Homebrew Bainligor Species Details

Bainligors are a small race of bat-people. Their tribal culture is found in the upper reaches of the Underdark, where they subsist almost entirely on insects, spiders, and edible fungi. Bainligors hold the fierce visage of bats, with huge and pointed ears, ridged snouts, and elaborately sculpted facial features.

Scratching the Surface

Bainligors are nomads and scavengers, feasting on insects, detritus, and even rotting flesh if necessary. This wandering existence is a source of pride among the bainligor, for they believe that they can survive anywhere, on anything, whereas others are tied to the earth by their possessions, their cities, and their weakness for special foods.

Though bainligors can speak Undercommon, they often speak with voices too high-pitched for others to hear. Even if one speaks in a voice low enough to be heard by other races, their voice remains a high-pitched squeak.

Golden Age

Bainligor society is based on reverence of the elderly; young bainligors always defer to the commands of the old. As they age, the bat-people continue to grow larger throughout their lives in a series of magical transformations. Eventually, the eldest of the bainligor leave their tribes, compelled by an inner voice to seek out dry, empty caverns where their bodies are transformed for the last time.

Once they return from their seclusion, they are undead creatures called Revered Ones. These creatures are chieftains, war leaders, priests, and guardians of their descendants; the strongest of them may rule a swarm of bainligors for generations. A few of the undead become spellcasters after they make the transition to unlife; all of their followers are fanatically loyal to them.

DEEP TRIBES

Tales are told of the Deep Tribes, those who starved until they were reduced to nothing but dozens of the Revered, who still hunt in great swarms, not for nourishment but for the joy of their great strength and the fear they cause in others. These are likely nothing more than myths told to bainligor young, for such sightings have never been confirmed by sages or savants of the Underdark races.

Quiet as the Grave

The cries of a rampaging pack of bainligor are inaudible to the ears of most humanoids, but dogs and cats often warn against such attacks; they can hear bainligors coming. In battle, bainligors attack en masse, hoping to pull prey down quickly.

Much like their bat ancestors, bainligors are not blind, but much more reliant on hearing than sight for navigation. Even when completely blinded, whether by pitch darkness or a bright flash of light, they have an excellent sense of their surroundings.

Bainligor Names

As with their tongue, bainligor names are highly tonal, which may pose some difficulty to those accustomed to atonal languages. Typical bainligor names have 2-3 syllables, and end in a dipping tone, which does not appear elsewhere in names. Tribal names identify a bainligor's affiliation, and take the form of adding "-tēn" to the name of their tribe. Most often, the tribe's name reflects something distinctive about its founder.

Sample Names: Bīnshǔ, Gelángă, Hèdǒ, Jìbŭ, Kōafǔ, Ngīmǐ, Oemìnhǒ, Sângchĭ, Súhiĕ, Tèngsě, Yùchě

Sample Tribes: Āokèng (Silent Warrior), Bùkèn (Scout), Chījì (Mimicry), Lǐgáu (Bonecraft), Sōulǐgān (Loreweaver), Wěigūi (Bountiful Harvest), Zhíhìngān (Stonecutter)

Bainligor Traits

Your chiropteran heritage provides you and your fellow bainligor with an assortment of abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity and Intelligence scores increase by 1.

Age

Bainligor are considered mature at the age of 10, and their natural lifespans end at around 80 years. Many who survive to that point will most likely have answered the call to undeath, and will live on much longer.

Alignment

Bainligor may hold any alignment, but those living in a tribe led by a Revered One will generally try to act in accordance with the alignment of their leader.

Size

Your size is Medium. Bainligors grow throughout their lives, only ceasing when they either die or become a Revered One. The modifier to your base height is given in inches, and the same number of pounds to your weight. Roll a new modifier as you enter each new decade.

Age	Base Height	Base Weight	Height Modifier	Weight Modifier
10-19	3'0"	25 lbs.	+1d6	×1 lb.
20-29	3'6"	33 lbs.	+1d6	×1 lb.
30-39	4'0"	45 lbs.	+1d6	×2 lbs.
40-49	4'6"	62 lbs.	+1d8	×1 lb.
50-59	5'0"	85 lbs.	+1d8	×1 lb.
60-69	5'6"	110 lbs.	+1d8	×2 lbs.
70-79	6'0"	137 lbs.	+2d4	×1 lb.
80+	6'6"	160 lbs.	+2d4	×2 lbs.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Blindsight

You have blindsight in a 120-foot radius.

Echolocation

You do not have blindsight while deafened or muted. While you are affected by either condition, attack rolls against you have advantage and your attack rolls have disadvantage.

Keen Hearing

You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.

Superior Darkvision

You are fully accustomed to darkness. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Bite

Your fangs are natural weapons, 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.

Drain Blood

As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, you regain hit points equal to the damage dealt, and you have consumed full rations for the next 24 hours. This trait can’t be used against undead or constructs, and you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Limited Flight

Your winged arms allow you a weak form of flight. You move at normal speed when climbing or traveling over difficult terrain. When performing a jump, you may travel up to twice as far as you normally would, and clearing low obstacles only requires a DC 5 Strength (Athletics) check. To use this trait, you cannot be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Bainligor, and Undercommon.