Aquatic Expansion

Aberrative History

While the caetuskin themselves don't know much about their history, and most don't particularly care, scholars have discovered that their origins lie with aboleths. A powerful aboleth living in the Sea of Fallen Stars desired a new race of servants who could serve as coastal raiders and barbarians.

It experimented on various kinds of sharks, thinking them to be the perfect race. The newly sapient caetuskin were turned loose, only to take up residence on the seafloor and largely keep to themselves. The aboleth, ashamed of its failure, went into self-imposed exile.

Communities

Caetuskin villages are extremely community-focused. The old and sick are cared for by all the village, and every able-bodied caetuskin shares in the work in some way. These villages are quite small, usually housing only a couple hundred caetuskin in each, with the notable exception of the village nearest Waterdeep, which is home to over ten thousand caetuskin.

Isolationists

Caetuskin are relativley isolationist, living in seafloor villages. They do not activley seek out contact with other races, but will usually welcome travelers into their villages provided they do not cause any harm. Travelers who have set their sights on harming caetuskin in the past have not returned, torn apart by furious jaws.

Sportsmanship

Caetuskin love sport and contests. Most villages contain an arena where caetuskin will fight in duels for entertainment, though these duels are only to yield and not to death. Those who cheat in their duels are cast out, as fair play is also important to caetuskin. Other favorite sports of theirs include hunting contests and seahorse races.

Caetuskin Traits

As a caetuskin, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Improvement. Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age. Caetuskin reach maturity in their mid-twenties, and live around two hundred years.

Alignment. The isolationist nature of caetuskin tends them towards neutrality, while their passion for sport tends them towards law. Caetuskin that deviate from this become renowned heroes or gladiators, or they become dreaded pirates.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Jaws. Your jaws are a natural weapon, which deal 1d4 + your Strength modifier piercing damage.

Natural Athlete. You spent your life playing many sports. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Olfactory Hunter. Your nose is incredibly sensitive. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan.

Subrace. Caetuskin are most commonly seen resembling great white, hammerhead, mako, and whale sharks.

Great White Caetuskin

Caetuskin resembling great white sharks are the largest of their kind. They are quite the intimidating sight, but are usually quite gentle. They usually serve as soldiers and generals when battle is needed, and great champions otherwise.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.

Size. Great white caetuskin are rarely under 7 feet tall, and weigh around 350 pounds on average. Your size is medium.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, and lift.

Mighty Jaws. Your jaws are more powerful than those of other caetuskin. The damage die used increases to a d6.

In addition, you can grapple a creature of your size or smaller using your jaws. A creature grappled in this way takes 1d4 piercing damage and you can use a bonus action on your turn to deal 1d4 piercing damage to them while they remain grappled.

Hammerhead Caetuskin

Caetuskin who resemble hammerhead sharks are the most intelligent of their kind, and usually serve as sages or alchemists in their home villages.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Size. Hammerhead caetuskin are about the size of humans, though a bit stockier. Your size is medium.

Natural Alchemist. You gain proficiency in the Nature skill and proficiency with alchemist's supplies.

Cephalofoil. Your eye placement grants you an improved ocular radius. You have advantage on checks made to find a hiding creature.

Detect Balance

If the Detect Balance scores matter to you, here they are.

Subrace	Score
Great White	30
Hammerhead	30
Mako	30
Whale	29

Nomads

The phrase "wherever I lay my head is home" can be easily applied by cetakin. Most wander the oceans of Toril, searching for any wisdom they can discover. They spend their lives never settling in one place, always looking for the next adventure.

Cetakin Features

As a cetakin, you gain the following features.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age. Cetakins live very long. They reach maturity at around one hundred years old, and live an average of four hundred years.

Alignment. The gentle nature of the cetakin tends them towards good and neutrality.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Tough. You gain an additional hit point at each level.

Renowned Wisdom. You have proficiency in one Wisdom-based skill of your choice.

Thick Blubber. All cetakin are protected by a thick layer of blubber that grants an unarmored Armor Class of 11 + your Constitution modifier.

In addition, you have resistance to cold damage.

Nomad. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan.

