Homebrew Groont (Whale-Folk) Species Details

Groont, often called Whale-Folk or Whale-Trolls by land dwelling species, have a massive, muscular body with a broad back leading into a thick tail, powerful arms and legs, and an exceptionally large head and neck. They do not use their tails in combat for fear of damaging their massive flipper which is their only means of oceanic travel. It does not 'sweep' side to side well as it's only purpose is to slowly thrust them through the ocean's depths in a vertical motion. Their skin is often riddled with barnacles and crustaceans, and their heads resemble that of a humpback whale with small, beady eyes on a massive frame. They stand 8-9 ft tall and weight between 400 and 600 lbs. Their size is medium. They often have trouble squeezing through human made doors and structures. They speak in a low, resounding tone and give off a calming ambiance.

Groont society is mostly based on individual resourcefulness, they have elders and often travel long distances in groups but have no discernible hierarchy. Their culture and sociology is still shrouded in mystery, and the Groont try to keep it that way. The widely accepted theory is that ages ago standard whales dove to such depths that they stumbled upon and ancient magic, which transformed them into bipedal, amphibious beings with conscious thought. They are still most at home among the ocean's crushing depths and are very rarely witnessed venturing inland. They are rarely seen in groups or pairs on land and tend to remain isolated near the coasts where they can fish or farm kelp. They have been noted as being welcoming to strangers and having wise, peaceful dispositions about them. Though they dislike the name Whale-Troll which was given to them by humans, they will not lament about it. 

Groont mature at the same rate as humans, however upon reaching adulthood they age extraordinarily slowly, they are known to live well over 100 years, however the exact lifespan of the Groont is unknown to anyone on the surface. As when a Groont has begun to show signs of old age they retreat into the safety of the ocean to live the remainder of their years as elders for their people. Truly, only the Groont know how long they live. 

They speak Groont, which cannot be spoken by surface folk without the means of magical aid as it is produced using a special organ in their head making low, melodious tones that can be heard by other Groont for several hundred miles. They need not expel air to make these tones and cannot do so on land. This is the same organ that allows for echolocation. There is no written form of Groont. Because of their inability to speak Groont on land they also speak Aquan, and are usually taught to speak, read, and write common by elders when they are young. 

Groont are a wise, neutral race. They are low in number and do not mate often, mostly living isolated lives. When they do have offspring they seek out an elder member of their race to aid in rearing the child and teaching them the ways of their culture. Upon reaching adolescence the offspring separate from their families and explore the ocean's depths on their own. They  are a secretive race and do not share the knowledge of the blackest reaches of the oceans with outsiders. They are a peaceful race however will fight to protect this knowledge and the preservation of their people. When a Groont reaches maturity they are encouraged to explore the land as well as the ocean, in order to gain knowledge to one day share with new offspring.  They believe in individual freedom, fairness, balance, self sufficiency, and personal accountability. 

The Groont are excellent deep sea divers, well adapted to withstand crushing depths and the ocean's darkest, most freezing regions. They can travel vast distances in the water and rarely need rest, riding ocean currents when advantageous. They mostly eat small ocean organisms by filter feeding with the baleen structures in their mouths, however when on land are perfectly capable of ingesting surface food, albeit in large quantities. They need not remain moist as their thick skin and mammalian genealogy allows them to travel on land without drying out.   

Humans and other land folk rarely witness a Groont and upon laying eyes on them are usually awestruck or frightened. However due to their tranquil nature they are quickly ascertained as non-threatening. They are gentle and wise, and their ease and tame temperament calms humans despite their hulking size. Their connection to the ocean makes them introspective, assessing each situation with wizened eyes and attentive consideration. 

Groont (Whale-Folk) Traits

Groont are a nomadic species and spend most of their lives never staying in one place. Even though they are rather reclusive and sparse, they are still friendly and are willing to share their experiences with others.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2. Your Wisdom score increases by 1. Your size makes you an easy target to spot, you have a disadvantage on stealth rolls.

Darkvision

Your beady eyes are perfectly suited for the crushing depths of the sea, however your vision is poor and you struggle with discerning small details. 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 colour in darkness, only shades of grey. You have a disadvantage on investigation rolls.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift. However your hulking figure requires armor to be tailor fitted, at 2x the initial cost. 

Underwater Echolocation

Specialized structures in your head enable you to sense your surroundings underwater despite blindness or darkness. While submerged you gain blindsight up to 30 feet in the same body of water. This supersedes magical darkness or blindness.

Natural Insulation

Your dense layer of blubber grants you natural resistance to cold damage and cold climates, magical or not. As well as a resistance to non-magical bludgeoning damage. However you have a vulnerability against lightning damage.

Buoyant

When sleeping, disabled, or unconscious you rise to the surface at 20ft per round and float.

Down in the Deep

You can swim vast distances and carry passenger on your back. You can hold your breath for up to 90 minutes and dive to a depth of 5000ft.

Sluggish Frame

While in the ocean you an excellent swimmer, on land your sluggish nature and ponderous gait make you unable to travel long distances without the occasional short rest. You must take a short rest at least once per two days of continuous travel or receive +1 exhaustion.

Fat Storage/ Baleen Sifter

You store fat in your blubber and can go twice as long without eating than other medium sized creatures. However when you eat you must consume twice the regular daily intake of a medium sized creature to remain in optimal condition, or suffer +1 exhaustion per 8 hour period you go hungry. You can also drink salt water as if it were fresh water. If you are in the ocean, you can dive and use your 90 minute hold breath to filter feed from the depths, this fills you completely. 

Relentless Endurance

When reduced to 0HP by an attack but not killed outright, you can drop to 1HP instead. This can only be used once per long rest.

Booming Thrum

You are able to produce a booming thrum from the echolocation organ in your head once per long rest. All units in a 5ft circle around you (friendly included) must make a CON saving throw. On failure they are dealt 1d12 thunder dmg, on success half the damage is dealt. DC is 8 + your CON modifier. At level 5 this damage is increased to 2D12 and the radius is increased to 10ft, at level 11 3D12, and at level 17 4D12.

Weapon Proficiency

You are proficient in spears, Pikes, Tridents, Nets, Clubs, Javelins, Quarterstaffs, and most two handed weapons.

languages

You speak Groont, Aquan and can speak, read, and write common.