Sahuagin (5e Race)

Sahuagin

The sahuagin, a wicked being with the the build of a human and the features and the savagery of a shark, live beneath the waves and defend their territory against anything that would get in their way.

Sea Devils

By Yoshitaka Amano

Sahuagin are usually green-skinned, with scales like that of a fish covering their body. Like fish scale colors, it is darker colored on the back and lighter on the belly. Many sahuagin have dark markings early on, but these generally fade with age. Sahuagin are highly piscine humanoids, with webbed feet and hands, gills, and a finned tail. They also have webbing where ears would be on most humanoids as well as down their spine. Their eyes are said to glow in the murk of the deep where they lurk ad hunt.

Water Hunters

Sahuagin are creatures as old as time, existing from when the ocean was a primordial place, and proto merfolk swam among them. None were so vicious as the sahuagin, who were the hyenas of the deep. Unlike the giants like a plesiosaur, sahuagin did not need size to gain ground in an underwater scuffle. They know no honor, and so swarm any enemy as one. None could withstand their attacks in numbers, as they were like piranhas. They dominated even large enemies, knowing no fear of death. Eventually, they carved out their own place in the ocean's depths, a place where no other creature dare treads for fear of these pack hunters. Sahuagin hunts are often so savage that they can leave an entire ecosystem ravaged in the process. Thus, the seafloor near their dens are always barren of life.

Packs for Blood

Strength in numbers applies best for sahuagin. Their size is certainly bigger than a kobold, making them more deadly. This is, however, a foil for their inherent selfishness. Each sahuagin acts on their own self-interest. However, as they all seem to think alike, their actions make them seem like they coordinate as well as a school of fish. Within a pack of sahuagin can be as many as thirty to fifty. They can easily swarm and overwhelm the hull of a midsized ship.

Within their barren underwater grottos where they dwell, sahuagin occupy many an empty space. It is rare for this race to ever cohabit, even as mates. Sahuagin procreate like humans and do it like animals. When the female is impregnated, she will surface in an underwater cavern with sufficient space to deter males from possibly eating her eggs, as sahuagin can be cannibals. Once they are lain and safe, they will be left there until they hatch only a few weeks later. The female usually only returns once to leave a corpse or something for the newborns to nibble on once born. It is believed she does this out of instinct rather than care. Once the little guppies hatch, they already have some pretty sharp teeth. If no food was left, they mindlessly eat each other. After feeding, they swim out to the great expanse of the ocean in schools and hope other adult sahuagin don't eat them.

Sahuagin Names

Sahuagin speak an old lost dialect called Mermish, which is full of gibbering sounds like one is blowing bubbles. This is often mixed with Aquan to make nonsensical names, as they do not care for this.

Male: Xidobloblo, Hijigololo, Fandoblolo

Female: Sareloblub, Glubae, Maglug

Sahuagin Traits

A fish-like monstrous humanoid species that lives in oceans, seas, underground lakes, and underwater caves
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and Wisdom score each increases by 1.
Age. The adult age and lifespan of Sahuagin is not widely known, but many speculate that they live to be slightly older than humans, about 100-120 years at most. Sahuagin reach maturity at 22 years old.
Alignment. Sahuagin tend towards chaotic and mainly evil alignments due to their viciousness and innate savagery.
Size. Sahuagin stand 5 to 6 feet tall and average about 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 20 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 40 feet.
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.
Bite. Your piranha-like mouth is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Limited Amphibiousness. You can breathe air and water, but need to be submerged at least once every 8 hours to avoid dehydration, suffering one level of exhaustion.
Shark Telepathy. You can communicate simple ideas with sharks. They may understand you, but you have no way of understanding them.
Blood in the Water. Your specialized sense of smell can detect blood. You are aware of creatures within 20 feet that have hit points below their maximum, and can bleed. When in water, this range extends to 60 feet.
Sharks Frenzy. You do not fear battle, for you can gorge on the flesh of enemies to stay prime. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your Bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, and you gain temporary hit points (minimum of 1) equal to your Constitution modifier, and you can't use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest. These temporary hit points disappear when you finish a long rest.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 0''	+2d6	140 lb.	× (2d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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