Homebrew Demigod Species Details

Equipped with the magic items, he attached to his feet the winged sandals and flew to the land of the Gorgons, whom he found fast asleep in a cave. Now as Perseus had been warned by his heavenly guides that whoever looked upon these weird sisters would be transformed into stone, he stood with his face turned away from the sleepers, and looked at them through the reflection in his bright metal shield. Then, guided by Athena, he cut off the head of the Medusa, which he placed in his bag. As soon as had he done that, from Medusa’s headless body there sprang forth the winged horse Pegasus, who flew up into the sky. He now hurried to escape the pursuit of the two surviving sisters, who, awoken from their sleep, eagerly rushed to avenge the death of their sister.

His invisible helmet and winged sandals here came in handy; for the former concealed him from the view of the Gorgons, while the latter carried him swiftly over land and sea, far beyond the reach of pursuit. In passing over the burning plains of Libya the drops of blood from the head of the Medusa oozed through the bag and falling on the hot sands below produced many-colored snakes, which spread all over the country. Droplets of blood that landed in the Red Sea created coral reefs underwater.

— The Story of Perseus, Extract.

In the reckonings of most worlds, Demigods are rather uncommon, only arriving into History shortly after Humans and if they survive, live to roughly the same age as Dwarves. Perhaps it is because of their being hunted by monsters, that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the Gods, and that’s why they Train and Battle most of their lives. Whatever drives them, Demigods are the innovators, the leaders, the warriors, the achievers, and the pioneers of History.

A Broad Spectrum

With their penchant for survival, Demigods are more physically capable than any other races. There is no typical Demigod. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Demigods, like Humans, have skin shades range from nearly black to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot of Demigods have a dash of nonhuman blood from their Human parent, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages. Demigods reach adulthood in their early to late teens and rarely live even a single century, as they are hunted like deer, though if they were to survive and live their entire lifespan, they would just about outlive a Dwarf.

Variety in All Things

Demigods are the second most adaptable and ambitious people among All races. They, like Humans, have widely varying tastes, morals, and customs in the many different lands where they were born. When they settle, though, they stay for a few centuries: they build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual Demigod might have a relatively short life span, but a Demigod nation or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single being’s memory. They live fully in the present—making them well suited to the adventuring life—but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, Demigods are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to their environment, be it the physical environment around them, or changing political and social dynamics.

EVERYONE’S SECOND-BEST FRIENDS

Just like Humans, Demigods just as readily as they mix with each other, Demigods mingle with members of other races. They get along with almost everyone, though they might not be close to many. Demigods, like Humans, serve as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants, and functionaries of all kinds.

Dwarves. “They’re stout folk, stalwart friends, and true to their word. They're good company as well, amazing stories of all sorts.”

Elves. “Elves, though proud, extremely proud, see us Demigods as... relatively equal. They also have wonder-filled music.”

Halflings. “It’s hard to beat a meal in a halfling home, as long as you don’t crack your head on the ceiling—good food and good stories in front of a nice, warm fire. If halflings had a shred of ambition, they might really amount to something.”

Lasting Institutions

Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or a powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes. Most Demigods are a part of at least one of four Societies. While dwarf clans and halfling elders pass on the ancient traditions to each new generation, Demigods guard, protect and preserve the peace between races.

Although some Demigods turn Evil no mater what their parentage, in general Demigods are aligned to either Good or Neutral. Demigods societies welcome large numbers of nonhumans compared to the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands.

Exemplars of Ambition

Almost all Demigods seek adventure. They are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious world. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of the gods by amassing power, wealth, and/or fame.

Demigod Names and Ethnicities

Having so much more variety than other cultures, Demigods, like humans as a whole, have no typical names. Some human parents give their children names from other languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their region’s culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.

