Homebrew Simian Species Details

"A FEW YEARS AGO, A TRAVELING CIRCUS TROUPE CAME through
our humble town. Although all of the performers were skilled
in their own ways, the star of the show by far was a young
simian acrobat. The way she swung across the trapeze with
such grace and precision—I know lots of people say this, but I
swear that, for just a moment, it seemed as though she was
truly flying."

—Tordek Balderk, dwarf blacksmith

Commonly found in jungles and rainforests, simians are
monkey-like humanoids who are as dexterous as they are
playful. Natural-born climbers, simians scale tall trees in an
effort to outdo one another and prove themselves in the eyes
of their tribes. Simians take pleasure in playing small pranks
on one another, often with the aid of their ancestral magic.
Awakened to Emptiness
Simian elders tell stories of a legendary figure known as "the
Monkey King" who struck out on a perilous journey to seek
out the power of the gods themselves. In the process, the

Monkey King is said to have achieved a state of enlighten-
ment which unlocked a number of newfound magical

abilities, further enhancing his already formidable combative
prowess. Ever since, the teaching of this ancestral magic
from one generation to the next has become a rite of passage

for young simians who seek to achieve the same enlighten-
ment as the Monkey King himself.

(Vibrant Expression)
Simians display a wide variety of hair colors, including
brown, black, red, white, and gray. They also have a range of
eye colors, such as brown, gray, green, and yellow. Many
simians' skin are earthy shades of brown, though some have
skin that is dark, tan, pale, or even occasionally blue. Simians
average at 5 feet tall and are typically very lean and athletic.
Most simians take great pride in their hair, often styling it
as a means of expressing personal identity. Likewise, some
simians adorn themselves in flashy clothing in order to catch
the attention of would-be friends and rivals alike. Simians
typically tailor their clothes to make room for their prehensile
tails, and many choose to forgo shoes in order to enable
easier climbing.
In addition to their own verbal and written language,
simians have developed a nonverbal language of hand signs
and gestures that allows silent communication. Simians use
this sign language among themselves during hunting, to
communicate at a distance, or when they wish to avoid being
overheard.

(Journey On)
Although simians typically stick together in small, close-knit
tribes, many go on extended journeys during adolescence or
early adulthood in order to emulate the Monkey King by
seeking out adventure and enlightenment. Should simians
come across traveling companions during their journeys, they
are known to form lasting friendships, proving themselves to
be valuable and trustworthy allies. Even so, simians believe

that life without a little fun is a dull life indeed, and will some-
times interject their own form of "fun" into a situation by means of a lighthearted joke or prank.

Simian Traits

The racial traits of the Simian are:

Ability Score Increase:

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

Simian Nimbleness

You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. You also have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

Prehensile Tail

It has a reach of 5 feet, and it can lift up to 10 pounds. You can use it to do the following simple tasks: lift, drop, hold, push, or pull an object or a creature; stow or retrieve an item; open or close a door or a container; or hang from a sturdy branch or beam. Your DM might allow other simple tasks to be added to that list of options. It can't wield weapons or shields or do anything that requires manual precision, such as using tools or magic items or performing the somatic components of a spell.

Illusory Distraction

When a creature you can see makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to momentarily create an illusory double and impose disadvantage on the roll. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Simian Magic

You know the shillelagh cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the disguise self spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the levitate spell on yourself once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Simian, and can communicate using Simian sign language.