Homebrew Chimeran Species Details

Critiques and change recommendations are welcome and encouraged.

Physical Description:

All chimerans have a sapient tail capable of speech and telepathy. The tail is always the opposite on the feminine/masculine scale from the main body. There are never exceptions. The venom in the snake tail is potent and is produced rapidly. The chimeran is immune to its own venom as well as most venoms and poisons from outside sources. Their venom can either be in liquid or mist form and can vary from paralysis, sleep, or death (slow and quite painful or quick and painless).

The main body of a chimeran is naturally athletic and agile. Their endurance is also quite impressive. Chimeran eyes are also very impressive. They are able to see clearly even in nights with little moonlight. Their ears allow them to hear and quickly pinpoint enemies and prey. Only their sense of smell is weak but their tail more than makes up for it. Only their companion cerberen wolves have better vision, hearing, and sense of smell.

Chimeran children reach adulthood at the age of 23 and are considered full adults to those of their race. Fully grown they range from 5.5ft to 6.5 ft tall. Once they reach 20, their aging slows to a crawl. The average lifespan is 5000-5500 years. The oldest on record was near 6000 years old. Coloring and markings can vary wildly and can even have colors not normally found in nature. Though it is rare, some tails have hoods similar to a cobra. Aside from tufts of fur on the underside of their tails, elbows, shoulders, and face, the rest of the body is quite skin like. So even their tails lack scales but can still have snake like patterns. The fur on the underside of their tail is exceptionally soft. Most hatchlings are carried gently wrapped in the coils of their parent’s tail. Chimeran parents are extremely protective of their offspring.

From hatching, the main body and tail are capable of communicating with each other thanks to their shared nervous system. Usually feelings or images at first but eventually words and full thoughts as they age. 

 History: 

For their entire memorable history, they have had a symbiotic relationship with the Cerberen Wolves. Both work for the betterment of each other. Though they have researched it, they aren't exactly sure of their origins. Some theories they have range from being created by mages long ago to originating from another plane all together. Throughout their recorded history, they have lived on the Material Plane. 

Though they are called Chimerans, they aren't related to the beast Chimera.

 Society:

“For the betterment and advancement of all Chimerans and Cerberen.” Is the guiding principle of their race. Long, long ago, a former leader of the Chimeran race nearly caused the extinction of both races. Enough of them realized that their leader was so corrupt they had no choice but to remove them. Afterwords, their entire law structure was changed and centered around that prime tenant. Anyone in a leadership position who violates that is immediately removed and judged appropriately. 

Crime among chimerans is very rare outside of the normal low level crimes like fighting, theft, etc. The reason for this is that any punishment put on a chimeran is shared with their companion. As a bonded pair, they are meant to look out for and care for each other. So in order to not punish their partner along with themselves, major crimes are very rare. 

Most law enforcement is made up of those who choose the military as their job of choice. Though they are referred to as military, they still answer to the people as well as those in leadership positions.

Chimerans are led by a council of twelve. Every twenty years, elections are held to vote in or keep the current council. The only requirement to run for a council position is to be adult age. All chimerans of adult age are allowed to and encouraged to vote. The council are responsible for leading their race and creating new laws. Each year all new laws approved by the council are voted on by the populace. If enough votes win, the law goes into effect at the end of that year. 

Chimerans, and to a lesser extent cerberen, are all able to use magic. At birth, their magical ability can vary wildly but even the weakest can perform minor magic. (Cantrips and select level 1 spells)

Chimerans and bonded Cerberen wolves can be found in most cities. Usually applying their craft or acting as adventurers or even teachers.

 Religion:

Chimerans follow the teachings of their Goddess and her Consort. There are varying images of each but their Goddess resembles themselves while the Consort resembles a Cerberen Wolf. Since they are deities, they have the ability to switch between two and four legged forms. They have many names but are usually referred to as The Goddess and The Consort.

Clerics who follow the Goddess gain the ability to turn into a four legged form and back up to an hour per day for each proficiency level.

Names:

Male: Nagi, Hades, Riyas

Female: Pandora, Iris, Eira

 

Preferred Class:

Chimerans do well as spell casters and clerics as well as Rangers, Druids, and Fighters.

 

Chimeran Traits

Cerberen Wolf companion ritual, Two-Heads, Venomous Tail, Poison Immunity, Chimeran Training, Multiattack

Age

The average lifespan is 500 years. And they reach adulthood at 23.

Alignment

Your alignment is always a flavor of good.

Size

Your size is Medium

Darkvision

Your Darkvision is 60 ft.

Cerberen Wolf Companion Ritual

At level 10, you have the ability to bond with a Cerberen Wolf. This functions like the spell Find Greater Steed. This provides benefits to both sides of the bond. The wolf gains the lifespan of their partner and if killed can be resurrected by their partner. This ability can only be used once a week and will require a long rest after completion. 

The wolf will also be able to size change between large and medium as needed. Though when medium sized they will not be able to function as a mount for creatures sized medium and above. Your benefits are you have a battle mount and companion in battles.

Venomous Tail

Melee Weapon Attack: +STR modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 piercing damage, and taking 1d4 poison damage.

Languages

Your base languages are Common and Chimir(variant of Elven), the language of your race. If your Intelligence is 15 or more, you may pick one additional language.

Multiattack

Multiattack. The chimeran makes three attacks: one with its main body and one with its venomous tail.

Poison/Venom Immunity

With your unique physiology, you gain immunity to poison and venom.