Homebrew Underling Species Details

Underlings were once humans that inhabited the lowest levels of the Undercity, which was the old city buried by generations of magical and mechanical advancement that would combine to create the technologically advanced and lustrous Overcity. Generations of living in the dumping grounds for this wellspring of progress altered their physiology, creating an entirely new race. They live mostly in shadow lit only by the artificial light of the streetlamps, and the rivers they drink from contain the byproducts of experiments from the city of progress.      

Altered Appearance 

As Underlings used to be Humans they retain many physical features such (height, weight, and face/body features) , but what is most noticeable about their appearance is the color of their skin hair and eyes and a light point to their ears. The chemical and magical contaminants that pollute their air and water forced a rapid change in their physiology. This resulted in their hair and skin turning into bright hues from bubblegum pink to turquoise even white. They can be most any color so long as it is bright in hue, and their skin and hair can be the same or different colors. Their eyes also adapted to the low light conditions with their sclera turning black and their irises shifting to colors similar to their skin, and also seeming to glow.     

Reckless and Hardy

The Underlings have gained a greater vitality than Humans do to their mutations as well with the average Underling living around 200 years. Their increase in vitality also allows them to shrug off smaller injuries and as a result they are often a bit more prone to leap before they look. Many young Underlings in the impoverished Undercity pass the time by joyriding in jury-rigged air vehicles made from the old parts of things like airships from the Overcity, and this is just one of many examples of activities that many other races would consider suicidal that Underlings pass off as acceptable risk.   

Buried Communities 

Many Underlings stay in the Undercity as the more 'daring' of them find it hard to adapt to the slow paced lifestyle of most other places. However it is not uncommon to find an Underling who would like nothing more than to live a quaint life among the other races.  The Undercity is inhospitable to most other races, with air and water polluted by the very chemicals and magics the created their race, and very low light coming only from the sickly green glow of the streetlamps .

Exploration and Adventure

Underlings that leave the Undercity are usually in search of a better life what that better life is is relative to the Underling. It might be more or less predictability in their day to day life, but they can inhabit a variety of lifestyles as they retained the adaptability of their Human ancestors. 

Underling Names

Underlings have kept a naming convention very similar to their human ancestors, with a few exceptions. Their Given name often takes the form of a Diminutive rather than the whole name, and their Surnames will often cut out and/or warp letters. For instance the Human name 'Grennam Havenfall' would be given as a Underling name as 'Gren Havnfel'

Underling Traits

Your Underling character has a few natural abilities, the result of extensive magical mutation.

Mutated Resilience

The Underlings have adapted to life in a heavily polluted environment. You gain resistance to acid and poison damage as well as advantage against the poisoned condition.

This in conjunction with your increased constitution also makes the Underlings drinking heavyweights much like Dwarves.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score and two other ability scores of your choice each increase by 1.

Age

Underlings mature at the same rate as Humans, reaching maturity in their late teens, but after they reach maturity they age much more slowly. Their age is viable but they only begin to feel the effects of old age in the last 20-30 years of their life. They typically have double the Human lifespan with most living to be around 200 years old.

Alignment

Underlings tend to be carefree and gravitate more to the neutral and chaotic alignments, but usually are not evil. However there are those Underlings that stray from these norms and gravitate towards evil and/or law.

Size

Underlings are much like humans in size and stature from just 5 to over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to the dimly lit streets and alleys of the Undercity, 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 also see up to 5 feet in magical darkness. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.