Basalisk

“ Gundran was so close to reaching the city, he knew it. Squinting into the light, he could just barely see the faint shine of metal under the hot sun, and so he trudged forward, exhausted.

A few hundred meters ahead of the starving elven man, a tribe of basalisk's spot him. He had been drawn to the glint of their incubators thinking he would find food, drink, and rest. One of these basilisks draws their shortsword and slinks off from the main pack. It's a shame that he would have to be killed just after finding hope, but the brood will soon hatch and a kill like this could feed the young for a month. "

—Wayne Reynald, The Suffering Game

Mammalian races, such as the dwarves, elves, and humans, remain dominant over much of the earth thanks to their incredable ability to adapt. The races that did not possess such warm-blooded capabilities often died off, outcompleted by their scale-less rivals, excpect in one exeptional circumstance. The basilisks rule over the desert thanks to their cold-blooded and hardy nature, beating away their rival mammilian races from their sand-covered homes. Efficient and brutal the basilisks are the last bastions of hope for reptillian races.

The Desert Kings

While in the forests, swamps, or mountian ranges basalisks struggle to compete with the warm-blooded races the desert is undoubtedly rules by the basilisks. Their cold-blooded bodies and slow metabolism allow them to go weeks without eating or dirnking anything at all, and so their cities and villages can be bigger than one made for any of the mammilian races. Under the searing heat of the sun most races would overheat, but the basilisks enjoy the light of the sun, and use it to empower themselves.

Emboldened Curiosity

Despite their reptillian bodies, basilisks are still as curious as any other sapient race. Well adapted to surviving in their desert environment even the poorest of basilisk tribes can afford to have some of their members train in the way of adventuring. It is simply a matter of time, eventually one of a tribes members will, out of curiosity, discover some arcane secret or powerful martial technique. Most basilisk adventurers take up the path of adventuring as a means of survival, a source of income or power.

Basilisk Names

Difference between male and female basilisks are invisible to the naked eye, and because of this there are no unique male and female names. Each basilisk has their first name and a nickname based on their personality, which can change.

First Names: Gerek, Pordick, Porrin, Machik, Kartica, Gerdap, Hapid, Wretch, Pekiron, Gardil, Fidg, Puk, Grung, Kerch, Denp, Mord, Kremdu, Keng, Mork, Gendech, Gok, Parkid, Horach,

Trait Names: Wildheart, Greatspear, Treeforce, Goldhunter, Wildshield, Herahand, Truesmith, Powerkill, Magehand, Deathtier, Heartclaw, Piercesnout

Basilisk Traits

Your basilisk character has a selection of natural traits that allow them to survive in the hot desert.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by two, and your Intelligence score increases by one.

Age. Basilisks mature more slowly than their mammalian companions, and reach maturity around 30 years of age. A healthy basilisk can reach their 2nd or 3rd century but most will be killed far before that.

Alignment. In the wild dunes of their homeland the basilisks must do whatever they can in order to survive, making them chaotic in nature. However, very few wish to harm others as long as they can survive without doing so and tend to wards the neutral axis rather than evil or good.

Size. Basilisk's average around 6ft tall and weight around 150 pounds. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Cold Blooded. You gain resistance to fire damage. You slow metabolism also means you only require half of the food and water other races require.

Solar Powered. When you complete a long rest within bright light (such as that made by a campfire) you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to twice your Constitution modifier up to a maximum of twice your Constitution modifier.

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