Coyouin (5e Race)

Coyouin

Lyrella, a thief and smuggler, ran through the streets, chased by just about every guard the small city could spare. Lyrella, with the bounty on her head, jinked and weaved through the main streets, dodging arrows intent on stopping her shenanigans, and turning into a nearby alley; wanting out of the archers' sight. Much to her dismay, the alley led only to a dead-end. The guards slowed their pace as they realise they have cornered the greatly-wanted elf, as she draws her shortsword, not wanting to admit she has lost yet. As the captain pushes forward, a tall, muscular figure crashes down between the two. The grey-skinned humanoid, towering a head or even two over the guards, content that the captain of the guards has sufficiently stopped in his tracks, looks back at his companion, and Lyrella immediately recognises Ruschuin. The two exchange smiles, Lyrella's being much more nervous, as Ruschuin turns back to the swarm of guards before him. Two hours later, Ruschuin and Lyrella are talking and laughing at each other in the tavern, owned by their Thieves Guild. The guards, however, are groaning to each other in the infirmary, agreeing to never mess with either of the two again, and to let them go free, lest Ruschuin come for each and every one of them again.

Physical Description

By Nana Nakano

The coyouin can be categorized simply as anthropomorphic shark-people. Whatever sub-race they are, they are always humanoid in body shape, if a little better built thanks to being natural predators. Their faces protrude outwards slightly just below their nose would be, giving an appearance not dissimilar to a shark's snout. This, of course, means that their noses are unconventional, instead appearing as four horizontal slits in approximately the same area. Their noses simultaneously function as gills. Their teeth are ludicrously sharp, as well as being retractable, and are the cause for their distended snouts. Their ears can simply not be described as ordinary. Instead of 'normal' ears, their lower jaw extends backwards farther than where it joins with the rest of their skull, lined with wave-sensitive nerves. These still allow for standard hearing, but provide exceptional hearing underwater, granting the ability to pinpoint another organism while underwater with uncanny accuracy! Their eyes can vary greatly in color. Sometimes in a standard array of blues, browns and greens, but also sometimes in odd colors of violet, pink and yellow. Regardless of color, they always glimmer in an odd and borderline hypnotizing manner. They also possess full heads of hair, long, short styled, unkempt, any style or length imaginable with no hindrance to their ability to swim, with the possibility to be any color on the visible spectrum. Decorating their backs are dorsal fins much like a shark's. Their spines also extend into squaline tails, thick and almost as long as they are tall, ending in a pair of vertically aligned fins.

There is some variance in the sub-races of the coyouin. The megalodon sub-race are undeniably the largest sub-race, towering over their companions with their rough skin primarily being a dark, grayish blue their ventral side being white. Megalodon coyouin are rather rare, since they come around only when the surviving strain of their most ancient ancestors comes to light. Great whites are the shortest sub-race, but still larger than humans, but the most wide-spread. Their rough skin being lighter than that of megalodons, and leaner than them. Tiger coyouin are barely taller than great whites, but still cannot compare to megalodons. Their skin tends to feel a little rougher than others of their species, and is largely a glaring orange, but still possess white ventral sides. They also have black stripes across their bodies.

History

Coyouin generally don't keep tabs on the past, being too caught up with affairs of the present to trouble themselves with history. Most of them reason through the logical means of evolution; that, over time, some sharks began to inhabit the land, eventually leading to the coyouin of present. Regardless, there is no answer that is for-sure true. Others say coyouin were made by a benevolent god of the sea who wanted to see more good in the world, as he was saddened witnessing the evil of humans and landwalkers alike. So he made the coyouin of sharks and sent them on land to better the world.

Unbeatable Friends

A coyouin is a welcome addition to any group of friends, no matter what. They are supportive of every action their friends take, provided the action does not stray to the realms of evil, and bring with them a whole new perception of banter. They are also incredibly honest about their friends; telling them where it is they need to improve, and when to simply abandon something. Forever in the best intentions, of course.Their loyalty to their friends beats out that of anything else; remaining by their friends' side stoutly in the face of death and loss. And even beyond that sometimes! There are multiple recorded incidents of a coyouin denying the grasp of death for one last ditch effort to prevent their friends from suffering the same fate. When a coyouin goes out adventuring, they will often times learn techniques that best protect their friends from harm. Coyouin fighters generally specialise the protection fighting style, as do paladins, and even rangers. A coyouin paladin expresses loyalty both to their deity and their friends, but will always choose to side with their friends over their deity without hesitation, should the need for such a choice arise. Because of this, coyouin paladins never wholly commit to law and order.

