The Vorax
A man is returning home from work, taking the regular route through the back alleys for a faster trip. He overhears a visceral and unsettling noise coming from around the corner. As he leans in to peek he's paralyzed by shock and horror. He sees a hooded figure crouching over a dismembered corpse of a humanoid, consuming its leg in a hurried fashion. The creature stops masticating and turns its head, noticing the man. It screeches with a guttural noise akin to that of a bat as it rushes forward towards the man. He attempts to flee but is too slow, and soon enough the creature has him in its grasp. Its towering figure looms over the man as it slowly bends down and opens its trifurcated maw and starts consuming the man.
Monsters in Hiding
The Vorax live solitary lives, hiding their true nature as they walk amongst their prey, as a wolf in sheep's clothing. They usually never hunt near their place of residence as that might draw attention to them, and they prefer larger cities where it's easier to hide. If found out they'll usually try to move cities if possible, hunting travelers along the way to their new home.
Territorial Predators
The Vorax are extremely territorial by nature, as the presence of multiple of their species attracts more attention to their activities. If a Vorax is discovered by another, usually a fight ensues where the two try their best to kill the other as fast as possible, consuming the losers entire body afterwards to hide the evidence.
Mating Season
There is only one exception to this rule, mating season. During mating season a male Vorax will produce a specific pheromone not detectable by most humanoids, that attracts female Vorax from hundreds of miles away. After mating the two Vorax separate and the child is carried by the mother back to her territory. After birth, the mother leaves the child and goes on to try and find a new territory, leaving her old one to her offspring.
Unending Hunger
The Vorax are always hungry, always. They are born hungry and they die hungry, never satisfied with the food they eat. However, they have learned to eat plenty in very long intervals to make sure that they survive. But what is most intriguing is their dietary needs. They require the organs of other humanoids to survive, and they usually develop a preference for a certain organ type, be it the Heart, the Liver, the Lungs. Through the organs they eat they gain not only sustenance but also certain abilities based on the organ of their choice.
Vorax Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. The Vorax are born knowing how to walk and hunt and reach adulthood by the time they're 14. Their natural lifespan is about 80 years, but their diet usually gets them killed sooner than that.
Alignment. Vorax are not naturally evil, but their lifestyle often pushes them towards evil alignments. However, certain very rare Vorax have been known to be good.
Size. Vorax have a tall and bulky build. Your size is medium. The average Vorax weigh around 190 lbs and are above 6 feet in height.
Speed. You have a walking speed of 30 ft.
Languages. You can speak, read and write both Common and one other language of your choice.
Minor Shapeshifting. As an action you can hide your more monstrous features or show your true face. You mold your face to resemble that of an average member of the humanoid race you last ate. The rest of your body remains monstrous however.
Monstrous Maw. While you're not hiding using your Minor Shapeshifting feature you can make use of your monstrous maw. As an action you can attempt to bite a willing, grappled or unconscious creature. You deal 1d8 + your Strength modifier in damage to the target and they have to make a Constitution saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier. If they fail, the blood loss disorients them and they have disadvantage on the next ability check, attack roll, or saving throw roll they make in 10 minutes.
Rending Claws. Your claws count as light natural weapons you use to rip open your prey. They deal 1d6 + your Strength modifier in damage.
Voracious Hunger. You require the organs of other intelligent humanoids to sustain yourself. If you try to consume anything other than intelligent humanoids you will regurgitate it within minutes. This doesn't stop you from consuming potions however, as they are magical in nature. You must eat at least 40lbs of flesh from intelligent humanoids each week to survive, which you will usually eat in one sitting. Each week of not eating the required amount gives you one level of Exhaustion, which can only be removed by feeding. For every 40lbs of flesh from intelligent humanoids you eat, you will remove one level of Exhaustion you get from starvation. Based on the race and last organ of an intelligent humanoid you consumed, you gain certain benefits listed on the tables bellow.
| Race | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Dragonborn | +1 to Strength |
| Dwarf | +1 to Constitution |
| Elf | +1 to Dexterity |
| Gnome | +1 to Intelligence |
| Half-Elf | +1 to Charisma |
| Half-Orc | +1 to Strength |
| Halfling | +1 to Dexterity |
| Human | +1 to Intelligence |
| Tiefling | +1 to Charisma |
| Organ | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Bones | You gain resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning damage. |
| Brain | You gain a random memory(DM's choice) from the person the brain belonged to |
| Ears | You gain advantage on all Wisdom(Perception) checks based on hearing. |
| Eyes | You gain advantage on all Wisdom(Perception) checks based on sight. |
| Heart | You add double your Constitution modifier to Hit Dice rolled to heal on a short rest. |
| Liver | You gain resistance to poison damage and have advantage on saving throws to resist the Poisoned condition. |
| Lungs | You gain the ability to hold your breath for an hour. |
| Nose | You gain advantage on all Wisdom(Perception) checks based on smell. |
| Skin | Your Minor Shapeshifting ability hides all of your monstrous features not just your face. |
| Tongue | You grain proficiency in your choice of Deception and Persuasion and you gain the ability to speak with the voice of the person the tongue belonged to. |