Homebrew Aeger Species Details

In the deepest pits of hell, inside forges and gladiatorial arenae, dwell the Aeger(Ay-gare). The abyssal cousins to the Goliaths are known as the blacksmith armorers of the devils, as their many arms allowed them to craft metal with more precision than any other race. They are most easily recognizable by one thing; their arms. Female Aeger have four arms and their feet have five toes, and the males have six arms and their feet have two toes in the front, and a second prehensile protrusion off the heel.

Driven Competitors

Every day brings a new challenge to an Aeger. Food, water, and shelter are incomprehensibly rare in the dark pits of the nine hells. A single mistake can bring doom to an entire tribe, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire group’s survival.

Aeger thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. They all love to win, but rather than seeing defeat as an infuriating disgrace, they instead see it as a sign to improve their skills.

This dedication to competition has a dark side. Aeger are ferocious competitors, but above all else they are driven to outdo their past efforts. A proverb exists in the culture of the Aeger, "Were to kill God with a sword, I would next slay his father with a dagger." If an Aeger slays a dragon, he or she might seek out a larger, more powerful wyrm to battle. Few Aeger adventurers reach old age, as most die attempting to surpass their past accomplishments.

Fair Play

For Aeger, competition exists only when it is supported by a level playing field. Competition measures talent, dedication, and effort. Those factors determine survival in their home territory, not reliance on magic items, money, or other elements that can tip the balance one way or the other. Aeger happily rely on such benefits, but they are careful to remember that such an advantage can always be lost. An Aeger who relies too much on them can grow complacent, a recipe for disaster in the mountains.

This trait manifests most strongly when Aeger men interact with other folk. The relationship between peasants and nobles puzzles them. If a king lacks the intelligence or leadership to lead, then clearly the most talented person in the kingdom should take his place. Aeger rarely keep such opinions to themselves, and mock folk who rely on society’s structures or rules to maintain power.

Survival of the Fittest

Among Aeger, any adult who can’t contribute to the tribe is executed. A lone Aeger has some, but still very little chance of survival, especially an older or weaker one. Aeger have no pity for adults who can’t take care of themselves, though a sick or injured individual is treated, as a result of the Aeger concept of fair play.

A permanently injured Aeger is still expected to pull his or her weight in the tribe. Typically, such an Aeger dies attempting to keep up, or the Aeger  slips away in the night to seek the cold will of fate.

In some ways, the Aeger drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. An Aeger would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk have ever meet an elderly Aeger, and even those Aeger who have left their people grapple with the urge to give up their lives as their physical skills decay.

Because of their risk-taking, Aeger tribes suffer from a chronic lack of the experience offered by long- term leaders. They hope for innate wisdom in their leadership, for they can rarely count on a wisdom grown with age.

Aeger Names

Aeger have the same naming conventions as Demons and Tieflings

 

Aeger Traits

Aeger share a number of traits in common with each other.

Infernal Blood

Though they are not Devils themselves, the Aeger do indeed have Infernal blood flowing through their veins. Channeling the weave through this blood, you gain access to any 2 cantrips from the sorcerer spell list.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution and Dexterity scores increases by 1.

Age

Aeger are naturally immortal. In layman's terms, this means that, while they can be killed, Aeger do not ever die of old age. Though, they do wither as they grow older.

Alignment

The Aeger's Infernal lineage push them towards chaotic alignments. Their history of forced slavery, their only purpose seemingly to work hell's forges, gives them a strong complex of retribution and redemption, pushing them towards good alignments.

Size

Goliaths are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Natural Athlete

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Brimstone Skin

You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Inferno Borne

You've been burned countless times working the forges and living in the nine hells, and thus your brimstone skin has become accustomed to the feeling. You take half damage on attacks that deal fire damage.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.