Homebrew Demi-Ghoul Species Details

In the darkest reaches of the world, the cultists of Orkus perform twisted rituals to create ghouls for their dark master's army. Not every ritual turns out as a success, however, occasionally leading to the creation of a wretched monster displaying the traits of both the living and the undead. This is a Demi-Ghoul; a monster born out of failure and incompetence.

Demi-Ghouls, while often physically weaker, are more intelligent than the average ghoul and retain many of their memories from before their transformation. Because of this lingering personality, Demi-Ghouls that underwent the ritual against their will are often discarded, tossed into the outer world to suffer in solitude. Willing servants of Orkus, however, are kept as members of the cult and use their newfound strength to further serve their master.

Demi-Ghouls that are cast out will often try to return to their homes, only to be shunned and feared by those they once loved due to their hideous appearance. They will sometimes try to resist their craving for the blood and flesh of mortals, often going mad in the process. Very few Demi-Ghouls survive long enough to master their ravenous hunger, but those that do may sometimes blend in with society by hiding their undead features under masks and heavy clothes or armor. If their undead nature is found out by their peers, they will often flee or resort to violence in order to hide the truth. The latter almost always results in their hunger taking over and heralds the beginning of their descent into madness...

Demi-Ghoul Traits

Demi-Ghouls retain some of the traits of their original race while also gaining new ones from the ritual.

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.

Ghoulish Fangs

You have the ability to make an unarmed strike with your fangs. On a hit, you deal necrotic damage equal to 1d6 plus your Strength modifier.

Undead Hunger

As one cursed with undeath, you suffer from a ravenous hunger for the living. At the start of each long rest, if you have not ingested the blood or flesh of a living humanoid since the end of your last long rest, you must make a wisdom saving throw (DC 13). Upon failing the saving throw, you must make a bite attack against the nearest living humanoid (if there are multiple nearby humanoids, the DM chooses one at random) until you successfully hit them. If there are no living humanoids nearby, you take one point of exhaustion that cannot be removed until your hunger has been satisfied.

Feast of Flesh

When making a bite attack against a living creature, you may gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. This feature can be used three times per long rest.

Undead Fortitude

You have resistance to poison damage and are immune to the poisoned condition, thanks to the undead nature of your body.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength ability score increases by 2 and your Dexterity or Constitution ability score increases by 1.

Age

Demi-Ghouls do not age after they are created.

Alignment

A Demi-Ghoul's alignment is solely determined by the individual, though many lean toward the Evil alignments either because of their devotion to Orkus or due to the madness that has come to afflict them.

Size

Demi-Ghouls are of similar height and build to humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language from your previous life.