Zmora (5e Race)

Zmora

Physical Description

Almost human. Almost. Art by MON

Zmoras are eye-striking creatures, looking in their true form like a amalgamation of hundreds, if not even thousands of different shapes with colors, many with rectangular, stringy or otherwise "unnatural" shapes, all coming together into a humanoid creature. Distinctive to them, individual zmoras genetics differ the number of eyes and eye-like organs scattered all over their body, ranging from few to even few hundreds, granting them unreal perception to what is happening around them. Even when asleep, a multitude of tiny eyes are still functional, making them always ready for trouble. Many zmoras have protruding shapes sticking out of their bodies, like ribbed or jagged blades; sometimes their eyes are located outside the shape of their main body; or their claws grow out to troubling lengths. Sometimes parts of their bio mechanical structure is placed outside their body - muscles, most notably flexor muscles pierce through the skin on their way; spine, ribs or elbow bones are so pronounced, they also are partially outside the skin; heart or other organs are so close to the surface of the body, their movement is visible through skin. Whatever it may be, it seems it is totally fine for a zmora. Even more, those changes seem to be beneficial to any zmora showing them, likely showing that their aesthetic looks are always compromised when it comes to efficiency of their bodies. Their overall structure is also unique - at their core, zmora are both carbon and silicon-based organisms, capable of metabolizing from both sources and easily changing on atomic level one into another, the source of this ability is unknown. This gives their flesh somewhat translucent properties, and makes their texture very smooth, no matter what part of their bodies is touched. That specific bodily construction makes zmora far more durable than any other common race under the sun.

The zmora are outstandingly distinct and easy to notice creatures given their looks, that is, their true form. Each and every single zmora has alternative form, that of an ordinary human. This form is constant, i.e. any zmora has no influence on what it is; if the hair is black, it is black every time zmora transforms etc., and their human form grows up and ages with passing time, but at a slower pace than normal human, given their longer lifespan. Their protruding parts and other "inhuman" characteristics are suppressed while in their human form, called simply the hood, making their shape natural for humans. The only connecting point between their true and human forms is their sex, which stays the same; all the other parts, even internal structure rearranges itself, to just become human. What differs zmoras from other shapeshifters is their ability to partially change, for example having their true body on display, but human face or true half of one body and human another. Zmora, and especially children when without a reason to stick to one form will alternate constantly between one and another, in a pattern characteristic to any zmora, like from up to bottom, or from face eccentric to the rest of body. When zmora spends a long time in completely human form, a sensation similar to itch is capable of being felt, but simple scratching is enough to get rid of it. To this date, there exist no way, conventional, unconventional or even magical to distinguish a human from transformed zmora; even more terrifyingly, a transformed zmora does not revert to its true form when it dies, nor does any bodypart separated from it. Additionally, it would seem that the zmora brain works differently, incapable of attuning truth or lie to any information, just a non-extreme grade of probability, making concepts of absolute true or false incomprehensible to zmoras, making them immune to any magic or effect that would force them to tell the truth, or discern if they are speaking the truth, much to mankind dismay.

There exist two different subraces of zmoras. One that cannot metabolize themselves hyaluronic acid, forcing them to obtain it from another source, the most prominent of which are humans. While it is possible for this subrace to live off of preying on animals or non-intelligent species, it is far easier to once in a while hunt for human meat. Considering usual mentality of zmora as a race, almost none of those zmoras turn down this opportunity, which resulted in naming this subrace homicid, meaning killer. For easier time with that hunts, they evolved far superior inter-human capabilities, excelling at using natural human psychology to exploit them to the limit, as well as dedicate long time of their lives to specialize in some form of craft or knowledge to better blend into the larger human settlements. Within zmora race, this kind is called dependent, or more insultingly, lesser.

Another subrace, called liber or free, did not lose the ability to create for themselves hyaluronic acid, making it in abundance that greatly eases up their transformation process, with added ability to transform only the tiniest parts of their body to human hood and vice versa. This skill, if honed and trained, allows liber zmoras to efficiently and in a blink of an eye change their inner composition, making them greatly resistant to any electric current, and supercharge their nervous system with external surges of energy. It is not uncommon for more versed of libers to easily survive lightning strike, a feat most impressive, considering then their body can use this energy quite spectacularly.