Subraces. Cetakin resemble all kinds of cetaceans, but the most common resemble blue and humpback whales, orcas, and dolphins. Cetakin resembling narwhals have also been reported, but are extraordinarily rare.

Blue Cetakin

Blue cetakin are those that resemble blue whales. As such, they are by far the largest of their kind, and the longest lived.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by an additional 1.

Size. Blue cetakin stand between 9 and 11 feet tall, and weigh an average of 800 pounds. Your size is large.

Long Lived. Blue cetakin are known for living incredibly long. You only age one year for every three years that go by, and you cannot be aged magically.

Humpback Cetakin

Humpback cetakin are the most wise of the cetakin, and the most who keep their nomadic lifestyle. They are also quite skilled in music.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Size. Humpback cetakin stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, and weigh an average of 300 pounds. Your size is medium.

Extreme Nomad. You have spent your life wandering, and know how to find your way. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made to avoid being lost.

Musically Inclined. You gain proficiency with one musical instrument of your choice and the Performance skill.

Orca Cetakin

Cetakin who resemble orcas are much different from most of their species. Orca cetakin are much more violent and brutal, and far stronger.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.

Size. Orca cetakin stand between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh an average of 350 pounds. Your size is medium.

Jaws. Your jaws are a powerful natural weapon. They deal 1d4 + your Strength modifier piercing damage.

Natural Hunter. You are used to hunting prey. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made to track creatures.

Credit: Jason Snair

Detect Balance

If the Detect Balance scores matter to you, here they are.

Subrace	Score
Blue	30
Humpback	31
Orca	29
Odontian	32
Narwhal	31

Nearly Aberrations

Cepholokin are very similar, genetically, to an aberration. Their intelligence and alien nature are thought to be a result of this. While this is a rumor the cepholokin leaders like and perpetuate as it gives them a very mystical feel to their race, they keep the truth hidden from most of their race.

Nearly Aberrations: The Truth

Cepholokin, as it turns out, are indeed somewhat aberrative. They are most closely related to mind flayers, a fact that has horrified some particularly learned cepholokin. However, this has granted them their psychic abilities.

The Council

Cepholokin are ruled by an inner council of extremely intelligent leaders known as the Council of Tendrils. This council currently consists of three members: Svekt, a cold and calculating octoponian; Thaldax, an impulsive squidarian; and Veldivoss, an unfallingly logical nautilan.

Cepholokin Traits

As a cepholokin, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Intelligence scores increases by 1.

Age. Cepholokin reach maturity in their teens and usually live around one hundred and fifty years.

Alignment. Cepholokin exist in all alignments. Their high intelligence allows them to be very independent.

Size. Cepholokin are quite small, standing between 3 and 4 feet and only weighing and average of 30 pounds. Your size is small.

Speed. You have a base walking speed of 20 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Aberrative Nature. Your creature type is aberration instead of humanoid.

Telekinesis. You can cast the mage hand cantrip, and when you do so the spectral hand is invisible.

Psychic Fortitude. You have resistance to psychic damage.

Boneless. You have no bones, and thus can squeeze through spaces as small as one inch. Your equipment cannot move with you unless it is also small enough to squeeze through.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Aquan, and Deep Speech.

Subraces. Cepholokin come in three common varities: the octoponian, squidarian, or nauitlan; which resemble an octopus, squid, and nautilus respectivley.

Octoponian

Octoponians are those of the cepholokin race that resemble an octopus of some description. They are the most intelligent of their kind, and have more powerful telekinetic abilities.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by an additional 1.

Empowered Telekinesis. You know the levitate spell, and can cast it once per long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

Squidarian

Squidarians are the most impulsive of their kind. They are very charismatic however, and possess a form of telepathy.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.

Telepathic. You can telepathically communicate with a willing creature within 30 feet. You and the target must share a language.

Nautilan

Nautilans are the wisest of their kind, and usually the most logical. They can read the minds of other intelligent creatures.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Mind Reading. You know the detect thoughts spell and can cast it once per long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

Arctic Born

Many pinnipedians live in very cold regions, and have adapted to be very resistant to the cold. This also very much changes their sense of humor, and most of their jokes commonly come across as rude or insensitive. However, this is all in good fun to a pinnipedian.

