Homebrew Boruush Species Details

They were tall (approximately two meters each by my guess) and slender, their arms tipped in claws and skin green and blubbery like a whale. Their eyes were red with no sign of pupils, and their central nervous system was visible through a translucent membrane which ran from their cranium to their lumbar. They saw us grin, and responded in kind, bearing fangs. I believe they could tell we were taken aback, and before I was aware the one I assumed to be their leader changed their form into that of my own. He grinned, and I held out my hand, which he hesitantly took in his own. It was on contact that I knew all of him and his race, and he me and mine. I believe humanity has found an ally here.

— Captain James Harker on first contact with the Boruush

A Boruush can shift its face and form with a thought. Many Boruush use this gift as a form of artistic and emotional expression, but it’s an invaluable tool for grifters, spies, and others who wish to deceive. This leads many people to treat known Boruush with fear and suspicion.

Hidden People

Wherever life can be found, there are Boruush; the question is whether their presence is known.

Boruush are often born into large communities of their kin, usually with several dozen siblings. A natural curiosity often leads a Boruush to seek out life on a different planet and ingrain themself within the native populace. 

In creating a Boruush adventurer, consider the character’s relationships with people around them. Does the character conceal their true Boruush nature? Do they embrace it? Do they have connections to other Boruush or are they alone and in search of companions?

Adopted Home

Prior to Failsafe activation, the majority of the Boruush in the solar system took residence on Mars, though they were found throughout the system. Some resurrected Boruush embrace their home in the solar system so much so that they choose to be referred to as Martians rather than Boruush. Unfortunately, upon activation of the Resistis Failsafe, the original home of the Boruush was lost to history, though some dedicated individuals continue to search for their home in the stars and on Mars.

Masks and Personas

In their natural form Boorush are slender yet imposing reptilians, with piercing red eyes and fangs. A Boruush can alter its physical appearance with a thought. While this can be used to deceive others, it is a natural form of expression for the Boruush on their homeworld. A Boruush shifts shapes the way others might change clothes. A casual shape — one created on the spur of the moment, with no depth or history — is called a mask. A mask can be used to express a mood or to serve a specific purpose and then never used again. However, many Boruush develop identities that have more depth. They build an identity over time, crafting a persona with a history and beliefs. This focused identity, often built from a desire to be included and immersed, helps a Boruush pinpoint a particular skill or emotion. A Boruush adventurer might have forms for many situations, including negotiation, investigation, and combat. Personas can even be passed down through a family, allowing a younger Boruush to take advantage of contacts established by previous users of the persona.

Boruush Names

A Boruush might use a different name for each mask and persona and adopt new names as easily as they develop new faces. The true name of a Boruush tends to be polysyllabic and broken, however a Boruush will often transmute this name into a version more agreeable with the native language of the race they are surrounded by when taking up their form. Boruush are born either male or female and will often subconsciously revert to this gender, however Boruush do embrace a fluid relationship with gender, seeing it as one characteristic to change among many others.

Boruush Names: Ta'ao, Ca'ulor, Rhen'ua'lor, Ho'ao'rom, Wi'a'orn, J'or'an, M'ag'han.

Boruush Traits

Your Boruush character has the following traits.

Psionic Being

A Boruush may exchange thoughts, emotions, and messages telepathically. They can also sense the emotions and thoughts of others, though recognize a taboo against using these gifts on non-telepathic races. Through maturation and years of study, a Boruush may even learn to use telekinesis.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and either your Dexterity or your Intelligence increases by 1 (your choice).

Age

Boruush mature at a slower pace than humans, with a lifespan of approximately four to five centuries. While a Boruush can shapeshift to conceal their age, the effects of aging still catch up to them.

Size

In their natural forms, Boruush average between 7 to 9 feet in height, with a slender build. Your size is Large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Your base flying speed is 20 feet.

Change Appearance

As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die.

You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You also can’t appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits on hand or to construct clothing as part of ones form.

At level 10, you can learn to take camouflage and match your skin to your surroundings to appear invisible. A being may spot a camouflaged Boruush on a DC16 perception check.

Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.

Changeling Instincts

You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Intimidation, Insight, and Persuasion.

Unsettling Visage

When a creature you can see makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the roll. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.

Using this trait reveals your shapeshifting nature to any creature within 30 feet that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Divergent Persona

You gain proficiency with one tool of your choice. Define a unique identity associated with that proficiency; establish the name, race, gender, age, and other details. While you are in the form of this persona, the related proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses that proficiency.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.