Dungeons & Dragons 5e Race/Species : Lizardfolk, Revised
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Children of the Dragon Draconic Player Races and Subclasses
Lizardfolk, Revised
Overview
"If you're considering taking a scaled one along on an adventure, remember this important fact. The strange, inhuman glint in its eyes as it looks you over is the same look you might give a freshly grilled steak."Despite not being a member of the draconic races, the lizardfolk echo many similarities, and some even worship and serve dragons for their shared reptilian attributes. Lizardfolk are covered from head to tail in thick scales of various shades of color, and their fanged maw and sharp claws make them dangerous foes, even when unarmed. They are hardy survivors, whose lack of technological advancement is compensated by their ferocity in battle and ingenuity.
Most lizardfolk are pragmatic, and can come across as cold. This is due to their alien minds, which are heavily
focused on survival, and leave little room for emotions. Concepts such as honor are lost on most of them, as they strive to survive against all odds.
An exception to this is a variant of sharptooth lizardfolk, which scholars dub "high lizardfolk". The tribes of these more civilized lizardfolk are different in that they not only understand common emotions but also feel them, and they are known for their strong sense of honor. This concept is alien to most lizardfolk, but it also allows them to cooperate with other intelligent races far more easily.
ability score increase:
Your Constitution score increases by 2.
age:
Lizardfolk reach maturity around age 12 and rarely live longer than 60 years. However, some sharptooth tribes are known to live to be around 80.
alignment:
Most lizardfolk are neutral. They see the world as a place of predators and prey, where life and death are natural processes. They wish only to survive, and prefer to leave other creatures to their own devices. The more civilized sharptooth lizardfolk follow a code of honor, and tend to be neutral good.
Size:
Medium
speed:
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages:
You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.
race features:
Natural Weapons. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your bite, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You can also use your claws, which follow the same rules as your bite, but deal 1d4 + your Strength modifier slashing damage instead.
Natural Armor. You have tough, scaly skin. You can calculate your AC as 13 + your Dexterity modifier. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Cunning Artisan. As part of a short rest, you can harvest bone and hide from a slain beast, construct, dragon, monstrosity, or plant creature of size Small or larger to create one of the following items: a shield, a club, a javelin, or 1d4 pieces of ammunition.
Subraces. Choose one of the subraces below. Your choice will determine additional benefits.
Lizardfolk Traits
Lizardfolk have many innate abilities derived from centuries spent warring among each other and defending themselves from the threats present in the jungles and swamps where they make their home. Size. Lizardfolk vary in size, with poison dusk standing around 4 feet, blackscale around 8 feet, and sharptooth being around 6 to 7 feet on average. Your size is Medium.Natural Weapons. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your bite, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You can also use your claws, which follow the same rules as your bite, but deal 1d4 + your Strength modifier slashing damage instead.
Natural Armor. You have tough, scaly skin. You can calculate your AC as 13 + your Dexterity modifier. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Cunning Artisan. As part of a short rest, you can harvest bone and hide from a slain beast, construct, dragon, monstrosity, or plant creature of size Small or larger to create one of the following items: a shield, a club, a javelin, or 1d4 pieces of ammunition.
Subraces. Choose one of the subraces below. Your choice will determine additional benefits.
Description
An Adaptive Race
Lizardfolk generally focus on survival above all, without any unnecessary sentiments. Their mindset might sometimes seem cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The swamps and jungles they inhabit are filled with a staggering variety of threats.Blackscale lizardfolk are extraordinarily aggressive. They are the only lizardfolk with the ability to see in the dark, which scholars have speculated is due to black dragon blood running in their veins. This theory is further supported by their natural resistance against acid, and dark-hued scales.
Poison dusk lizardfolk are the smallest of the lizardfolk, but are masters of camouflage and poison. Using them both to deadly effect. They know how to create an oily substance which reacts to the natural chemicals within their chameleon skin. When applied to clothes or armor, it causes these to change color as well, granting them camouflage. However, like most lizardfolk, they usually fight without such trappings because their own natural hides provide sufficient protection.