Accidentally Romantic

Coyouin romance is rather peculiar. Each coyouin, when they mature at 9 years old, regurgitate a small, gently glowing stone no larger than a quarter of the palm of their hand. This stone, named a 'lover's stone', binds the coyouin's sexual attraction. When a coyouin feels that they are sure that the selected person is, in fact, right for them, they gift this stone to their lover. The lover may accept the stone, and thus accept the coyouin's apparent offer of wedlock. Should they do this, the stone glows much more brilliantly and beautifully. Oftentimes, the lover may choose to wear the stone as a piece of jewellery, since it's simply so beautiful. Alternitavely they may discard the stone, rejecting the coyouin's offer, in which case the stone loses its glow forever, and the coyouin from there-forth cannot feel attraction anymore. Naturally, coyouin are extremely careful regarding this gifting process, since they only have one stone to give. This is precieved as unbelievably romantic by other races, and when the public realises someone denied such a beautiful offer, they are shunned and scolded for the irreparable damage they caused to the coyouin's life.

Society

Coyouin society is based purely upon building each other up and good-hearted actions. While their physical appearance might tell that they are abrasive and unsociable, they are one of the most kind and friendly people imaginable. The very thought of intentionally committing a bad deed absolutely revolts them, sometimes to the point of physical retching. Because of this, they persistently seek opportunities to help and assist. They are often described as the very embodiment of good. Though, they still acknowledge that physical conflict can be inevitable sometimes, and are unafraid to march to war when the need arises, but still dread it when the time comes. And the day that a coyouin city goes to war, demons flee of absolute and irrevocable fear.

Coyouin encampments are usually stationed near water. Partways because of the obvious benefits of a wet-point site, and also because Coyouin adore swimming. Swimming is almost always a coyouin's favourite pass-time. Beyond that, there is little to no hierarchy in coyouin encampments; there are no superiors or inferiors.

Coyouin Names

Coyouin are often given graceful names in comparison to that of humans, but sometimes also give their children names of other races. To them, every name is gender-neutral; the concepts of attributing certain things to certain genders is simply dumbfounding to them.

Example Names: Syoui, Woul, Shir, Tirianui, Ruschuin

Coyouin Traits

Shark-like people who are friendly beyond belief.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. Coyouin generally reach maturity at the age of 9, and on average live to be 125 years of age.
Alignment. Coyouin are absolutely revolted by the concept of committing evil. For this reason, there are absolutely no evil coyouin in any form. And their belief that their friends must be upheld above all generally places them in lighter tones of chaos.
Size. Megalodon coyouin range from 9' to 10' in height, some even reaching 11', and weigh anywhere from 300 to 600lb, but are still counted as medium. Great whites usually grow to be around 6'6" and 240lb to 270lb. Tiger coyouin usually are just under 7', and weigh about 245lb through 275lb. Coyouin weigh large amounts due to their impressive mass of muscle, and their tails contribute as well. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a swimming speed of 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.
Natural Hunter. You are very good at sniffing out the wounded. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track any creature with blood who's hit points below their maximum.
Loyal. You cannot voluntarily harm a friend, and to make you do it would be difficult. You have advantage in saving throws against being charmed.
Amphibious. You can breathe both water and air. As a creature of water, however, you have disadvantage in saving throws against effects that deal lightning damage.
Languages. You can read, write and speak in Common.
Subrace. Choose from the megalodon, great white, and tiger subraces.

Megalodon

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Jaws. With greater size and strength comes the ability to channel your inner animal more so than others. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Immense Strength. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Tiger

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Limber. You are able to twist your body better with lithe muscle. You are proficient in the Acrobatics skill.
Immune System. Tiger coyouin are known to be immune to a variety of disease due to their special organs, skin and blood, which make contracting many illness impossible. You are immune to diseases.

Great White

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Rough Skin. Your thick skin is rough and tough. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Constitution modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Enduring. 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.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
7′ 2''	+2d8	300 lb.	× (1d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 2''	+2d6	240 lb.	× (1d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 10''	+2d6	245 lb.	× (1d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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