Homebrew (Legacies) Diaboli Species Details
Originating on the distant plane of Nocturn and spawned of the goddess Cataphora, the diaboli appear to many humanoid cultures as nightmares incarnate. They have dispersed across the endless realms as much to spread their creed of benevolent chaos as to escape the rampant horrors of their evershifting home.
Diaboli hails from a demiplane just slightly out of phase with the rest of the multiverse. Called by humanoids the Demiplane of Nightmares, or Nocturn, this realm exists within the orbiting Demiplane of The Land of Dreams. Unfortunately for the diaboli and the creatures that share their frightening home, the boundaries between their reality and those of the material plane - a place that exists outside of reality just as much for them as dreams do to those of the material planes - seem particularly thin.
On their home demiplane, the diaboli act much as humans do on the Material Plane: they farm, hunt, build villages and towns, interact peacefully with some of the creatures they share their home with, and they violently oppose others. Some diaboli become philosophers of renown, while others skulk the dark alleyways waiting for their next mark.
Unlike humans, diaboli have a unifying belief in the superiority of anarchy. They build their societies around the belief that since they cannot provably define any one form of government as better than any other they must simply live without governments. Despite their chaotic natures, diaboli strongly believe in traditions and ancient mores that continue to maintain their societies. Along with these strong and repeatedly proven customs, diaboli hold together their otherwise free-willed societies with a mixture of traditions, taboos, customs, and a strong sense of fair play. "Do what thou wilt but harm none" unifies most diaboli and acts as the great truth from which all traditions and taboos grow.
Societies of diaboli on the Material Planes seem at once both oddly familiar and strangely disconcerting. They build their villages in a haphazard manner, seemingly without any consideration for the defense of structures - much less with an eye toward moving around effectively between the buildings.
While diaboli martial technology lags well behind the civilized races of the Material Plane, their more cerebral aspects of culture far exceed those of most races. They spare no amount of energy or wealth developing advanced forms of philosophy and art. Most diaboli promote a level of tolerance and generosity far more liberal and welcoming than any Material Plane humanoid race, with the sole exception of their attitude toward humans, whom they detest above all others. The diaboli oftentimes view humans in much the same way that humans view devils or demons.
Appearance
Diaboli are vaguely humanoid in form, averaging about 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, but possess goat-like legs, pointed ears, and small, vestigial horns. They also have long tails that end in a barb. Their hands were mostly normal but they lacked the smallest finger, instead only having four fingers on each hand. Diaboli have reptilian eyes that range from bright red to yellow in color. Their skin ranges in color from pale mauve or lavender to near-black violet. They have forked tongues. Diaboli varied in how much hair grew on their bodies, some had no hair at all others grew coarse, goat-like hair growing from the waist down.
Diaboli Traits
Creature Type: Humanoid, Occasionally rules as an Aberration*
Size: Medium (about 5–6 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
Otherworldly Appearance
Due to your unusual visage, you gain proficiency in Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
Born in Nightmares
Your mind is native to a realm where nightmares are reality, you have resistance to psychic damage.
Barbed Tail
You have a natural weapon, your barbed tail, which you can use to make unarmed attacks. It deals 1d6 piercing damage on a hit.
Nightmare Venom
Your tail produces a potent venom born from your connection to Nocturn. You have a number of venom charges equal to half your proficiency bonus, rounded down. You regain all expended charges when you finish a Long Rest.
When you hit a creature with your Tail Barb, you can expend one venom charge as a Reaction to inject the creature with your venom. The target must make a Constitution saving throw against your Diaboli Venom save DC.
On a failed save, the creature takes poison damage according to your level, as shown below. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage.
| Character Level | Poison Damage |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | 2d6 |
| 5–8 | 4d6 |
| 9–12 | 6d6 |
| 13–16 | 8d6 |
| 17–20 | 10d6 |
Diaboli Venom Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier.
Darkvision
You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
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