Merfolk Race Homebrew

# Merfolk

Within the deep oceans live a number of cultured and organized creatures that have formed their own civilizations. One such race is that of the Merfolk, beings that look uncannily similar to humans above the waist but have large powerful fish like tails. They are the most commonly found creatures within the aquatic community and settled in many underwater cities all over the oceans of the world. The are fast, agile, and have a care free attitude that resembles that of Halflings from the surface world. Even though they have a care free demeanor they can be extremely serious in matters of protecting the ocean and its ecosystems. Should anything threaten the sanctity of the waters purity they can become become one of the most dangerous forces within the oceans.

## Merfolk Racial Traits
**Ability Score Increase:** Your Strength increases by 2 and your Wisdom by 1.

**Age:** Merfolks are quick to mature due to their hostile living environment filled dangerous predators. They mature by the age of 10 and live for 250 years. Even so they typically don't live past an average of 100 due to the violent nature of their environment causing increased mortality rates.

**Alignment:** Merfolk typical leanings toward good with their care free view on life and their love for the ocean. They are generally accepting of most other civilized races that also share their love and need to safe guard the seas.

**Size:** Merfolk vary widely in their appearances just as much as humans do. In their natural form they can be 6 to 8 feet long from head to tip of tail and weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. However they change dramatically in their landwalker form as their tails made up most of their length and weight. In their landwalker form they are usually around 5 and half feet tall and weight 140 to 220 pounds on average. Despite your large size in your natural form you are considered Medium size.

**Speed:** Your speed will be dependent on the form you are in. In their natural form Merfolk are fast and agile in the water but slow and slugish when on land. In your natural form you have a walking speed of 10 feet and a swim speed of 40 feet. In their landwalker form Merfolk gain the maneuverability as humans but are still a bit more adept at swimming then regular humans. In your landwalker form your walking speed is 30 feet and your swim speed is 15 ft.

**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.

**Amphibious:** You can breathe air and water both in your natural and landwalker forms.

**Inhabitants of the Deep:** Adapted to even the most extreme ocean depths, you have resistance to cold damage, and you ignore any of the drawbacks caused by a deep, underwater environment.

**Water Camouflage:** Merfolk naturally excel at blending in with the water to hide themselves from predators and to create hidden ambushes against their enemies. While you are submerged in water you can use the Hide action with advantage on your stealth check without the need to be obscured by the environment. Both your skin and your scales react to the water allowing you to use this ability in both of your forms.

**Landwalker Transformation:** Merfolk have an innate ability to shed their scaly tails and split them into humanoid legs effectively allowing them to walk normally among the surfacers. As a bonus action you can transform from your natural form to your landwalker form and vice versa.

**Languages:** You can speak, read, and write common and Aquan.

<div class='footnote'>Merfolk Homebrew Race | By Chris Porter</div>