Sahuagin

Sahuagin are a race of fish-like rapacious predators who consider it their manifest destiny to conquer the oceans. They are known as the sea-devils and as shark-men for their malevolent "shark-like" personality, violent hatred of weakness and infirmity, rampant cannibalism, and ability to commune with sharks.

Personality

Sahuagin are intelligent, orderly beings that barely suppress their bloodlust, and the smallest provocation can tip them off. In order to satiate their bloodlust, they periodically revel in bloody waters; those who cannot do so either become lethargic or murderous.
The sahuagin race's goal is nothing less than to dominate the seas, and they view other races, especially merfolk and tortles, as nothing more than food, game, or slaves. Aboleths and krakens are both hated and respected, being the greatest threats to the sahuagin themselves. The only creatures sahuagin seem to get along with are sharks, with which they can communicate telepathically, and the shark-like adaros. Sahuagin have even developed their own species of servitor sharks called feeders in the depths, which are more intelligent and more bloodthirsty than regular sharks. Other than sharks and adaros, sahuagin have been known to enslave sea monsters like dragon turtles as beasts of battle.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sahuagin appear as some sort of cross between humanoids and fish, while their frame has much in common with most Soulborn - having two arms and two legs, though the digits are webbed. In addition, they also boast a tail that ends in a fish-like fin to help propel them through the water. Some sahuagin develop towering physiques, reaching 9 feet tall; these giant sea-devils tend to rise to higher positions, as the savage nature of the sahuagin encourages challenges to the death for higher status.
Sahuagin are usually green-skinned; darker on the back and lighter on the belly. Many have dark stripes, bands, or spots, but these tend to fade with age. Females develop specks of yellow on their tails, which grow in number until the whole tail is of a deep yellow color. At that point, the female is no longer considered fit for mating. 
A sahuagin's head is clearly piscine, with a mouth that gapes like a fish but it filled with sharp, flesh-rending teeth.

Genetics and Reproduction

Female sahuagin lay clutches of up to 200 eggs each in well-protected chambers. Depending on its size, a sahuagin settlement can have from one to a dozen egg chambers. After three months, the eggs hatch, and the hatchlings quickly turn on each other in a violent feeding frenzy. After a year, the parents return to claim their offspring that were clever, fast or strong enough to survive in the egg chambers, recognizing them by scent. Unclaimed young, either because their parents have died or cannot recognize them, are raised communally.
About one in every 216 hatchlings possesses four functional arms. Known as "barons", these four-armed mutations are often black, fading to gray in color. While sahuagin usually kill off defective hatchlings, they allow these to live.
If a sahuagin abode is near a merfolk community or is frequently visited by them, a strange mutation can occur within that clan. About one in every 100 hatchlings appears to look like a merfolk with greenish-silver skin and green or blue hair. These mutants are called malenti. Malenti are shunned by the clan as whole, but are protected by the clan's ruler and raised as spies by the clan's best warriors and the priestesses.

Growth Rate & Stages

Sahuagin grow limbs after six months, reach a height of five feet at the age of one, and attain their adult size at six. Sahuagin grow large but not feeble as they age, and some rulers have been known to live for centuries, but most are killed before their thirtieth year.

Ecology and Habitats

Sahuagin can comfortably live in all aquatic environments, even the Upside Down, regardless of pressure or temperature. Regardless, they markedly prefer warm coastal waters, where food and prey are both plentiful.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Meat. Sahuagin feed at an almost constant rate if allowed. A rare few have been observed overeating to the point of death. This is considered a great weakness by their kind. They prefer the meat of sentient species as the hunt to capture such meat is generally more challenging and pushes them to be more efficient killers.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Sahuagin names are harsh, guttural and difficult for non-Sahuagin to pronounce. They believe their names are the names of the soul fragment of the hunger they carry inside themselves. Names are not given until until the Sahuagin takes the life another of his kind or a prey item more powerful than himself. If his first sentient kill is another Sahuagin than he takes the name of that one. If his first kill was an unnamed Sahuagin or a powerful non-Sahuagin then it is up to one of the hunger-speakers to choose a name.
Sahuagin Names: Ctutlo, C'theper, Ngoggdaxr, C'thixhal, Kheldad, Ivrodho, Angumbri, Aiuvouxhu, Id'ildulb, Ec'tondixz

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Sahuagin society is a ruthless, orderly meritocracy. Titles are earned with prowess and skills and lost with incompetence; showing any sign of weakness is to risk death. Children of nobles have more opportunities and training, while those of commoners must fend for themselves as soon as they mature, and sahuagin take pride in powerful relatives, but otherwise bloodlines matter little. A commoner's ambitious child might become king or queen, while a royal's inept offspring can end up as food like any other.
Each noble sahuagin aspires to subjugate others and become the ruler of an empire. The sahuagin are at constant war against each other, and their kings and queens encourage these petty feuds as a means to satiate bloodlust, control their numbers, and hone their skills.
They have a very particular way of keeping lore, using what they call singing bundles—conchs and shells supported by bone and sinew. When shaken, they make the clicking and hissing sounds of sahuagin language to tell stories.

