Homebrew Batho Species Details

Proud but grim and often ruthless, the Batho are slow to trust but loyal to their allies. They are equally adept with blade, spell, or stealth.  Batho have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones are usually dark, but also include various shades of gray, red, or purple. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple.

Nahak and Chesang were once a single country, but the longstanding practice of Batho enslaving Ikilishe caused a rift between the two lands several generations back.  Although Nahak has recently abandoned the practice, the two countries have gone their separate ways in the intervening time – though still share a kinship due to being the Batho motherland. 

The ruling class of Nahak consists of the noble Batho houses; there is not a single leader, but rather a council made of the heads of each of the noble houses.  There is an active volcano in northern Nahak, but much of the country is fertile grasslands.  Large mushrooms dominate the landscape here, though they are intermixed with trees and the overall landscape is much greener than Chesang, particularly towards the western and southern borders. The Nahaki Batho are a proud people, reluctant to admit wrongdoing.

Chesang is dominated by a large active volcano on the middle of the island, covering much of the island with steady ashfall and a perpetual haze.  As a result, the vegetation of Chesang tends towards large mushrooms that are uniquely adapted to the volcanic climate.  Chesang’s capital city Modimo is on the southern shore and is one of the most diverse populations in the land, though Batho are still the most common race.  Modimo is essentially a citystate; there is not a central government on Chesang, though there are many small towns and villages along the southwestern shore that think of Modimo as their capital.  The Modiman Batho tend to be quite progressive, likely due to the diverse population in the southern half of the island.

The northwest of Chesang is primarily inhabited by nomadic tribes of Batho.  These tribes keep to themselves, but many of their rituals and traditions revolve around the volcano and its regular ashfalls.

On the northeastern shore of Chesang is an enclave of Batho who sympathized with Nahak during the break and continue the practice of slavery to this day, despite Nahak itself having abandoned the practice. This northeastern enclave is self-governing and extremely hostile to outsiders.

Batho Traits

All Batho share certain racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Batho mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.

Size

Batho are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 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.

Volcanic Resistance

You have resistance to fire damage.

Ashen Legacy

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

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