Homebrew Devore Species Details

To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the devore. And to twist the knife, devore know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of Asmodeus—overlord of the Nine Hells—into their bloodline. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.

Infernal Bloodline

Devore are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, their infernal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Devore have horns that come in a variety of shapes. Devore most commonly have 2 horns, usually small, and in different shapes. Having large horns, or having one or three horns, is more uncommon, and having your horns be clear or made of rock are rare. Not having horns or having horns made of gas are legendary.

A devore's skin is usually opaque and is only transparent around their necks and feet, and having more transparent skin on their hands is usually rare or legendary, depending on how transparent they are. Devore skin colors are commonly pastel/bright/dark, but they can have white/gray/black skin, although it's uncommon. Sometimes their horns can appear as broken or they might have cavities in their body that leak gas, although either of these things on a devore are rare.

Blood, for a devore, is replaced with gas. Sometimes, it can be a sludge-like substance, or have a different color than black, but both of those are rare occurrences.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Devore 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.

Lacking a homeland, devore 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 devore’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the devore learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a devore gives someone loyalty, the devore is a firm friend or ally for life.

MUTUAL MISTRUST

People tend to be suspicious of devore, assuming that their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. Shopkeepers keep a close eye on their goods when devore enter their stores, the town watch might follow a devore around for a while, and demagogues blame devore for strange happenings. The reality, though, is that a devore’s bloodline doesn’t affect his or her personality to any great degree. Years of dealing with mistrust does leave its mark on most devore, and they respond to it in different ways. Some choose to live up to the wicked stereotype, but others are virtuous. Most are simply very aware of how people respond to them. After dealing with this mistrust throughout youth, a devore often develops the ability to overcome prejudice through charm or intimidation.

Devore Traits

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

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Devore mature slightly faster than humans, and live to about a century and a half.

Alignment

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

Size

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

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your infernal heritage, 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.

Glass Skin

You have resistance to fire damage.

Toxic Substance

Devore gas (or sludge) is toxic to anyone that isn't a devore.

Infernal Legacy

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.