Homebrew Grippli Species Details

Standing around 5 dm tall, grippli resemble large, bipedal tree frogs. In the forest and swamplands, most grippli are shades of green or brown with a variety of patterns. They have large, webbed feet and powerful legs with padded toes. They have slightly bulged eyes and wide mouths that can bare a beaming smile or a choleric snarl.

Most grippli are raised in tribes, and this tribal bond is the closest thing to traditional family they tend to have. Though Grippli likely know their parentage and bloodline, it isnt usually an important part of their life. Grippli are born in communal pools in tadpole-like form, where they are raised by dedicated tribal members. These nurseries are where Grippli spend their early lives until they are able to walk about help out amongst the tribe. The main exception to this tradition is the chief or elder's bloodline. Often one bloodline is set to lead a tribe, and the children of the chief or elder will be well known as the heirs of the chieftain.

Grippli tribes are tight knit communities, they all work together to build the best life for each other. Many tribes have distinct divides between workmen, carers, hunters, tradesman and intellectuals - some tribes putting emphasis on any given group more than others. Tribes are bound by their codes. Perhaps the tribe is built on honour and respect,  or perhaps it is built on strength and competition. They are certainly not savages, but they do tend away from fanciful technologies, often opting for homes built into the terrain they settle in, and magic is usually considered a spiritual and soulful power, not to be exploited.

Tribal communities of Grippli tend to make their homes in the swamp. This is where they are best suited to grow, hunt, build and forage. There are areas of swamp and marshland all throughout the forests so they are often not far from other towns and villages. Though their way of life is much different to many, they are usually respectful, diplomatic and peaceful with other settlements nearby - Some tribes have even been known to induct members of other races into their tribes, if they choose to join.

Due to their strong sense of camaraderie and kinship within their tribes, most grippli tend towards loyal and selfless alignments. This usually leans to the lawful neutral or good. Although, naturally, their attitudes and values are heavily influenced by the values of their tribes, so Grippli can have all manner of alignments.

Grippli Traits

Gripplings share a few racial traits as a result of their ranine form...

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Grippli hatch as tadpoles and spend the first 1-2 years of their lives raised by the tribe in a pond or lake. Around the 1-2 year mark they grow legs and lose their tail, eventually maturing around their 4th year. They live up to 40 years.

Alignment

Grippli usually follow the morals and alignments of their tribe. Tribes have been known to stretch to each corner of the alignment chart but usually have a lawful bent, being very tight-knit and often traditional communities.

Size

Grippli stand around 2 feet (5-6 dm) tall. This makes them a medium creature.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30. Your natural climbing and swimming speeds are also 30.

Darkvision

Due to making their homes in dark and swampy marshlands, grippli have evolved advanced vision for seeing in darkness. They can see up to 60ft in dark light but cannot distinguish colour, seeing only shades of grey.

Toxic Resistance

Grippli have advantage on savings throws against poisons, and have resistance to poison damage.

Prehensile Tongue

A grippli's tongue is long and dexterous, able to manipulate objects as if the grippling were using the spell mage hand. The range of this is limited to 15 decimeters and if it passes within 5 decimeters of an enemy you are in combat with it will prompt an opportunity attack. All normal rules apply for that attack and if it succeeds your action will be cancelled. Other than this, all rules of mage hand apply.    

Natural Jumper

Grippli have evolved strong, powerful legs for jumping between trees while hunting. While performing either a long jump or high jump, the grippli can perform a standstill jump without halving the distance (As if they had taken a run up). When taking a run up you may add 5 decimeters to your jump.

Languages

You can speak Anuran (Cannot be written) and speak, read, and write Creature-Common.