Zmoras reach adulthood around their twenty-fifth year of life, when their sexual organs mature and are capable of being used, which happens way later than their human organs do. Subraces of zmoras can easily interbreed, with around 50% chance for child to be either homicid or liber. Even if it is very rare, Zmora can procreate with human, the child being entirely human if zmora was in its human form, or a subrace of zmora the same as a zmora parent if in its true form while in conception. What is interesting, even if the child is just a human without one concievable trace of zmora's abilities in them, then no matter with whom, this human's child will invariably be a homicid zmora.

History

It is unclear from where or when exactly zmoras started appearing on the world, but all of their genesis stories are intertwined with humanity. One theory is that a group of humans was transformed or cursed with exceptionally powerful magic, that gave them their peculiar shapeshifting abilities. Other, usually taken as a most possible explanation by zmoras themselves, is that a group of humans was stranded or closed off in very hostile environment for long millennia, and slowly evolved into using silicon as a new base for their bodies alongside carbon, making them a better, more resilient version of humans. This belief however, does not explain the homicid zmoras' evolutionary lack of making hyaluronic acid, which is essential for both their survival and transformations. Zmoras themselves believe their dependent subrace came into existence as a result of libers mingling with humans, where most of the humanity believes that homicid zmoras were first to appear and instill paranoia and distrust in human settlements, so the monsters were always present, which, of course, are opinions subjective in one or the other way.

Zmoras have through various means propagated to different worlds, which always spelled great troubles for human populations everywhere. Interestingly, on the worlds where humans are nonexistent or hardly present, other races seem to have little to no hostility towards zmoras as a race, their settlements and kingdoms. Their "keep to themselves" policy, paired with very analytical minds and lack of greed makes them rarely ever pick a fight with other races. No hostility does not mean problems are nonexistent, as it is exceptionally difficult for many races, especially elves and halflings, to make good connections with entire race of creatures closely resembling in behaviour human psychopaths, and their cannibalism especially does not make them good close neighbours for almost no one, which zmoras shrug off - they don't care for being liked or disliked. Many times in history though zmoras were hailed as heroes - one of very few races under the sun that does not perceive far away or seemingly insignificant problems as harmless as long as they are not immediately concerning, like humans do. A threat is a threat, and is to be taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible, making them the most active group to oppose any form of organised evil or looming threats.

Society

Zmoras are not a social race - they gather in tribes, settlements and bigger organizations out of benefit it provides, not inborn necessity of closeness to other of their kind. A zmora can live their entire life by their own, not speaking to anyone without any adverse effect on their psyche. Yet, no real reason exists for zmoras to not partake in social activities, and they do so. Their logical minds are very effective at solving problems, which usually leads to creating small communities that work with one another for individual benefits, because at the end of the day any zmora firmly believes that the biggest importance in one's life is that very individual. Zmoras have no incentive to give gifts for others for no reason other than the other person's joy of receiving it, and it is almost universal with all of their areas of life. If something serves no highly probable benefit for the individual, it is simply not done, and the same is expected of others of their kind, while never forgetting that there is a clear difference in behaviour for other races, which many zmoras, especially homicids, exploit for own benefit. On the other hand, no zmora is greedy, period. The expenditure of time, energy or resources on some activity that would reap benefits outside of personal usage is wasteful, so it is not done. Of course, personal enjoyment is always a concern, and within zmora communities almost all have different hobbies and interests, that are undertaken in spare time for no other reason than just spending time nice. The key words are "spare time" - no zmora will put their interests or others over their own survival and well-being, with one exception. When a zmora makes a connection with another that is very deep, complete and trustful, like for example between siblings, or parents to their children, there occurs a blur in that zmora's mind between "me" and "them", leading to care for those few others like for themselves, putting them above almost all less significant matters. The level of selflessness and love a zmora can show exceeds the most heart-warming stories of true friendship or love prevalent in songs of bards, which can occur towards creatures of other races.

On the other hand, all creatures outside of that close bonds are regarded exactly the same, no reason between a cow to be milked and child to be eaten. Homicid zmoras living amongst humans can dedicate years for building their position, close bonds with other humans, building their place on the most gut-wretching lies a human could ever imagine, just to assure a relatively easy supply of oh so needed food. No zmora condemns or looks the wrong way on any homicid that lives amongst humans and preys on them - it is, after all, survival of the fittest, and humans pale in comparison to the zmoras' adaptation. Today you are hunted and eaten, tomorrow a sabretooth tiger will get me - if you'd be prepared and capable, you would survive in both of those situations. There exist a small sense of pride and respect, that manifests in zmoras' communities towards both subraces. Homicids are respected for their ability to reliably hunt humans, the - usually - greatest predator otherwise avalible, and libers for their unshackled nature, and mastery in their shapeshifting. To humans though, such ideas are alien and extremely dangerous, so in worlds where sumans dominate, zmora population is scarce, and their settlements small and isolated, as they are commonly a target for brutal attacks to "kill the man-eating monsters!" as some of those crusaders say, never realizing they attack and destroy the only groups that are not actively hunting them, then returning home to places, where indistinguishable predators lurk and kill, again and again.

