Homebrew Warcraft: Murloc Species Details

I Am Murloc!

Murlocs' history is shrouded in mystery. This is due not only to the fact that these creatures appeared on Azeroth's shores fairly recently but also because murlocs shun mortals, holding little tolerance for other races, and rarely, if ever, speak anything but their own garbled language. 

In recent times, these creatures have been moving in-land steadily from their oceanic dwelling places and inhabiting more areas of Lordaeron and the rest of Azeroth. This move in-land has resulted in them adapting to fresh-water lakes and rivers. Several clues point to the fact that their steady infiltration of the world's landmasses may be a coordinated effort. Whether or not this enterprise has been undertaken strictly of their own accord is not yet known. In the last few years, the vile naga have begun reemerging from their watery abodes, causing historians to speculate that their migration may have triggered the murlocs' slow encroachment onto land. Some also guessed that the murlocs might be working in concert with the sinister amphibians; the naga may not be the only nightmarish horrors lurking in the seemingly bottomless oceans of the world.

Murlocs also became unwittingly responsible for the shape of the present-day Horde. Murlocs attacks on the troll Darkspear tribe spurred the orcish warchief Thrall (at the time waylaid on the Darkspear Islands) and his warriors to drive off the marauding fish-men worshipping the naga Zar'jira and then to form an alliance between the Darkspear and the Horde which lasts to this day. This troll-orc alliance would form the heart of the modern-day Horde.

-Courtesy of Wowpedia

More than a Fish, More than a Man

Originally from the sea, Murlocs move in-land has resulted in them adapting to fresh-water lakes and rivers.

Murlocs have an excellent underwater vision and can see in almost pitch blackness. They possess small scent glands that produce a foul-smelling pheromone. According to Cannary Caskshot, "they get that smell on stuff, and when another murloc smells it, they go all crazy! Makes great bait for 'em." When the Mosshide Representative was splashed in a bottle of potent pheromones, the nearby murlocs entered a violent frenzy and soon attacked and killed the gnoll.

Murlocs may appear colorful and simple to the casual observer, and their supposed intelligence has been debated. Some argue that, since their guttural language is impossibly difficult to decipher, they have limited intelligence. However, their use of weaponry and uncanny fighting abilities imply a rather sinister racial intellect. Murlocs may not be as dumb as everyone thinks they are. Several clues point to the fact that their steady infiltration of the world's land masses may be a coordinated effort. Whether or not this enterprise has been undertaken strictly of their own accord is not yet known.

-Courtesy of Wowpedia

Death Will Rise From The Tides!

Murlocs are known for overwhelming fresh adventurers with their numbers. When they attack as a school, Murlocs are a force to be reckoned with. Alone... not so much. Intelligent enough to know when they're in over their heads, they tend to run for cover or backup when the fight turns a bad way. Adventurers who know how to attack a school of Murlocs tend to be successful, but Murlocs who catch their prey alone or by surprise usually eat well that day. 

Warcraft: Murloc Traits

+2 Dexterity, +1 Constitution, Fishvision, Amphibious, School Tactics, Pufferfish, Safety Bubble, Natural Swim Speed

Ability Score Increase

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

Fishvision

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. In addition, you have advantage on perception checks that rely on sight while underwater.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

School Tactics

You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated. You have disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures if none of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature (or if all allies within 5 feet of the creature are incapacitated).

Pufferfish

As an action on your turn, you hurl a Pufferfish at any location within 30 feet that you can see. When the fish lands, it explodes, splashing all creatures within spherical area 15 foot in diameter in a smelly, mildly poisonous slime. Each affected creature must succeed on a constitution saving throw or be poisoned (DC = 8 + Dexterity modifier + Proficiency bonus). Each creature successfully poisoned by the Pufferfish may make a constitution saving throw at the end of their turns to end the poisoning.

After using this ability you must spend time during a long rest shoving poisons into a freshly caught Pufferfish to recover the ability.

Safety Bubble

As a reaction*, you may summon a protective bubble that surrounds you and protects you from damage (including from the triggering source of damage). The bubble has similar properties to a Wall of Force, but also causes you to float five feet above the ground inside the bubble. Once summoned, the bubble cannot be dispelled early, except by a Disintegrate spell. The bubble lasts until the end of your next turn. For the duration, you may take no actions or bonus actions, but you may use normal movement.

Once summoned, the Safety Bubble cannot be used again until after you complete a long rest.

* - which you take when you are subjected to damage from any ability, condition, or other environmental circumstance

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 35 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Nerglish (the language of murlocs), and one additional language of your choice.