Homebrew Cutthroat Shark Species Details

Strong? Yes. Intimidating? Yes. Willing to back down in the face of danger, give up a chase, or show mercy? Hell no, perfect mercenaries.

— Viktor Gyles, Tigerclaw Guildmaster

Named Cutthroat Sharks as a species, these hulking brutes are relatively new in the world. Originating from the vast oceans on the elemental Plane of Water, cutthroats proved a lesser but no less real threat to triton protectorates. Driven to the crushing depths, they retreated to the Material Plane alongside other aquatic terrors. They scattered across the oceans, seldom seen by any but sea elves, merfolk, sahuagin, and tritons. The cutthroats loath the fairer aquatic races in the same manner sahuagin do, worshipping the same shark god Sekolah, but in a less fanatical manner and simply as a blessing for good hunting, which could come in the form of animals or enemies. However, sahuagin don't easily work with cutthroats. Despite resembling a shark, the sahuagin have no influence on the cutthroats, and instead see them as competition for food and Sekolah's favor. The cutthroats feel the same way, often forcing them to wage war on several fronts against many races.

Recently there has been a major shift in cutthroat behavior. In port cities, on ships in the middle of the ocean, and even a good ways up freshwater rivers, cutthroat sharks began emerging. Most people were shocked, like a giant shark suddenly sprouted arms and legs and walked up on land. This surprise didn't make for a good first impression, and cutthroats were attacked on sight by guards, crewmen, and adventurers. Those cutthroats that possessed or got hold of a weapon made for formidable foes, hulks covered in super-tough armored skin and armed with giant maws filled with teeth. It was eventually discovered that the cutthroats spoke Aquan and poor Common, and it was revealed that they were either fleeing a shifting balance of power under the waves or seeking a new kind of life on land.

Savage, fearless, and unrelenting, cutthroat sharks make terrifying enforcers for gangs, pirate crews, and coastal bandits. The cutthroats have taken on a thief's mindset, taking what they want by force and pawning it off for as much loot as they can get, even if their treasures are worth much more than common currency.

Strength in Numbers

Cutthroat sharks have begun forming groups, coming together to become reavers, marauders, and thugs. Any of these groups will readily accept a cutthroat shark into their ranks.

However, along with the societal upheaval, a portion of the cutthroat population has had an alignment shift. They are still almost never aligned with good, but some have adopted a more neutral stance, becoming mercenaries, guards, and sometimes even become part of a ship's crew. Their tendency to take what they want with brute force remains, pushing them towards chaos.

Cutthroat Shark Traits

Cutthroat sharks boast the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Cutthroat sharks reach adulthood at age 13 and can live up to 200 years of age.

Alignment

Cutthroat culture is in upheaval, and a portion of the population has had an alignment shift. They are still almost never aligned with good, but some have adopted a more neutral stance, becoming mercenaries, guards, and sometimes even become part of a ship's crew. Their tendency to take what they want with brute force remains, pushing them towards chaos.

Size

Cutthroats are usually over 6 feet tall and weigh average 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 40 feet.

Darkvision

The low-light conditions cutthroats lived in have granted them vision in the inky blackness. 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.

Feeding Frenzy

When a creature within your melee range takes damage, you can use a reaction to make a melee attack against that creature with advantage. Until the effect ends, you have advantage on melee attacks against creatures that you have activated this effect on and that don't have all of their hit points. The effect ends on a creature if they are reduced to zero hit points or if they are restored to full hit points. While this effect is active, you are in a frenzied state. You have disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws using Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, and you must make a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of your turns to stay in control of your bloodlust. Upon a failure, you must use your action to attack the creature closest to you, moving towards it if it is not within melee range. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.

If you are able to cast spells, you can’t cast them or concentrate on them while in a feeding frenzy.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

Razor Teeth

Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike

Natural Armor

You have tough, leathery skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Languages

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