Kroot (5e Race)

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Kroot

Kroot are a savage race of avian ancestry who evolve quickly by eating their enemies.

Physical Description

A mighty Kroot warrior. Source

While the kroot are humanoid beings, they have many traits relating them to birds. These traits include a beak, quills, and a hollow bone structure. While they have many of these traits in common, they can look very different, as a kroot gains genetic traits relating to what it consumes. For example, a kroot who feeds extensively on orcs will gain powerful strength, while a kroot who feeds on elves will become quick and nimble. This power can work against them if they consume carelessly, locking them into evolutionary dead ends. An example of this is the kroot hounds, who consumed too many quadrupedal animals and found themselves locked into a canine form. Many kroot have learned of this mistake, and thus try to control their feeding so as to not be forced into an undesirable form.

History

The kroot originated as a race of savage beings. They quickly consumed the predators around them, assimilating the local wildlife and replacing them with kroot-related organisms. They developed a primitive intelligence quickly. When they discovered other humanoid races, such as humans and orcs, they had mixed beliefs. Some believed that they should launch attacks against these races. Others realized that those races had weapons and armor that they did not, and learned to work aside these races in exchange for these items.

Many kroot now fight alongside more civilized races as mercenaries. Those that don't wander the land as bands of hunter-gatherers. Still others build up rudimentary settlements around specific locations. While the kroot can appear unreliable and savage, they are known to be trustworthy and powerful allies when befriended or worked with.

Society

Kroot split into groups known as kindreds, led by powerful kroot known as shapers. A shaper instinctively knows the difference between desirable and detrimental evolutionary traits and how to gain them, and as such directs their kindreds' eating habits. Often, kindreds are accompanied by other kroot sub-species, such as kroot hounds, the lumbering krootox, and the knarloc riding beast. As different Kindreds feast on different types of foes, they tend to become drastically different. One kindred might consist of wolfish warriors who unleash howls as they stalk their prey. The warriors of another may manifest horrid mutations as they feed on the demons of the Abyss.

Kroot believe that when a warrior of any species dies, his warrior species should be kept, and that the only way this is accomplished is by the eating of his flesh. As such, cannibalism is accepted within their culture. Their digestive system is incredible, meaning that they can eat almost anything. Whatever they eat that isn't inedible is instead regurgitated with extreme discomfort.

While kroot are willing to work with other races, they tend to have mercenary mindsets. Kroot working with other races without need of payment are not unheard of, as are kroot that refuse to work with any other being. Mostly, however, kroot have a pack mindset and will work with other teams of humanoids, especially if their kindred has been destroyed.

Kroot Names

Kroot names ignore the typical gender division, as all kroot are equal save for the shaper. A kroot usually has two names: A name given to them by the shaper, which is how they are called, and a kindred name, which functions like a family name. Kroot names are often harsh-sounding and have been confused with the names of fiends on particular occasions.

Given Names: Anghkor, Arakah, Dalykar, Gakhan, Gorok, Jiynko, Khibala, Luku, Mataba, Omutu, Orek.

Kindred Names: Chagrill, Grekh, Kro, Prok, Trosk, Yursa.

Kroot Traits

Vicious monsters that evolve quickly from what they eat.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, your Dexterity score increases by 1, and another ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Kroot mature rapidly, the most growth occurring in the first 10 years of one's life. By age 12 they are considered adults. It is not unknown for a kroot to live to be over a hundred years old.
Alignment. Kroot tend towards lawful alignments, being a pack hunter species. While good or evil Kroot are not unheard of, most Kroot have a mercenary mindset and thus end up being neutral.
Size. Kroot tend to be tall and lean, standing at seven feet tall on average. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 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.
Keen Senses. You gain proficiency in the Perception skill.
Ferocious Maw. Your bite is an unarmed weapon which you can use to make an unarmed strike. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Eater of the Dead. During a short or long rest, you can choose to devour the corpse of up to one humanoid, beast, or dragon nearby. If the corpse is larger than Medium, you instead devour a portion of it. This will satiate you for the day. Additionally, you may consult the Evolutionary Traits table, and choose from one of the applicable benefits. If the eaten creature qualifies for more than one of the traits on the table, you may choose which benefit to apply. If it qualifies for none of the traits on the table, on the other hand, you gain no benefits from eating the corpse. This benefit lasts until you use this trait again. Once you use this trait, you need to finish a long rest before you can use this trait again.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common. In addition, you can speak Kroot. Kroot is a harsh language consisting of clicks and whistles. It has no written form.

Evolutionary Traits

For the traits below, Creature refers to the creature you have eaten. This table is used by the Eater of the Dead feature above.

Trait requirement	Trait Gained
Creature has a Strength score greater than your Strength score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Strength score.
Creature has a Dexterity score greater than your Dexterity score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Dexterity score.
Creature has a speed of 40 feet or higher	Your walking speed increases by 5 feet.
Creature has a Constitution score greater than your Constitution score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Constitution score.
Creature has an ability to regenerate hit points	You regain 1 hit point at the end of every hour as long as you have more than 0 hit points.
Creature has a Intelligence score greater than your Intelligence score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Intelligence score.
Creature has the ability to cast any spell	You learn one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Creature has a Wisdom score greater than your Wisdom score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Wisdom score.
Creature has a blindsight or tremorsense	You gain 10 feet of blindsight or 10 feet of tremorsense, depending on what sense the creature had respectively.
Creature has a Charisma score greater than your Charisma score	You gain a +1 bonus to your Charisma score.
Creature is immune to the frightened condition	You gain advantage on saving throws against being frightened

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 5''	+2d10	180 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a kroot character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use theses table in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

d8	Personality Trait
1	Inattentive. Your mind often dowses, and you don't pay too much attention to anything unless it is important.
2	Illiterate. While you can make out some words, you largely were not taught to read.
3	Coward. The only way to live is to protect yourself first.
4	Hyper. You are always active and doing things.
5	Resolute. Once you believe something, you stick with it.
6	Hardy. You are used to harsh conditions and can made do with little.
7	Easygoing. You try and get along with others and take things in stride.
8	Generous. You know that life is tough and want to help other people when given the chance.

d6	Ideal
1	Truth. You act honestly and expect others to act the same.
2	Respect. You believe that others deserve to be treated with respect.
3	Chaos. Without a little chaos, the world is just not as fun.
4	Dominance. You like to control situations.
5	Death. Death is just the next step after life.
6	Your chioce.

d6	Bond
1	Family. Your have an unbreakable bond with your family.
2	Power. The only thing in life that you trust in life is strength.
3	Kindred. The tribal group you grew up with is like a 2nd family.
4	Comrades. You treat your party like family.
5	Nature. You love nature and its inhabitants.
6	Pet. You have a pet, or once had a pet whose is irreplaceable.

d6	Flaw
1	Glutton. You love to eat, perhaps a bit too much.
2	Brash. You are outspoken with your words.
3	Distrusting. You are suspicious of others for no real cause.
4	Self-centered. Your priorities come first when making most decisions.
5	Cheater. You are always looking at ways to come ahead at things.
6	Jaded. You are not interested in mundane things.

5.00

(8 votes)

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Credit: https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Kroot

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