Homebrew Cambion Species Details

APPEARANCE

A cambion may be nearly indistinguishable from other members of its mortal half, or just as likely they may appear to be entirely demonic. Two cambion siblings might seemingly be of completely different races, their infernal blood manifesting in unique ways.

Their fiendish parent largely contributes to these particular features. Horns may curl and swirl like a ram’s, point sharply upwards towards the sky like a horned devil or resemble a rack of antlers. Their body could be partially scaled or covered in thick, leathery skin, both of which could range from red, purple and green to white, grey and black. Cloven hooves, claws and forked tongues are not uncommon either. Despite all of these terrifying traits, they are considered attractive by many.

ALIGNMENT

From chaotic evil to chaotic-neutral. Cambions usually grow into ruthless adults. Even as a youth, a cambion identifies their rightful place as an overlord of mortals. They might orchestrate uprisings in towns and cities, gathering gangs of humanoids and lesser devils to serve them. Though some of them can grow into non-malevolent beings in the right conditions, they most likely will retain a twisted moral compass and will enter a state of bloodlust if pushed into a corner.

SOCIAL STATUS

Cambions can often be found in positions of leadership throughout the realms but rarely with their own kin by their side. Their powerful bodies and endless ambition lead many of them to seek out power, particularly in the domination of weaker creatures of which there are many by comparison. Though rare and far between they can most frequently be found in places of fiendish worship or in areas having suffered a fiendish incursion where they have often been abandoned to fend for themselves in a world that doesn't want them. Yet, by their nature, they rise from roughest quarters of those places, where they often grow up to be commanders, lords, or rulers in some way shape or form.

BIOLOGY

Cambions, even the most human-looking among them, still retain some unique physiological characteristics.

Thermoregulation: they are comfortable in hot environments and are resistant to burns, but become weak and lethargic in the cold.

Fast metabolism: they need to eat a lot and often, get hungry often. Process alcohol fast, hence get drunk fast and easy.

Nesting: if a cambion finds himself a space with all the proper conditions (small and confined, safe, not easily reachable, warm and dry), they may enter a state where they will compulsively hoard materials (such as feathers, moss, fabric and trinkets of emotional value) back to that space to build up their "nest". The process may take from a few hours to a few days depending of material availibility, and during that time the cambion will be unable to focus on anything else than the task at hand. The pheromones and endorphins they release during that time makes them feel hazy and loopy, so they'd be quite vulnerable.

Letting a companion into their nest is the ultimate display of trust from a cambion, as it allows them to form a (either platonic or romantic) packmate bond.

Cambion Traits

Cambions share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.

Bloodlust

Cambions, regardless of their more or less demonic appearance, will become increasingly frantic the longer a fight drags on, and less likely to listen to teammates or to pay attention to anything else than the fight. They might need a few minutes to calm down after combat is over, to let the adrenaline rush end.

More importantly, if a cambion were to lose consciousness due to hostile actions, their demonic part will take over in self-preservation and wreck havoc among allies and enemies alike until it is knocked out or killed.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Unholy

Most religious places and objects will slowly weaken the cambion until they pass out. They will stay prone until they are out of the place/object's area of infuence.

Age

Cambions mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.

Alignment

Cambions might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many of them toward a chaotic alignment.

Size

Cambions are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Infernal Legacy

You know the teleport cantrip. Holy places and objects weaken you. You might have wings.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.