Homebrew Octofolk Species Details
I nearly soiled my armor when the thing showed up on my boat. I'd heard tales of the mind-flayers called Illithid before, and figured meself a goner. Then the bastard went and asked if it could play on the mast.
Octofolk are intelligent beings that roam mostly the deep ocean. While they bear a striking resemblance to Mind-Flayers, they could not be more different. They are often portrayed in Triton stories as tricksters, mostly because the Octofolk annoy the Tritons.
The Simple Life Beneath the Waves
Most Octofolk live in the deep oceans in close-knit villages where they farm mollusks and kelp. They are an intelligent race and have their own unique dialect of Aquan, which itself is a dialect of Primordial. Through trade with the Tritons, they have learned common and other languages. On the whole, they have a much more mellow attitude than Their Triton neighbors. There are also nomadic tribes of Octofolk in shallower ocean waters. They have long life-spans and are unconcerned with much of the more structured world. However as civilization, from trade ships to Triton settlements encroaches on their lands each generation grows more curious about the world above. While they are omnivores, most of their meat comes from bivalves and other mollusks that might as well be plants they can pick and grow. The idea of killing another sapient being is offensive to them. They will do it to protect themselves, but they will be very traumatized by it. Octofolk that have killed usually become hermits, and will occasionally cut off limbs (they regrow over the course of a month).
Child-Like Beings
Octofolk can live to 500 years of age. They are considered "Adult" at only 6 weeks of age. They can perform any math an average humanoid could do as an adult, read and write, and perform complex planning, however much of their mindset is still child-like. They have an intense curiosity in them. If they see something they have never seen before they must explore it, and figure it out. If they are puzzled by their discovery it excites them and delights them. If they quickly grasp their discovery, they shall likely make some sort of game using it.
This long life-cycle can leave them a little emotionally stunted. This rarely results in violence. Instead, many impartial observers would call them "petty". They take revenge, but never by killing or maiming. They like to embarrass their enemies. One anthropologist thought it might have something to do with the very lightly poisonous ink they can squirt in emergencies.
Tricksters and Annoyances
Octofolk will steal items they have never seen before. If they don't see an owner, or cannot tell it is an owned possession, they will just take it. If they do realize they are stealing, they will likely leave a large pile of kelp and mollusks behind. As disgusting as this sounds, this is actually the Cephalod's trying to reimburse the owner. This behavior is not done when trying to antagonize an individual.
If a ship's voyage undergoes a rash of minor bad luck, such as tools snapping, strange knocking sounds on the hull, small amounts of money disappearing, or other small annoyances, they have likely crossed an angry Octofolk. Calling an apology will likely placate the octopod and even bring it out to greet you. Failure to do so will cause these minor accidents to become more focused and better timed to make one of the crew spectacularly embarrassed. Humiliation is their favorite form of retribution. A small comfort to their victims is that they torment will never be lethal, or even too violent.
Ponderous Explorers
They have adapted amphibious breathing apparatus, allowing their gills to absorb oxygen from the air or water. This and a series of fluid sacs give them support and allow them to venture from the water. Not many Octofolk have chosen to venture from the oceans, but those that do are constantly flitting from one "Discovery" to the next, burbling their joy and excitement to any who will listen.
Triton Names
Most Octofolk names generally have popping sounds, with female names ending with an "S" or "Z", and male names ending in hard consonants
Female Triton Names: Pabutas, Hipobes, Gohaz
Male Triton Names: Bapudek, Hagudeet, Bupadaket
Octofolk Traits
Your Cephalod character has the following racial traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Octofolk reach maturity around 6 weeks of age and can live to be 500 years old
Alignment
Octofolk are almost invariably Chaotic, though leaning toward Good or at least neutral.
Size
On land, they are effectively on average between 4 and 6 feet tall and are from 100-200 bounds. Your size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 25 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 40 feet and your suckered appendages give you a climb speed of 25 feet.
Amphibious
You can breathe air and water.
Natural Advantages
Most Octofolk in, when faced with real danger, will run and hide. To accomplish this they learn two spells. Starting at level 1, they know poison spray and can use it once per short rest. Also, if their target fails the Con saving throw that is a part of Poison Spray, it is considered blinded until the end of the Cephalod's CURRENT turn.
At level 3 the Cephalod's camouflage ability is advanced enough to act as full invisibility once per short rest.
Natural Camoflauge
A Cephalod's skin can take one a number of hues and textures. This gives you an advantage when trying to hide.
Denizen of the Depths
Adapted to even the most extreme ocean depths, you have resistance to cold damage, and you ignore any of the drawbacks caused by a deep, underwater environment.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Aquan, Primordial, and one other language you were taught by the Tridens.
Mishchevous Thievery
You are proficient in Sleight of Hand.
Tentacle Strength
Your strong tentacles allow you to carry extra weight. Your carrying capacity increases to the same as a large humanoid.
Trident Skills
After years of training, most Octofolk are proficient with the Trident.
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