Homebrew Demi Human Species Details
"I could never have dreamed of a more ridiculous pair of numbskulls than Trimen The Cheetah and Zenku The Cat... Nor could I have ever hoped for better friends, companions, and stalwart guardians. They truly are the most reliable and chaotic pair of fools to grace the rebellion."
In the reckonings of most worlds, demi-humans are the most unlucky of creatures and peoples. Despite no fault of their own, they were cast out, enslaved, deceived, and abused. All because in far ages past evil gods played at creating an army of adaptable humans with the strengths of monsters; yet these ancestors chose to rebel and fight alongside the cause of order and justice. Yet their willingness to do good did not remove the perceived stain on their being that was the tampering of those long-dead dark gods.
A Broad Spectrum
With their penchant for migration and enslavement, demi-humans are more physically diverse than other common races. There is no typical demi-human. An individual can stand from 3 feet to a little over 7 feet tall and weigh from 55 to 450 pounds. Demi-Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale and may even be covered in fur or scales, and hair colors from black to blond or blue to red and all in-between (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick, and often sport bright colors or strange fluffs as hold-overs from their animalistic heritages. All demi-humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of cat, bird, monster or other lineages. Demi-Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century.
Unyielding Will
Demi-Humans are the most hopeful, willful, and good people in the world. While there are outliers, like in all vast groups of people, as a whole Demi-Humans are a good people with hints of chaos thrown in. Their temperaments are always as diverse as their heritages, but all share a stubborn penchant to fight against the dying of the light, to keep persevering despite terrible situations, and to never give up as they dream for a better future. This makes the Demi-Humans truly great, that nothing will ever truly dampen their people's spirits regardless of the horrors that might face them in the world.
An Enslaved History
Demi-Humans have a long history of being abused, taken advantage of, and even enslaved by almost all other races at one point or another. Their great numbers across the world combined with their hopeful, some might say naïve, attitude tends to lead them into traps set up by the worst people in society. In addition to the other race's perceived slights against Demi-Human heritage, many races and onlookers refuse to help Demi-Humans whether out of suspicion, grudge, fear, or lack of their own ability to make end's meet. Regardless of why, the Demi-Humans have become a staple in many markets that hosts slavery or human trafficking.
Demi-Human Names and Ethnicities
Having so much more variety than other cultures, demi-humans as a whole have no typical names. Some demi-human parents give their children names from other languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their region’s culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.
Catfolk:
Sibilant, soft, or sharp sounds mimicking purrs and claws. Jazir (male), Kaelith (male), Raesh (male), Sira (female), Miriwa (female), Zamira (female).
Ratfolk:
Chittering, quick, and sharp sounds with frequent consonants. Skritch (male), Rizzik (male), Tweek (male), Squeela (female), Zibbi (female), Kritia (female).
Fishfolk:
Fluid, rolling, and bubbly sounds utilizing soft vowels. Tritonus (male), Ormur (male), Nassor (male), Aquina (female), Lyraia (female), Callista (female).
Dogfolk:
Guttural, loyal, and fierce sounds with hard endings. Garrok (male), Wulfric (male), Fenris (male), Raksha (female), Tala (female), Kiba (female).
Horsefolk:
Noble, rhythmic, and resonant sounds mimicking galloping. Chiron (male), Theron (male), Hylor (male), Epona (female), Rania (female), Xanthhia (female).
Monsterfolk:
Harsh, guttural, and intimidating names with deep vowels. Gorgoroth (male), Malakor (male), Xarvath (male), Lilithra (female), Vexia (female), Azgora (female).
Demi Human Traits
It’s hard to make generalizations about demi-humans, but your demi-human character has these traits.Ability Score Increase
2 ability scores each increase by 1.
Age
Demi-Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.
Size
Demi-Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 3 feet to well over 7 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Demi-Humans typically learn the language of their ancestors or a related language to their heritage.
Proficiency Bonus
Demi-Humans are adaptable and learn quickly, gain a bonus proficiency.
Demi-Human Trait
Demi-Human is a generalized term for part-human part-monster creatures. Their diversity is as vast as humans are many. You gain two Demi-Human traits of your choice: Darkvision 60ft, Blindsight 30ft, Tremorsense 30ft, Speed +10, Climb +15, Swim +15, Hover +15, Burrow +10, Fly +10, hold breath 15 minutes, unarmed attack 1d6, natural armor (+3 unarmored AC), chosen damage resistance, +2 chosen ability score, 2 chosen languages, or 2 chosen proficiencies. The Demi-Human's body grows and enhances as they age and train, you may choose an additional trait at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20; the additional trait may be the same as a previously chosen trait causing the trait to double in power.
A player may, if allowed by the DM, choose to leave a trait empty and replace it with a custom trait that fits their chosen heritage that might not have an appropriate bonus listed here.
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