Embodied Mouther (5e Race)
Embodied Mouther
| “ | What we are calling an 'Embodied Mouther' seems to be an evolved form of the horrible monstrosity that goes by the name gibbering mouther. This evolution exhibits a degree of sanity as well as higher intellectual capacity and charismatic ability that is not present in their less evolved kin though, it should be noted that they are still largely controlled by their need to consume and devour other creatures. This greater mental fortitude is believed to come from the eventual forming of a singular consciousness within the creature from the twisted and broken minds of all that it has consumed. This consciousness appears to be able to suppress the various maws throughout its body from giving off the classic gibbering that their kin was named after. The sentience that has formed, I believe serves as the foundation for the evolution and adaption from the horrible monstrosity that is the gibbering mouther into the embodied mouther. |
” |
| —Extract from the bestiary of Dr. Concealed Light | ||
Physical Description
At a distance, they appear to be normal humans or even elves, slightly shorter than most and well covered even on the hottest days but on a close, unhindered inspection one may notice the small to medium sized slits that cover their skin. They are easily mistaken for scars or recent cuts, but the sheer number of them is the particular part. It is only when these slits open that their true nature is revealed, the many eyes and mouths of serrated teeth coming into focus before the overwhelming gibbering overcomes them. Embodied mouthers usually cover themselves entirely with clothes and other accessories that hide their slits and disguise their true nature. They usually have dusky skin, black wiry hair, and dark wide eyes.
History
Originally known as gibbering mouther's, the embodied mouther has developed great control over its body structure slowly forming itself over the years from the aberrant ooze-like creature it was into a more humanoid form. An embodied mouther would be able to tell you that at some point in its endless life that after one of many meals there was a turning point where something shifted inside of it and a collective sense of sentience made itself apparent and it was from that sentience that a curiosity was born. What am I? What have I been doing all this time? Is there more to this existence then the next meal? And it began to explore the world it inhabited altering its form over many years, learning from the beings it consumed and those that it watched from the shadows. Few scholars are aware or even care about the existence of such a species, however among those that do it is believed that the process of becoming this race requires an extraordinary amount of creatures to be consumed by the gibbering mouther as well as an environment to develop its intellect and what is left of its sanity. In addition to this, the safe studying of humanoid society is also required.
Society
As a people largely controlled by a hunger for the living, embodied mouthers usually avoid the spotlight, sticking underground or to the outskirts of large cities so they can feast on lost or abandoned humanoids whether out of necessity or sport. However, while uncommon a mouther may sate themselves with the corpses of beasts or other creatures. They don't form societies due to how uncommon it is for a gibbering mouther to consume such a large amount and transform into an embodied mouther. The amount they need to consume to maintain their state makes it largely impractical and the differences between them and their gibbering cousins are too significant.
Embodied Mouther Names
An embodied mouther will usually pick a name from one of the creatures that they have eaten over the years, consciously or unconsciously. It is up to you to decide what makes that person significant, maybe they regretted eating them, maybe they were from a rare race that tasted especially good, the choice is yours.
Embodied Mouther Traits
Gibbering Mouthers taken humanoid form, a race that battles with monstrous and aberrant origins.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. An embodied mouther lives for as long as they can hold their sanity together through the consumption of living creatures otherwise they revert back to gibbering mouther's.
Alignment. Due to the monstrous nature of embodied mouthers they are almost always chaotic and their need to feed leans them towards neutral.
Size. A embodied mouther's height is anything 4 to 6 feet, and weigh a bit more than humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Aberrant Origin. You have two creature types: humanoid and aberration. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.
Darkvision. 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.
Mouthers Bite. You have a multitude of mouths all over your body that allows you to bite nearby creatures. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 piercing damage.
Encompassing Sight. When you make a Wisdom (Perception) check as part of a Search action, you can open the various eyes that cover your body. When you do this you are considered proficient in the Perception skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, if you are already proficient instead of your normal proficiency bonus. Be warned, as eyes appearing all over the body of a humanoid creature isn't something that is typical of them, creatures that see you do this may become aware of your aberrant origins.
