Troglodyte (5e Race)

Troglodytes

"'There are few dumber than a troglodyte, those toads couldn't tell the difference between a rock or a potato,' grumbled Munin, the dwarf shouldering his axe and turning around, only to find an arrow directed at his face. Her skin turning from the color of the surrounding stone to a pale pink, One-Who-Stalks grinned with jagged teeth at the dwarf's surprise. 'And few are as foolish as a conceited dwarf.'"

Troglodytes are notorious for being simple minded folk, but nevertheless have the full capacities of a humanoid. Particularly intelligent troglodytes often make their way to the top of their tribe through their cunning as opposed to their strength, but more often than not see the threat in their kinsmen and flee to another civilization or find meaning in isolation.

Physical Description

Source

Troglodytes are humanoids with a heavy resemblance to salamanders covered in tough, leathery scales. Their skin varies from a light purplish-grey to a fair white-pink, with variations on the blue or red tone in their skin. Their face and neck are framed by soft frills of crimson or pink and they have a frill of similar color starting at their forehead and traveling down their neck. They stand roughly the height of humans, though their width can often make one seem a towering behemoth. Their imposing nature is best associated with their menacing appearance, which makes them ideal thugs and bruisers. Though troglodytes are best known for their rancid stench, those intelligent enough to understand the concept of 'decency' will often bathe regularly to separate themselves from their more tribal relatives. This doesn't stop anyone from making a face in anticipation of the potential stench, and often one still lingers.

History

In ancient times, a primordial lizardfolk race known as the sarrukh formed the grant kingdom Mhairshaulk in what is now the Chultan Peninsula. These mysterious figures were masters of biology, having shaped many species including modern lizardfolk, nagas, pterafolk, and yuan-ti. When the saurian creator race discovered the Underdark, they bred a lifeform to plumb its depths. These early troglodytes served their masters loyally as scouts and guards, and served valiantly in Mhairshaulk's wars against the aboleth and illithids.

When Mhairshaulk fell and the sarrukh vanished, however, the troglodyte population retreated to their most comfortable home in the Underdark. It was here that they were rediscovered by the yuan-ti and illithids, who proceeded to breed them into laborers, punishing intelligence and rewarding fitness, but their overpowering odor forced their release.

These new, modern troglodytes one again returned to the otherwise uninhabited sections of the Underdark, where they have remained ever since. Modern records of troglodyte history are incredibly rare, with their tribes not being keen on record keeping, as well as hiding from anything they can't kill and killing anything they can't hide from. As a result, much of their ancient history has also been lost to the sands of time, only remaining in the minds of the eternal.

Society

Troglodyte society is coalesced into a number of tribes with no greater plans than to kill and eat. Each tribe wages two wars: one with every living thing outside of the tribe, and one within the tribe as hunters vie for dominance. Weak troglodytes are either outcast or killed and eaten, with any traits beyond physical might, such as strategy or creativity, being of no consideration to most. This widespread lack of thoughtfulness extends to the point that they are unable to conserve food, which results in a single tribe going on multiple raids in a single week; terrorizing all nearby settlements or towns constantly.

Material possessions are of little value to a troglodyte unless it can be eaten. Due to this, clothes are forgone and tools serve no more refined purpose than to bludgeon or cut. There is only a single exception to this rule in metal armaments, which their tribes are unable to create but massively increase their hunting capabilities. Tensions for tribe leader are never higher than when metal arms or armor are found in a hunt, with some tribes being completely destroyed by the discovery of a single longsword.

Many troglodytes know and worship only one deity, the abyssal demigod Laogzed. A god of gluttony and sloth, his visage is that of a massive, fat toad. He offers his worshipers nothing but desire and aspiration as they desire only to be as fat and content as he seems to be.

Troglodyte Names

Troglodytes don't have the imagination for arbitrary names, so they often simply give their children names that describe a striking aspect of the child. Such names are of a utilitarian nature and rarely have any bearing on the individual gender. Troglodytes from different clans will often combine their individual name with their clan's name, such as 'One-Who-Stalks of Those-Of-The-Stony-Bluffs'. On rare occasions, a troglodyte will take a name from a culture they find themself in, so it is not unheard of for a troglodyte to have a Common, Elvish, or Dwarvish name.

Personal Names: One-Who-Stalks, One-With-Pale-Frills, Him-With-Two-Fingers, One-Who-Frowns, She-With-Pale-Skin, One-Who-Seeks, One-Of-White-Frills

Clan Names: Those-Of-Stony-Bluffs, Those-Of-White-Caves, Them-With-Iron-Claws

Troglodyte Traits

Humanoid salamander like creatures with tough, leathery scales.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Troglodytes, due to their tribal lifestyle, have a short life span. They are considered adults at the age of 15, and usually, live to a maximum of 50 years.
Alignment. Troglodytes are naturally chaotic evil, making lawful or good troglodytes particularly rare.
Size. Approximately the height of a human being, 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.
Chameleon Skin. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide.
Stench. Any creature other than a troglodyte that starts its turn within 5 feet of you must succeed in a Constitution save or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. A creature that succeeds is immune to the odor of all troglodytes for 1 hour. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Tough Hide. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 11 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Sharp Claws. Your claws are natural 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.
Carnivorous Teeth. Your teeth are a natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You may only make one bite attack on each of your turns.
Languages. You speak Common and Troglodyte.

Random Height and Weight

Table: Troglodyte Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
4′ 9″	2d10	115 lb.	× (2d6) lb.

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