Verdichco (5e Race)

Verdichco

“

Oh gods... Run, dammit, run! It's the spine eaters!

”

Physical Description

From Shin Godzilla by Toho Pictures

Verdichco have vaguely humanoid shapes and crania. However, they resemble monstrous forms, scaly with sharp teeth and jagged crests and a tail like a dinosaur or dragon. Their bodies are lithe and muscular, despite their face looking rather gaunt or boney. Their eyes are usually yellow and their entire body is covered in greyish green scaley skin.

History

The verdichco are believed to have come from squatters on the intergalactic ships which the illithids arrived by, for those who believe them to be alien life forms. Some say they were distant humans twisted by gaseous poisons and experiments which changed them into monstrous aberrations. Others say that they were former slaves desperate to avoid death by having their minds sucked out by the mindflayers. Through a twisted wish of insanity, or the whim of a dark god, they were transformed. Their minds became inedible to the illithids, but they lost their original shape and were mangled into horrid forms, devoid of their former selves. In a small revolt, they escaped their enslavement and fled the illithid city to the other stretches of the Underdark, where they terrorize those foolish enough to wander into their territory. Underdark spelunkers call them spine eaters due to their notoriously grisly eating habit of stripping the spines of prey while the victim is still barely alive, and sucking on it. Verdichco are also known for a disarming cry which makes many who hear it drop senseless to the ground or freeze out of fear. At a distance, this screech is a warning to those nearby to get away.

Society

Verdichco live in small groups called warrens where they stealthily patrol their territory. Their bodies allow them to crawl around cavern walls and get a drop on enemies easily. They are easily cunning where they may not be super intelligent. They occupy small caverns of the Underdark, as life in the dark has made them abhorrent to light. A queen usually leads a warren. Verdichco are hermaphrodites and therefore all members can mate with the queen. When fresh prey is caught, the kill is the queen's meal first. Baby verdichco resemble blind reptilian worms with forearms and mature amazingly quick. Save murdering the occasional passerby and preying on other inhabitants of the Underdark, verdichco do not have much of a life. Some who have wandered above ground are still at large, for fear that they should populate in the above ground.

Verdichco Names

Verdichco have names that do not differentiate on gender. They have alien-sounding names that are harshly pronounced in their own tongues.

Names: Thokk, Xaxron, Zerio, Gormie, Limera, Orwhight

Verdichco Traits

Horrific aberrations made of former humans
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Verdichco have lifespans of about 150 years.
Alignment. Due to their past of insanity, they are very chaotic, not knowing right or wrong.
Size. Verdichco are slightly taller than the average human. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Superior Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120 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.
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.
Horrifying Visage. You look like a monster out of a science fiction horror. You are proficient in the Intimidation skill.
Cave Crawler. Your body is well equipped to climb around the walls to get the scare on your next dinner. You have a climbing speed of 20 feet.
Unearthly Screech. As an action, you may let loose a cry of your insanity and infect those around you with paralyzing fear. All creatures within 60 feet of you that are not deafened and can hear you must succeed a Wisdom saving throw (DC= 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus) or become stunned until the end of their next turn. You must finish a long rest to use this trait again.
Insanity Borne. You are a creature that has become mindless, just procreating and hunting for the thrill and survival. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Languages. You can understand Common but you are illiterate. Your own speech is halting and filled with hisses (ex: "Sstt... haa'm...J-Jer'my...")

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 5''	+3d8	135 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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