Common Myths and Legends

Sahuagin worship Sekolah, god of sharks, as their patron god and the father of their race. They also perceive him as the ultimate adjudicator and incarnation of punishment, officiating over an endless struggle between mythic figures. These figures were the hunter: "He Who Eats", and the hated: "It That Is Eaten", with the struggle between them reflected in every aspect of life. Because of this, sharks are seen as holy creatures to them, and dolphins are hated for their friendship with Soulborn. The sahuagin make regular, living sacrifices to Sekolah by feeding the sacrificed being to the sharks that follow every sahuagin priest.

Origin/Ancestry

Dranlegoritha, Whose Fangs Rend the Heavens

Lifespan

240 years

Average Height

6'1"

Average Weight

185 lbs.

Founding Emanation

Sekolah, the Shark-Father

Racial Stats
Sahuagin(Brachian)

Sahuagin (Brachian)

Ability Score Increase +1 Con, +1 Str, +1 Cha

Size Medium

Speed 30ft, swim 40ft

---

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the dark depths of the sea and executing coastal raids under the cover of night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Limited Amphibiousness

You can breathe air and water, but you must consume twice as much water as normal if you are not submerged in water for at least 1 hour each day.

Blood Frenzy

When you miss with an attack roll against a creature that doesn’t have all its hit points, you can reroll the attack with advantage. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Shark Telepathy

All sharks recognize you as an ally and are friendly to you unless you harm them. You can cast beast bond an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only sharks with it. When you use this version of beast bond, it has a range of 120 feet and does not require your concentration.

Four Arms

You can wield a versatile or two-handed melee weapon that lacks the heavy property using only two of your four hands, though you cannot wield two weapons in this way simultaneously. Melee weapons with the heavy property and two-handed ranged weapons require all four of your hands to properly manipulate. Shields require the use of two hands for you, as does performing the somatic components of a spell. In addition, on your turn, you can interact with up to two objects or features of the environment for free, during either your move or your action, rather than one.

Languages. Eolian and Shioani

Racial Stats
Sahuagin(Proselyte)

Sahuagin (Proselyte)

Ability Score Increase +1 Con, +1 to two abilities of your choice other than Con

Size Medium

Speed 30ft, swim 40ft

---

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the dark depths of the sea and executing coastal raids under the cover of night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Limited Amphibiousness

You can breathe air and water, but you must consume twice as much water as normal if you are not submerged in water for at least 1 hour each day.

Blood Frenzy

When you miss with an attack roll against a creature that doesn’t have all its hit points, you can reroll the attack with advantage. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Blood-Crazed

You gain two additional uses of your Blood Frenzy trait (minimum of 3 uses).

Shark Telepathy

All sharks recognize you as an ally and are friendly to you unless you harm them. You can cast beast bond an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only sharks with it. When you use this version of beast bond, it has a range of 120 feet and does not require your concentration.

Sahuagin Specialization

Refining your role in sahuagin society, you have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Medicine, Perception, Religion, Stealth, or Survival.

Languages. Eolian and Shioani

Racial Stats
Sahuagin(Sekolin)

Sahuagin (Sekolin)

Ability Score Increase +2 Str, +1 Con

Size Medium

Speed 30ft, swim 40ft

---

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the dark depths of the sea and executing coastal raids under the cover of night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Limited Amphibiousness

You can breathe air and water, but you must consume twice as much water as normal if you are not submerged in water for at least 1 hour each day.

Blood Frenzy

When you miss with an attack roll against a creature that doesn’t have all its hit points, you can reroll the attack with advantage. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Shark Telepathy

All sharks recognize you as an ally and are friendly to you unless you harm them. You can cast beast bond an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only sharks with it. When you use this version of beast bond, it has a range of 120 feet and does not require your concentration.

Apex Predator

You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Bite

Your razor-sharp maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Electroreception

As a bonus action, you can instantaneously sense the current location of all creatures within 15 feet of you. If a creature you sense is invisible or otherwise unseen by you, you learn its location, but you are still subject to those conditions and effects.

Languages. Eolian and Shioani