Barghest, Variant (5e Race)

Barghest, Variant

What are you talking about? A Barghest? Me? I'm a reglar old goblin, just like you." - Morren the Barghest.

Physical Description

Barghests are born of Goblinoid parents, but they are much more sinister and vicious than their supposed relatives. A Barghests in its true form resembles large canine creature, about six feet tall on all fours, with black or grey fur and bright green or yellow eyes. While in their goblin form, there are still tell-tale signs of the Barghest's true nature. For example, there might be a fang or two sticking out of their mouth, or their face might be strangely snout-like. However, they are just as deadly and vicious in both forms, and they should never be underestimated.

History

Goblinoid parents believed that Barghests were blessings from Bane, who at one point had conquered the goblinoid pantheon, but the creatures possessed another origin story. Long ago, Maglubiyet had petitioned the General of Gehenna for yugoloth mercenaries but betrayed their deal. This prompted the General to create the Barghests, which would devour the souls of important goblinoids and deprive Maglubiyet of useful troops and leaders. It was said that all barghests desired to return to Gehenna in order to join the General's legions and that they had to eat seventeen goblinoid souls to do so, a number corresponding to the amount of oaths that Maglubiyet supposedly broke.

Society

Barghests on the Material Plane operated either alone or with a sibling, lurking in remote humanoid communities or joining bands of goblinoids although they weren't opposed to leading other wicked races. Normally they attempted to keep their true nature hidden for as long as possible, devouring the occasional goblin when given the opportunity until old enough to find more promising prey and too obvious remain inconspicuous.

Barghest Names

Seeing as Barghests are born of goblinoid parents, their names are usually goblinoid names.

Barghest Traits

These canine creatures have the ability to transform into Goblins.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. Barghests normally live for about 50 or 60 years, but most of them are assassinated or hunted down before hand.
Alignment. Barghests are normally evil although they can be quite neutral at times.
Size. Your full body length is about 12 feet. Your size is large.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Bite. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 + your strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You cannot do this whilein goblin form.
Fiery Weakness. You have vulnerability to fire damage.
Strong Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag or lift.
Shapechanger. As an action you can polymorph into a goblin or back into your true form. While in your goblin form, your size is small, and your base walking speed is 30 feet. Any Equipment you put on while in the goblin form moulds into your true form when you transform back into it. If a magic item moulds with your true form, you can use any of the magical features that just requires the item on your person, and not actually weilding it.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write two languages of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
10′ ''	+2d12	350 lb.	× (2d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

5.00

(2 votes)

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races