Selaguan

Selaguan are large shark-like humanoids. They have large jaws filled with sharp teeth, which can easily crush unsuspecting opponents. They are adapted to life both on land and underwater, and frequently build their communities on the coasts. They are also a common sight on the open seas. Most selaguan live on land or ships, but there is old selaguan architecture that can be found beneath the water.

Pirate Life

The most fearsome pirate in the empire was a selaguan known as the Crimson Maw. They made their legend by robbing the ships of the wealthy and providing safe passage for the ships of the poor.

The Crimson Maw had a simple rule: give them what they wanted, and no one would be harmed. Resist, and everyone except for the captain would be killed. For a period of time, the Crimson Maw was considered the ruler of the ocean, for no one dared resist. If commanded by their captain to fight the Crimson Maw, the crew would mutiny, knowing that they would die and the captain would live if they were to resist. Many a ship had a change in leadership when approached by the Crimson Maw.

Many young selaguan idealize pirates like the Crimson Maw and want to become famous pirates.

Scrimshaw Tradition

Many selaguan groups have a hunting-based rite of adulthood. Young selaguan are tasked with hunting a large or dangerous animal, sometimes in groups. When they succeed, they take the bones of the creature and carve it with their name.

Once they have finished carving the scrimshaw, their family or a respected leader will fashion the scrimshaw into a piece of jewelry for the young selaguan to carry. They are now considered an adult in the eyes of the group and add to the scrimshaw throughout their life.

Upon death, a selaguan’s personal scrimshaw is used as a visual history of their life.

Aquatic Strife

Selaguan have a history of conflict with other aquatic communities. Long ago the selaguan rallied together for a great aquatic war against another group and won. Most surface dwellers are unaware of this history, but aquatic or costal people know of the war.

Who did the selaguan go to war against, and why?

Selaguan Traits

You gain the following traits as a selaguan.

• Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
• Age. Selaguan mature and age slightly faster than humans and typically live for up to 60 years.
• Size. Selaguan tend to be taller than humans, standing over 6 feet tall and weighing more than 250 pounds on average. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Aquatic Adaptation (Major Feature). You have a swim speed of 30 feet and can breathe air and water.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial.

Major Features

Choose one of the following major features. You can exchange this major feature for two additional minor features.

• Blood in the Water. When you damage a creature with an attack or spell, you can cause the attack or spell to deal extra damage to the creature. The extra damage equals your level. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Bloodhunter. You have advantage on attack rolls against creatures at their hit point maximum.
• Sharkskin Hide. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your sharkskin hide to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal when you use your natural armor. In addition, you deal slashing damage equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1) to any creature that starts its turn grappling or grappled by you.

Minor Features

Choose two of the following minor features, or four if you didn’t choose a major feature.

• Cold Resistance. You have resistance to cold damage.
• Combat Training. You have proficiency with two weapons of your choice.
• 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.
• Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
• Intimidating Presence. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
• Ocean Dweller. You are adapted to the deep pressures and cold of life underwater. You ignore any of the drawbacks caused by a cold or deep underwater environment.
• Shark Bite. Selaguan have a powerful bite. Your bite is considered a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the normal bludgeoning damage for an unarmed attack. Your natural weapons are not weapons, but attacks with them are considered weapon attacks. This means that you can use your natural weapons for effects like the paladin’s divine smite, but not abilities that target weapons specifically.
• Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.