Homebrew Celtic Borne Species Details

Ancient Tradition

You are the result of generations of conflict - born and bred for battle, you stand tall in the face of adversity. Your kind has adapted to the harsh wilderness they have always called home. While they often live far from other races, different celtic born tribes often fight amongst each other; these raiding and hunting are not done for territorial gain or to exert political control, but for sport.

Celtics strongly believe that the head is the seat of the soul and thus, when a raid is over, the heads of their fallen allies and personal foes alike are collected. The heads of allies are placed in purpose-built temples in the village, adorned with candles and riches to aid the passing into the afterlife. Meanwhile, the heads of foes are nailed to walls or left dangling from the saddle of a horse. The weapons of the enemy are ritualistically broken and buried in a mass grave alongside their bodies.

Life in the Tribe

Tribes strongly depend on nature and have a great respect for the spirits around them. While men are the primary hunters and protectors of the tribe, women are well versed in the art of battle, with all youngsters being trained and encouraged equally from a young age.

As soon as a child’s physical prowess and personality have developed, they are tested in a series of tasks alongside their peers; these may include but are not limited to; joining in a hunt lead by an adult, fighting each other in hand-to-hand combat or applying each other’s first warpaints. These rites of passage do not only instate them as fully functional part of the tribe but also serve as training for their future roles in the tribe. Each tribe consists of a trinity of forces: The Warrior, the Seeker, and the Shaman all play their part, not only in battle but in everyday life as well.

The role of a seeker is reserved for those who are lithe and nimble. They prefer to take a stealthy approach to war, taking on the role of a scout who seeks out enemy encampments. In society, they are the hunters, providing meat and fish for the tribe. Outside of their hunting activities, they can be found doing a variety of odd jobs for the tribe which ranges from repairing armor to cooking to standing guard and tending to the horses of the tribe.

A warrior lives a simple life; they train for a large portion of the day. This training seeps into their work as well; they often work in construction and smithing - work that requires a lot of heavy manual labor. Their hulking bodies are often far larger than those of their tribemates and they put it to good use. In battle, they stand at the front lines, be it on horseback or on foot.

Amongst these warrior-filled tribes, there are those who are far more attuned to nature; the tribe's Shamans have long since surpassed human abilities in spells and nature. They commune with nature spirits and animals alike. These animals often are found comfortably walking the village, unharmed by anyone in the tribe. Shamas spend their days collecting and grow various herbs and berries to use in potions and salves. While many shamans often partake in battle in the back line, the part they play starts long before the battle and ends only when they have tended to all the wounded after the said battle.

Curiously, the role a youngster will take on in the tribe seems to be determined at birth; Warriors are born large, heavy and with a surprisingly strong grip for their tiny baby fingers. The physical differences between Seekers and Shamans might be harder to distinguish as both are born small. It is said animals are immediately drawn to the cradle in which druids lay though, protecting them from birth. Seekers physically develop faster than both the other subraces - they master a stumbling walk before many druids or warriors have learned to crawl. The role of a child is not determined by the parents but seemingly at random. The chance on each subrace is equal, ensuring a tribe will never lack one of the cornerstones of its trinity.

Celtic Born Names

Celtic names derive from old Common words. These words are often related to nature or battle like Cillian ("War" or "Strife"), but can be descriptive, such as Cael, which means "slender or narrow" or Kamren, which means "crooked nose".

Male: Chulainn, Diarmuid, Fearghas, Fergus, Kylian, Lorcan, Sean, Mór

Female: Aednat, Aibhlinn, Aileen, Cera, Duana, Kayln, Orlaith

Celtic Borne Traits

Your celtic born has several traits as a result of their ancestry and ancient bond with nature.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Celtic born mature at the same rate as humans and due to their attunement with nature, it is not uncommon for celtic born to live up to 120 years.

Alignment

While most Celtic born are neutral good, those who leave the tribe may lean on chaotic neutral, as they value their own freedom and refuse to respect authority outside of their own chieftains.

Size

Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write in Common and one other language of your choice. Warriors may learn the language of a creature they regularly hunt like goblinoids, kobold or even giants. Seekers may learn the primary or secondary language of nearby settlements to better converse with their neighbors. Shamans often learn Sylvan or Primordial to better connect with the natural world.

Ancestral Link

At 1st level, you have only just begun to learn your pattern. The woad bites into your skin harshly, causing your adrenaline to start pumping through your veins. Your base walking speed is 35 feet. Starting at 3rd level, you have fought many battles since your warpaint was first applied. Your skin has long since scarred over and has become numb to the pain of its corrosion. As an action, you can channel the spirits of your ancestors within yourself, causing the warpaint that once covered each of your honored ancestors to become visible throughout your body. Your transformation lasts for 1 minute or until you end it as a bonus action. During it, your walking speed increases by 5 feet, you gain temporary hit points at the beginning of each of your turns equal to your proficiency bonus and once on each of your turns, you can deal extra damage to one target when you deal damage to it with an attack or a spell. The extra damage equals your level and the damage type is that of the attack. Once you channel the spirits of your ancestors, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Attuned

Celtic born have a natural connection to nature and their lifestyle, as well as cultural values, leads to them being a race with a greater understanding of the environment. You are proficient in the Nature skill.

Brave

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Toughness

Your natural athleticism and primal lifestyle grants you increased fortitude. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.