Homebrew Yinglet Species Details

Yinglets are small, furry, bipedal creatures with long, stilt-like forearms and forelegs, large eyes and ears, two whiskers poking out of the inner edge of each eyebrow, often possessing actual "hair" as well, a long, fur-covered tail, like an otter, and a "shell-tooth", a large, chissel-like tooth in the center of their snouts used for prying open mollusks, or as a last-ditch weapon. Their short fingers have one less section / joint than human fingers and end in a short claw with a bulbous pad to assist in gripping. Their bones are mostly hollow, almost avian in design, despite having no capability of flight. Transparent irises, reptile-like pupils as well.

They have a minor speech impediment due to tooth structure, rendering them unable to make the "th" sound, and thus must replace it with a suitable substitute, such as instead of saying "The others are headed for that town down the road." they might say "Za ozhers are headed for zat town down za road" or the like. This does not impact verbal spell components, usually.

Outside Communities

The average Yinglet member seen outside of enclaves is a bit...dim, with the rough intelligence and emotional maturity of an adolescent human. As they are often seen as nuisances and 'vermin', they often lack proper education, though they are quite capable of learning. As they are a relatively young species with little coin, property, or education, having only appeared in the world at large little over a century and a half ago, many are employed with simple tasks such as relaying messages or small items or keeping an eye out for thieves in markets, though they may also be "adopted" into a household as housekeepers, general servants, or even simply for companionship like a pet. It is reported that many actually enjoy being "kept" by humans, though this is a matter of heated argument within the Yinglet community.

The vast majority of Yinglets, 80% of their species, are males, and males are usually the ones outside the enclave as the females are kept under guard as leaders. Usually the only case of a Yinglet female being outside of an enclave is when one is sent to establish a new enclave, a survivor from a destroyed one, or in rare cases, a human magically transformed into one through various means. Due to this wild gender imbalance, males are generally expected to find companionship with other males, as the female leadership will generally only pick the most "beneficial" males to continue the species, whether that be a particular skill, being stronger than average, more capable of learning, etc.

Inside Communities

Yinglets often gather into small 'towns' called Enclaves, with one Matriarch at the head who grooms the females for leadership duty. Below her are the Patriarchs, who each govern an area of speciality based on their expertise. A Patriarch of Coin and Trade for example negotiates trade with other enclaves and with the region as a whole, while a Patriarch of Foodstuffs handles cooking, farming, and some hunting not already handled by the Patriarch of Scouting and Intel's hunting parties, and a Patriarch of Culture might handle written records and recording the enclave's history and notable figures. Below them are "specialists", each assigned to a Patriarch. So that Foodstuffs has cooks, haulers, storage managers and such, Culture might have scribes, Scouting has hunting parties and spies, and so on.

Yinglets, barring a proper mutation, are unable to eat grain-based foods, such as bread or rice, which block them up and make them ill, so the Yinglet body has adapted by causing near instant vomiting upon ingestion, however they are capable of enjoying almost every other food that humans can, and even some they might not, such as their absolute love for raw clams, oysters....or slugs. In fact, their 'shell tooth' evolved specifically to pry open clams first and as a weapon second, and their tongue has bristles at the end that are made to latch onto clam-flesh and pull it loose in one lightning-fast motion, like a chemeleon tongue, and eating "slime-flesh" such as those causes an intense rush of dopamine and endorphins like a drug. Gorging on them can render them bubbly and giddy, as though drunk or on heroin without the crash, jitters, or many side effects, along with a lack of drug resistance.

Rumors abound of a famed Yinglet alchemist who created "Healthy Juice" a potion that extended his lifespan immensely by slowing the aging process to a stop, or nearly so...before he was eaten by a stray dog and the formula promptly lost until it is rediscovered once again.

Behaviors

Male Yinglets come in two varieties: Receptive/Preening and Aggressive/Seeking, based on their temperament and minor biological differences.

Preening Yinglets tend to be those males with feminine features such as rounder ears and shorter snout, shorter shell-tooth, thicker fur including longer hair-like fur on the top of the head and a significant tuft of hair at the end of the tail. They tend to decorate their tails with adornments such as bells and rings in the hopes of attracting Seeker types, and typically have a more social attitude and tend to spend more time at Enclaves as nurses, diplomats, or scholars.

Seeking Yinglets are those with traits generally considered more masculine: Longer limbs, thicker forerams and forelegs, long shelltooth. They typically have an "aggressive" attitude, though note that "aggressive" does not mean "hostile" and is meant that they are simply more 'active' than their receptive / preening counterparts, usually preferring physical pursuits to intellectual ones. Often accompanied by a desire to range far from the enclave to hunt, scavenge, and adventure, and otherwise generally having a high level of confidence and self-assurance.

