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View Full Version : D&D 5e/Next Hantu - A race of Tikbalang and Tengu



Ceiling009
2015-08-08, 03:50 AM
If the title confuses you, that's okay. It's a for my homebrew adjacent world of Alusina, an off shoot of my Pearl of Darkflow Universe.
The Hantu take really strong inspirations from Philippine Mythology, especially the Tikbalang, Tigmamanukan, and then the Tengu. They are, if anything, are my "Elf" replacement for the quintessential Forest Dweller/Guardian.
As to why it's one race and not three? Cause much of the Tigbalang research says that original version may resemble more half bird then half horse, until the Spanish arrived. So I feel that parts and bits of the Chinese Tiangou and the Japanese Tengu filtered down into the Islands and then merged with the Spanish scare tactics to form into the Tikbalang.

TOUCHED BY MYTH
The Hantu are of medium height, from 4 ½ feet to almost 6 feet tall, but are relatively slender – making them seem even taller. While not homely, and neither beauties, Hantu are attractive individuals with a few peculiarities – while mostly human looking, with skin tones from tan to dark brown, with a few of the “highborn” being beige; but all have blue or gold streaks that appear naturally in their hair. And their ability to turn Wrathful. Most Wrathful forms are disturbing, either as the form of living shadows, half-horse men, or half-bird men – they’re all terrifying to behold to the normal man.

AU NATURAL
Most Hantu think of themselves as extensions of the natural cycles going on in the forest, not able to control it or guide it to their wishes, but instead roll with the seasons. They farm and hunt in ways that blend into the forest, never leaving tracks of their civilization. Most outsiders think of the Hantu as highly secretive, but the Hantu just think that as part of them forest, they should blend in as best as possible. Some claim Hantu live up to a 1000 years, but none of which is verified, but it does lend many Hantu into thinking of the “long game” of survival, and shapes their rather free-wheeling way of life.

I, FOREST
Most Hantu live in the forest or other heavily tree covered areas, which can include jungles, rainforests, and mangroves. They prefer the cover and foliage to conceal their tree houses, and other buildings. Many leave their forests to trade for goods not able to grow or fashioned from there, and can be found on the outskirts of many towns that are close by. Others leave for good, seeking an alternative to the seas of trees in which they live, looking for the “real” sea or other lands, becoming guardsmen or thieves.

NAMES
Hantu names are often based off flora they find particularly attractive, useful, or have some sort of mysticism associated with it. Other names are traditional, meaning a myriad of things, but some of those that leave the forests prefer to create new names and identities for themselves that better fit where they have newly settled.
Male Names: Adi, Bima, Buana, Budi, Cahaya, Cahya, Darma, Dian, Dwi, Eka, Eko, Guntur, Harta, Iman, Iskandar, Krisna, Kusuma, Kuwat, Purnama, Putra, Raharjo, Raja, Setiawan, Slamet, Suharto, Sukarno, Surya, Susila, Susilo, Tirta, Tirto, Tri, Wahyu, Wibawa, Wira, Yuda
Female Names: Batari, Bethari, Bulan, Cahaya, Cahya, Cinta, Citra, Dian, Dwi, Eka, Eko, Iman, Indah, Intan, Kasih, Lestari, Mawar, Mega, Melati, Nirmala, Putri, Ratu, Sari, Sinta, Tri Utari, Wangi, Wulan

TRAITS
Ability Score Increase: You increase your Wisdom or Charisma score by 2.
Age: The Hantu reach maturity about 30 years into their life span, but most aren’t considered adults until around 70 years old. Hantu can live upwards to a 1000 years, but the rarity of sightings cannot confirm.
Alignment: Most Hantu are chaotic, powered by their own motives and idealizing individual freedoms above all else. They are also tend to skew neutral, as nature neither helps or hinders, always marching on.
Size: Your size is Medium. Most Hantu are 4.5 to 6ft tall in their human forms, but can be significantly taller or have large wingspans. Even then, their body mass is roughly that of a medium creature.
Speed: 30 feet.
Darkvision: You can see in dim light as if were bright; and can see in total darkness as if dim light, up to 60 ft.
Natural Brachiator: You are proficient with Athletics, and can double your proficiency bonus to climbing and jumping from tree to tree.
Shapeshifter: You are a shapeshifter, able to transform between your unique human and unique Wrathful form. You gain the listed benefits in your Subrace for your Wrathful Form; you also cannot talk while in Wrathful Form.
Techno Censure: You cannot take any cybernetics, or subraces with cybernetics or direct connection to the Relay.
Telepathy (Wrathful Form Only): You can communicate with any creature you see or know within 30 feet of you telepathically.
Wrathful Form (Shadow): As a bonus action you can revert to your Wrathful form – your unique humanoid form is consumed in shadows, dark tendrils wisp from your body. You may revert back to your human form as a bonus action. You can only manifest one Wrathful form at a time, and cannot speak while in that form. While in Wrathful Form you gain the following benefits:

You gain advantage to Stealth checks while in areas of shadow or dim light.
You can cast the Pass Without Trace spell once per short rest.

Languages: Alusina (Common), Tiugua
Subraces: Hantu are so far known to exhibit two phenotypes (subraces), the Balan and the Lawin. You must choose a subrace.

BALAN
The Balan are the phenotype the manifests as a hybrid of Equine and Humanoid. Their Human forms exhibit long, but kempt hair of dark muted colors – with three curious gold streaks. They observed to be strong and fast moving creatures, especially in their Wrathful form – utilized as scouts by the tribe. Many more were observed to be tricksters and prankers to outsiders and each other.
Ability Score Increase: Increase your Strength score by 1.
Wind Runner: Your speed is 35 ft.; whenever you dash, you gain an additional 10ft to your movement. You may also ignore difficult terrain, but this ability requires concentration.
Wrathful Form (Balan): As a bonus action, you can revert to your Wrathful form – it resembles a humanoid with a head of a demonic horse (sometimes a glowing skull of an equine), long arms, and very long legs with hooves; you may reach up to 9 ft. tall, but you still only have enough mass and reach of a medium creature. You may revert back to your human form with another bonus action. While in Wrathful form you gain the following benefits:

You can Dash as a bonus action.
You can cast the Invisibility spell once per rest.


LAWIN
The Lawin are the phenotype the manifests as a hybrid of Avian and Humanoid. Their Human forms exhibit typically short hair of muted colors with curious blue streaks, which likes to stand up or plume around the ears. They observed to be agile and accurate creatures, especially in their Wrathful form, and seem to be utilized as warriors by the tribes. Many more were observed to be guardians and constabularies to outsiders and each other.
Ability Score Increase: You increase your Dexterity score by 1.
Guardian Weapon Training: You gain proficiency with the dagger, short sword, Hiwaan*, and long sword
Wrathful Form (Lawin): As a bonus action, you can revert to your Wrathful form – it resembles a humanoid with a head of fierce raptor with blue and black plumage and a huge pair of wings that may span 10 feet. You still only have enough mass and reach of a medium creature. You may revert back to your human form with another bonus action. While in Wrathful form you gain the following benefits:

You gain a fly speed of 60.
You can cast the Misty Step spell once per rest.


Anyway, tell me what you think.