Homebrew Deepmarked Species Details

No one is born Deepmarked.

They are made.

Through a ritual known as the Drowning Rite, initiates are cast beneath the waves and held there until breath fails. In that final moment, something vast and ancient presses in from the depths. Those who resist perish. Those who yield are returned—changed.

Each Deepmarked bears a unique transformation. Some show subtle signs: faint salt-scar patterns, darkened eyes, or webbed fingers. Others are more visibly altered—barnacles fused to their skin, gills along the neck, or even small, writhing tendrils where flesh once was still.

No two Deepmarked are alike. The sea does not mold—it leaves its mark.

Deepmarked Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 4–7 feet tall) or Small (about 2–4 feet tall), chosen when you select this species
Speed: 30 feet, and you have a swim speed equal to your walking speed.

Deepmarked Appearance

Your body bears the mark of the deep, and no two Deepmarked look the same. You might have:

• Salt-like crystalline scars across your skin
• Barnacles or coral fused to your body
• Webbed fingers or fin-like protrusions
• Gills along your neck or ribs
• Eyes that glow faintly or appear entirely black
• Hair that drifts like kelp, even in still air
• Small tentacles or tendrils where flesh has changed

These features are cosmetic unless your DM rules otherwise. 

Deepmarked Mutations

You may roll or choose one of the following mutations:

1. Faintly glowing veins when emotional
2. Damp, cold skin at all times
3. Voice echoes like it’s underwater
4. Eyes reflect deep ocean darkness
5. Webbed or partially fused fingers
6. Small hidden tendril along wrist or spine
7. Barnacles that grow and fall away
8. Shadow that doesn’t always match your form

Deepmarked Traits

As a Deepmarked, you have these special traits.

Abyssal Adaptation

• You can breathe both air and water.
• You have resistance to cold damage.
• You ignore any drawbacks caused by underwater combat.

Mark of the Deep

 Your transformation manifests in a unique way.

 Choose one of the following options:

Tidebound Form

You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to swim, grapple, or resist being moved.

Abyssal Sight

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet. While submerged in water, this increases to 120 feet.

Whisper of the Deep

You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip.

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast Command once per long rest.

Starting at 5th level, you can cast Detect Thoughts once per long rest.

You can choose Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability for these spells when you select this trait.

Pressure-Born Resilience

• You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the frightened condition.
• You are naturally adapted to withstand extreme ocean depths and high-pressure environments.

Call of the Leviathan

You can invoke the awareness of the deep.

 As a bonus action, you gain the following benefits for 1 minute:

• You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.
• You can sense the presence of large bodies of water or submerged creatures within 60 feet (you don’t learn their exact location).

 Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Languages

Your character knows at least two languages: Common plus one of the following: Primordial, Deep Speech, or Aquan. Knowledge of a language means your character can communicate in it, read it, and write it.