Homebrew Chimeran Species Details

“We walk among mortal men for we are all alike, though they deem us not so.”

Vran, the Deity of Shadows, comes closer to me, his veiled silhouette blanketing my figure. He lays his hand on my shoulder—grey and dull, like a corpse diminished of blood.

“You and I—we are cursed,” Vran looks up at the clouds. “Destined to live in a world full of beauty and grace, yet the color of our sky is shared naught with theirs.”

I stare into his eyes—empty and sheenless, as if he has long since lost his soul. “Then what am I to do? How do I live in a world that detests my kind?” I ask him.

“You live just as you are,” the dark lord lifts his head, a fading smile, gentle and anguished, rests upon his face. “In this world, we may be thought of as monsters by man, well let them think the way they do.”

As our meeting comes close to an end, our gaze meet and I look deeper into the Deity of Shadows’ eyes—a small glimmer of hope is hidden behind his sorrowful visage. “We walk, as monsters among men—as abominations to the mortal soul. Yet through strife and resolve, we shall do what what every living creature does—live.”

— An exchange, between a loyal follower and the  Deity of Shadows, Vran.

Born from a curse wrought by an action deemed a sin, the ancient followers of Vran, the Deity of Shadows, left a heavy weight on the shoulders of their descendants to carry; a lifelong sentence that is seemingly eternal— to live in a world full of ridicule and segregation—to live as monsters among men. Due to their appearance—having both the features of man and monster, these woeful children of Vran have been dubbed as Chimeran, freaks of nature, abominations—denizens in the shadows.

Monster Among Men

Chimerans have mixed features from both their mortal bloodlines and in their monstrous ones, what features they inherit however, are strictly up to fate. They could go from looking like a normal man of average appearance, to a winged demon or a beastly lycanthrope. Due to this, they can be difficult to spot at times but when their emotions are pushed into the far end or they feel desperation take hold, the monstrous side of their blood tend to appear more visibly. A Chimeran does not need to be born with the bloodline, one could also be cursed into becoming a Chimeran, though this is now rare.

Walking in the Shadows

Chimerans are seen as freaks of nature and due to their monstrous bloodline, they are seen as a hazard to the people and do not belong in a settlement. With this mindset, civilization has forced Chimerans to live in the fringes of society—blurring the lines of their mortal and monstrous lineage. The outward appearance of a Chimeran can help with how they are accepted in a community, but almost always when their Chimeran blood is ousted, they are driven out with sticks and stones at the very least—being burned at the stake, as the more extreme repercussions of their revealed heritage.

Because of how Chimerans are seen and treated in regular society, they have grown to be very weary of the people they meet; earning a Chimeran’s trust becomes a challenge in its own. Though Chimerans have a history with Vran, the Deity of Shadows, they do not necessarily follow or pray to him but legend says that Vran himself still watches over all Chimerans as if they are his own and hopes for a better life for his once loyal believers.

Chimeran Names

Chimeran names originate from their mortal lineage. Being born into a culture will also have an effect on how they are named. Some Chimerans choose to drop their family names due to having a fear of their families getting punished for having a member of their kin as a Chimeran.

A WATCHFUL EYE

Though Chimerans are not welcomed in normal society, they have taken it upon themselves to watch over one another, showing support to fellow Chimeran, even in secret. Some Chimeran who have seen life and aged will say that it was Vran, the Deity of Shadows, and that he still looks after his forsaken followers. After many years of living in societal borders, Chimerans have created networks where they can reach out to their kind for aid and advice and maybe even a place they can belong to—they don’t have to try too hard however, as there is always one of their kind watching over one another, ensuring the safety of their fellow Chimerans.

Chimeran Traits

Chimerans share certain racial traits as a result of their mutations.

Ability Score Increase

Your Ability Score Increase will be dictated by the mortal race you choose.

Age

Chimerans mature at the same rate as their mortal race but live about twice as long.

Alignment

Chimerans do not have an innate tendency toward any alignment and are usually neutral in nature.

Size

Chimerans are about the same size and build as their mortal bloodline but usually grow a little bigger. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your Chimeran heritage, 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’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Mortal Bloodline

Your bloodline has gifted you a racial trait from your mortal race. Also, for whatever race you choose your trait from, that also becomes your chosen mortal race as a Chimeran.

Chimeran Bloodline

Due to your lineage as a Chimeran, you have inherited a racial trait from one of your ancestors.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and two languages of your choice.