Viperines

"Lost the power of your gaze, fiend?", the priest cried, his holy symbol gripped in his outstretched hand.

Cursed Origins

"I am not what you think I am, human," the half-woman replied, her serpent hair rearing back in a visible display of irritation."You are a twisted beast, suffering penance for the sins of your mothers until such time as God's light redeems you," he grinned cruelly as he readied his hammer, "I am that light.""So be it. Though it is you who will meet God today, as all the rest have," she said simply, drawing her blade and steeling herself to the task of creating another martyr to ignorance."Spawning from the unholy union of men and medusas, vicious snake haired monsters cursed by the very gods, Viperines are serpent like people with a frightening visage. Viperines carry their mother's monstrous natures, but the indomitability of their human parentage.

Spawning from the often unholy union of men and medusae, Viperines are serpent-like humanoids with a frightening visage. They bear the vestiges of their mother's terrible curse, and the indomitability of their father's human spirit.

Cunning and Guarded

Due to the nature of their appearance, Viperines are often feared and reviled by most. This constant icy reception has led to their mistrust of others, and a need to rely on one's own wit and intellect rather than the warmth or kindness of others. This upbringing causes numerous Viperines to grow into the roles related to the world's underbelly such as assassins, thieves, spies and cutthroats.

Viperine Names

Viperines raised within the societies of their human fathers will be named according to their customs, while those that live among their beastial mothers will be named vicious and cruel things to reflect their darker, cursed existence.

Adonia, Nagina, Ethelinda, Ninia, Stheno, Despina, Nikoleta, Vipera, Melusine, Echidna

Viperine Traits

Adrastos, Taipan, Natrix, Nagendra, Evander, Hyperion, Ophion, Tefnut, Ratall, Euryale

Viperines share certain racial traits as a result of their cursed heritage.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence increases by 1.

Age. Viperines mature at the same rate as humans and live up to 200 years.

Alignment. Viperines may not have a tendency towards evil but many of them end up there. Evil or not, their scheming nature inclines many Viperines towards a lawful alignment.

Size. Viperines are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Viper's Resilience. You have poison resistance.

Darkvision. Due to your beastial nature, you have superior vision in dark and dim lit places. 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.

Serpent's Sting. When you take the attack action you may use your serpentine hair to deliver a bite attack. This attack deals 1d6 piercing damage. The ability modifier for this attack roll is Dexterity.

Paralyzing Gaze. You know the acid splash cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the spell disguise self once per day as a 2nd level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you may also cast the spell hold person once per day. Your spellcasting ability modifier for these spells is Intelligence.

Illustration by Ironshod.deviantart.com

Homebrew by Dicebound.tumblr.com