Lamia

Sensuous and seductive, the serpent-tailed lamias are born into a life consumed by bitterness. The race’s origins lie with humanity, but an ancient curse twisted them into half-human, half-animal forms. No matter what victories lamias achieve, they can’t fill the gaping hole in their souls the curse left behind. This unquenchable longing drives lamias to embrace excess and overindulgence. They indulge in lust, luxury, gory feasts, and violent trysts in a vain attempt to salve their emptiness.

Some lamias, however, see this hedonism for the corruption it truly is and reject it. They face a constant struggle against these urges, and that resistance fervently drives them to do what they know is right, rather than what will numb their pain.

Physical Description

A lamia’s upper body is that of a beautiful, statuesque human. Slender and well formed, lamias are uniformly alluring despite a dangerous, exotic edge flavoring that beauty. From the waist down, however, lamias bear great serpent tails. When drawn up to their full height they stand about as tall as humans, reaching 5 or 6 feet tall. The musculature of their tails makes them heavy despite their lean, muscular torsos and arms.

Skin and hair tones run the wide range seen among humans. Lamia eyes are large and liquid, presenting a full range of colors. Their snake tails are covered in glossy scales that whisper when they move. Beautiful hypnotic patterns of curves or diamond shapes are just as likely as tails of a uniform color. Common colors include bright green, dull red, glossy black, pale gold, and dusty tan.

Tattoos are common, and many lamias ink mystic symbols into the flesh of their arms and chests.

Racial Traits

Your lamia character has certain characteristics resulting from your blighted heritage.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. Lamias reach adulthood at 20 years old and can live to be over 150.

Alignment. Lamias are overwhelmingly evil and almost never lawful. Exceptions exist, but their demonic heritage strongly influences the race.

Size. Lamias are slighter and shorter than humans, and they range from 4 feet to just shy of 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Type. You are of the monstrosity type.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You also have a climb speed of 20 feet and a swim speed of 20 feet.

Darkvision. Thanks to your demonic heritage you can see dim light within 60 feet as though it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Abyssal and Common.

Special Traits

Dangerous Beauty. You have proficiency in the Deception and Intimidation skills.

Serpent Strike. You have advantage on attack rolls against a creature you have surprised, or that is charmed by you or your allies.

Snake Body. You have advantage on saving throws and ability checks against being knocked prone. You can’t benefit from anything that requires legs or feet (such as magical footwear).

Character Details

You can determine the specific details of your unlikely hero’s height and weight using the guidelines suggested in the racial descriptions. Remember that these are a snapshot of the average members of these races. Outliers exist in any population, allowing for vastly greater or lesser stature, or coloration outside the suggestion norm.

If you wish to randomly generate your hero’s physical characteristics, roll on the following table as appropriate for your character’s race and gender.

Race Base Height Height Modifier Base Weight Weight Modifier
Lamia 5′ 4″ +2d8 110 lb. x (2d4) lb.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Unlikely Heroes for 5th Edition © 2016 Open Design; Author: Dan Dillon.

This is not the complete license attribution - see the full license for this page