Mani Degradus (5e Race)

Mani Degradus

“

What was once one shall be one again, even if it will take an eternity...

”

Physical Description

By Yanied

Mani degradus appear to be humanoids with tan skin and deformities all over their bodies in the form of hands. These will often appear like scars or tumor-like anomalies that appear as though hands are grasping all over their bodies. They have three yellow eyes and slit nostrils. Usually, despite the differences in the deformities of a mani, they have a pair of large hands growing out of their back, almost like wings. Most mani have strong, muscular builds, with little fat.

History

The mani degradus legend of their creation stems from a singular entity, both eldritch and divine, named Manus Infinitum. As one may assume from the name, it was a creature with many hands. Due to some calamity, Manus Infinitum was shattered and scattered, his many hands lost. They supposedly fell to many realms and formed the mani degradus, meaning "lost value hands." These newly born beings seek to rejoin and revive their creator. Thus, they seek out all the other lost hands. But if it truly is a being of infinite hands, then they will be searching forever, and remain split forever. But they do not care, even if their task is Sisyphean.

Society

The gatherings of mani degradus are many. They actively seek others of their own kind, being innately magnetic to each other. They believe their souls are all fragments of the original Manus, and thus they are all connected with a bond. This makes them mutualistic like ants almost, and their groups can grow very big. These groups are not hierarchical by any means, and they can also, therefore, be a bit messy. They move from place to place, always looking high and low for others of their kind. When one mani dies, it is believed their soul fragment is reborn in another elsewhere. There is thus always a set number of mani in the universe across planes, and this number could be infinite.

Due to their appearance, mani degradus are seen as freakish. This is partially due to the fact they do not like to wear clothes, thus showing off their strange bodies. To the mani degradus, clothes bind their hands. Many see them as aliens or even cultists of their original god, and so they are not welcomed in the friendliest manner. Over time, the mani have learned to cope a little to the worlds where they spawn, but they remain fiercely dedicated to their own cause.

Personality

Mani degradus are, to say the least, tenacious. They don't even care if the very purpose of their mission to rejoin is futile, or that they will wander forever in a fruitless endeavor. In this way, they are very much into amor fati, or love of fate. This is not to say they are super fatalistic, but they embrace hardship and whatever comes their way. This includes aiding people when they can, or when they cross paths. But things outside of their way usually remain outside their vision. They are very focused on the reunification of Manus Infinitum, and far be it for them to stray from this goal. Their efforts characterize them thusly as goal-oriented and hardworking.

Mani Degradus Names

They take names alluding to the theme of many or multiple, and then a surname of "Unum" always, thus signifying many come from one root.

Male: Zærkzish, Odaion, Cerberu, Kyrgyo, Kazar, Curor, Riusdrac

Female: Ai, Meuri, Kyuri, Clanesh, Olil, Fera, Molva, Jyssel, Pelle

Mani Degradus Traits

Beings from one of many hands
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Wisdom increases by 1.
Age. Typically the mani can live to about 130 years of age, maturing at 15 and growing elderly at around 100.
Alignment. Valuing their freedom, mani can be a bit chaotic. But their adherence to their goals is also lawful.
Size. They tend to be a bit on the taller spectrum of height compared to humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Puncher. Your punches are stronger than the typical kind. Your unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier if you hit with it.
Punch Grab. If you hit with your puncher attack, you deal damage as normal, and the target is grappled (escape DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier).
Strong Hands. Your hands and your dorsal hands are nifty for grabbing other things. You have advantage in checks to grapple or shove other creatures.
Power Wrestler. You are proficient in the Athletics skill. Whenever you make an Strength (Athletics) check to grapple or shove something, you may add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 7''	+2d10	160 lb.	× (1d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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