Homebrew Selachii Species Details

The Selachii are an ancient people of the open sea, descended from predatory creatures that once hunted through the deepest oceans long before many surface civilizations learned to sail. Their bodies retain much of this ancestry, possessing powerful tails, rows of sharp teeth, sensitive noses, and muscular frames built for sudden bursts of speed through the water. Selachii vary greatly in appearance, with some resembling reef sharks, hammerheads, makos, tiger sharks, great whites, and countless other species found throughout the world’s oceans.

Unlike many aquatic peoples who built great cities beneath the waves, Selachii historically lived as roaming hunters, fishermen, and seafaring clans. Their communities followed migration routes, currents, and great schools of fish across enormous stretches of ocean. Because of this, Selachii culture developed around movement and adaptability rather than permanent borders. To many Selachii, the ocean itself is their homeland, and drawing lines across it is considered a strange habit of surface-dwellers.

Their natural hunting instincts remain one of their most recognizable traits. Selachii can detect wounded creatures through subtle changes in the water and are capable of explosive bursts of movement when pursuing prey. Some have even learned to use this momentum to launch themselves from the sea, crashing onto the decks of ships or onto rocky shores before their enemies have time to react.

Despite the frightening reputation their appearance often gives them, Selachii are no more naturally violent than any other people. Some become sailors, merchants, explorers, soldiers, or fishermen, while others embrace their ancestral reputation as hunters and pirates. Throughout the great seas, few sights are more intimidating than the silhouette of a Selachii rapidly approaching beneath the surface of the water.

 

• Lifespan: They reach physical maturity around 16–20 years old and commonly live 80–100 years, though particularly large varieties can reach 120 to 180 years or more.
• Height: selachii come in all shapes and sizes based on what species of shark they resemble being from 4 feet tall to 7 to 8 feet tall with females tending to be larger on average.

• Weight: Their bodies are extremely dense and muscular, especially around the shoulders, back, tail, and legs.

• Sexual Dimorphism:Female Selachii are noticeably larger than males, reflecting the biology of many real-world shark species. They tend to possess broader bodies, greater overall muscle mass, thicker tails, and slightly larger jaws. Males are generally leaner and somewhat more agile.

Selachii Traits

As a Selachii, you have the following racial traits.

Blood in the water

While you and another creature are in the same body of water, you have Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to locate that creature if it is missing any of its Hit Points.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid. You are also considered an elf for any prerequisite or effect that requires you to be an elf.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Amphibious

You can breathe both on land and in water.

Aquatic combatant

You are naturally adapted to fighting beneath the waves. Being underwater does not impose Disadvantage on your attack rolls solely because you are underwater.

Born to the current

nonmagical rough water or currents do not reduce your movement. You also have Advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made specifically for swimming.

Predatory rush

When you move at least 20 feet in a straight line while fully submerged in water towards a creature, you gain 10 additional feet of movement for that turn. Additionally if you exit the water after activating predatory rush, you can choose to propel yourself out of the water a distance equal to the number of feet you moved in that straight line.  

you cannot activate predatory rush while you are wearing heavy armor.

Serrated Bite

Your Bite deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier Piercing damage.
When you take the Attack action, you can make one Bite attack as a Bonus Action.

Additionally, when you hit a creature that has half its Hit Points or fewer with your Bite, the attack deals extra damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus.

You can use this Bonus Action Bite a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a short Rest.