Kroot (5e Creature)

Kroot Kindreds

• Kroot Carnivore: An average rank-and-file kroot warrior
• Kroot Shaper: The spiritual and physical leaders of the Kroot
• Kroot Hound: A savage and ferocious kroot offshoot not unlike a hunting hound
• Krootox: The brutish and sluggish herd beasts used as mounts

Whether they be roving mercenary bands, brutal raiders, or primitive hunters, kroot organize into kindreds. These groups are comparable to a pack of beasts or an extended family, possessing their own codes, traditions, scents, and skin pigmentations. A kindred can vary in size greatly, with some being small packs of a few dozen carnivores and others totaling over a hundred kroot and kroot sub-species. Bonds within these kindreds are close: to wrong one kroot is to earn the ire of the entire kindred.

The Shaper Commands. Each kindred is led by at least one shaper: the group's spiritual leader. Large kindreds may be overseen by a council of three to five shapers, but even then a master shaper - the wisest of them - will take a role of leadership. Shapers, as the name might suggest, shape the nature of their kindreds. As the kroot adapt by eating, shapers control this instinct and bring out its best by adding an organized path to it. For example, if a shaper wanted its kindred to develop agility and grace, they would feed on nearby elves. Through this evolution, the kroot race prospers as a whole.

Genetic Diversity. While the kroot within a kindred share similar features, they may look completely different from those in another. One kindred's kroot may be hulking brutes with grayish skin, while another's may possess leathery wings. Notably exempt from this mutation are the kroot hounds, krootox, and the other sub-species. Their forms were locked in long ago as they underwent irreversible changes. However, a kindred's pigmentation and scents extend to them, suggesting they occupy a place apart from typical adaptations.

Creating a Kroot Kindred

The most important element of a kindred is its common adaptation. As a baseline, you can use monster traits such as a orc's Aggressive or a goblin's Nimble Escape, or an ability score increase. Note that these changes may alter the challenge rating of an individual kroot. Two examples are provided below for easy reference.

The Iron Scale Kindred. A kindred of kroot who fed on scaled creatures like lizardfolk, the Iron Scale Kindred possess thickened, hardened skin capable of withstanding heavy punishment.

Iron Scale kroot do not wear hide armor. Rather, they use their natural armor and wield shields, possessing the following AC:

• Kroot: AC 17 (natural armor, shield)
• Shaper: AC 18 (natural armor, shield)

The challenge rating of carnivores is not altered, but the challenge rating of shapers is increased to 3 (700 XP).

The Dragon Eater Kindred. These kroot are skilled fighters, having slain at least one red dragon and eaten several related species: dragonborn, kobolds, and drakes. They are almost like dragons in their own right, bearing elemental resistances and a destructive, charring maw.

Kroot of the Dragon Eater kindred have resistance to fire damage. In addition, their bite attack deals an additional 3 (1d6) fire damage on a hit. Their challenge rating is not affected.

A shaper of the Dragon Eater kindred gains the same modifications as a regular kroot, but can also exhale a breath of burning fire. They gain the following action option:

Fire Breath (recharge 6). The shaper exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

A shaper of the Dragon Eater kindred has a challenge rating of 3 (700 XP).

Kroot Adventure Hooks

d10 Adventure Hook 1 A wizard has expressed interest in researching the adaptive capabilities of the kroot, and requests help in capturing choice specimens for research. 2 Nearby, in the mountains, is said to be a monastery with knowledge desired by many. However, its new kroot inhabitants aren't willing to leave the place without a fight, and their mystical diet has unlocked their inner power. 3 Local hunts are being disrupted by a new kindred of kroot, who believe the animals are much better off eaten by them. 4 A shaper seeks help eliminating a genetic abomination more monster than kroot. 5 The last member of a renowned adventuring team comes crawling back into town, begging for help fighting the kindred who tore their friends apart. 6 While the local infestation of kuo-toa is gone, it has been replaced with a kindred of kroot. And worse off, like the kuo-toa, they can make their dreams literally reality. 7 A kindred has turned to devouring demons, developing bizarre mutations and a distressing lust for blood. 8 The shaper of a kindred has marked a couatl for death, seeing its divine might and immortality as the perfect paths for genetic improvement.

See Also

Kroot (5e Race): The playable race of kroot.

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