Grey Ape

Grey apes are one of the lesser-known races. Few grey apes go on adventures, and those that do are trapped in a different time than all they know and love. Being a rare sight, grey apes tend to attract a lot of attention wherever they go.

Bestial but not Savage

Grey apes might look like simian savages given their hirsute bodies, fanged faces, and generally snarling visages, however they are an intelligent and thoughtful people. Like any sapient race they can be caring and kind to each other, and like so many other races, they can be cruel and vindictive towards their foes. Even so, the ape is not far from the surface, and when angry or threatened, grey apes are known to howl, pound their chests, and throw heavy objects.

Passionate

The grey apes are known for their great passions, both positive and negative. A grey ape loves fully knowing no limit to what they will do for their beloved. Likewise, when driven by hate they hate with an all-consuming fire. This makes their warriors ferocious in battle and their scholars’ single minded in purpose. To have a grey ape as a friend is to know that they will stand by you no matter what the world throws your way, but to have one as an enemy is a terrible thing for the grey ape will stop at nothing to see you brought down.

Varied

The culture of the grey apes has evolved over time, and as their home island is trapped and slit between eras, this makes any two grey apes found elsewhere in the Lost Lands likely to be from very different cultures. A warrior from the tribes of the Years of Monsters is going to approach the world differently than a scholar who served the High King’s court centuries later. This has made the reputation of the grey apes to be one of confusion, for strangers speak of the noble primitive and expect the erudite philosopher to be the same just because they are of the same race.

Trapped Between Times

Grey apes found away from their home might be from any of these four, and thus any two grey apes may speak very differently. Those that have left their homeland are often tragic figures, they might never be able to go home again, and even if they did, they know the fate awaiting their island.

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Age. Grey Apes tend to live roughly the same lifespans as humans, reaching adulthood slightly at 20 years and expecting to live in to their 90s unless felled by injury or disease.
• Alignment. Grey Apes, at least until the last years of the high king’s rule, tend to lead a fairly chaotic life. The constant struggle with the jungle and each other, and during the Years of the Monsters various would be overlords, has left the Grey Apes with a very pragmatic approach to life that tends to look at outcomes rather than good or evil.
• Size. You stand 6-7 ft. tall and weigh around 250 pounds, you are medium sized.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 ft., and you have a climb speed of 20 ft.
• Darkvision. Within 60 ft. you see in darkness as if it were dim light, and dim light as if it were bright light. You can’t discern colors, only shades of grey.
• Fearsome Howl. As a bonus action you may utter a fearsome howl that discomforts your foes. When you do so, all enemies within 30 ft. of you that can hear you must make a Wisdom save with a DC equal to 8 + your Strength modifier + your proficiency bonus. Those that fail the saving throw are frightened of you until the end of their next turn. You may do this once, and regain use of this trait following a short rest.
• Furious Charge. As an action, you may move your full movement and make a single attack. When you do so, you attack with advantage.
• Menacing. You gain proficiency with the Intimidate skill.
• Powerful Jaws. You have fangs that you can use as an unarmed attack. This bite inflicts 1d6 + Strength modifier piercing damage. If you are restrained you do not suffer disadvantage when using your bite to attack.
• Languages. You can speak Althindu, a language of hoots, howls, and guttural utterances. You can also read and write Althindu, but before that there is no written form of the language. Those that have left their home island can speak, read, and write Common.