Homebrew Vyndranx Species Details
In the cold light of the mountains, as the wind blows, climbing laboriously up the inhospitable terrain, one has to wonder how the Vyndranx manage to live here. When you stare to the summits reaching to the stars in one direction and down to the endless oceans below Drondra's floating isles in the other, you realize just how hardy their culture is. Their cities and palaces manage to reach levels of size and resilience due to the very same traits held by them, holding to their sheer physical prowess and refusal to back down.
Having personally known relatively few Vyndranx up to this point, my own exposure came mostly from a specific member of their most prestigious royal lineage. Lenris Songreld, though one of the most brutish men I'd ever met, was simultaneously the strongest and most hard-headed, emotional, and troubled individual, as well. Such a motley group of traits is quite common among other Vyndranx, taking pride in their strength and physical feats, but doing so in part to hide their true emotions and insecurities. Despite this, once getting to know them, they without fail become some of the most caring people you'll meet, acting as older siblings, in a sense; this includes every related caveat, of course.
Vyndranx -- translating literally to "Great Dragons" -- are the strongest and hardiest race across all of Ahmdra. Found high in the coldest and most inhospitable mountains of Drondra's largest floating islands, Vyndranx are often entirely devoid of magic in exchange for extreme strength and constitution.
Draconic Warriors
The sheer bulk of the Vyndranx manifests itself even further in a strong, unshakeable warrior's spirit, living for battle, whether it be friendly or based in war. They excel in any sort of physical combat you could ask them to perform, being able to both take and deal hits with minimal effort. At their shortest, Vyndranx measure in at around 7' tall, most often excelling past it to reach 8' or 9' tall, weighing upwards of 300 pounds of pure muscle. Their size is medium. Despite how tall and burly they tend to be, Vyndranx still manage to move with enough speed to either disengage or engage even further, turning into an unstoppable force of destruction in the right circumstances. Unlike dragons depicted in Ahmdran legends, Vyndranx do not possess wings, only having a tail.
Vyndranx are covered in smooth scales, though only ranging from shades of deep black to pure white, but often sticking to rocky grays. Their scales are paired with flowing hair of the same color range, surrounding long, pointed horns of ivory that take diverse shapes and sizes. The blood colors of common Vyndranx most often depend on the specific areas and cultures they originate from and can range from bronze to gold, or even to bright jades and cold blues.
An Affinity for Brawling
As a race with an unending thirst for a good fight, Vyndranx culture may seem violent and unwelcoming to outsiders. However, under that tough, energetic, and battle-hungry exterior lie countless individuals who would bring you in as a close friend and ally with surprising amounts of gentle kindness.
Seeking to constantly grow stronger and better, Vyndranx will find themselves partaking in rigorous physical training and friendly brawls almost daily, aiding to their reputation for arena fighting and entertainment based on beating eaching senseless. If you can show them a good fight, they'll happily knock you out for the fun of it.
Though they often enjoy fighting alone and find the act of mowing down hordes of enemies fun, Vyndranx do even better when fighting with friends, whether they be fighting in similar or entirely different ways. Whether your Vyndranx allies are acting to soak up all the hits for your casters or are sharing the damage with another frontline fighter, they'll always be reliable and ready to destroy anything in their way.
Vyndranx Names
Vyndranx first names are most often 6 letters and are not assigned based on gender.
First Names: Lenris, Llusus, Khasra, Ffothe, Zzakra, Oztrha, Ocraam, Tungre, Jjngar
Their last names are not held to any constraints like their first names, and are based on their proud family lineages.
Family Names: Songreld, Vvershte, Osmalte, Dhashtahra, Morkkaara, Llaxxenfeldde
Vyndranx Traits
As a Vyndranx, your sheer strength and size lend you the ability to fight well, fight long, and fight hard.Powerful Build
You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Relentless Endurance
When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Natural Athlete
You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
Mountain Heritage
Having lived in the mountains, you are entirely unaffected by difficult terrain on land. This does not apply to difficult terrain in water.
Arcane Weakness
When hit by magical damage, you take 1.5x damage (rounded up). Elemental damage not caused by explicitly magical sources -- such as fire caused by burning terrain, shock damage from a breath weapon, or necrotic damage from a disease -- will not be boosted. Physical damage specifically said to be made magical, such as by an enchanted weapon with such properties, will deal boosted damage. Resistances to given types of damage still apply, calculated directly before the vulnerability.
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength and Constitution scores both increase by 2.
Age
Vyndranx reach physical maturity a bit later than other Ahmdran races, reaching their full physical strength by age 20, and living to approximately 300 years of age.
Size
Vyndranx are extremely burly, measuring well over 7' tall, up to 9', and often weighing upwards of 300 pounds of pure muscle. Despite this, their size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet, but you swim considerably slower than other races, only able to swim 10 feet at base as opposed to the typical 15 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Old Draconic. Though Old Draconic is known by many in Vyndranx cultures, it is not used as the primary language, but is still seen as a proud part of their ancestry.