Kabaneri (5e Race)

Kabaneri

Physical Description

Kabaneri are essentially humanoids that have the virus of an undead within. This virus normally spreads to the brain and turns them into no more than zombies with nigh impenetrable defenses. However, kabaneri are those who resisted the effects, either through application of a tourniquet or experimentation. They retain a more human appearance, as opposed to the haggard, sunken faces of the turned zombies, called kabane. Kabaneri have a heart which pumps super heated fluids around the body, resulting in bright red cracks when they are overtaxed for energy. The heart glows in their chest like a furnace, and is encased within the ribs in a hard metal casket of sorts.

History

An unnamed disease once infected humans and turned them into zombie creatures known as kabane. The kabaneri were those unfortunate enough to be infected as well, but lucky to survive with their minds intact. This was done by those in the field often by blocking their carotid arteries so the virus could not travel through the bloodstream to their brain. Others were created in laboratories where they were injected with special serums from the virus byproduct, intended to be used as weapons of war for political gain. The result was a powerful undead body that retained its human mental faculties. Like kabane, they were immune to many forms of attacks due to the furnace hearts effect on their skin. It is said there is a way to turn kabaneri back human, though most believe it impossible.

Kabaneri have been feared, despite many of their efforts to hunt kabane for the public good. That is because they require blood to keep their sanity, lest the disease rot away what is left of their humanity. They are thereby sometimes seen to be vampires, and there are hunters for kabaneri as well as kabane. Kabaneri, therefore, have always searched for a haven from the prejudice of those they protect.

Society

Kabaneri live in sparse units due to their scarcity and the danger of grouping. They have a great hatred towards kabane and will hunt them, along with other undead they see as evil, in these small groups. There are known labs supposedly housing many kabaneri within cities, though it is not a real society. Kabaneri are usually on the move from being hunted, as well as pursuing the hordes of their prey. They are skilled fighters, due to their partial transformation, being able to tank many attacks and move with fluid grace in battle. There is a time, however, when kabaneri must hunt humans for blood to keep themselves sane. Kabaneri have often times thus attempted to draw only sparse amounts of blood from multiple humans with apparatuses, as they can infect as a kabane can. Whatever their good intentions, many people still find them a problem equivalent, if not as urgent, as the kabane.

Kabaneri Names

Kabaneri usually keep their names from before their transformation into kabaneri. Some change it, but most keep it in hopes of one day returning to normal lives as humans.

Male: Ikoma, Uryuu, Kageyuki

Female: Mumei, Hozumi, Horobi

Kabaneri Traits

Undead humanoids with a burning heart and need for blood
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence increases by 1, and either your Constitution or Dexterity increases by 2.
Age. You mature at the age of 20, and can live to 10,000 years thanks to the preservative qualities of the virus.
Alignment. Kabaneri tend to become more chaotic than anything, but they can become any alignment due to their human nature.
Size. Kabaneri's size is comparable to a human. for the most part. 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.
Iron Skin. Kabaneri bodies are tough and resistant to most forms of damage. While unarmored, your Armor Class is equal to 13 + your Dexterity modifier modifier. You may use a shield and still gain this benefit.
Heart Cage. Kabane and kabaneri alike are notoriously hard to fell due to their tough bodies, which can only be killed by piercing the hard cage through to their hearts or decapitation. 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.
Turned Undead. Your creature type is both humanoid and undead. You do not need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep. You are vulnerable to radiant damage, but resistant to necrotic damage.
Sane By Blood. You do not need to eat or drink to sustain yourself, but you are required to consume the blood of at least one creature once a week and can remain sane for a number of additional days equal to your Constitution modifier. If you go for longer than seven days without drinking at least one ration of blood, you suffer the effects of long term madness starting on the midnight of that day, which you can recover from only by drinking a ration of blood. After consuming one ration of blood, you are considered cured of your madness. As an action, you may feed on the blood of a willing, or unconscious creature within 5 feet of you. Feeding this way is equal to consuming a ration of blood..

A ration of blood is a vial, roughly 4 ounces and while that is just enough to sustain you each week, you still feel the urge to drink and may still appear twitchy or ravenous in the heat of battle or when treating a wounded ally. A pint, such as that contained within a flask is considered a healthy amount to keep you going.
Languages. You can read, write, and speak in Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 9''	+3d12	135 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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