Dredge (5e Race)
Dredge
Physical Description
The intelligent dredge greatly resemble humanoid naked mole rats, with hunched postures, wrinkled pink skin, two pairs of huge buck teeth and, due to their race's history beneath the surface, underdeveloped eyes, to the point of nearly being blind. They have a highly developed sense of hearing, and all their technology is sound-based, earning them the respect of the asura. Dredge are primarily herbivorous, their diet mostly consisting of roots, tubers, and fungi that are simple to find or cultivate underground. Dredge do not appear to suffer the effects of old age, and are highly resistant to disease.
History
In the past the mole-like race called the dredge were a pitiable race, enslaved by the Stone Summit dwarves and ready to fight alongside any who would help free them from their masters' whips. After the Stone Summit's downfall, the dredge gained their freedom once and for all, and established themselves as the heirs to the dwarven kingdom in the Shiverpeak Mountains, where they battle the displaced norn for control of dwarven territory. They have made their capital in Sorrow's Embrace, formerly the main mine of the Stone Summit dwarves.
Society
Little is known of dredge culture, only that they value highly the freedom of their race— a fact that is ironically used by their government to limit personal freedoms, and keep the dredge subservient, much like the dwarves did centuries ago. As such, the dredge can be considered to be in a state of permanent revolution.
The moletariate is the government body of the dredge people. It was established by Commissar Molenin shortly after the dredge's freedom from Stone Summit slavery. The moletariate led the people over the ages into xenophobic lifestyles, slowly becoming corrupt themselves and sending the dredge commoners into constant heavy labor. They lead the dredge from Sorrow's Embrace.
The dredge are heavily industrial, building mines through mountains by boring huge, smooth tunnels that many other races find ugly and destructive. Certain miners are assigned specifically to the use of sonic technology- these "disaggregators," "resonators," and "reverberants" are responsible for finding the right resonant frequencies to break up tough soil and solid rock, so that the valuable minerals inside can be accessed.
Dredge Names
Dredge names are based off Soviet-era Russian, with occasional mole-based puns.
Names: Mikhail, Sergei, Vyacheslav, Molenin, Aya, Rasolov, Karamoleoff, Golosk, Irina
Dredge Traits
Communist naked mole rats.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. Dredge mature at the same rate as humans, but live exponentially longer, at an average lifespan of around 500 years.
Alignment. Dredge value their freedom above all things, and as such favor Chaotic alignments.
Size. Dredge stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You also have a burrowing speed of 10 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.
Blindsight. You have normal sight out to a range of 15 feet and blindsight out to a range of 10 feet. You are blind beyond this radius.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Perception checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Sight Unseen. Living in darkness for generations and relying only on their hearing have rendered all dredge immune to the blinded condition. However, when affected by the deafened condition, you lose your blindsight.
Dredge Resilience. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level. You have advantage on saving throws against disease, you suffer none of the frailty of old age, and you can't be aged magically.
Sonic Tunneling. You know the thunderclap cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish.
Random Height and Weight
Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
---|---|---|---|
4′ 0″ | +2d6 | 140 lb. | × (2d4) lb. |
*Height = base height + height modifier |
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races