The material culture and physical characteristics of Demigods, like humans, can change wildly from region to region. In the Forgotten Realms, for example, the clothing, architecture, cuisine, music, and literature are different in the northwestern lands of the Silver Marches than in distant Turmish or Impiltur to the east—and even more distinctive in far-off Kara-Tur. A Demigods physical characteristics, though, vary according to the ancient migrations of the earliest humans, so that the humans of the Silver Marches have every possible variation of coloration and features.

In the Forgotten Realms, nine Demigod, like human, ethnic groups are widely recognized, though over a dozen others are found in more localized areas of Faerûn. These groups, and the typical names of their members, can be used as inspiration no matter which world your Demigod is in.

Calishite

Shorter and slighter in build than most othes, Calishites have dusky brown skin and hair. They’re found primarily in southwest Faerûn.

Calishite Names: (Male) Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, Khemed, Mehmen, Sudeiman, Zasheir; (female) Atala, Ceidil, Hama, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida; (surnames) Basha, Dumein, Jassan, Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein

Chondathan

Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall, but these traits are hardly universal. Demigods of Chondathan descent dominate the central lands of Faerûn, around the Inner Sea.

Chondathan Names: (Male) Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; (female) Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele; (surnames) Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag

Damaran

Found primarily in the northwest of Faerûn, Damarans are of moderate height and build, with skin hues ranging from tawny to fair. Their hair is usually brown or black.

Damaran Names: (Male) Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor; (female) Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora; (surnames) Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, Nemetsk, Shemov, Starag

Illuskan

Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk. Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the extreme northwest have blond, red, or light brown hair.

Illuskan Names: (Male) Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth; (female) Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra; (surnames) Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stormwind, Windrivver

Mulan

Dominant in the eastern and southeastern shores of the Inner Sea, the Mulan are generally tall, slim, and amber-skinned. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands where the Mulan are most prominent, nobles and many other Mulan shave off all their hair.

Mulan Names: (Male) Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mumed, Ramas, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Urhur; (female) Arizima, Chathi, Nephis, Nulara, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis; (surnames) Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt

Rashemi

Most often found east of the Inner Sea and often intermingled with the Mulan, Rashemis tend to be short, stout, and muscular. They usually have dusky skin, and thick black hair.

Rashemi Names: (Male) Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar, Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaumar, Vladislak; (female) Fyevarra, Hulmarra, Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tammith, Yuldra; (surnames) Chergoba, Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokina

Shou

The Shou are the most numerous and powerful ethnic group in Kara-Tur, far to the east of Faerûn. They are yellowish-bronze in hue, with black hair. Shou surnames are usually presented before the given name.

Shou Names: (Male) An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun, Lian, Long, Meng, On, Shan, Shui, Wen; (female) Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao, Shui, Tai; (surnames) Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin, Shin, Sum, Tan, Wan

Tethyrian

Widespread along the entire Sword Coast at the western edge of Faerûn, Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair color varies widely, but brown hair is the most common. Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.

Turami

Native to the southern shore of the Inner Sea, the Turami people are generally tall and muscular, with dark mahogany skin and curly black hair.

Turami Names: (Male) Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rimardo, Romero, Salazar, Umbero; (female) Balama, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise, Vonda; (surnames) Agosto, Astorio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi, Pisacar, Ramondo

Demigod Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about Demigods, but your Demigod character has these traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your ability scores each increase by 5. Your Strength, Dexterity and Constitution each increase by 7.

Godly Parental Abilities

You gain a weaker version of your godly parents powerset. If say, your mother was Mielikki, you would have power over nature and the forest creatures. If your father was Deep Sashelas, you would have power over water, the ocean, liquids, and could communicate with water-based & ocean-based creatures, and breath under water.

Weapon Training

Your Demigod is proficient in all weapons, seeing as you have been training with them from a young age.

Age

Demigods mature in their early to late teens, and, if they survive, live to roughly the same age as Dwarves, and may outlive them by a few decades, depending on their human parents ancestry.

Size

Demigods, like Humans, vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 70 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, Halfling, Celestial or Infernal/Abyssal depending on your godly parent, and Three extra languages of your choice. Demigods, like humans, typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.