Mo'hali
I met a rabbit clan Mo'hali in the Archon Tourney several years back. I'd never thought much of the prey clans before now, and based on his looks it didn't seem like that was going to change. He was a small thing, couldn't have been more than 100 pounds and five feet with change. I got cocksure and ended up with this, a dent in my chest the size of a rabbit's foot and a big fat loss.
Blessed Beasts
Mo'hali creation stories are as varied as the Mo'hali clans themselves. The most widely known story is that each Mo'hali clan began with a single animal, a paragon. This beast was a perfect specimen, an extreme representation of its entire species. A god of the forest decided to grace these paragons with its blessing, leaving them even stronger and more intelligent. Over time, this blessing remained in each species, causing them to evolve and change at prodigious rates and lead to the current humanoid members of today.
Clan Mentality
Mo'hali exhibit and carry many features and traits that animals have. Societally, they also have incorporated a number of customs, traditions, and rituals that would seem barbaric to a casual observer. For anyone not Mo'hali, navigating clan customs can present a multitude of potential faux pas that can end in death or a duel to it. For the Mo'hali these customs are taught very early on and a large number of them are quite instinctual such as showing your neck to your betters, using full names, as shortened names are only for very close individuals, and even the many nuances that go into showing teeth.
Regardless of clan customs and traditions, Mo'hali are usually fiercely loyal to their clan. This loyalty even extends to those who sometimes get adopted into Mo'hali clans such as humans who've proved themselves or even Mo'hali from other clans. Mo'hali loyalty is as well known as their fierceness and even in a cultured society such as theirs violent duels over honor and loyalty are common. A Mo'hali's honor means so much that exile from the clan is seen as worse than a death sentence.
If a clan head were to show weakness, ambitious Mo'hali would feel duty bound to challenge their leadership in an effort to improve the clan and its standing. Should the leader's actions or show of force be insufficient, then a deadlier challenge would ensue often resulting in a death and a change in leadership.
Mo'hali Names
Mo'hali names are very important to their people. A name can hold more information than most outsiders can truly understand. Mo'hali are given a name and it is appended onto their clan's name such as Derra-Wesk. All clan and given names tend to follow a similar structure inside the clan, but structure of the names themselves often differ between clans.
Jaguar clan members often have dual consonants in their given and clan names, while wolf clan members have much harsher sounding names. Regardless, all Mo'hali names follow the given name dash clan name structure, unless exile has cost them their clan name.
Female Names: Doddi, Minna, Kisek, Bisk, Padda, Creuce, Quel, Bunsa, Derra
Male Names: Marrek, Rark, Kigurd, Lennis, Shozzi, Yanno, Noddie, Birk, Trik
Mo'hali Traits
Mo'hali characters have the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Mo'hali hit adulthood much more quickly than humans, but have a slightly shorter lifespan.
Alignment. Mo'hali nature is a varied as the number of clans. However, most tend towards some kind of Lawful alignment due to clan obligations.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Clan Messenger. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with beasts that are of the same type that you are. E.g. a jaguar mo’hali would be able to communicate with actual jaguars.
Natural Weapon. You have natural weapons with which to use as an unarmed strike, which deal 1d6 + your Strength modifier. You may choose whether this weapon is a horn(s), claws, teeth, or another relevant appendage. The appendage dictates the damage type.
Clan Aspect. You may choose a relevant aspect depending on the mo'hali clan you choose.
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Glide - Vestigial wings give you the ability to cast Feather Fall. You must finish a long rest to ues this trait again.
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Sprint - As an action, you may double your movement speed for a number of rounds equal to your proficiency bonus. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
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Swim/Climb - You gain a 20 foot swimming or climbing speed.
- Prehensile Tail - Your tail functions as if it were a Mage's Hand with a range of 5 feet. Additionally, you may use your Use an object action with your tail.
Subrace. While the types of animal clans are numerous, they generally fall under a Predator clan and a Prey clan.
Predator Clan
These mo'hali are usually born of the carnivorous races such as hunting cats and birds of prey.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Skill of the Clan. Choose Stealth or Athletics. You gain proficiency in that skill.
Pounce. When you take the dash action you may make an attack as a part of that action as long you have moved at least 10 feet towards a creature.
Ambush Strike. When you would deal weapon damage to a surprised creature you deal an additional die of that weapon's damage.
Prey Clan
These clans include a number of different species such as rabbits, equines, rodents, etc.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Skill of the Clan. You gain proficiency in the Deception skill and either Perception or Survival.
Preyborne Speed. As long as you are surprised or affected by a fear effect, you have advantage on Dexterity saves and attack rolls against you are made with disadvantage.
Bluff. You may use Deception to intimidate other creatures. Additionally, as a reaction to being attacked, you may roll a Deception check versus the attacker's Insight. If you win then the attack is rolled at disadvantage. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Notes & Credits
- Race created by Fiddlestics
- Concept by Blaise Corvin
- Viera Male by @omio_5959
- Moose Warrior by @NineplusN