Pinnipedian Traits

As a pinnipedian, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age. Pinnipedians live about as long as humans, maturing in their late teens and living about eighty years.

Alignment. The prankster nature of a pinnipedian tends them towards chaos, but even their more cruel jokes are usually good-spirited.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Arctic Born. You have resistance to cold damage.

Lucky. When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Subraces. Pinnipedian commonly resemble seals, sea lions, or walruses. Each has subtly different physiologies and types of humor.

Seal Pinnipedian

Seal pinnipedians are the most dexterous of their kind, and their sense of humor largely entails practical jokes. They are also the most likely to perform for an auidience.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Performer. You gain proficiency in one musical instrument of your choice and the Performance skill.

Sea Lion Pinnipedian

Pinnipedians who resemble sea lions are the toughest of their kind, and their sense of humor largely entails puns and sarcasm.

Ability Score Improvement. Your Constitution score increases by 1.

Naturally Sarcastic. You have advantage on checks made to remedy a social situation.

Wordplay Expert. You have advantage on checks made to solve riddles and puzzles related to wit.

Walrus Pinnipedian

Pinnipedians who resemble walruses are the largest and most jovial of their kind. Their sense of humor is slapstick, and they are extremely loyal to their friends.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.

Loyal. You have advantage on saving throws made to avoid effects that would force you to act against your will, such as the charmed condition or the command spell.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capcity and the weight you can push, drag, and lift.

Credit: Max Kostenko

Great Warriors

Testasians are known by tritons and other seaborn races as being extremely powerful warriors. Many a tale exists of testasian berserkers taking on entire legions of enemy forces and coming out of the fight with nary a scratch on their shells. These tales are embelishing somewhat, of course, but aren't too far from the truth. Testasians are known to be some of the most fierce and determined warriors under the sea.

Glory In Battle

To a testasian, battle is how one gains glory and dignity in the eyes of their society. The most glorious thing to do is to die in battle, and become a legend. The most dishonorable act is to surrender. A testasian who surrenders is outcast by their society, and left wandering the ocean, usually exchanging mercenary services for alcohol to numb their guilt.

Honor Above All

While a testasian is a very strong and brutish warrior, they can usually be counted on to at least have a strong sense of honor on the battlefield. They will not kill an innocent, or an enemy that surrenders. Doing so would be to break every tradition and code of their nature.

Credit: © DC Comics

Testasian Traits

As a testatsian, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength, Constitution, and Wisdom scores increase by 1.

Age. Testasians are biologically immortal, much like the crustaceans they resemble. This means that unless they die of disease or injury, they could hypothetically live forever. However, due to their warlike nature, most testasians only live around fifty years.

Alignment. The belligerence of testasians tends them towards evil, and their sense of honor tends them towards law. Those who deviate from this commonly become legends in various commmunities, when they shrug off mighty blows as part of an adventuring party or military unit.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Size. Testasians stand around 7 feet tall, and commonly weigh around 400 pounds. Your size is medium.

Claws. All testasians, regardless of their size, have deadly claws. Your claws are a natural weapon which deal 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage and can be used to make unarmed strikes.

Clumsy Claws. Your claws are powerful, but also rather clumsy. Weapons and tools that are not specifically designed for testasian use are rather hard for you to use. You have disadvantage on checks or attack rolls with such weapons or tools and on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks.

Waterbound Predators. Testasians are masters of underwater combat. You gain proficiency with the javelin, net, spear, trident, dagger, and shortsword.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision. Your life living in deepsea trenches has made your eyes very adept in the dark. 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.

Brave. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Hard Shell. Your body is covered in a chitinous exoskeleton that grants you much protection. You cannot wear armor, but your Armor Class is 17 while unarmored. A shield's bonus can be applied as normal.

Warrior Culture. The culture of testasians glorifies battle and powerful warriors. You gain proficiency in the Athletics and Intimidation skills.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Aquan.

Cursed People

Legend has it that the aldani originated as a humble community of fishermen living in Chult who had fished the lobsters in the area to near extinction. This angered the Chultan god Ubtao, who transformed them into the monterous lobster people they are now as a punishment. The fishermen accepted this change and embraced their new existence. However, they were largely shunned by the rest of their tribe and forced to live in the rivers nearby.

