Pachyderman

Pachydermans are humanoid elephants.

Ancient pachyderman texts report that the pachydermans originated as avatars of a god from another plane of existence. Pachyderman scholars debate whether this is myth or fact, but they agree that the pachydermans came to this plane through a portal, which closed behind them, leaving them here.

Ancestral Traits

Pachydermans are anthropomorphic elephants. They have gray, tough skin, tall, broad bodies, short, thick fingers, and two elephant feet. Their heads are identical to an elephant‘s, though size appropriately for their humanoid body. They have large ears and a long, prehensile trunk, and some have small tusks as well. Your pachyderman character has several distinctive features due to this ancestry.

Age. Pachydermans mature more slowly than humans, reaching adulthood by age thirty. They live to roughly 150 years of age.

Size. Pachydermans are larger, broader, and heavier than humans. They average 8 feet tall and 500 lbs. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base speed is 30 feet.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger for determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Prehensile Trunk. You have a two- to threefoot long trunk that is agile and strong. As a bonus action, you can use your trunk to take the Use an Object action. As an action, you can use your trunk to attempt to grapple a foe. Your trunk can hold, carry, push, drag, or lift up to one third of your normal capacity for those actions. Your trunk is not dexterous enough to wield weapons or perform the somatic component of a spell, however.

Cultural Traits

Pachyderman communities are uncommon, but can be found in a variety of environments. These communities are most often found in out of the way places, as they tend to develop around centers of learning and reflection. Those pachyderman communities that do develop around such locations, such as monasteries, often adopt practices of meditation and peaceful exercise. Pachyderman communities are surprisingly quiet, serene places, which makes the occasional bellowing trumpet of an ancestral pachyderman all the more surprising. Such communities are often very diverse, as pachyderman communities tend to welcome anyone willing to partake in their practices of reflection and meditation.

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

Alignment. Pachyderman communities are usually places of quiet serenity, governed by a shared commitment to reflection and peace. These communities tend toward law.

Meditative. Members of pachyderman communities often learn and practice meditation techniques that calm the mind and heal the spirit. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened and resistance against psychic damage.

Languages. You speak, read, and write Common and Pachyderman, a language of trumpeting sounds that those not of pachyderman ancestry can learn to emulate with difficulty.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

More Ancestries & Cultures, Copyright 2020, Arcanist Press LLP.

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