Slimefolk (5e Race)

Slimefolk

Slimefolk are gelatinous, usually humanoid creatures that are often confused with other more hazardous oozes such as the bane of all adventuring parties, the oblex[1]. These sentient and otherwise harmless slimy humanoids display greater intelligence than other oozes capable of the speech, cunning and insight that other humanoid races possess.

Physical Description

A decaying slimefolk

Slimefolk are entirely composed of a gelatinous substance, that takes on a roughly humanoid form. Unfortunately for non-slimefolk, they have the ability to change this rough form with relative ease. As such, it can be very hard to keep track of the same slimefolk for more than a few days. It is known that the intelligence of a slimefolk is said to govern the accuracy of their humanoid form. A slimefolk with 10 Intelligence for example might be rough, slimy and not quite look right, whereas a slimefolk wizard with 20 Intelligence may look exactly like any human but with smooth, semi-transparent, colored skin.

Environmental Coloration

Slimefolk are colored differently depending on the environment they spend the most time in. Slimefolk born near the sea or lakes and rivers tend towards a blue hue, while those from hotter, dryer climates tint red or pink. Forests and swamps turn them a dark green while mountains and cold climates give them a white hue. While a slimefolk's color is initially hereditary, their color changes depending on the area they have spent the most amount of time in and may slowly change depending on their current environment.

Water Based

Slimefolk are able to grow in size when absorbing water, mainly through their arms or by drinking it. But falling into a body of water dilutes and greatly weaken them. It is said that exposure to large bodies like lakes or rivers could be fatal or at the very least be dangerous to the slime. When they grow in this way they have very little control over their slime. However, they don't grow more than a few feet taller and never leave the Medium creature size category. Due to slimefolk being exceedingly water-based, they react poorly to the effects of Extreme Heat[2]. Even those that make their homes in arid lands like deserts spend most their time underground, only coming out in the cool of the night.

Reproduction

A slimefolk reproduces by merging with another slimefolk, in a very literal sense. Normally the slimefolk's involved ingest vast amounts of liquid until they reach their maximum size, normally about as big as a goliath. The slimefolk then join together, fusing their minds and body, taking in and sharing their memories with their partner until they break apart, a process that takes a week, the slimefolk congealing together in a large blob that some may mistake as a water weird or a gelatinous cube. Once complete the two slimes break into three, the two original slimes returning to their original state and a third that is their offspring. The two slimes are significantly smaller at this point. At the time of completion, this offspring resembles an ooze-like ball with the coloration of one or both of their parents. This ball slowly begins to move around, eating and acting as most unaligned oozes do, consuming things and breaking down objects. Interestingly, the slime may be observed doing simple things, reminiscent of one of their parents, like showing a particular taste for one type of mineral they enjoyed to eat or taking on minor characteristics of their parents favored molds like a hair shape. This is attributed to the sharing of memories between the parent slimefolk during reproduction. The slime eventually takes on an increasingly humanoid form until it gains sentience and thus reaches adulthood as far as slimefolk are concerned and able to now contemplate the memories that it possesses from its parent slimefolk. These memories are normally various core or significant memories its parent slimefolk's have, that are passed on to ensure the slimes survival. A memory about the dragon which lurks in the caves north of their colony, a memory about the dangers of large bodies of water, or the heat of the sun. However, they could just as well be memories about the first time the two slimefolks met, the moment they chose to leave the safety of their community to the dispised outside world, or the day they used their unique biology to perform an otherwise impossible task.

History

The exact origin and age of the slimefolk as a race is unknown, even elves, the longest living and more scholarly of the races, possess little information on their origins and as such there are a number of theories put forward about their existence. Some say that they're the result of a wizards experiments in giving oozes sentience, others say that if you melted down enough humanoids in acid the remains reform into them. However, the most prevalent theory is that they are originally the spawn of Juiblex[3], the faceless demon lord, and as such, to be given the same level of suspicion and distrust as a tiefling. It doesn't help that many of the most infamous and evil slimefolk consider Juiblex a lord to be enticed or to be tempted by as he grants great power and strength over their gelatinous form that no deity, even if they would align themselves with an ooze, can give. The slimes are also very versed in the arts of language so they can blend in easier when shifting their forms.

