Other One (5e Race)
Other One
Physical Description
Other Ones are strange, alien creatures, with little resemblance to normal humanoids. Other Ones are typically tall, standing around 8 - 9', and have slender builds. They have short bodies for their stature, and their long, slender limbs make up most of their height. Their arms have the clear muscular definition, while not looking in any way beefy, suggestive of an athletic build. Their legs, though slim, have a racehorse-like quality, enabling them to sprint long distances. Their feet are small and two-toned, jutting downwards from an ankle in much the same way as a cat's. They have thin necks slightly longer than most humanoids, on top of which sits a smallish head. The head is proportioned to the torso in a manner normal to most humanoids, but that's where the similarity ends: their heads are flat-topped triangles, with two large, round eyes set into the top corners. the mouth, situated at the bottom point of the triangle, is a vertical slit, incapable of replicating human speech. The best Other Ones can manage seems to be a haunting whistling noise. Their nose, composed of two nostril-slits, is set in the center of their face.
A notable feature which the Other Ones possess is a patchy armor over their bodies. This armor is chitinous and biological and located in places such as the spine, shoulders, and knuckles. This suggests that the Other Ones evolved from a fighting race that used hand-to-hand combat.
History
The Other Ones arrived on the material plane quite by accident. A craft carrying a small complement of Other Ones crash-landed near a secluded village. the Other Ones made gifts of their alien technology to the villagers as a gesture of peace, and small communities now thrive, dotted around the material plane. They keep mainly to themselves, but out of contentedness rather than a secretive nature. Other Ones have been known to welcome strangers into their communities, and have been documented adventuring in active search of knowledge.
Society
Other Ones live in close-knit extended family groups, similar to the first human settlement they encountered. They are a curious race and will jump on any opportunity to acquire knowledge. While never seeming to have anything to do with any information they collect, it is presumed that they simply enjoy learning about the world they've adopted. Most Other One communities will contain anywhere upwards of a hundred Other Ones, each with its own role to play in the upkeep of the group (except the children, who are allowed free reign to go anywhere). Other Ones always seem to be able to recreate their own technology, even if they have never known what it looks like or how it works, suggestive of genetic memory or a telepathic web.
Other Ones seem to have a sophisticated non-verbal language. It appears to be comprised of gestures and tuneful whistling, accompanied by a mild telepathic impression. The use of telepathic impressions and gestures alone seems to be enough for most creatures to understand, and as such: Other Ones are gifted linguists, able to communicate with just about any race.
Other One Names
Other Ones are named in the trilling whistles of their kind. However, most races give them names based on what sounds they like best. Other Ones have a distinct gender difference, but no apparent sexual divergence. Everyone is quite confused as to which gender is which, or if the physical disparities are genders at all.
Assumed Male Names: Chirp, Twitwtoo, Chirrup
Assumed Female Names: Beewup, Titter, Trill
Other One Traits
Ability Score Increase. Other Ones are light-fingered and athletic, as well as intelligent and skillful crafters. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Age. Other Ones mature very early in their lives, and can live for up to two centuries, but do not become in any way hindered by old age.
Alignment. Other Ones have little regard for humanoid rules, but they are good-hearted and curious. they tend towards chaotic or good alignments.
Size. Other Ones have an almost uniform of Size of 8' 10". This is maximum height they can attain, though they start relatively small (2' or less at birth). Your size is medium.
Speed. Other Ones are athletic and difficult to tire. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Vision. Other Ones' eyes are far better than humanoids, they can see double the distance of an ordinary humanoid in light, and have darkvision out to 30 feet.
Chitin. You have plates of chitin across your back, shoulders, and knuckles. your armor class is 10 + your constitution modifier while not wearing any armor.
Armoured Brawler. When you make an unarmed strike, the chitinous plates on your knuckles really comes into effect. Your unarmed melee strikes deal 1d6 slashing damage and have the reach property. You can use your dexterity modifier instead of your strength modifier when you roll for this attack.
Proboscis. Your mouth is incapable of chewing or swallowing food. When eating, you must make a DC10 constitution check. You eat the food whether you succeed or not, but on a failure, you spray acid in a 10-foot cone from your mouth. any creature caught in the cone must make a DC 10 dexterity saving throw or take 1d10 acid damage.
Wierd Physiology. Your body is vastly different from those of humanoids. You cannot wear normal armor or wield normal weapons. You must have everything custom made at a blacksmith's. This will take 1d6 Hours and 75 + (the item's base cost) in Gold Pieces or whatever coin the item you want is priced in.
Languages. You can read, and write Common. you cannot speak, but can directly communicate with other creatures using a combination of whistles, gestures, and telepathic impressions. Every time you attempt to speak to another creature, to suggest something out of the ordinary conversation (such as point out a hidden passage), you must play a telepathic game of charades. When you want to convey an idea, make a DC (target character's intelligence score) charisma check, on a success, the target character gets what it is you want to say, on a failure, your intentions get misinterpreted (DM chooses what happens).
Random Height and Weight
Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
---|---|---|---|
8′ 10'' | +1d4 | 180 lb. | × (1d10) lb. |
*Height = base height + height modifier |
Suggested Characteristics
When creating an Other One character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.
d8 | Personality Trait |
---|---|
1 | I get frustrated when people don't understand me. |
2 | I can never stay quiet, I'm constantly annoying people with random telepathy ideas. |
3 | I can't help admiring every creature I come across, they're just so different. |
4 | I turn away from other people when I eat, I think they find it disgusting when I digest food. |
5 | I'm a diplomatic person, and never really enjoy fighting. I'd much rather find common ground. |
6 | I always stop and admire any ancient artwork or runes on a wall. The history of this world is just so fascinating. |
7 | Whenever I enter a town, people goggle and stare at me, I find it very uncomfortable. |
8 | I always spend too much money on useless stuff, but this world's artisans are so different from our own. |
d6 | Ideal |
---|---|
1 | Curiosity - This world is so odd, I want to find out whatever I can! (any) |
2 | Alone - I have never seen my homeworld. (chaotic) |
3 | Domination - These other races are fit only to serve under the Others. (evil) |
4 | Charity - We must share our wealth of knowledge with these crude Terrestrials. (good) |
5 | Protector - The law must be upheld, these ruffians know nothing of sophistication. (lawful) |
6 | Cowardly - I don't like this world, its creatures and people are barbaric. (any) |
d6 | Bond |
---|---|
1 | I left my tribe to go adventuring. I want to make it back alive. |
2 | I want to find out something about my homeworld. |
3 | I want to be accepted by normal people. |
4 | I found a boken starship and I want to get it working again. |
5 | I found an odd relic of my kind. I don't know what it does but I want to find out. |
6 | My second cousin lives somewhere remote and I want to check on him. |
d6 | Flaw |
---|---|
1 | I can't help but pity these stupid terrans. |
2 | I find it hard to like humans, they're so different. |
3 | I will always choose knowledge over the lives of my teammates. |
4 | He shouln't have stepped in that trap, why does he think I'm going to help him? |
5 | I'm endlessly curious, and not very tactful. I ask very personal or embarrassing questions. |
6 | Sometimes I think that everyone wants to display me as an exhibit. I'm very defensive and hostile around authority. |
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races