Sharptooth lizardfolk are the most numerous of the lizardfolk, and are usually the most ingenious and focused on survival. Some call them cowardly or opportunistic, but they simply assess situations based on what gives them the best chance to survive. The more civilized sharptooth lizardfolk either live near bodies of water and swamps, or roam the plains, riding large prehistoric beasts, such as triceratops or styracosaurus, into battle. These sharptooth lizardfolk usually don't keep livestock, as they prefer to hunt or fish. They usually wear headgear with feathers of birds, and they are a little more advanced as they live in tipi instead of homes made out of mud.
They are also among the most successful of lizardfolk, as many of their tribes have formed strong alliances with the other races over the years. Unlike most lizardfolk, these sharptooth lizardfolk venerate their ancestors, and follow a code of honor. They refer to their ancestors as dragons, however they are not descendants of dragons, which is evident by the fact that kobolds don't worship them in any shape or form. The word dragon is a misunderstanding, as in their language (which is a slightly different version of draconic) dragon refers to large and powerful reptilian creatures. What they are referring to are ancient and terrifying lizards commonly known as dinosaurs.
Relationship with Other Races
Most lizardfolk are pragmatic, and are seen as cold. There is a saying that when a lizardfolk looks at you funny, that he is likely sizing you up as a potential meal. And while most lizardfolk have a strong sense of cooperation, they will often not hesitate to prevent your body from going to waste should you die.A lizardfolk who lives among other humanoids can, over time, learn to respect other creatures’ emotions. The lizardfolk doesn’t share those feelings, but instead assesses them in the same clinical manner. Yes, the fallen dwarf might be most useful as a meal, but hacking the body into steaks provokes aggression in the other humanoids and makes them less helpful in battle.
At their core, lizardfolk view other humanoids with an indifference verging on pity. Born into the world lacking stout scales and sharp teeth, it’s a wonder they have managed to survive for so long. The typical human would
barely make it through a day in the swamps. Still, if other creatures prove themselves useful to the lizardfolk, those creatures can trigger a protective response made all the stronger by their apparent weakness. The lizardfolk assess such beings as hatchlings, young ones incapable of protecting themselves but who might prove useful in the future if they receive care. The more civilized sharptooth lizardfolk are an exception to this rule, as they follow codes of honor and can genuinely understand and feel emotions. These are also the lizardfolk who are most likely to trade with the other races, and go on adventures.
Lizards and Dragons
Although the lizardfolk are not a draconic race, their fates are often intertwined with that of dragons. Black and green dragons often share the same habitats, and are known to employ lizardfolk as minions after sufficient intimidation. On the other hand, lizardfolk face far less prejudice from the draconic races, such as dragonborn and half dragons. They respect dragonborn the most as they feel that their natural weapons make them the most self-sufficient, even though they find it odd that the scales of most dragonborn are soft.The Steelscale dragonborn are the exception, as their scales are equally hardened across their body, as opposed to the lizardfolk who have areas on their body that are thicker than others. Because of this, Steelscale dragonborn may benefit from their scales as an extra layer of defense (unless their scales are completely supplanted by heavier armor), while the lizardfolk's hide is a mere substitute for real armor. However this is adequate for most lizardfolk, as they are able to do just fine by wearing little in very hostile environments. Half dragons are greatly respected for their power and draconic lineage, while kobolds are seen as either an annoyance or a meal. The more civilized lizardolk however will generally extend their respect to kobolds as well, provided they pose no threat to their tribe.
Lizardfolk Names
Lizardfolk take their names from the Draconic language. They use simple descriptive terms granted by the tribe based on an individual’s notable deeds or actions. Lizardfolk make no distinction between male and female in their naming conventions. Each example name includes its translation in parenthesis.Lizardfolk Names: Achuak (green), Aryte (war), Baeshra(animal), Darastrix (dragon), Garurt (axe), Irhtos (secret), Jhank (hammer), Kepesk (storm), Kethend (gem), Korth (danger), Kosj (small), Kothar (demon), Litrix (armor), Mirik (song), Othokent (smart), Sauriv (eye), Throden (many), Thurkear (night), Usk (iron), Valignat (burn), Vargach (battle), Verthica (mountain), Vutha (black), Vyth (steel)
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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.009 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 11:04, May 6 2024