Selachi
WE COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THE SAHUAGIN WERE
coming. We were on the lookout for pirate ships, but the sahuagin approached us from below, their presence undetectable until they were already scaling the sides of our ship. We would have been done for if not for the ferocity of Captain Dasca's selachi first mate, Longarms Fartraveller. Indeed, I'd never seen someone fight as ferociously as Longarms before; armed with no weapons, he tore the sahuagin apart with just his teeth. Selachi warriors truly are as terrifying as the sharks they resemble.
– Garret Gamwich, A Journal of Journeys
Aquatic Hunters
The selachi are well adapted to fighting in the water. Capable of breathing underwater and swimming just as fast as they can sprint, any creature they pursue in the surf has little chance of escape. Once bitten by a selachi, that chance drops to near zero - the selachi's sense of smell for blood is extremely fine-tuned.
Wanderers with a Home
Most of the year, selachi travel the world on their own or in small groups. Some selachi join terrestrial society and find work on boats or near coasts as guards, warriors, and physical labourers. Others live as travelling hunters, staying beneath the waves and hunting marine fauna.
Once a year, all selachi make a pilgrimage to their ancestral archipelago. The selachi spend a fortnite in their homeland, and during that time laws are passed, criminals are tried and exiled, and coming-of-age and marriage ceremonies are performed. The only selachi who miss this event are those with an extremely important reason, and exiled criminals.
Selachi Names
Selachi names are simple and descriptive, but an individual's full name will grow over time. As a child, a selachi's name typically describes their physical attributes, but as they grow up their name will be added to to reflect their deeds. A selachi known as Darkfin Shipguard Whalesbane could have been born with dark coloration on her fins, found work as a ship's guard as an adult, and single-handedly slain a killer whale as a show of strenth.
Selachi make no distinction between male and female names.
Selachi Names: Bloodtracker, Darkfin, Fartraveller, Fishhunter, Handspot, Ilseguard, Longarms, Longsnout, Manslayer, Shipguard, Whalesbane, Wreckfinder
Selachi Traits
Your selachi character has the following racial trats.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Selachi are physically mature between 13 and 15 years old, and typically live just over a century.
Alignment. Other than their yearly pilgrimage, most selachi dislike being pinned down to one location for very long and live as wanderers or travellers. Most are Chaotic.
Size. Adult selachi stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, and typically weigh around 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Bite. Your toothy jaws are a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Blood in the Water. You have a finely-tuned sense of smell that allows you to accurately locate injured prey. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to locate creatures that do not have all their hit points.
Feeding Frenzy. Starting at 3rd level, you can use an action to launch yourself into a feeding frenzy. Your feeding frenzy lasts for one minute, and for the duration you can make one bite attack as a bonus action on your turn. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Ocean Hunter. Adapted to life in the ocean, you can breathe in both air and water.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Selachi. Selachi is primarily made up of clicks, making it easier to hear underwater.
Credits
- Selachi player race by /u/Enraric
- King Shark art by Jackson Guice and Daniel Brown