Homebrew Kuo-Toa Species Details

Kuo-toa worship gods of their own insane creation, but if enough kuo-toa believe that a god is real, the energy of their collective subconscious can cause that god to manifest as a physical entity. The form a kuo-toa god takes depends on the inspiration for its divine image, and is usually random or nonsensical. One of the most revered gods of the kuo-toa is Blibdoolpoolp the Sea Mother, who takes the form of a female human with a crayfish head, a crayfish’s claws, and an articulated shell covering her shoulders. Blibdoolpoolp was likely invented by a kuo-toa that improved on a broken human statue by adding the limbs and head of a crustacean. In sudden awe of its handiwork, it then named the resulting form a god. 

At the height of the illithid empire, the mind flayers captured kuo-toa by the thousands and forced them into bondage. The kuo-toa were simple creatures, never meant to endure the oppressive mental force the illithids unleashed against them. By the time the mind flayers abandoned them, the prolonged psychic subjugation endured by the kuo-toa had driven them mad. Their minds shattered beyond repair, the kuo-toa adopted a religious fervor, inventing gods to protect them against threats. Most notable of these threats are the drow, which have slain the kuo-toa on sight since the days when the two races first met

Kuo-Toa Traits

Something's fishy about this race

Amphibious

The Kuo-toa can breathe both air and water

Otherworldly Perception

The Kuo-toa can sense the presence of any creature within 30 feet of it that is invisible or on the Ethereal Plane even if the creature is moving. 

Slippery

The Kuo-toa has advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to escape a grapple

Sunlight Sensitivity

While in sunlight, the Kuo-toa has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight

Sticky Shield

When a creature misses the Kuo-toa with a melee weapon attack, the Kuo-toa uses its sticky shield to catch the weapon. The attacker must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw, or the weapon becomes stuck to the Kuo-toa’s shield. If the weapon’s wielder can’t or won’t let go of the weapon, the wielder is grappled while the weapon is stuck. While stuck, the weapon can’t be used. A creature can pull the weapon free by taking an action to make a DC 11 Strength check and succeeding.

+2 Charisma

Centuries of practice in the art of shilling for their gods and their genuine faith has made this unsightly race surprisingly good at convincing others to join their cause.

+1 Dexterity

It's a damn fish

Darkvision

The Kuo-toa have adapted to the conditions of the Underdark. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Languages

You can  speak, read, and write Undercommon and can speak Common