Homebrew Aachatina Species Details

We were ripped from our homes and brought to this strange new world. Your customs are odd to us, and we want nothing more than to return to our proper place in the universe.

— Ardghal, the Allfather

Aachatina covens gather around large concentrations of magic, studying it and trying to learn all that they can in their quest to return to their home plane. Covens will usually do all that they can to stay hidden from outsiders. When they are provoked they show formidable skill with arcane magics and manipulation.

Aachatina are native to the plane they call Chruinne. Chruinne exists as a reflection of the Material Plane in a small pocket of the Astral Plane. This allows the Aachatina to perform strange actions when on their home plane and grants them inherent, powerful, arcane abilities. When on their home plane an Aachatina might become practiced enough to be able to dream objects into existence or mold the land they walk across, bending reality to their will.

Before Terminus Aachatina lived peacefully on Chruinne as nomadic covens co-governed by the Allmother and the Allfather. The Allmother and Allfather are the oldest amongst their people, having transcended to Neach-giùlan long before any living Aachatina can remember. Because of their age they have grown large enough to house cities within and on top of their shells, and typically roam their plane housing many covens within their body. While the Allmother and Allfather govern the entirety of the people, most matters are left up to the covens and their leaders, the Stiùiriche. 

Every 2,000 years, the Stiùiriche reach Neach-giùlan, growing to such a large size that they can no longer walk and begin to slither like their youth. This growth causes their shells to be big enough to house their own covens as well. When this happens they depart from the Allmother and Allfather, roaming the lands forming new covens to carry with them only to repeat the cycle in another 2,000 years.

During Terminus a rift opened between the Material Plane and their home sucking through the Allfather and the dozens of covens that were living within his shell, landing them in the Hinterlands in the center of the Everstorm. The Aachatina's new home severed their strong connection to the Astral Plane and removed most of the powers they had once had. After arriving the Aachatina began to explore their surroundings until they happened upon, and were attacked by a village on the outer edge of the Everstorm. 

After retreating back into the Everstorm the Aachatina began to discover traces of powerful arcane magic within the air around them and began to study it, hoping to be able to harness the power in some way. As they began their studies the Allfather fell ill, becoming unable to move and retreating far within his shell. As time continued to pass more Aachatina began to fall ill as they suddenly felt the effects of their age as a result of their severance from arcane power. Those who fell ill took refuge within the Allfather's shell while those who remained well rushed to find a way home.

Through the adjustment of some of their rituals the Aachatina were able to form teleportation circles and detect large sources of arcane power, allowing the covens to easily communicate and travel between locations and discover other locations that could prove useful in their quest. While most stayed behind to protect and help the Allfather, some were unable to resist their nomadic nature and spread out across Tothea to find a way to return to their home.

Their dependence on arcane power has caused the Aachatina to migrate to areas of large arcane power, namely the Everstorm, The Weeping Woods, and The Archives of Nethys. Most Aachatina who stayed behind in the Everstorm remained there to continue performing the rituals necessary to prolong the life of the Allfather while those who migrated are hoping to find a way to return home. Those who moved to The Weeping Woods have began performing their rituals there as they attempt to harness the arcane power while those within The Archives of Nethys have delved deep, seeking a book or books to grant them the knowledge they need. 

Because of their connection to the Astral Plane, some Aachatina are able to commune with the Allmother through dreams. In hopes of getting the Allfather and his covens back quickly the Allmother has begun gifting small amounts of her power to Aachatina, granting them some of the abilities they had on Chruinne. When playing an Aachatina, you are able to choose the Allmother as a patron, using either the Archfey or the Undying as a template. 

 

Aachatina Traits

Your Aachatina character has the following racial traits.

Otherworldly Magic

Because of your connection to your home plane and strange physique you learn to cast thaumaturgy and detect magic. You can cast thaumaturgy at will and detect magic without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can’t cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Aachatina slither for a few weeks after birth before growing and learning to walk on two legs. They reach adulthood by the age of 15 and live an average of 140 years.

Alignment

Aachatina tend to lead chaotic, ritualistic lives. They tend to harbor some form of wanderlust, and their rituals bring about a need for constant change. Most are chaotic neutral. A few can be selfish and greedy, tending more toward evil, but it’s unusual for Aachatina to remove themselves from the needs of the Allfather and their coven.

Size

Aachatina adults stand 4 to 5 feet tall and average 200 pounds. Their shells account for roughly one-third of their weight. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your base climb speed is 25 feet.

Hold Breath

You can hold your breath for up to 1 hour at a time. Aachatina aren’t natural swimmers, but they can remain underwater for some time before needing to come up for air.

Natural Armor

Due to your shell and the shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. Your shell provides ample protection, however; it gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn’t affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield’s bonus as normal.

Shell Defense

You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, you gain a +4 bonus to AC, and you have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in your shell, you are prone, your speed is 0 and can’t increase, you have disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, you can’t take reactions, and the only action you can take is a bonus action to emerge from your shell.

Arcane Knowledge

You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. Aachatina are uniquely attuned to the arcane arts.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Primordial and Common.