Homebrew Desmodu Species Details

We'd been in the Underdark for just over a week, cataloguing its native lifeforms. We'd done our best to avoid inhabited areas, but a drow patrol had spotted us the day before. They chased us to the crevice where we'd made camp, and they had us cornered. There were five of them against three of us, and Moira had taken an arrow to the leg. We were getting ready for a final stand; we knew we had no chance, if we were going down, we'd take a few of the bastards with us.
That's when we saw them. Or, rather, Elan and Moira did. It was too dark for me to make out much of anything beyond our torchlight. I heard them though- a high-pitched shrieking that teetered on the edge of audibility. They caught the drow off-guard, and in seconds the elves were dead. However, any relief we felt faded when we saw our rescuers. They were massive creatures, the shortest standing almost a foot taller than me, and with faces like monstrous bats. Hooked spears, still wet with drow blood, were gripped in their clawed hands. We readied ourselves for battle, but they simply looked at us for a moment, then leapt off the ledge and glided away into the darkness.

— Galeth the Wanderer

Desmodus inhabit the vast caverns of the Underdark, staying out of reach of danger by living high up on cave walls and ceilings. Despite their monstrous appearance, they are generally a peaceful people, avoiding conflict when they can and using their mastery of their subterranean habitat to their advantage when they can't.

Cave Dwellers

Desmodus are often likened to a strange cross between a bat and an ape. They are vaguely humanoid, often standing a full head taller than most humans, despite their slouched posture. They possess elongated arms ending in three-clawed hands and proportionately stubby legs, allowing them to move comfortably on all fours if necessary. A desmodu's head resembles that of a bat, with an upturned nose, sharp teeth, and enormous ears. Their bodies are covered with short fur that comes in various shades of grey, brown, and ochre. Although desmodus cannot fly like actual bats, they do possess membranes that stretch from their knees to their wrists, allowing them to glide through the air. They also share the same keen hearing and echolocation abilities as bats, allowing them to navigate even in complete darkness.

Underground Communities

Desmodus typically live in small, tight-knit groups. The difficulties of surviving in the Underdark have given them a strong sense of cooperation and community. Most desmodus lead peaceful, agrarian lives, farming fungi and hunting giant insects for food. They also raise livestock, such as giant bats and lizards, to serve as both mounts and sources of blood, which desmodus require to stay healthy. Desmodus prefer to deal peacefully with other species when possible, trading food, crafted goods, and livestock for metal and other materials they can't easily obtain on their own. When forced to fight, desmodus rely on both their natural abilities and specialized weapons such as their signature hook-spears to disorient and overwhelm foes. They have a particular enmity with the drow, who forced the desmodus out of their ancestral habitats and into more remote regions of the Underdark.

Sound plays an important part in desmodu culture. Their language, Desmon, is extremely complex, incorporating changes in pitch that make it impossible for most other species to understand. Many desmodus also carry bell-like "kinship badges," which, when hit by certain frequencies of sound, resonate to denote the bearer's family and clan affiliation.

Desmodu Names

Desmodu names tend to be long and complex, incorporating sounds that are too high-pitched for most other species to hear. As a result, when interacting with non-desmodus, they often use simplified versions for convenience.

Male Desmodu Names: Enkirir, Mehiklu, Krees, Gohul, Orikil, Shiril, Mussidi, Tohikru, Etentil, Gelgelu

Female Desmodu Names: Misiri, Gemniti, Lekkil, Kiririu, Meska, Pelesh, Luli, Entakali, Tiaks, Isimni

Desmodu Traits

Your desmodu character has the following racial traits.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Age

Desmodus mature somewhat faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They typically live to be around 80.

Ability Score Increase

When you determine your ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2, and increase a different one by 1. These increases can’t raise a score above 20. You follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon, as well as the desmodu language, Desmon.

Creature Type

Your creature type is Humanoid.

Size

Desmodus are somewhat larger than humans, typically standing between 6 and 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light.

Natural Climber

You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, at 5th level, you can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, as long as your hands are free.

Gliding Patagia

You have wing-like patagia that you use to slow your fall or allow you to glide. When you fall and are not incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from your fall when calculating your fall damage and can move horizontally 2 feet for every 1 foot you fall.

Echolocation

As an action, you can use echolocation to gain blindsight out to 120 feet until the end of your next turn, although you cannot do so while deafened or silenced. When you use this ability, each creature within 120 feet of you that has echolocation or has proficiency in the Perception skill makes a Perception check, as long as it is capable of hearing. The DC for this check equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. Any creatures that succeed become aware of your presence and rough location. Once you use this ability, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.