Autiscribus (5e Race)
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Autiscribus[edit]
With skin like paper, so delicate and so clean, the bestial humanoid figure walked among an empty desert, full of only remnants and broken dreams. His hair floated and swayed in the sandy winds, blowing like shreds of torn papyrus cloth. Ink dripped from cuts and writing on his body, wetting the sand beneath him as they treaded on. The sandy winds kept blowing harder and harder, whipping up a mighty gale. It was almost too much for the poor man to handle, as more cuts on his body started forming from the sharp particulates. However, he still pushed on, and finally, he saw it. The home of old relative, one might even say ancient, but they were family nonetheless.
Physical Description[edit]
Autiscribus are tall, somewhat bestial humanoids with a minor resemblance to their sphinxian ancestors. Their faces are feline in nature, with sharp fangs along side normal humanoid teeth. Their skin is incredibly thin and coarse, resembling paper or papyrus with skin tones commonly ranging from a burnt tan to pale silver. Despite this, they are living creatures with ink as essential fluids. They also may occasionally have other minor features from their ancestry, such as vestigial wing stubs.
History[edit]
When humans first colonized the former sphinx territories, they interchanged cultures, as humans often do. This resulted in the first of the species known currently as autiscribus. The name is derived from the common roots of "auto," meaning self, and "scrib," meaning to write. These crossbreeds were often seen as blessed by the gods, gifted the powers of the sphinxes. However, as time went on, fewer and fewer were being born, and the ones that were left just stayed for eons seeing those they loved and cared about die with nothing they could do to stop it.
Society[edit]
Due to being born from both sphinx and human blood, autiscribus often take after one or the other, similar to half-elves. Their mode of reproduction is rather difficult, as it requires a lot of writing and paper to construct one and imbue it with the blood of a human and the magical sphinx to give it true life. The process is known to be unpopular due to its difficulty, which attributes to the lowering population as a result. Their old cities are thus edging towards the status of ghost towns, with few inhabitants and little routes.
Autiscribus Names[edit]
Depending on who the individual takes after, an autiscribus may have either a human name, a sphynx name, or both. Human names are the most common, however. These names are often androgynous.
Names: Atan, Raa, Mun, Osir
Autiscribus Traits[edit]
Sphinxian race with a paper aesthetic.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Age. Autiscribus often last for eons, much longer than any normal Human.
Alignment. Due to their Sphynx ancestors, autiscribus tend to be lawful or at least the lawful side of neutrality.
Size. Autiscribus are often very tall, ranging from 6 to 7 feet, but are unusually thin for their sizes. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
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.
Mendable Skin. Due to your paper-like flesh, you can be mended together quite easily from tears, but those tears can still just as easily become a huge problem. When the mending spell is cast on you, you can expend a hit dice to regain hit points. Additionally, your body can be written on for the purpose of features such as spellbooks or spell scrolls, although you still require the gold cost if needed.
Flammable. As you are like paper, you can burn like one. When you take fire damage, you have disadvantage on all saving throws, ability checks, and attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Sphynx.
Subrace. When you choose this race, pick from one of the 3 following subraces: scrollskin, inkblood and papercut.
Scrollskin[edit]
Scrollskin autiscribus are known for having older paper-type exteriors, with yellowed edges. They are known for having extensive knowledge of various topics due to the many things often written on their bodies.
Ability Score Increase. Your intelligence score increases by 1.
Tongue of the Riddler. You have advantage on intelligence (Investigation) checks pertaining to hidden messages, riddles, and secret codes.
Scrollscar. You know 1 cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list, which appears on your body as a rune or similar arcane scripture. intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this cantrip.
Inkblood[edit]
Inkblood are typically not as thin as the other subraces. They appear blotchy sometimes due to the amount of ink saturating their bodies. Using their own ink, they can entrap other creatures due to how sticky it is.
Ability Score Increase. One other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Blood of the Scribe. You gain proficiency with calligrapher's tools.
Sticky Ink. When you successfully grapple a target, the grappled creature is considered restrained, as the inky writing that covers your body makes them stick to you.
Papercut[edit]
These autiscribus have unusually sleek edges that allow them to use their own body as a weapon.
Ability Score Increase. Your strength score increases by 1.
Roar of the Androsphinx. As an action, you can let out a powerful roar. Each hostile creature within 30 feet of you that can see you must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is frightened of you until the end of your next turn. If they are within 15 feet of you, they also take 2d4 thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. The DC of the save is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier. You cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.
Sharpened Paper. Your unarmed strikes deal slashing damage instead of bludgeoning damage.
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