Society

Slimefolk live in simple and composed groups called cloisters, within which each slimefolk has a place and purpose. These harmonious groupings have no need for leaders since all slimefolk contribute in their own way. The areas themselves are normally exceptionally clean due to the regular movement of the slimefolk and they ordinarily have some form of a contained water supply. These cloisters are located in secluded areas and are commonly found to be underground. Cloisters or groups of slimefolk can also often be found in smaller numbers within larger more liberal multiracial societies.

Slimefolk Names

Slimefolk are known to have two names, their native name, and their given name. Their native names are often communicated through an odd dialect of primordial called Ooze, and when translated into common their names are, peculiar in nature. Owing to the relative difficulty of pronouncing their native names, when talking with other humanoids they either adopt a name given to them by their peers, a nickname based off of their birth name, or a name from any other race of their own choice. Typically such names are normally based off habits, colors or textures the slimefolk possess or likes. Some examples are as follows:

Native Names: Adioztod, Brex'mith, Cxyze, D'ovh'zhus, Mlioll, Shulkilb, Taakl'krotl, Tethrohorh, Ud'yri, Yitignas, Yokhuvhu, Zildoxr

Given Names: Adi, Black, Blue, Crystal, Green, Milo, Ooze, Pinky, Red, Shard, Silky, Sil, Teth, White, Zil

Slimefolk Traits

Sentient slimes that take the form of humanoids.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Slimefolk don't have a physical maturity per say and by other creatures standards, they are born physically matured. However, a slimefolk will take at three years to reach mental maturity beyond that of the standard behavior most oozes exhibit. As far as lifespan goes, slimefolk are not known to have one. Given their absence of recording their history and other races' disinterest in them it makes it hard to say how long a slime folk can or will live, their bodies not showing any signs of age or decay. For reference's sake, the oldest known slimefolk lived to be as old as an elf before perishing at about 700 years old.
Alignment. Slimefolk, despite some saying they naturally bend towards chaos and evil, tend towards no particular alignment. Rather, they adjust to the alignment of the society they are in. When they do form groups with other slimefolk, they tend towards the lawful neutral alignment, however, this is more of a structure for social cohesion more than a tenancy towards following rules.
Size. Slimefolk vary in size, and even individual slimefolk can change their size by taking in or expelling water from their bodies, but in general, slimefolk are comparable in size to most other intelligent races. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Adhesive. Slimefolk, being creatures of gelatinous slime you are naturally sticky. You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to grapple a target. In addition, you can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Amorphous. Due to the fluid nature of your form, you can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing. You leave behind any items you are carrying, and any equipment which you are proficient with merges into your form until you exit the space.
Corrosive Form. A slimefolk is naturally corrosive, as such, your unarmed strikes deal acid damage equal to 1d4 + your Constitution modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. In addition, you are resistant to acid damage.
Darkvision. Accustomed to gloomy caverns and fungi lit caves. 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.
Dehydration-Prone. You are composed of a large amount of liquid and as such, you fare poorly in the burning environments. You have disadvantage on saving throws against Extreme Heat[4].
Dilution. For slimefolk, water is both an essential part of life and a death sentence. If you start your turn in a body of water, such as a lake, an ocean, you take 1d6 necrotic damage at the start of each of your turns. Rain is similarly harmful, but only inflicts 1 necrotic damage per turn. If this damage reduces you to less than half of your maximum hit points, you are considered to be poisoned until your hit points are restored to over half your hit point maximum. Finally, if you are reduced to 0 hit points by this trait you die.
Ooze Nature. Your creature type is both humanoid and ooze. You don't require sleep and by moving across surfaces you can break down otherwise inedible substances to garner nutritional value.
Versatile Molds. Slimefolk are known for the various forms that they can take, appears to be tall and lean one day, and then the next, being short and curvy. Their skin could be repelling arrows one day but get pierced by them by the next. At the end of a long rest, you can change simple miscellaneous details about yourself such as your "hair"'s length or shape, or make yourself a bit taller, smaller, wider or thinner. In addition, at the end of a long rest, you can also gain a resistance of your choice from, non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. This resistance lasts until you pick another damage type with this trait.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Ooze, a dialect of Primordial. Ooze to those that speak Primordial sounds like a butchered version of Terran and Aquan. To everyone else, it is a bubbling, slushing language that sounds more like boiling mud then it does a language.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 0″	+4d12	40 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

References

1. Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes p.218
2. Dungeon Masters Guide p.110
3. Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes p.30
4. Dungeon Masters Guide p.110

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