Homebrew Vortigaunt Species Details
Long before the Black Mesa Incident, the Vortigaunts' homeworld was invaded by the Combine, forcing the survivors of the invasion to flee to Xen. When the Black Mesa Incident occurred, their master, a being known as the Nihilanth, viewed the rift that opened as a chance to escape, and directed the Vortigaunts to invade Earth. Vortigaunts have mottled green-brown skin, sharp teeth, and clawed hands. Vortigaunts have a slightly hunched posture, and their faces are dominated by a large eye with a maroon Sclera and a Heterochrome red-yellow iris with a yellow pupil, surrounded by three smaller eyes. In appearance, Vortigaunts are somewhat humanoid, with two legs and two arms and an additional third arm protruding from the chest. This extra limb is a feature also found in other bipedal, sapient species from Xen, including the Alien Grunt and the Nihilanth. This similarity, along with other shared features such as red eyes and digitigrade legs, is strongly suggestive of a common ancestry with other intelligent Xen life forms. Apparently, this third arm is used for feeding, as both Vortigaunts and Alien Grunts are often seen bending over slain victims, feeding on them.Another interesting feature of the Vortigaunts is that they can speak English fluently, albeit with a strange accent and some sort of speech impediment when using S's and R's.Vortigaunts are very intelligent and social creatures. Throughout the Half-Life series, they can be seen in pairs or groups, and are capable of developing intelligent strategies. When faced with a superior enemy, Vortigaunts will often retreat, and if possible, group together with other Vortigaunts to form a stronger force
Vortigaunt Traits
Vortigaunt traitsAbility Score Increase
Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age
Vortigaunts mature shockingly fast, reaching adulthood at the age of only 4 earth years. However, they age very slowly, living as long as 500 years in rare cases.
Allignment
Possibly as a result of their thousands of years of enslavement, the vortigaunt mind tends toward neutrality. Strangely enough, though, evil vortigaunts are rare as they mostly think alike as a race.
Size
Vortigaunts are roughly the same size as humans on shoulder level but, due to their hunched posture, they usually stand shorter.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvison
Due to your specialized eyes, 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 or light, only shades of red and yellow.
Flux Shifting
Vortigaunts posess their own native form of communication, known as flux shifting. According to the vortigaunts, flux shifting cannot be understood by "those whose vortal inputs are impaired", which may suggest that inaubiable components are involves, perhaps explaining why they are incomprehensible to other species. As a result, you can communicate with other vortigaunts as if casting the sending spell.
Vortal Lightening
As a vortigaunt, you are able to manipulate the vortal cords and conjure lightening in a 60 ft line at your foes. Creatures in the line must make a DEX saving throe. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 4d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 5d6 at 6th level, 6d6 at 11th level, and 7d6 at 16th level. After you use your lightening, you can’t use it again until you roll a 5 or 6 on a d6 at the start of your turn.
Claws
Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
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