Half-Tengu (5e Race)

Half-Tengu

Physical Description

[Art by ゾウノセ]

Tengus come in a variety of shapes, and thus there are different types of half-tengus. Thus, half-tengu's tend to have their Tengu parent's animal-like traits, but a more human-like body. Such as a crow tengu's half-born would be a humanoid with black crow wings. Lacking the infamous long noses and red skin, they generally wear red masks with the long noses or beak of their respective parent but can choose not to blend into societies easier. They also tend to have a little red cap called a token with a pom-pom sash, as part of their culture. Other than that, their hair and eye color tend to be a variety of colors, ranging from red, blue, white, brown, blacks and etc. Other than that, they look mostly human-like.

History

Tengu are said to be mischievous and sometimes malicious, with a propensity for playing pranks on humans, but stories also exist of them acting as mentors. Although they disdain the proud and arrogant, they are often guilty of those same flaws. They are also associated with the arts of war and politics. As such, it's not all that unusual for a Half-Tengu to be born one day. The Tengus themselves have made themselves an integral part of societies. With the more smarter among them becoming daitengus, and the ignorant ones become kotengus. Earning the tengus the name of the Japanese Goblin. Eventually, the half-tengus are born out of all of this, and they too continue this trend of mischievousness and pranks or follow their parent's footsteps.

Society

These half-breeds normally work under their Tengu parents, and they live relatively normal lives with them in mountains. The daitengus tend to work together doing their own specialized tasks suitable for their type. With Crow Tengus being the most mobile, they mostly handle tasks dealing with information such as lookout and the like. The Long-nose Tengu specialize in business work and are rarely seen with outsiders. Wolf Tengu are guardians and protect the mountain. The Half-Tengu help their parents in their work. Although there are some that leave the mountain and goes off to see the world. These Half-Tengus and Tengu goes out and eventually form their own colonies.

Meanwhile, the more dumb kotengus tend to act more like goblins, doing black-hearted, selfish things. These types tengu are the troublesome opponents of Buddhism, who mislead the pious with false images of the Buddha, carry off monks and drop them in remote places, possess women in an attempt to seduce holy men, rob temples, and endow those who worship them with unholy power. They often disguise themselves as priests or nuns to accomplish this. Among these kotengus, they are very troublesome and then half-tengus born under them lead a similar fate as their parents as well.

Half-Tengu Names

Half-Tengu's names tend to be of Japanese origin, but depending on where they are born, they can sometimes inherit names of the cultures they're born into.

Male: Hayate, Jun, Oumu, Kae, Shou

Female: Aya, Hatate, Momiji, Mayumi

Half-Tengu Traits

Half human and half demon/spirit/diety
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2
Age. Half-Tengus mature at the same rate humans do and reach adulthood at the age of 20. They live much longer than humans, however, often exceeding 180 years.
Alignment. Half-Tengus follow the alignment of their parents but the rebellious among them can swap to the other side of the spectrum.
Size. Half-Tengus vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Tengu Magic. Tengus had all sorts of magical powers and you've inherited some of them. You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast disguise self once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Tengu War Training. Tengus are creature that are also naturally associated with war, and thus from your parent, you learn one weapon proficiency of your choice.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice.
Subrace. Choose from one among Crow, Wolf, and Long-Nose that was your Tengu parent

Crow

You have the wings of a crow, but other than that, you are near identical to a human. Perhaps people mistook you for a fallen angel.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Crow Wings. You have a pair of crow wings you've inherited from your crow tengu parent and thus you have a flying speed of 30ft. If you are wearing armor you are not proficient in or any medium or heavy armor, you may not fly. You may not fly in normal backpacks or armor. The cost to alter your gear to be suitable for flight is equal to half the cost of the gear.

Long-Nose

Though you are half long-nosed Tengu, you look completely identical to a human. It's near impossible to tell that you're half-tengu.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Skill Versatility. As the most human-like half-tengu, you can adapt to human society more and thus gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
Extra Langauge. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.

Wolf

Being half Wolf Tengu, you only have wolf ears and their tail. Other than that, you look almost identical to a human.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Keen Hearing and Smell. You have the senses of a wolf you inherited from your wolf-tengu parent, and thus you are proficient in the Perception skill.
Claws. Your hands can become a set of sharp claws at a moments notice. You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit.
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.

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