Gibbering. As an action, you can awaken the suppressed mouths in your body until the start of your next turn causing them to murmur and chatter, each with a different voice: deep or shrill, wailing or ululating, crying out in agony or ecstasy. This cacophonous gibbering overcomes the senses of any creature that hears it within 20 feet of you. Creatures within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature can't take reactions until the start of its next turn and rolls a d4 to determine what it does on its turn. On a 1 to 2, the creature uses all its turn to run as far as it can from you. On a 3 or 4, the creature takes no action or bonus action and its speed becomes 0. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. You regain use of this trait once you complete a long rest.
Mouther's Nature. You can only eat meat and require the same amount of food a normal Medium-sized creature needs each day. While this food sates you for the day it simply isn't enough, a hunger from your monstrous origins demands more. If you do not sate this hunger using your Devour trait you must make a Intelligence saving throw at the beginning of your next long rest to maintain your form and calm the mouths throughout your body that demand to be fed. On a failed save, you indiscriminately attack or hunt for the nearest living creature and upon their death Devour them. The DC for this saving throw is 10 and increases by 2 for long rest you do not sate it. This hunger can only be sated by consuming a living creature. While sated you don't need to eat or drink as a normal Medium-sized creature would each day. You can go a number of days equal to 1 + your Constitution modifier without sating this hunger.
Devour. As an action, you can consume a creature at 0 hit points within 5 feet of you, sating your hunger. You can only safely devour creatures that are Medium or smaller in this way. Medium sized creatures sate you for a week, Small sized creatures for three days and Tiny sized creatures sate you for a day. You gain no benefit from devouring undead or constructs. If you devour a Large-sized creature, you have overeaten, causing your physical form to visibly melt, your body and maws becoming lethargic and sluggish. During this time, your walking speed becomes 10 feet and you are affected by the poisoned condition until you have digested your meal. Digesting this meal takes 24 hours to do so and satisfies you for a month. You cannot eat a creature that has a size of Huge or larger without breaking it into smaller parts. Alternatively, when you reduce a living creature within 5 feet of you to 0 hit points, you can, as a reaction, devour them completely gaining temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier. While this provides you with a wealth of nourishment instantly, it causes your hunger to return faster by only sating you for half as a long, rounded down. You regain use of this trait once you complete a long rest.
Languages. You speak, read, write and understand Common and Undercommon. While you are capable of speech and writing you don't do so with the accuracy of most other humanoids, you sometimes use words incorrectly or write nonsense if you aren't concentrating, the mental capacity it takes you to suppress your gibbering and your monstrous origins are the cause of this.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 0'' | +2d4 | 120 lb. | × (2d6) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Suggested Characteristics
When creating an embodied mouther character, you can use the following table of personality traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help. Use this table in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I avoid showing any emotion due to how hard I find it to keep myself contained. |
| 2 | I'm a hopeless gourmet, always searching for that "special someone." |
| 3 | I'm always polite and respectful even in the most stressful situations. |
| 4 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 5 | When I set my mind to something, I become fixated on it. |
| 6 | I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide. |
| 7 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 8 | I despise weakness in any form. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Evolution. I seek improvement and wish to become greater then I am. (Good) |
| 2 | People. I became what I am to get closer to the people I hold within me. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Predation. As before and as now all are prey before my maws. (Evil) |
| 4 | Morality. The rules I hold myself to are what makes me different from the monster I was born into. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Freedom. I am free to consume whoever I choose. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Aspiration. I maybe different and have unconventional needs but I won't let that stop me. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Those I consume are the closest to my heart. |
| 2 | I've been a victum too many times before, and I will defend a victum from any bully I encounter. |
| 3 | My friends are my most treasured possessions, and they fill me with the warmth of the sun. |
| 4 | The cave and tunnels I spent many a year growing in will always be my home. |
| 5 | I ate the person I came to love. |
| 6 | I seek a life worth living outside of the darkness I was born into. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The closer I am to people the more I feel the need to eat them. |
| 2 | When I am upset or uncomfortable my mouths begin to chew at what is around them. |
| 3 | When I am alone with others I feel the urge to eat them even when sated. |
| 4 | I chew on things to sate my hunger. |
| 5 | I have a habit of babbling incoherently. |
| 6 | I am a glutton and can't help but overeat. |
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