Yinglet Names

Yinglet names are simple in terms of creativity. Usually a nurse or mother would make whatever sound with their mouth until they come across something that sounds right. They are also highly influenced by human culture and sometimes take up names given by humans.

Male: Beizel, Brakka, Chakki, Figgins, Kattajak, Lopin, Mori'rai, Narklet, Poak, Simman, Zance, Zavvat, Zheodore, Zot, Zozzy
Female: Beatrix, Feeeena, Lippie, Habzig, Ickney, Pekkit, Sesra, Teressa, Vesaria, Vizlet, Zebalabela, Zally, Zulie

Yinglet Traits

Your Yinglet character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Yinglets reach adulthood at age 3 and can live up to 25 years but rarely do so, though magic and alchemy can extend this greatly.

Alignment

Yinglets are fairly neutral, but their inconsistent and erratic behaviors makes them trend towards chaos.

Size

Yinglets can be anywhere from 2 to 4 feet tall, but most of them are 3 feet and average around 40 pounds. Your size is small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

Few Yinglets are literate, but you can speak Common and one other language of your choice. You may choose to be able to read and write as well.

The Spear-Circle

Using a technique developed by the Yinglet's Great Leader during his campaign of the great unification, you've been taught to use your natural biology to dodge attacks while creating an opening for your allies. Whenever you take the dodge action on your turn, your allies gain advantage on their first attack roll against a creature if you are at least within 5 feet of it and aren't incapacitated. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Shell Tooth

Yinglets may bite with their shelltooth like a dagger for 1d4 + your Strength modifier. In a pinch this tooth may also be used as a tool to pry open small objects, such as a rusted-shut locket or a clam, adding a proficiency bonus to requisite rolls to do so should they be required.

Power Naps

Yinglets do not sleep through the night like most creatures. Instead they nap in 1 hour intervals every 4-5 hours. If they have slept a total of 5 hours through these naps over the course of 24 hours, they count as having had a Long Rest at the end of the final nap. They can stay awake for longer, but each nap cycle missed counts as sleep deprivation until they are able to nap again.

Spring-loaded Arms

Yinglet arms are adapted to and prefer thrusting weapons due to their ancient history in the marshes of their homeland snatching fish out of the water. You gain proficiency in lances, pikes, and tridents.

Gross Gourmand

Evolving in a marsh swampland full of poisonous plants has given you a resistance to certain toxins. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

Mutations

Yinglets are highly prone to mutations and oddities. You choose one mutation from below:

• Bread and Circuses...What's a Circus? - Unlike most Yinglets, you have a beneficial mutation that allows you to eat grain products like wheat, rye, or rice. Go you!
• Duckfoot - Your feet and fingers are webbed! You ignore rough terrain through mud, wet sand, high water, and similar conditions to marshes and shorelines.
• Eye See You - Unlike most Yinglets you have visible irises instead of the normal transparent ones! One of the most common mutations and quite harmless. They are often a color that contrasts and sticks out from the main eye, for example orange-eyed Yinglets having reddish irises. You can discern color in darkness.
• Fluffy Tail - Like a female Yinglet, if male, you have a large fluffy tuft of fur at the end of your tail almost as large as your head. If female, the tuft is especially large and fluffy. You have advantage on Saving throws against cold climates.
• Go See A Dentist - Your shelltooth is sharp and jagged, resembling a poorly-sharpened dagger. Your bite attack deals 2d4 + your Strength modifier instead. Furthermore, the damage from your bite attack is doubled and maximized when attacking objects and structures.
• Heads or...Tail! - Your tail is unusually long, extending a distance almost equal to your height. You have advantage on Dexterity checks.
• I Didn't Know They Could Get That Small! - You're short, even for a Yinglet, averaging around 2 feet tall instead of 3 feet, though you still count as small. Usually because of very short, yet stocky and wide legs rather than the long and thin legs of their normal counterparts. Moving through spaces occupied by allies does not impose movement penalties.
• Lovely Liver - Your liver has decided to extend its normal toxin resistance to alcohol as well. It does it so well in fact you can't be rendered drunk nor will you suffer negative effects from booze! Shame if you enjoy being drunk though...
• Tall!...For a Yinglet - You have two front teeth like that of a rodent. Useful when one falls out or cracks before they regrow! You have advantage on Persuasion Skill checks.
• Two Toozh! - You have two front teeth like that of a rodent. Useful when one falls out or cracks before they regrow! You have advantage on Persuasion Skill checks.
• W(ear)d -  Your ears are incredibly large, almost bigger than your head! Alternatively, or in addition, they may be pointed and long, or short and rounded. You have advantage on Perception Skill checks.