Homebrew Xorn Species Details

Xorn are usually solitary creatures who graze on the fields of growing precious stones and metals in their home of the Plane of Earth. As long as food is abundant, as is the case in the Plane of Earth, they are quite docile creatures unless provoked. They are very territorial, but most confrontations between Xorn over territory are quickly solved by sizing each other up; confrontations with non-Xorn can be much trickier. They will allow travelers to pass without notice, however, so long as their food sources are untouched.

Xorn are capable of speech and will often converse with those interested, sharing their knowledge of the lands in exchange for gold or other edible wealth. By most reports they are incredibly strange yet likable creatures. However, they rarely speak any language aside from that of the Plane of Earth, rendering all but the most erudite of scholars unable to communicate with a Xorn.

Unlike many elemental creatures, Xorn mate to reproduce, leading some to speculate that they might have originally been from the material plane, possibly even descended from rust monsters, and adapted over many timeless ages to the Plane of Earth. They are hermaphroditic most of their lives but take on a gender only during mating season; the younger Xorn who wander across territories typically become male, while the older Xorn with more territory to themselves become female so as to better provide for and rear the young. They quite fortunately mate while underground and passing through the earth, for the sight of them doing so would likely be too much for a mortal mind to bear. The female lays between 2-4 eggs in a nest deep underground and surrounded by precious stones and metals, the eggs themselves created from and adorned with the most precious and valuable of materials. The young are capable of hatching and fending for themselves upon birth, but the mother Xorn checks in on the eggs from time to time and takes a more protective role after the young hatch. The eggs, both the shells after hatching but especially unhatched and preserved, are often among the most valuable items in a Dao’s treasury due to their rarity, difficulty in obtaining, and pure opulence.

 

A Xorn which has unfortunately been removed from the Plane of Earth, be it by accident or the meddling of the more powerful (they would never leave intentionally), is a much more desperate creature. They travel deep within the earth, often through the Underdark or nearby particularly deep mines, searching for sustenance. Even the wealthiest mines rarely provide enough of a diet for a Xorn, and as such will seek out great concentrations of wealth in the forms of dungeon stashes, wealthy storehouses, and unsuspecting adventurers who carry all their wealth on their backs. It will try to trade for or beg for food as a first resort, but often due to communication problems and to most recoiling from the Xorn’s horrific appearance, it will quickly turn to intimidation and force to obtain its meal.

Behaviorial Observations

As long as they are well fed, Xorn are docile creatures, not immediately friendly but neither are they rude or cruel. They cannot be tamed, but they can be made to respect boundaries with a little bit of friendship and courtesy.

Xorn prefer to stay below ground, emerging only into deep dungeons and mines in the pursuit of food. It is exceptionally rare to see them above ground on the material plane, though they can more frequently be found on what constitutes ‘above ground’ in the Plane of Earth.

So long as they are not provoked or their food source taken, a Xorn will remain apathetic to others crossing its territory. If challenged, it will rear itself up and wave its arms, stomping in rhythm, to attempt to scare the intruder away; this is how two Xorn would size each other up to determine a territorial dispute. If this is ineffective, the Xorn may attack, especially if it feels bigger, using its burrowing to ambush targets with a barrage of quick attacks before disappearing into the earth again. It will use that burrowing to escape as well if the battle goes poorly.

Inter-Species Observations

Xorn infrequently interact with other species, or even with other Xorn, because of their preference to live as one with the earth, swimming through the stone and dirt as a fish through water. Their high tremorsense means that they are capable of avoiding dangerous tunneling monsters that share space with them, like Purple Worms. Few others truly venture into their realms.

Those that do include the Dao and Duergar, neither of which much care for Xorn. Dao often find ways to establish boundaries between Xorn and their treasuries, usually through intimidation more so than violence. Duergar, however, prefer violence as Xorn hides are valuable components to masterwork armor.

A wizard or other adventurer capable of speaking in the Xorn’s native tongue should find a creature willing to trade information for wealth. They are not particularly talkative, and any discussion with one should be a slightly surreal and mind-bending experience, but repeated courteous contact could produce something like a friendship. A starving Xorn stuck on the material plane is very unlikely to form these sorts of bonds, but helping it return to the Plane of Earth would earn its eternal gratitude.

Thanks to Authordm from Reddit for the description.

Xorn Traits

Monster Race

Attributs

+2 to constitution, -1 to Charisma

Natural Armor

Natural Armor +5

Bite

Bite attack

Claw

Claw Attack 1d6

Racial Language

Terran

Earth Glide

The xorn can Burrow through nonmagical, unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the xorn doesn't disturb the material it moves through.

Stone Camouflage

The xorn has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

Treasure Sense:

The xorn can pinpoint, by scent, the location of precious metals and stones, such as coins and gems, within 60 ft. of it.