Melambai
Homebrew
Melambai
As varied as the many creatures of the ocean's depths, the melambai were once a proud people, until they were scorned and banished from their home by the gods. Seeking refuge amongst the islands of the Reaches, they quickly acclimated to the surface world and integrated well with its people.
Deep Castaways
Melambai spawn from the deepest oceans, with a mix of spiritual and fey ancestry. As diverse as the fauna of the trenches, some appear humanoid with minor piscine traits, and others more closely resemble fish, crustaceans, or cephalopods. A few even resemble coral, anemones, or other unique underwater organisms.
Millenia ago the melambai were proud and prosperous citizens of a magnificent kingdom spanning the depths of vast oceans. Long ago their leaders made a pact with a being known as Sili Togafiti to allow their species to travel upward to the surface and breathe air. The goddess Gracia, however, saw this as a terrible betrayal. For abandoning her realm she cast them out from their utopian kingdom. Melambai now reside in mainland coastal towns and on the islands of The Reaches, their former home guarded by the most powerful of Marids, its secrets locked away for eternity.
Of Spirits and Honor
Their home and culture lost, melambai have learned the importance of honor and spirituality. Many elders are deeply humble, spending their last years meditating to seek the wisdom of the unseen world. While the younglings are often overcome by crashing waves of rage when their family or loved ones are insulted, it is in their nature to instead focus on solutions and seek forgiveness, gratitude, and love.
Melambai names
As with the waves, the name of a melambai is ever shifting, as they choose their own name to reflect themself as ideally as it can. While they stick with a name throughout their childhood, they will adopt a different one as they grow into themselves. Melambai also have a fluid concept of gender and might switch names freely as they shift their gender identities.
Female Names: Amathe, Gnorcys, Leurybia, Margomestra, Nereones, Oleia, Samathe, Saphiro, Tethene, Theaneia, Thectra
Male Names: Bysseus, Cetos, Galaukus, Galiton, Kenessos, Odexes, Palamon, Pontreus, Rheteus, Thrasios
Deep Sea Darkvision. 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. This vision is doubled when underwater. Additionally, you may choose to shine a biolumenescent dim light in a 20 foot radius around you. This light works when submerged.
Swim. You have a swimming speed of 40 feet.
Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
Spirits of the Sea. Melambai are keenly attuned to the spirits of the sea, and you may call on them for aid. You gain spirit points equal to your proficiency bonus and regain them when you finish a long rest. To cast a spell using this trait, you spend spirit points equal to the spell's level. You can't increase a spell's level when casting with this trait.
You can invoke the spirits to cast fog cloud as a 1st level spell. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast ma’el’s geyser as a 2nd level spell, and starting at 5th level, you can cast wall of water with this trait. Your may choose your spellcasting ability for these spells from Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
