Hylotl (5e Race)

Hylotl

“

Hylotl believe a table should be full before a meal begins. Perhaps here it would never start..

”

The Hylotl are a proud amphibian race. They pursue beauty, perfection, and culture and seek to spread these ideals to other races. They are herbivore and generally peaceful towards other living beings. They are capable of building underwater cities and it is presumed they are tied or right after humans in terms of technology. Some Hylotl have taken condescending attitudes towards other races' cultures. This has led to a general dislike of Hylotl culture and attitudes amongst other races. A long and violent conflict has been waged between the Hylotl and the Floran, which had been caused by the very different culture of the races. Their homeland has been invaded by Florans due to the war between the both races. Members of both races display grudges against each other. It is known the Hylotl prefer to resolve conflicts with diplomacy.

Physical Description

Hylotl by Astral-Requin

The Hylotl are an amphibious, cold-blooded species. Due to this, they tend to require external means to regulate their internal temperatures. Hylotl have fins on the side of their head and a third eye in the middle of their forehead. They have tiny, fish-like scales that covers their whole body, making it easy for them to swim. The Hylotl have a life cycle similar to that of a frog, starting out as eggs before metamorphosing into their toddler stage. The males will commonly show brighter, more vibrant colors, along with larger fins. Some may even have more of an affinity for being territorial.The females sometimes sport more blubberous bodies, having excess 'sacks' that could only be referred to as featureless breasts. Often times, the females are far from docile, and could be considered the most aggressive Hylotl.

History

Hylotl have a rich and carefully-maintained history, spanning a thousand years of time. For the vast majority of their history, their society has been dominated by a series of colonial expansions under the rule of an absolute monarch (High Shōgun, Emperor of the Hylotl kingdom) who commands colonial Shōguns that rule over colonized countries. There have been occasional pauses in the tradition, including four periods of feudalism. Only recently has the Hylotl society become a democratic and open nation with solid traditional roots in its imperial past. The High Shōgun maintains his position solely as a figurehead of the Hylotl government, with very little actual power - but he or she often delivers speeches and public declarations as the face of the new Chancellery.

Society

The newer generations of Hylotls are generally, according to social norms, peace-preaching and rebellious. Pro-peace protests are common, often consisting of members typically aged 14 - 20. These Hylotls are generally depicted as “rebellious teenagers” with this adolescent rebellious nature often considered a phase which might end when the Hylotl enters adulthood. The younger Hylotl like to mingle with other species (including Florans), often out of spite towards the older generations. Not all older Hylotls are war-like and traditional, though all of them harbor some form of prejudice against the other species, especially Florans. The more war-like Hylotls have an unofficial shogunate military, following a pseudo-Bushido code, valuing honor and pride above all else. They prefer to use swords over guns, but will resort to them if need be.

Hylotl Names

Hylotl tend to have nicknames related to fuedal japan that they use around outsiders. Among their own, they use a single name, and rarely use last names.

Male: Daiki, Katsuro, Tsubasa, Haruto, Kiyoshi, Takume, Shinori

Female: Etsuko, Hanae, Hytaru, Mizuki, Ayako, Saki, Metsune

Hylotl Traits

Fish-like creatures that lives mostly under water. Most of them have colorful tiny scales.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Age. Hylotl reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century, although some have lived for over 150 years.
Alignment. Hylotl tend to be lawful, even though some chose to follow their own path. They are rarely evil.
Size. Hylotl vary from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Because of your webbed hands and feet, your base swimming speed is 20.
Darkvision. You are accustomed to living underwater. 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.
Amphibious. You can take the Dash action as a bonus action while swimming and you are able to breathe air and water.
Things Come in Threes. You have a third eye in the middle of your forehead, which grant you profieciency in the Perception skill and advantage on Perception checks based on sight.
Hylotl Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the shortsword, trident and net.
Soaked. Because of their amphibious nature, Hylotl need to take a short rest being submerged in water at least once a week. Otherwise, their skin dries out and they gain a level of exhaustion at the beginning of their next long rest. This effect stacks for each subsequent week passed without being submerged for the duration of a short rest, these levels can't be removed until this is done. Once a dehydrated Hylotl completes their short rest submerged in water, the levels of exhaustion gained from this trait are removed.
Dulled Olfaction. Above water, the sense of smell of the Hylotl is greatly weakened. As so, rolls depending on the sense of smell are made with disadvantage.
Gift of the Depths. Adapted to the frigid ocean depths, you have resistance to cold damage.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Hylotl. You also can communicate with aquatic creatures.
Subrace. There are three subraces of Hylotl depending on their natural habitat: Saltwater, Freshwater and Deepwater.

Saltwater

Saltwater Hylotl weigh slightly less than the average human. Used to deal with strong tides, they have two sets of fins located on the elbows and ankles, along with a dorsal fin. They find pleasure in jumping the waves, sometimes organizing high jump contests.Their skin is smooth, and usually have bright aquatic colors.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Smooth Scales. The texture of your skin lets you swim faster. Your swimming speed increases to 40 feet. In addition, grapples made against you are made with disadvantage.
Swift. You gain proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

Freshwater

Freshwater Hylotl are more vigorous than the other Hylotl, usually swimming against the flow of the rivers just for fun. Their fins are smaller than the other Hylotl, when they have some. They have a rough, more scaly appearance and texture. Freshwater Hylotl scales are similar in color to the Saltwater Hylotl, but with shinier scales.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Rough Scales. Your hard, defined scales are hard to pierce, While you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 12 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.
Robust. You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Deepwater

Deepwater Hylotl live in the deep, pressurized oceans. Because of this, their scales are much more obscure, normally having dark skin with near bio-luminescent fins. With their creepy look, they are rarely seen out of the water and tend to avoid crowds.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Abyssal Scales. Your luminescent fins let you channel magic with ease. You know the light and minor illusion cantrips. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Fearsome. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 2''	+1d10	90 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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