Homebrew Asura Species Details

 

There, standing on a jagged outcropping of rock was Asura Ravana. He looked out across the battle-swept fields and allowed himself a grin of satisfaction. Two of his arms rested their hands on his hips, while the other two stretched outward to his sides. An arcane glow overtook his pale yellow eyes with a flash of golden radiance as fire descended down from the heavens. Consuming all those who opposed him.

— An Account of the Battle at Jagmaw's Base

 

Demigods or Demons?

Asura are described as powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. However, in reality all Asura hail from a demonic bloodline and struggle against their nature through their entire lives. All Asura have an obsessive craving for wealth, pride, anger, unbridled nature, and violence. If an Asura happens to fail at a task due to its cravings it will be tempted to question and challenge a more successful individual, in an attempt to steal their loot or fame.

For an Asura to resist these desires is exceedingly rare, and requires a great deal of mental fortitude coupled with personal desire. Even these "benevolent" Asura struggle to stay within the confines of law, often following their own understanding of morality.

Foes of Rakshasa

The Asura have engaged in conflict with Rakshasas since the beginning of time. Put-off by the Rakshasa's use of delicacy and misdirection, the Asura found themselves in direct conflict with such beings which bind themselves to laws and rules. Most Asura will treat a Rakshasa with distrust, bitterness, or sudden outbursts of wrath. Most Asura are born with the innate knowledge that a Rakshasa is not permenantly destroyed unless done so in the Nine Hells. It isn't uncommon for many Asura to band together and hunt the spirit of a Rakshasa, deep into the Nine Hells, if that Rakshasa has personally offended one of them.

Unique Bodies

All Asura are born with four arms, which they learn to use in their daily lives. Asura employ their extra limbs in unique ways through spellcasting, fighting, or multitasking more mediocre tasks. The skin tone of Asura range widely, ranging from fiery red to pale grey. Females tend to have light blue or tanned skin. Sometimes their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible pupil.

Lovers of Knowledge

There is one desire that even benevolent Asura allow themselves to indulge in. The search for knowledge. This often leads Asura to become lone adventurers or students in places far from their homes. There are many things an Asura will give for a minor tidbit of new information. Much of this stems from their innate desire to have ownership, even over information, but it is not unusual for an Asura to have a personal reason for their love of lore.

Asura Names

All Asura preface their name with their intent. The Asura that allow their desires to run free call themselves first "Asura" followed by their given name, while those that fight their desires call themselves "Deva" followed by their given name.

Since most Asura are believed to be demigods of some sort they often give each other names that denote some semblance of power. Common examples include:

Male: Medoh, Rutah, Brahma, Vishnu, Lakshmi

Female: Rudania, Naboris, Shiva, Saraswati

Asura Traits

The Asura have the ability to use all four of their arms in unique ways, and call upon their demonic heritage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength or Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increase by 2.

Age

Asura are demonic in origin, and live very long lives. Most are considered to be adults by the age of 16, and often live to be well over 800.

Alignment

Many Asura struggle with their desire for power, wealth, and control. Most Asura tend toward chaotic evil alignment, but some manage to resist their dark desires. Even these Asura tend to stray away from the bindings of law.

Size

Asura have four-arms and are built much like humans. They tend to be more bulky and taller, reaching heights of 7 and 8 feet tall. Most Asura weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your demonic blood, 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.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Iron Grasp

You have advantage on grapple checks, and can attempt to grapple a creature using your bonus action.

Multiple Limbs

On a melee attack, you may use one of your free hands to add 1d4 damage to the attack, no action required.

Also when casting spells requiring somatic components you only need to have two of your hands free.