Homebrew Alchemical Homunculus Species Details

Homunculi are minor constructs created by wizards or alchemists to serve. Occasionally, they rebel and escape from their master, following instead adventure's lead. They explore, collect trinkets, and build huts and caves which they leave and relocate almost constantly. Needless to say, homunculi do not settle. 

The tiniest of all races, the homunculus barely meets the 2 foot mark. As such, they are often underestimated and ignored. The truth is, homunculi may not be strong, but they have the most powerful of personalities. Though they cannot speak, you can almost feel the character of a homunculus as they silently complain, joke, laugh, and fight. Homunculi often have gray, leathery skin. They have tiny snouts and little eyes, from which they observe with curiosity anything that moves.

Their tiny size often allows homunculus to go by unnoticed, slip past guards, or sneak up and attack all while keeping their strange otherworldly happiness. Homunculus find joy in everything and always look on the bright side. 

Loyal as they can be, homunculus are also incredibly fickle of character. One second they could be enraptured by the presence of a beautiful butterfly, the next they could be squishing it with a rock and eating it. Homunculus do not have kingdoms or society. There are so few of them that they almost never meet one another. Usually when a free homunculus meets a group of people that they enjoy, they stick with them. As long as the group never stays in one place for to long. The less adventurous ones may find home in gutters and attics, or purchase themselves a small hut, but really never have a material home. After all, home is where the heart is.

Homunculus rarely have anything more than a nickname. They cannot speak as to say what their name is, so many live without, taking up nicknames of any sort, with no particular language.

Alchemical Homunculus Traits

Homunculus Traits

Ability Score Changes

+2 Intelligence +2 Constitution
-3 Strength -2 Charisma

Age

Homunculi do not age, and cannot be aged magically.

Alignment

Homunculi tend toward neutral.

Size

Homunculi average about 2 feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. Your size is Tiny.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 10 feet, and you have a flying speed of 25 feet.

Languages

You can understand common and two languages of your choice, but can't speak.

Darkvision

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, only shades of gray.

Bite

Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal 1 piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is instead poisoned for 5 (1d10) minutes and unconscious while poisoned in this way.

Natural Armor

When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Unnatural Origins

Due to your monstrous origin, you don't gain the starting equipment of your class. If you take a class reliant on an arcane focus, you get to keep the arcane focus. It's size is scaled down to make sense for your size. As for martial classes, you get a dagger, light hammer, handaxe, darts, or sling with a pouch of 30 ammunition. For each class level you add, you gain one Hit Die based on your size (1d6), ignoring the class's usual Hit Die progression.

Poison Tolerance

You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.