Homebrew Vortigaunt Species Details
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.
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 heterochromic red-yellow iris with a yellow pupil, surrounded by three smaller eyes.
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.
Vortigaunt Traits
As a Vortigaunt, you have the following traits:Ability Score Increase
Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Wisdom 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.
Alignment
Possibly as a result of their thousands of years of enslavement, the vortigaunt mind tends toward neutrality and err on the side of good.
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.
Darkvision
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.
Vortal Cords
You know the mage hand cantrip which when cast with this ability, appears invisible. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the vortal surge 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 sending spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Chest Arm
You have a small arm on your chest, which allows you to use the "Use Item" action as a bonus action.
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. These claws also allow for eased climbing, giving you a climbing speed of 20 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read and write common, one other language of your choice, and speak Vortisgese. Vortigese is a language that can only be spoken by Vortigaunts, but can be understood by non-Vortigaunts with practice.
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