Zmoras as a whole revere a singular god, in addition to any other that they would pray to for some other reason. However, no captured zmora, under any amount of torture, ever has spoken even a word about that god, so its portfolio, power, role or even name is unknown.

Zmora Names

Zmoras are named exactly like humans, so their names may come from many different cultural backgrounds. They also brandish two names, one for their hood and one for their true form.

Zmora Traits

Better, stronger humans. Therefore, human predators.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. A zmora is considered physically adult when reaching 25 years of age, and can live up to 120 years, not aging at all for the period of adulthood, and suddenly falling apart and dying in mere weeks of the end of their natural lifespan.
Alignment. Zmoras tend to be exceptionally uncaring of other creatures but their closest relatives, to the point of tendencies considered among other races as psychopatic, yet no zmora is malicious by default or is actively seeking harm to others, making them mostly neutral.
Size. Zmoras, like humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Human Predator. As a bonus action you can transform into your human form, your true form or into any form inbetween the two, and your statistics do not change in any way. No magic or feature can discern if you are anything else than a human, and for any spell or effect that requires a human you count as human in addition to being a zmora. Additionally, no matter what you say or think, magic or another feature that would determine if you are telling or thinking the truth indicates you are being truthful if you so choose, and you can't be compelled to tell the truth by magic or another feature.
Perfect Constitution. You reduce any damage you take by 1, if you so choose. This reduction increases to 2 at 3rd level, and to 3 at 5th level.
Many-eyed. Unless blinded, you are always aware of your surroundings and cannot be surprised.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Subrace. This race has multiple subraces, as listed below:

Homicid Zmora

Mental attunement. Whenever you make an Insight or Deception ability check, roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the check's total.
Predatory specialization. You are proficient in one skill or tool of your choice.

Liber Zmora

Isolator. You have resistance to lightning damage.
Capacitor. When you take lightning damage, roll a d4 and add the number rolled to your next saving throw, attack roll or skill check that you make within one minute.

Racial feats

• Transfigurant
• Voracious Eater

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 8''	+2d10	110 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a Zmora character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

d8	Personality Trait
1	Funny that the most colourful part of my life is me. Literally.
2	It's bad to waste things, don't leave the potatoes on your plate.
3	I need to go hunt today, again, I hate doing that.
4	Bit more sugar to my tea won't bankrupt me.
5	Deserts are so peaceful, I could walk on them for hours.
6	I like screwing with people.
7	No thunder is dangerous to me, I can take it.
8	The likelihood of his words is abyssmal, but never can be zero. Better check.

d6	Ideal
1	Obligation. I won't let any threat to myself or others exist undisturbed. (Good)
2	Indifference. I care not for what you think, nor I feel the need to. (Neutral)
3	Enmity. Any intelligent creature is a potential threat, and should be dealt with. (Evil)
4	Self-sufficiency. I need no one other to thrive, nor anyone's influence. (Chaotic)
5	Pragmatism. There is a method to everything, and most optimized solution to anything. (Lawful)
6	Curiosity. The world is wide and tall, and I'll se it all! (Any)

d6	Bond
1	My father, the greatest man I knew. I would die for him.
2	I have seen a girl with floral pattern to her eyes, and I'd pay much to see her beauty again.
3	I get a sense of accomplishment from a work well done.
4	None will tell me I look ugly or weird. I am fabulous.
5	I just can not put my hood on every few hours, the itch is irresistible.
6	There's something in stained glass that always captivates me, like we are alike, in a way.

d6	Flaw
1	Humans are just lesser zmoras, and lesser should die out to make room for better.
2	Feelings are a tool to be used, and be disregarded if they pose an inconvenience.
3	It does not matter what I say, no one should expect hearing probable things all the time.
4	I am more durable than any creature, so hardly any danger should be of concern to me.
5	Will you eat that bandit? Splendind.
6	I like the taste of undeveloped flesh, when bones are not yet fully calcified.

4.00

(2 votes)

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