Vortigaunt (5e Race)

Vortigaunts

Far distant eyes look out through yours. — A vortigaunt

Physical Description

A vortigaunt, bound in slave gear.

In appearance, Vortigaunts are somewhat humanoid, with two digitigrade legs and two arms and an additional third arm protruding from the chest. They all bear a singular, large red eye, along with several smaller eyes surrounding it. The third arm seems to be used primarily for feeding, as well as channeling their innate energy. They are capable of using their arms to run like a quadruped, to cover large distances. Vortigaunts have mottled green-brown skin, sharp teeth, and clawed hands, along with a hunched posture.

History

Vortigaunts are hive-minded creatures that have recently freed themselves from slavery at the hands of illithids, commonly known as "mind flayers", being used by them as workers and drone soldiers. However, none had ever been implanted with the tadpole that illithids commonly use on other intelligent races to convert them into more of their kin; it was likely because of this that they escaped the underdark from their oppressors, and have started to roam other realms.

Society

Vortigaunts are intelligent and social creatures. When faced with a superior enemy, Vortigaunts will often retreat, and if possible, group together with other Vortigaunts to form a stronger force. Unused to strong levels of individualism due to being enslaved for several generations, they enunciate individuals by adding "The" to their name; for instance, "The Tasha". Vortigaunts possess their own native form of communication which is referred to by them as "flux shifting". According to the Vortigaunts, flux shifting cannot be understood by "those whose Vortal inputs are impaired", which may suggest that inaudible components are involved, perhaps explaining why they are incomprehensible to most intelligent races. They also are capable of learning other languages; albiet, with a strange accent and some sort of speech impediment when using S's and R's. Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force which they call the "Vortessence". Due to their use of this force, which remains untapped by other intelligent races, the Vortigaunt species can communicate with one another telepathically. They believe Vortessence is the fabric of the universe, made of "vortal cords", of which everything is woven (and therefore everything is connected). The Vortigaunts are able to read and control this force for their electrical powers, nearly hive-mind telepathy and, likely, their ability to take power from objects.

Vortigaunt Names

Due to their species' history of pure servitude, the vortigaunt race possesses no real naming scheme, simply accepting whatever name is given to them.

Examples: R-4913, Sweepy, Uriah, X-8973, Gary, Xonxt

Vortigaunt Traits

A hiveminded race of telepathics that have been recently freed from slavery, bearing innate electrical powers.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age. The age of maturity for Vortigaunts is unknown, and their lifespan is currently estimated to be a mere 40 years.
Alignment. Vortigaunts have strange minds by most standards, but they seem to tend more towards the sides of good and chaos.
Size. Vorts don't vary much in terms of body shape, staying around the 6'0" range. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as though it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Innate Electricity. As you can bring forth electricity from inside of you, you are able to cast shocking grasp as a cantrip. In addition, due to your attunement to electricity, you are able to cast thunderwave as an action. Once you cast thunderwave with this trait, you must complete a long rest before you are able to cast it again.
Alien Being. Your creature type is both humanoid and aberration. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.
Empowered Mind. You are resistant to psychic damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 9″	+1d6	92 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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