Homebrew The Daemonium Species Details

"Get out of our town, we naught but want the son of a demon here in our kingdom!"

Those black eyes, as cold as the Abyss itself, stared out at the soul of the man through his eyes, almost drawing his breath away from his lungs, and the sudden boom of his voice was as low and guttural as the Abyss itself, had almost made the heart of the town guard jolt out of his chest.

"And what is they say? That I'm the whoreson of Graz'zt, the very being of malice and destruction? I have heard all the same threats and insults before, you guards do not scare me."

"And why is that? I could call the alarm now and get the royal guard on you. In naught a minute your last breath would be drawn."

"So typical of humans. You wage wars with every race including yours. You think the gods owe you everything and buckle under your knees. I have seen many kingdoms come and gone by greed and malice. Their reasons, because if they made a mistake and angered the gods, they would blame their neighbors and any race outside their own instead of blaming themselves and their sins. You call me the son of a demon but I see the soul of one in every human I see, all humans are full of sin that they themselves cannot escape from. And yet you blame my race for having the blood of a Demon. My race is the same as any other, we want to live and be equal beings, but you cannot, you see me as a blight in the world when even now this city is dying from sickness and sin brought by yourselves. I hope you can see that human, if your race does not, they will soon be forgotten to time."

- Juliana Stodge, the daughter of a Human noble

 

The Daemonium, a race born of the coupling of a human and a demon. Be it by forceful means or loving ones, the Daemonium wander the world catching bystanders eyes filled with distrust and malice. The Daemonium is a race of people with no home in the world, and this world does not welcome them. The evil actions of the Daemonium are instinct from there demonic parents, and the people are not blind to these actions. The Tiefling is a close cousin to the Daemonium, but both hate the other due to the Blood War. But others know of the other's pain and seek refuge together in a world that despises them. 

Born of the Abyss

Daemonium are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, their demonic heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Daemonium have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. They have large muscles that cover every inch of their body from their extensive time in the Abyss and or from their demonic ancestors. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of blood red or midnight black. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple.

Self-Reliant in a World of Hate, Malice, Distrust, and Greed

Daemonium subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns, often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect. Or they find other Daemonium and live in the wild, either living by robbing and killing the innocent, or taking a kinder route and living by making use of the wild they live in.

Lacking a homeland, Daemonium know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when a Daemonium’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the Daemonium learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a Daemonium gives someone loyalty, the Daemonium is a firm friend or ally for life.

A Race Hated By All

Daemonium often live in the wild forestland of the world far away from any civilization as to live in peace and away from any non-Daemonium as to not be hunted down or be made into slaves by corrupt nobles. Daemonium are often finding themselves to be living in wild forestland in some point of there life, once finding a large enough forest far away from civilization, many Daemonium never leave it as they fear coming close to a civilization as they fear to be hunted down or made into a slave, or receive a fate worse then death, going back into the Abyss. Because of this, many Wood Elves find themselves allying or finding friends within Daemonium communities, once this happens, Daemonium and Wood Elves mix their communities together to form a stronger wall to protect their forest together, and to mate together to make children of the forest that will forever stay in the forest their born in and protect it, Daemonium and Wood Elves alike keep this alliance and partnership a closely-guarded secret as to not put their children, forest, and themselves in danger by those that would want to cause the forest and them harm. If a Daemonium is bold then they will often go to a large city where they will find other Daemonium in the slums of the city, most often forming a gang to protect themselves with their brethren from the inhabitants of the city, whereas the inhabitants see this as a threat to their city and don't step foot in the slums inhabited by Daemonium for fear of death or curses will be placed on them. Some Daemonium are lucky and find jobs of hard labor and be paid minimally but face the safety of not being hunted down by members of the corrupt society they live in.

The Culture of the Strange

Daemonium don't have a clear culture but they do respect the power the gods yield as well as the power of the Devil and Demon Lords. Once Daemonium begin to mix their society with a Wood Elf society then they are more likely to follow the gods of the Elves. Most Daemonium do well not to anger the gods as they fear that because of their demonic ancestry that they are the target for the gods wraith. Daemonium that are raised in a temple are likely to be Lawful Good and become a Paladin or Cleric under the god that the temple follows.

Inside the Mind of the Child of a Demon

Most Daemonium fear the gods and their power, but they also fear civilizations for their malice towards them. When Daemonium enter a new community in the wild forestland, a joyous festival is thrown with alcohol and meat. Most often do these festivals end with mating between members of the community. Daemonium who are alone in the world often develop strong feelings of loneliness and nihilism but they always will use a good drink to drive these problems away as if it were nothing at all.

Daemonium Names 

Daemonium names fall into three broad categories. Daemoniums born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Abyssal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their fiendish heritage. And some younger Daemoniums, striving to find a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.

Common Male Abyssal Names: Aanik, Blaalibas, Ghorr, Hlalanop, Judnok, Kuss, Vevundur, Zendruckur

Common Female Abyssal Names: Fell, Ghirox, Keerys, Makkendis, Rizku, Vrixadie, Yyn

Common “Virtue” Names: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity, Torment, Weary

The Daemonium Traits

The Daemonium Traits

Ability Score Increase

+2 to Strength and +1 to Constitution

Age

Daemonium typically mature at 15 years of life, but tend to live just under 200 years.

Alignment

Daemonium due to their demonic parents, feel a strong urge to live a chaotic and evil life. If raised by their demonic parents they will live a Chaotic Evil lifestyle, but if raised by their human parents usually shift more towards Neutral or Lawful, depending on the parents lifestyle, and can be Good if their human parent truly cares for the child.

Size

Daemonium stand anywhere from 6 to 8 ft tall, and have large, muscular, bodies. They tend to be anywhere from 250 to 350 pounds. Your size is Medium. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Because of your demonic ancestry, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Hellish Resistance

You have resistance to Fire damage.

Menacing

You have proficiency with the Intimidation skill.

Champion of the Lower Planes

Since your demonic ancestry spent an eternity in the dark and cold but only to stay in the Abyss, you know the Frostbite cantrip. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write in Common and Abyssal