Hippokin (5e Race)

Hippokin

In the hot day, hippos all lay around in the cool muddy water hole to cool off. But one seems to stand on its two legs and walk out whereas the others stand on all-fours.

Physical Description

Hippokin are a race of humanoids that resemble hippos (similar to how loxodon resemble elephants). Hippokin’s skin tends towards dark browns, blacks, purplish greys with hints of pink. Their eyes tend to be brown, grey, black, and or amber. Their physique can range from blubbery to slightly more toned. Most have bulging stomachs, regardless of sex. Females are known to have greater emphasis on their rear quarters and less so on their bosom. Males have thick arms but not quite enough of a torso to make them dorito shaped. Their heads are virtually indistinguishable from hippos and they look like regular hippos that can stand on their hind legs.

By UrsasArctos

History

The hippokin are very strong creatures, as detailed throughout interactions from races that have kept contact with them historically. Their strength is believed to have derived from a foolish human prince who desired strength more than anything. Upon his inheritance of the throne, he sought the services of alchemists and sorcerers to concoct him a potion which would give him supreme strength to dominate all who may want to depose him. He was granted his wish, but at the cost of his human shape. His muscles and body in general expanded until it was that of a hulking hippo. His advisers fled at the sight of him and his own guards drove him out of the castle. Destitute, he wandered to find refuge in the wilderness, where he eventually came to live among other hippos and bred with them, creating the modern line of hippokin.

Hippokin inherited their ancestor's drive for power. Early hippokin have traveled out of their usual habitats to go and seek giants, who are quite well known for size and strength in the rawest sense. The giants they found were luckily not entirely hostile towards them. They were underwhelmed by these large anthopomorphic animals that sought after them and ridiculed them for their appearance. However, thehippokin urged the giants to contest them in strength so they might prove themselves. The giants complied and they had a brief wrestling bout. While the hippokin lost, the giants were pleasantly surprised by the creatures' tenacity. They parted on amicable terms after the hippokin spent a few more days with the giants. The hippokin brought back some giant culture to their tribes, including their language.

Society

Hippokin tend to live in tribal villages. Their habitat is always near or around large bodies of freshwater in arid climates, such as large oasis, or wide and deep rivers and lakes in savannahs. They are quite friendly to other humanoid beast races and conduct trade with their tribal jewelry. They are fierce defenders of their homes and value the tribe as a big family. However, they continue to take fierce pride in their strength and size as defining characteristics and so engage in many contests to show off these feats. Usually, this means the large males get in a lot of fights.

Their villages are often composed of plant-based huts by cool mud where they may rest instead of in the water. The tribe alpha is the leader and always has the biggest hut, as well as claim to any female of his choice. Female hippokin sometimes choose to migrate to other tribes for this reason. Hippokin are known for being protectors, healers, and craftsmen. Shamans are particularly quite well respected in their social circles. While clothes are not mandatory, they are becoming a bit more of a sensation among hippokin, particularly those aspiring to travel outside their tribes.

Hippokin Names

Hippokin largely have the same names as humans but there are some more unique names.

Male: Rusty, Atlas, Moto-Moto

Female: Taweret, Ammit, TuTu, Gloria

Hippokin Traits

Hippo-like people
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and either your Dexterity or Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Hippokin reach maturity around the age of 25 and live to be between 150 to 250 years old.
Alignment. Hippokin tend toward the neutral alignment.
Size. Pygmy hippokin tend to be just a bit smaller than the common hippokin, who are about 6 to 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You also have a swim speed of 30 feet.
Thick Hide. Hippos have thick skin and fat. Your unarmored AC is equal to 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You may wear a shield and still gain this benefit.
Weapon Training. Hippokin brute strength does not mean they are not weapon trained as well. You are proficient in the trident, net, great club, and war hammer.
Iron Lungs. Hippos are very good mammals at swimming, which requires good air capacity. You can hold your breath for up to 10 minutes at a time.
Aquatic Stealth. The water does well to hide you. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks when in water.
Bite. Your great big mouth is a crushing weapon, used to make your unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
Hold. When biting down, you can hold a creature captive as well. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your Bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, and the target is grappled. The target may attempt to escape the grapple on its turn, as normal. You can't use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.
Languages. You speak, read and write Common and Giant.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 11''	+1d12	200 lb.	× (40) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races