Leviathorin (5e Race)
Leviathorin
| “ | When we arrived at the island, we realized we weren’t alone. There were these towering beings going in and out of the water carrying materials, they didn’t look like anything like any race I’d ever seen before. They looked almost like humanoid...sharks? Eels? I don’t know. But by the time we realized they’d spotted us, it was too late. I managed to get back to the boat with Jake, but the rest got captured and torn apart. It was....pretty bad, to say the least. | ” |
| —Captain Aelin Galanodel, after an accidental encounter with a Leviathorin pack | ||
Leviathorin are a massive and aggressive semi-aquatic race native to oceans within the Material Plane and the Elemental Plane of Water. Their size, strength, and ability to generate electricity within their bodies makes them formidable foes, and when combined with their reckless nature can make them very destructive. They live in nomadic packs led by the strongest individual, hunting and gathering what they need to survive while fending off threats.
Physical Description
| An example of what Leviathorin look like. Art belongs to Centrifuge on furaffinity. |
Leviathorin are adapted to the deep, dark waters of the ocean. They stand between 7 and 8 feet tall with muscular builds and weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. Their bodies are covered in dark blue, yellow, and white scales, with fins adorning their heads, backs, and arms. They have tails that are generally between 4 and 5 feet long that lash around when they experience strong emotions, yellow webbing between the fingers and toes, sharp claws for tearing apart prey, and equally sharp teeth. Their eyes are typically a more vibrant color such as cyan, yellow, or a bright red.
It is very difficult to tell the difference between the sexes, although there are some small differences. Unlike other races, females lack breasts, but they are generally taller and curvier than males. Males tend to have wider shoulders, smaller hips, and are slightly shorter.
A Leviathorin’s most notable trait is their ability to generate electricity from their bodies. Some use this electricity to hunt, charging their claws or teeth and stunning their prey before going in for the kill, while others channel their electricity for powerful spells. A select few are able to harness their electricity in both ways― these individuals are considered incredibly powerful and very dangerous to fight against.
History
The first Leviathorin started out as ordinary eels inhabiting the oceans of the material plane. They were like any other eel― long, slender, and gifted with the ability to generate electricity within their bodies. One day, some of these eels were caught in a massive whirlpool, so powerful and destructive that it created a temporary elemental vortex, sending the eels into the elemental plane of water. The eels found themselves in a strange, new ocean, filled with creatures they had never seen and places they had never explored. Life was difficult for them at first― they were forced to find new food sources and avoid new predators. However, their innate electrical abilities gave them an advantage, allowing those who survived to grow stronger and pass on their power.
Over the generations, the eels changed to fit in their new environment, warped by the plane’s magic and morphed into something new. These were the first Leviathorin, transformed from slender eels to towering humanoids, yet still retaining their hunting prowess and natural electricity. These individuals were loners at first― rarely encountering one another unless it was to mate. However, some discovered that they could increase their chances of survival by banding together. These pairs soon gathered more individuals to fight by their side, forming the very first packs. Some packs even found their way back to the material plane through elemental vortexes, reintroducing them to their ancestor's homes.
Despite it being many millennia since the first true Leviathorin were born and formed their packs, you may still find loners seemingly unadjusted to their more humanoid bodies and newfound intelligence. It’s possible for an ordinary eel to be transformed into a Leviathorin after being exposed to magic, such as a powerful magic surge or through a magical experiment. These individuals are often taken in by a pack or a passing group of sailors.
Society
Leviathorin live in groups of up to 30 individuals known as packs. These packs are typically nomadic, moving from place to place and hunting or gathering their food. A pack is led by its strongest individual, regardless of gender, who has the final say in anything the pack does. Another pack member may challenge the current pack leader in a fight― if they win, they become the new leader and the old leader is exiled from the pack. If they lose, they are exiled from the pack, often with some kind of scar from the leader they fought as a reminder of their failure.
Unlike some races, there aren’t any set gender roles within packs, which may cause some confusion for Leviathorin interacting with races that have them. Both men and women are held to the same standards and are expected to pull their weight. Adult men and women are expected to hunt for food, defend the pack from attackers, make weapons and tools, and care for children, injured, or sick pack members.
Despite what some may think, injured or sick Leviathorin aren’t immediately exiled. Those with injuries are treated by the pack’s doctor until they are able to function normally again, as they believe they may still be useful to the pack. Sick individuals are kept isolated from the rest of the pack to prevent the disease from spreading, with doctors being the only one allowed near them. If the injury or disease is healed, the formerly injured or sick member will go back to their usual tasks. However, if an injury or disease is too severe, they will be left behind, as they would be dead weight to the pack.
Exiled Leviathorin are shunned from everyone, and no pack will take in an exile. These individuals, who are usually sick, injured, or born with a defect, are forced to make one of two choices— go out on their own and risk dying, or find another exile to help them. Packs of exiles are few and far between, but are a safe haven for those who manage to find them, as these packs are less strict and are willing to take in other exiles. Those who decide to go out on their own may end up working as mercenaries, sailors, fishermen, or adventurers, wandering from place to place and doing their best to survive in an unfamiliar world. Those who were abandoned as children due to defects may be taken in by a pack of exiles or passing sailors and raised by them.
