Scorpikis (5e Race)

Scorpikis

Scorpikiz are barbaric, half-scorpion raiders and scavengers that prowl the less-traveled parts of the desert, aggressively defending their colonies from unwelcome intruders. The typical scorpikis has strong loyalties to clan and brood, and will defend both to the death if need be.

Physical Description

A male raider. By Caio Monteiro

Scorpikiz are monstrous-looking creatures with the torsos of rugged, dark-skinned humans, and the bodies of giant scorpions from the waist down, complete with claws and stinging tails. These lower bodies typically have colors ranging from pure black, to numerous different shades of desert brown. Scorpikiz tend to have differing lower body types based on individual physical prowess. For example, a tough scorpikis that excels on the frontline might have bigger and stronger claws, while having a more atrophied stinger. A more dexterous scorpikis might have a longer, thicker, and more powerful stinger, but with smaller and weaker front claws. And while spellcasters are slightly less common within the scorpikis subspecies, their front claws and stingers might both simply be of average size. Regardless of physical variations, all scorpikiz are capable of defending themselves with these natural weapons, should the need arise.

History

Scorpikiz hail from deep within the scorching southern deserts of the Shar, far from the more civilized settlements that exist there. They live as nomads when the winds of sands change, moving to find new burrows for their clan. In ancient history, they lived as equals among the people of the sidewinders and beetles. The scorpion is their great ancestor, and under that name, they fought against forces of the night that sought to turn their deserts cold. They remain a warlike people who trade and protect caravans who pay them handsomely for mercenary purposes. On the other end, they also attack merchants to steal goods the the desert, but they will not do so if another scorpikis is a hire of that merchant. Through their acquired land of arid territories, they also have come to be known as the oases barons, due to many of these watering holes being under their control.

Society

Scorpikiz usually gather in tribal colonies, similar to the barbaric societies of more common races, and lead by a tribal king and queen. Each colony can be placed under one of the three great tribes who descended directly from the great scorpion, and they are all brethren in arms, seeing their entire race as one brood of a family. They are a militaristic people who regularly circle around their territory like nomads. This way, they keep surveillance over resources in their oases regularly and an eye out for changes in the land. As primarily hunters, they subsist mainly on meat, but also can stomach the toxins of cacti flesh. While not avid traders, they do have interactions mainly through caravans of traveling merchants or other nomadic tribes, where they exchange goods. The carapace of a scorpikis is valuable to be made into armor, selling for a high price. The scorpikiz do not mind this, as they believe that in the face of scarcity like the desert, everything must be useful. Thus, they do not have a notion of desecration against the dead.

Scorpikis Names

While some scorpikis names bear vague similarities to human names, they typically include harsh consonants, belying their more barbaric nature.

Male: Tark, Garn, Krellin, Kerash

Female: Najka, Kivii, Toriel, Akali

Scorpikis Traits

Barbaric, half-scorpion raiders and scavengers that prowl the less-traveled parts of the desert, aggressively defending their colonies from unwelcome intruders.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Scorpikis live longer than humans, though not by much compared to other long-lived races. They claim adulthood at about the same age, but can live for up to almost 200 years at most.
Alignment. Scorpikis are almost never lawful. Most of them gravitate toward chaotic neutral, but rare exceptions do exist.
Size. Instead of humanoid legs, scorpikis have the bodies of giant scorpions from the waist down. Many scorpikis reach a total height of 7 to 8 feet, and nearly the same in width. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Low Light Vision. Your predatory senses provide superior vision in places with dim lighting. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light. You still cannot see objects, or creatures, that are in darkness.
Scorpikis Physiology. You are half-scorpion. You are immune to any poison damage as well as being poisoned. You have advantage on saving throws against being knocked prone, thanks to your 8 scorpion legs. Checks to grapple you roll with disadvantage due to your different and rather large size.
Natural Armor. When wearing light or no armor, your Armor Class is equal to 11 + your Dexterity modifier. You may use a shield and still gain this benefit.
Stinger. Your stinger is not so much a venomous one than a natural spear. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your stinger on a creature within 5 feet of you. On a hit, the creature takes piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier and is forced to make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes an additional 1d10 poison damage on a failed save, and half as much on a successful one. The extra poison damage increases to 2d10 at 6th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 16th level. After you have used your stinger, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
Monstrous Shape. Your creature type is monstrosity instead of humanoid. As such, you are immune to spells like crown of madness or dominate person because they specifically target humanoids. You are also a creature that most others cannot accommodate for due to your appearance and odd body type. You cannot wear armor unless it has been tailored specially to suit you. The cost for the alterations is equal to half the cost of the gear. You also cannot wear any magic items that would normally go on feet or legs.
Extra Claws. Your claws act as a pair of rudimentary hands. These claws cannot wield shields or weapons, but they can be used to grapple. They can carry items but cannot manipulate things that require finer, more dexterous limbs, like opening doors, playing chess, stringing a bow, and other fine detail work.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+2d12	300 lb.	× (4d20) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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