Lamia (5e Race)

Design Note: This race is based off of the 5th Edition D&D Lamia, which has a humanoid torso with the lower half of a lion. If you are looking for a PC race with the lower half of a snake, you may be interested in the Yuan-Naga, the Haraka, or the Marilith

Lamia

Physical Description

A lamia.Source

Lamias are monstrosities that are very similar to centaurs with the upper half of a beautiful humanoid but have the lower half of a powerful lion. Lamias were thought to have other forms, such as the lower half of a snake or goat, but such lamias, if they even existed at all, have never been seen.

History

Lamias are the servants of the demon lord Graz'zt, who turns his mortal servants into them in return for an oath of fealty, granting them immortality and magical power. The demon lord is always accompanied by at least 3 lamias at all times, and will sometimes task lamias with guarding locations important to him. However, lamias are free to spread his evil as they see fit.

Although Graz'zt turns his followers into lamias, it is said that the primeval demon lord Pale Night, the Mother of Demons, is the one who created them. Strangely enough, despite this, lamias do not worship her but instead worship a variety of gods, including some human gods.

Society

Like mariliths, lamias love being surrounded with wealth and slaves. They will make their homes in ruins and mask the decay with their illusionary magic. Slaves usually consist of jackleweres or humans the jackleweres have captures from caravans. A lamia's most prized slaves are pure-hearted adventurers whom they've corrupted, as they especially savor the destruction of a righteous individual's morals. Because lamias value beauty and strength beyond all else, any slave that fails to meet a lamia's standards is either consumed as part of a horrific feast or left to die in the wastes.

When faced with a threat, a lamia will always fight from behind its slaves, beguiling foes with magic if they can. If a lamia is forced to engage in melee combat, it will tear and shred its opponents with their claws before trying to escape.

Lamia Names

Lamia usually have Abyssal names. Most lamias are female, with males being rather few and far between. Notable lamia names include:

Male: Koreeis, Artharis, Zetaphus, Yalassos, Protesclus

Female: Feyodena, Montalaina, Chamille, Sowelleile, Iaisellia

Lamia Traits

Half-human, half-leonine servants of Graz'zt who are as deadly as they are beautiful.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and Constitution scores each increase by 1 while Charisma score increases by 2.
Age. Lamias are immortal, a gift from Graz'zt to whom they swear an oath of fealty.
Alignment. Lamias are often destructive and sinister creatures, devoted to chaos. They tend towards chaotic evil.
Size. Lamias average over 6 feet tall, and are over 8 feet long. 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.
Hybrid Nature. Your creature type is both humanoid and monstrosity.
Tauroid Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push or drag. In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your paws, so each foot of movement costs you 3 extra feet instead of the normal 1.
Leonine Claws. Your leonine claws are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Feline Footing. Your tauroid build is well suited for moving over uneven surfaces. You are immune to difficult terrain over land.
Agile Leaper. You can move twice as far when jumping and you have resistance to bludgeoning damage taken from falling.
Naturally Influential. You are proficient in the Deception and Persuasion skills.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.

Large Size Player Variant

Design Note: This is a Lamia variant that uses a Large player size instead, to make them more in line with their Monster Manual incarnation, and have them take up as much space as they should. If you choose to use this variant, you may want to look at the large races guideline. This variant replaces the Size, and Tauroid Build traits.

Size. Your size is Large.
Tauroid Build. Even though your size is Large, your upper, humanoid torso is still of similar scale to that of other humanoid races. You use equipment, grapple opponents, and wield weapons as if you were a Medium-sized creature. Any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your paws. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 3 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Design Note: Overall, this will increase the number of squares the Lamia can threaten, and prevent a Lamia from being grappled by small foes. On the other hand, the Lamia will become an easier target, especially in tight corners.

Disguise Mastery

Prerequisite: Lamia

You learn the disguise self spell and can cast it at will, without expending a spell slot take on any humanoid form. You also learn mirror image and major image, each of which you can cast once without expending a spell slot. You regain the ability to cast those two spells in this way when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for all three spells.

Intoxicating Touch

Prerequisite: Lamia

• Increase your Charisma score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• When you make a successful melee attack against a creature you can force them to make a Wisdom saving throw or be cursed. A cursed creature has disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws and ability checks for 1 minute. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. You regain the ability to attack this way when you complete a long rest.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+2d6	650 lb.	× (2d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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