Homebrew Athas: Mul Species Details

Muls are half-dwarves, descended from the union of a human and a dwarf. They have the stature, agility, and mental flexibility of humankind, coupled with the physical resilience and endurance of dwarves, a rare combination of qualities that makes muls more than a simple blend of the two races. Because they are strong, tough, quick, and blessed with fantastic endurance, muls are highly prized as slaves.

Slaves and Gladiators

Most muls begin their lives as slaves. Slave holders throughout the Tyr Region have long known that tremendous hardiness and stamina result from mixing human and dwarven lines. Muls make outstanding gladiators, slave warriors, and heavy laborers, enduring toil and hardships that would kill lesser folk.

Dreaming of Freedom

Muls who set their hearts on freedom are difficult to keep in chains. Some escape to the wilds and become raiders or join tribes of ex-slaves, whereas others who escape become mercenaries and sell their fighting skills to whomever they can. Muls who don’t flee captivity can win their freedom in the arena or by completing a dangerous task for their masters. A few highly prized gladiators receive so many privileges and comforts that they are effectively free, enjoying great latitude to go where they want and do as they wish. The Dungeon Master might have mul heroes start the campaign as slaves. If not, assume that your mul character has already won his or her reedom by the time the game begins.

Scarred and Hardened

Muls are hard, driven, pragmatic folk with little remorse or sympathy in their hearts. Many grow up under the lash, having been taken from their parents while very young and subjected to brutal training for the arena or grinding toil in fields or quarries. Consequently, muls have a hard time offering friendship and trust to anyone. More than a few muls, scarred by the hardships of their upbringing, spend their days as bitter, violent misanthropes. Others are suspicious, grasping mercenaries who have learned never to lift a finger on behalf of another person without establishing what they will gain from providing aid. Despite their tendency to be sullen or self centered, muls can learn to work alongside others. Growing up in the slave pits and the underclass of society taught them how to forge alliances and understandings; their survival demanded nothing less.

Mul Names

Muls sold as laborers will have common slave names. Muls sold as gladiators will often be given more striking and exotic names. Draji names (such as Atlalak) are often popular for gladiators, because of the Draji reputation for violence. Masters who change their mul slaves’ professions usually change their names as well, since it is considered bad form to have a gladiator with a farmer’s name, and a dangerous incitement of slave rebellions to give a common laborer the name of a gladiator.

Male Names: Aram, Borthomar, Bost, Darok, Darus, Durn, Eben, Erekard, Gard, Harask, Marok, Morg, Rikard, Rikus, Sanozar, Uskan, Zedath, Zorus

Female Names: Aisa, Aivel, Brithis, Callia, Demosis, Elina, Faivel, Himithis, Laivi, Narisel, Niva, Raina, Reshel, Saditha, Tirshel, Uisel, Zerima

 

Athas: Mul Traits

Muls gain a number of advantages from both their human and dwarven heritage.

Ability Score Increase

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1.

Age

Goliaths have lifespans comparable to humans. They enter adulthood in their late teens and usually live less than a century.

Alignment

Goliath society, with its clear roles and tasks, has a strong lawful bent. The goliath sense of fairness, balanced with an emphasis on self- sufficiency and personal accountability, pushes them toward neutrality.

Size

Goliaths are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Born of Two Races

You count as both a human and as a dwarf for the purpose of meeting the requirements and prerequisites of any feat, subclass, or magic item.

Incredible Toughness

When you spend a Hit Die during a short rest, you heal the maximum number of hit points instead of rolling the die.

Additionally, if you start your turn suffering from the incapacitated or stunned condition, any effect that is reducing your movement speed, or any effect that is giving you disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, or saving throws, you can end that effect. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you complete a long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Tireless

You only need to sleep for 2 hours, instead of 6, to gain the benefits of a long rest.

Additionally, you have advantage on saving throws against any effect that would cause you to gain a level of exhaustion.

Languages

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