Quillborn

race, Medium

Available with DM subscription

Racial Traits

Speed 30 ft.
Age Quillborn mature by 20 and can live up to 90 years, though their metal skin darkens and their quills grow brittle with age.
Languages Common, Quillcant (a clipped language of clicks, low hums, and quill-taps)
Alignment Tendencies Most Quillborn are lawful neutral or true neutral, valuing survival, craftsmanship, and the keeping of bargains., A minority lean toward chaotic neutral, embracing the shadow plane's mutability and rejecting rigid burrow-city customs., Rare individuals are lawful good, using their hardened forms to shelter weaker travelers in shadowed lands.

Ability Score Increases

Rustquill
STRENGTH
+2
CONSTITUTION
+1
OR
Mirrorquill
DEXTERITY
+2
CONSTITUTION
+1
OR
Gravequill
CONSTITUTION
+1
WISDOM
+2

Racial Features

Shadow Sight

You can see in Dim Light within 60 feet of you as though it were Bright Light, and in Darkness as though it were Dim Light. You can't discern color in Darkness, only shades of grey and the pale ember-glow of warm things.

Usage: always_on

Ironbound Hide

When you aren't wearing armor, your base Armor Class equals 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use a Shield and still gain this benefit. Your hammered shadow-metal hide is armor enough, though it darkens and dulls with age.

Usage: always_on

Quill Volley

When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with a spray of quills in a 15-foot Cone or a 30-foot Line that is 5 feet wide (choose each time). Each creature in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 + your Constitution modifier + your Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, a creature takes 1d6 Piercing damage, or half as much on a successful one. The damage increases to 2d6 at level 5, 3d6 at level 11, and 4d6 at level 17. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Usage: proficiency_bonus_long_rest

Spined Hide

While you aren't Incapacitated, a creature that Grapples you, or that starts its turn Grappling you, takes 1d4 Piercing damage as your spines extend. You may extend or retract your quills as a free action, and they regrow fully over a Long Rest.

Usage: always_on

Shadowmeld

You have Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in Dim Light or Darkness.

Usage: always_on

Rules Compatibility

Primary Ruleset D&D 5.5 / SRD 5.2
Compatible Rulesets D&D 5.5 / SRD 5.2
Ability Scores fixed_plus2_plus1
Balance Notes

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