Legendary Intelligence

Among aquatic races, aldani are renowned for their intelligence and wisdom. Those from other aquatic races looking for knowledge usually eventually find themselves in an aldani library.

Aldani Traits

As a aldani, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1 and your Intelligence or Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age. Aldani, like their warlike counterparts, are biologically immortal. However, their civilized nature leads to much less premature death. Still, many old aldani will die of exhaustion when attempting to molt. They live an average of five hundred years.

Alignment. The scientific and cultured nature of the aldani tends them towards law and neutrality.

Size. Aldani range from 7 to 8 feet tall, and weigh an average of 450 pounds. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Learned. You have spent your life in libraries and academies, learning many things. You gain proficiency in one of the Arcana, History, Nature, and Relgion skills.

Claws. All aldani, regardless of their size, have rather large claws. Your claws are a natural weapon which deal 1d4 + your Strength modifier slashing damage and can be used to make unarmed strikes.

Unlike a testasian, your claws are much more dexterous and can be used as a humanoid being would use hands.

Hard Shell. Your body is covered in a chitinous exoskeleton that grants you much protection. You cannot wear armor, but your Armor Class is 17 while unarmored. A shield's bonus can be applied as normal.

Darkvision. Your life living in the ocean has adapted your eyes to low light. 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.

Fishermen. The history of the aldani as a tribe of fishermen remains their abilities to this day. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made to find food if there is a source of fresh water nearby.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Aquan, and one other language of your choice.

Credit: © Wizards of the Coast

Laws of Battle

Despite their general image of coastline raiders, sahuagin are surprisingly well organized, at least when it comes to warfare. These laws are very sparse, but are not completely nonexistent. The sahuagin on a war path are usually led by a figure known as a baron. The exception to this is when a group of sahuagin will band together and go on what is known as a Wild Hunt.

Brutality and Cruelty

Sahuagin morals are virtually nonexistent. They value strength and combat prowess above all, and even frequently pit youths against one another in battles to the death to weed out the weak among them. They are brutal fighters as well, prefering to use intimidation tactics in combat.

Fear of Magic

Sahuagin greatly fear magic, and as such have not cultivated to any significant degree. While it is not impossible for a sahuagin to gain magical abilities, it is almost completely unheard of. Usually, magic is only used by priests of their god, Sekolah, and even then it is regarded as a necessary evil.

Sahuagin Traits

As a sahuagin, you gain the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age. Sahuagin have the potential to live about as long as humans, but few live longer than twenty.

Alignment. The brutal and barbaric nature of sahuagin tends them towards evil and chaos.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Your time spent underwater has honed your eyesight. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Shark Empathy. You have the ability to communicate simple ideas with sharks.

Amphibious. You can breathe water as well as air, and have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Coastal Raider. Sahuagin spend most of their time raiding coastal cities. You gain proficiency with the javelin, net, spear, trident, dagger, and shortsword.

Razor Maw. Your mouth is filled with sharp teeth. It is a natural weapon that deals 1d4 + your Strength modifier piercing damage.

Menacing. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Languages. You can speak Sahuagin. Most sahuagin can't read or write.

Credit: © Wizards of the Coast

Penguini

Penguini are a relative of the aarakocra, resembling penguins of all kinds. They are natural swimmers and fishermen, but lack the ability to fly. They hail from the icy coasts of the northern lands.

Coastal Dwarf

Coastal dwarves are those that live in sea caves on the coasts of rocky islands. Their economies are largely mercantile, and they trade a great deal with their neighbors.

Merfolk

Merfolk are similar to tritons, but have the tail of a fish instead of legs. They are much more charismatic than tritons. Merfolk also live in much warmer waters.

Merrow

Merrows are similar to merfolk, but much more brutal and evil. They are vicious hunters, without remorse or pity.

Kuo-Toa

Kuo-toa are a distant relative of the locathah, and and are sometimes known as god-makers, due to their unique ability. If enough kuo-toa believe in a god, the god springs into existence.