Sanguis (5e Race)

Sanguis

“

I was told I was beautiful, so all I ever wanted was to see my face. But when I opened my eyes, I saw the price I paid in exchange for curing my eyes...

”

Black Tears

By Fleshmaiden

Sanguis are usually humanoids, as they are former humans. However, most of their skin and hair is nearly totally bone white, with little tints of color to distinguish their skin tone. Their eyes have pale irises that nearly blend in with the sclera. Most notable and possible disturbing about them is the dark tracts from their eyes and lips, like something black and liquid dribbled down their face. Their hands and arms are also permanently stained black, up to the elbow. They have slightly sharper nails than normal humans.

The Curse Of A Cure

Despite the frightening nature of demons and the natural revulsion against them, one cannot deny that they hold the envy of many, with their ageless longevity, bottomless guile, and amazing constitution. One of the very special things one would desire from them is droth, or demon's blood. Made from the blood of manes and derghodemon chitin, droth was a rumored restorative elixir. It could reverse the effects of acid, and also had uses as internal medicine, being able to cure blindness and diseases when ingested or rubbed on the affected area. It is believed that because droth drove people to hunt manes, they would essentially be cutting down on the chances of creating new demon lords. So the Queen of Chaos laid a curse on the blood of the manes. Any non-demon who consumed it would suffer the effects.

Those who were blind or afflicted did not care to exercise caution with droth and so they paid the price, particularly desperate humans. While the blood restored them, it also permanently altered their body, changing them into horrific visages of black and white beings. Many go mad realizing what they have become. The blood stained on their eyes, lips and hands never wears off and becomes part of their skin. By the time they realize what has happened, they are usually horrified by what they have become, and others are terrified of them in turn.

A Demonic Presence

Due to the taint of the blood, sanguis resemble monsters from the Abyss itself. They are therefore shunned in most societies, and even tieflings avoid them, as the air of demon is even thicker about them. Sanguis who survive transformation are prone to become self-loathing hermits or reclusive misanthropes. They rarely come to know others like them due to their fear of the world which would want to kill them. Some have managed to go outward into the world, but many fall astray into dark cults and crime. While the droth craze has died down, sanguis sometimes have been found to have procreated with non-sanguis, giving birth to sanguis babies due to the taint in their blood.

Fearful, Yet Angry

Many sanguis feel like they were unfairly thrust into their misfortunes. It seems the droth has often altered their personalities to be more belligerent like a demon. They tend to have a nihilistic or sadistic streak, preferring to see others suffer to forget their own grief. As their life is now that of a pariah, they will try to have others experience their pain, and are not afraid to "go out with a bang." Such is the mentality of those who force others to bear their brood so the children will grow up as sanguis as well. That is not to say all sanguis are evil. Those who experience warmth and kindness often find that their old selves yet remain despite their transformation.

Sanguis Names

Upon being changed, sanguis gain an unnaturally decent grasp of Abyssal. Many change their names to form new identities from their former selves. Others keep their old monikers, seeing themselves as still essentially the same person, just maybe angrier. Abyssal names are non-gendered.

Abyssal: Tuqp, Ituiz, U'tharri, Zarrk

Male: Grim, Gorstag, Stör, Luis

Female: Hela, Alena, Gerhl, Helen

Sanguis Traits

Beings tainted by curative demon blood
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Sanguis who are born of ingesting droth remain the age at which they are. Those who are born come out usually as fully grown beings that tear themselves from the mother's womb. In general, they can live to be around 500 years, though many die early due to being hunted.
Alignment. They are not predisposed to be evil, but they are awfully chaotic due to their rampaging blood.
Size. Sanguis vary widely in height and build, from 6 feet to 10 ft. They weigh anywhere from 100 to 250 pounds. 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.
Demonic Visage. That pale skin with pale eyes and dark goop tract makes you look like a horrific mess. You are proficient in the Intimidation skill.
Blood Resistance. The blood in you combats most forms of things like illness and venom. You are immune to diseases, as well as being poisoned. You are also resistant against poison damage.
Blood Rend. The blood coating your hands is lethal to non-sanguis. Your unarmed strikes deal acid damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.
Tainted Mind. You are as restless as a demon. You do not need to sleep. Instead, you enter a dream-like state where you hear demonic whispers or see horrific images due to the blood now infecting you. After resting in this semi-conscious state for 4 hours, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 4''	+2d10	120 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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