled blend of serpent and human features, a Runt is a chaotic fusion of both, with no guiding order to their form. One might have scales covering only patches of its skin, mismatched fangs, or a single, unblinking serpent eye. Others bear grotesque half-formed tails, twisted limbs, or jaws too wide for their skulls.

More disturbing than their bodies, however, are their minds. The yuan-ti have long since purged themselves of human emotion, existing in a state of detached calculation. Runts, however, do not share in this purity. Some are incapable of suppressing their feelings, consumed by wild and erratic urges, while others swing between eerie detachment and explosive outbursts. Many lack the discipline for subterfuge, acting without forethought, incapable of grasping the intricate schemes that define yuan-ti culture.

Rejected and Reviled

To the yuan-ti, Runts are more than just failures—they are insults to their perfection. Those born into yuan-ti strongholds are usually killed outright, their deaths treated as a cleansing of the bloodline. However, the rare few who survive are cast out into the wilderness, left to die alone and forgotten. A Runt that manages to endure its exile becomes an object of scorn and hatred. Should it ever return to yuan-ti lands, its kin will seek to erase its existence, lest its presence taint the reputation of its former house.

Even among warm-blooded creatures, Runts find no home. Most humanoids see them as no different from the rest of their snake-headed kin, shunning or attacking them on sight. And so, they wander—a people with no people, belonging neither to the cold-blooded order of the yuan-ti nor the vibrant chaos of humanity.

Survivors in the Shadows

Despite their wretched existence, Runts persist. Scattered bands of them haunt the forgotten places of the world, eking out a living in ruins, swamps, and deep jungles. Some embrace their chaotic nature, becoming little more than feral killers. Others seek vengeance, lashing out at both yuan-ti and humans alike, driven by bitterness and rejection. A few, mad and desperate, still cling to the worship of the old serpent gods, offering profane rituals in the hope of finding purpose in their suffering.

But the yuan-ti whisper of stranger things. That some Runts do possess potential—that in their fractured minds and broken bodies lies a path not yet understood. Whether this is truth or merely fearful superstition, none can say. For now, the Runts remain what they have always been: mistakes, outcasts, and reminders that even the most perfect designs can still go wrong.

Yuan-Ti Serpentine Runt Traits

Though not as powerful as a full grown halfblood, Runts share certain racial traits as a result of their serpentine blood.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Runts mature at the same rate as humans and have lifespans slightly greater in length to theirs.

Size

Runts vary greatly in size and while matching humans in average size and weight can be much larger or smaller. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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 can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray

Venomous Bite

When making an unarmed strike you may instead use your fangs. When doing so the target must make a constitution saving throw vs a DC 10 + your proficiency modifier or be affected by the poisoned condition until the end of their turn. You may use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency modifier per long rest.

Poison Immunity

You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Powerful Tail

Runts' lower bodies are serpentine, and their large tail is capable of dealing impressive damage. When making unarmed attacks you may strike using your tail. Whenever you make an attack in this way you may automatically attempt to grapple the target. You suffer no penalties when grappling an opponent this way, but are unable to grapple any other targets with your tail while doing so. Opponents grappled in this manner have disadvantage on their checks to escape the grapple. As a bonus action you may constrict an opponent grappled in this manner dealing 1d4 damage plus your strength modifier. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Abyssal, and Draconic.