Whalefolk (5e Race)

Whalefolk

“	Life is like the ocean, sometimes calm and peaceful, other times wild and unpredictable. Learn how to ride the waves and you'll learn to enjoy the journey.	”
—unknown whalefolk

Description

A humpback whalefolk swimming with some fish. Source: https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Sperm_whale_man

Whalefolk have different subraces with drastically different looks and personalities. While this is the case, subraces have shared characteristics and look across the whole race, with little to no deviation, unless separated from whalefolk society, from birth and even then, they still hold some of the subraces characteristics. There are four subraces known, the killer whale, the humpback whale, the blue whale, and the beluga whale. Killer whales are known for being extremely competitive, and highly intelligent. This sometimes makes them quite narcissistic and egotistical. Their attitudes are a result of being some of the smallest of the whalefolk, second only to the beluga whales. Beluga whales got around being the smallest of the whalefolk by being incredibly friendly and social, with them also being the most populous of the races with them being very well liked. Humpback whales are the most protective of the group and often scare off killer whales from coming near other people, even if those people are strangers. They often live on their own away from settlements and travel to them to mate, see friends, get entertainment and work. Blue whales are by far the largest whalefolk, and are often the largest intelligent species. Blue whales are the most solitary of the whalefolk, living almost their entire lives alone. The females are the ones that raise the children, and often the times of raising them, and mating, are the only times they will go to a society. As soon as blue whalefolk become mature they are sent off on their own.

History

No one really knows where whalefolk come from. A group of adventurers just found a squabbling group of killer whalefolk and humpback whalefolk. They were speaking Aquan, and fortunately one of the group knew the language so could ask about them. Afterwards, the whalefolk were smoothly integrated into society and are now very common in settlements that have enough water for them. Some theories include that they were created by the god of the sea, spawned from the blood of a lesser river god coming in contact with some whales, or were blessed by the gods to come into being.

Society

Whalefolk integrated into the societies of the other races, instead of creating their own society. They often live in coastal towns and cities, or in settlements next to large enough lakes for them to take long and deep swims in.

Whalefolk Names

Whalefolk use the naming culture of the society they were born into, or if they are more solitary, aquatic objects in either Common or Aquan. The names are unisex.

Names: Brine, Tide, Salty, Captain, Gulf, Coast, Wave

Whalefolk Traits

Design Note: Some subraces use the Large Player Characters variant rule.

A race of Anthropomorphic whales with many subraces.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Age. All Whale folk have a lifespan of around 70 years, though some can live to 90. Maturity depends on the subrace.
Alignment. Killer whales are normally chaotic and often tend toward evil; blue whales are normally neutral; humpback and beluga whales are normally lawful good.
Size. Your size is Medium if you are not a humpback or blue whale. If you are, your size is Large. Beluga whales are the smallest, from 5 to 5.5 feet, orca whales are normally 5 to 6 feet, humpback whales are normally 7 feet and blue whales are normally 8 feet.
Type. Beast, Humanoid
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Powerfull Build. You count as one size category larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Whale Tail. Your unarmed strike can do 1d4 + Strength modifier bludgeoning damage.
Hold Breath. Whalefolk can hold their breaths for up to 4 hours.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan.
Subrace. Killer, Beluga, Humpback, Blue

Killer

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Vicious Fighter. Your whale tail attack damage is increased to 1d6 + your Strength modifier and the target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed back 10 feet.
Pack Tactics. You gain advantage on attack rolls when there is an ally within 5 feet of you

Beluga

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Arctic Adaption. You gain resistance to cold damage
Echolocation. You gain 30 feet blindsight.

Humpback

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Swallow. When you have grappled a creature at least two sizes smaller than you as a bonus action you can make an attack against them dealing 1d6 damage. If the attack hits the creature is swallowed and will take (your proficiency bonus)d6 acid damage at the start of its turn until it escapes. You provide full cover for that creature and it's not affected by area of effect attacks. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained. If you take a quarter of your health in damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside you, you must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 5 feet of you. If you die, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by you and can escape from your corpse by using 30 feet of movement, exiting prone. You can swallow up to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) creatures at once.
Bubble-Net Feeding. You gain the cantrip bubble blast. Your spell casting stat for this spell is wisdom

Blue

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Swallow. When you have grappled a creature at least two sizes smaller than you as a bonus action you can make an attack against them dealing 1d6 damage. If the attack hits the creature is swallowed and will take (your proficiency bonus)d6 acid damage at the start of its turn until it escapes. You provide full cover for that creature and it's not affected by area of effect attacks. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained. If you take a quarter of your health in damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside you, you must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 5 feet of you. If you die, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by you and can escape from your corpse by using 30 feet of movement, exiting prone. You can swallow up to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) creatures at once.
Crushing Strength. You gain proficiency in all martial weapons that deal bludgeoning damage.

Random Height and Weight

Beluga

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 7''	+2d6	125 lb.	× (3d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Killer

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 1''	+2d6	180 lb.	× (3d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Humpback

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 5''	+2d6	220 lb.	× (3d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Blue

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
7′ 6''	+2d6	265 lb.	× (3d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

5.00

(one vote)

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