Leviathorin Names
Leviathorin typically have names that end in ‘or’, ‘os’, ‘ara’, ‘an’, ‘is’, ‘us’, or ‘ur’ and aren’t divided by gender. Certain names may be modified versions of the names of deities or well-known sea monsters. They don’t have last names, but accomplished individuals will have a special title, which may be revoked if they are exiled.
First Name: Aleros, Azuris, Cadros, Cetos, Charybdis, Coros, Dhotar, Eldoris, Gadros, Kai, Lomos, Lyzara, Retan, Rienar, Scyllara, Siros, Sobekos, Solkara, Tamara, Toros, Typhos, Tovios, Utenara, Valdros, Varos, Voltara, Xiraura, Zevtris, Zytarus
Title: Beastbrawler, Bloodspiller, Bonecrusher, Deepstalker, Krakenhunter, Merrowslayer, Orphanmaker, Packhunter, Plesiotamer, Reaper, Riptide, Scalethief, Scargiver, Sharkhunter, Sharpeye, Tritonslayer, Tsunami, Wavebreaker
Leviathorin Traits
As a Leviathorin, you gain a number of traits.
Leviathorin are a towering aquatic race with enough bite to match their bark and natural electrical abilities.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Dexterity or Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Leviathorin mature at the same rate as humans, but live much longer. They can live to be 150 years old.
Alignment. Due to their reckless nature, most Leviathorin are chaotic, although you’re not bound by this.
Size. Leviathorin stand between 7 and 8 feet tall with muscular builds and weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
Darkvision. Your eyes are accustomed to the dark waters of your home. 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.
Claws and Jaws. You are armed with sharp claws and teeth that can be used to perform unarmed strikes. A bite attack deals piercing damage equal to 1d4 + Strength modifier, and a claw attack deals slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.
Hunter of the Deep. You have a swimming speed of 30 feet and are acclimated to underwater environments, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.
Menacing. You have a proficiency in Intimidation.
Natural Electricity. You have resistance to lightning damage. Additionally, when you hit with a melee attack, you may force the target to make a Constitution saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your Dexterity modifier. On a failed save, the target takes an additional die lightning damage, or half as much on a successful save (a 1d4 claw attack deals 1d4 slashing + 1d4 lightning damage, for example). You must complete a short or long rest before you can use this trait again.
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7′ 0″ | +1d10 | 200 lb. | × (5) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Suggested Characteristics
When creating a Leviathorin 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 | I take great pride in my combat skills. I was raised as a fighter from birth. |
| 2 | As someone who was exiled by their pack, I can relate to those in similar situations. |
| 3 | The only way to earn my respect is to prove yourself in battle. |
| 4 | I’m patient with those that are first learning how to fight. No one is perfect on the first day. |
| 5 | I feel guilty when people get scared of me. I don’t mean to scare them, but my appearance ends up scaring them anyway. |
| 6 | I can’t stand lazy people. Everyone should be pulling their own weight. |
| 7 | I feel powerful when people are afraid of me. As they should be. |
| 8 | I am ashamed of what I did while I was with my old pack. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Strength. If you’re not strong, you won’t get anywhere in life. (Any) |
| 2 | Protecting the defenseless. I’m tired of trampling over the weak, I want to protect them until they can fend for themselves. (Good) |
| 3 | My allies. I am very loyal to my friends and will do my best to protect them. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Dominance. Nobody will surpass me, and if they try I’ll strike them down. (Evil) |
| 5 | Survival. Doesn’t matter what you need to do, as long as you survive, that’s all that matters. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Freedom. I can do what I want, and no rules or so-called 'leader' is going to stop me. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | The sea comforts me. It’s my home, after all. |
| 2 | Even though I have left, I still have some loyalty towards my former pack. |
| 3 | The leader of my pack shamed me for challenging them. I will become strong enough to defeat them and take their place through whatever means necessary. |
| 4 | One of my friends was exiled for a crime they were innocent of. I want to find them again. |
| 5 | A chaotic battle separated me from my pack. I want to reunite with them. |
| 6 | I must leave my pack behind and forge my own path. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am incredibly competitive, both on and off the battlefield. |
| 2 | I’m very blunt and honest, although this can come off as rude. |
| 3 | I don’t care for what’s good or evil. Survival is what matters most, not silly moral rules. |
| 4 | My stubbornness often gets me into trouble. |
| 5 | I often think that I'm better than everyone else, because I am. |
| 6 | I am paranoid that someone I know will betray me again. |
Racial Feats
These are optional feats you can add to your Leviathorin character. You may choose from Blessing of the Storm and Blessing of the Waves.
Blessing of the Storm
Prerequisites: Leviathorin race
Your innate electrical powers are far stronger than those of your peers. You know the shocking grasp cantrip, which doesn't count against your number of cantrips known and can be cast at will. Starting at 3rd level, you may cast witch bolt once without expending a spell slot or material components, and starting at 5th level you may cast lightning bolt once without expending a spell slot or material components. You must complete a long rest before casting either spell in this way again.
Blessing of the Waves
Prerequisites: Leviathorin race
You have unlocked a new ability within yourself― the ability to manipulate water. You know the shape water cantrip, which doesn't count against your number of cantrips known and can be cast at will. Starting at 3rd level, you may cast create or destroy water once at 1st level without expending a spell slot or material components, and starting at 5th level you may cast control water once without expending a spell slot or material components. Constitution is your spellcasting modifier for these spells. You must complete a long rest before casting either spell in this way again.
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