View source for Myrmex (3.5e Race)


{{author
|author_name=the bluez in the dungeon
|date_created=3rd November 2024
|status=Complete
}}

==Myrmex==

[[Summary::A people of humanoid ant-like creatures, who possess incredible strength despite their small size.]]

===History and Origins===

The story of the myrmex begins in a forgotten past, when these creatures lived in crowded colonies in subtropical forests and hot savannahs, mostly in tunnels carved into rock, or in large hollow trees, in a sort of city-state-like centers. Their life was simple, and for many primitive.
This situation changed radically when they were discovered by orc and human populations; the former began to hunt and eat myrmex for their juicy pulp, while the latter kept them out of their territories, judging them to be no better than animals.
Despite their innate strength, the myrmex were powerless against the incessant brutality of the orcs and therefore decided, in their desperation, to ask for help from their disdainful human neighbors. These, taking advantage of the terrible condition of the myrmex, agreed to welcome them, then drug them and capture them during the party they had organized for them. Then they took them away from their land.
Long centuries of slavery thus began for the myrmex, during which humans, to exploit their strength and size, forced them to do heavy and dangerous work, especially in mines, but above all, used them as fighters in their gladiatorial games, capitalizing on their physical power and the exoticness of these creatures.
Over time, most of the slaves used for hard work disappeared, forgotten in the countless collapses of the quarries, or died of fatigue. However, incredibly, a good number of myrmex gladiators survived, especially the best fighters and the most loved by the public, who gained their freedom and were able to build families and a new life.
Now those times are forgotten, the primitive myrmex culture is lost, their slavery a relic of the past and currently the myrmex, although they are few and scattered, live in peace, now integrated into the societies that host them, and many have maintained their warrior culture by becoming soldiers, guards, adventurers and gladiators.

===Physical Description===

Myrmex are small humanoids, with physical traits similar to insects, which many attribute to ants, but there is no specific characteristic that makes them similar to these, other than the incredible strength contained in such a small body.
They have proportionate torsos, with stubby, oversized limbs, especially their arms, and an insect-like face with a pair of antennae. Their carapace and limbs are usually blue, orange or green, while the softer parts of their body are grey.
They wear simple and practical clothes, especially short white tunics, with rope belts at the waist. Myrmex warriors usually prefer to wear light armor.

===Personality and Alignment===

The myrmex are generally jovial creatures, convinced that they can solve any problem with their physical strength, which they credit with having accompanied and saved them during their darkest centuries. They are incurable optimists, quick to anger, but do not hold on to resentments once their conflict is resolved. They detest those who look down on them due to their short stature and never miss the opportunity to punish those who disdain them. They are loyal and hardworking and integrate easily into any orderly society.
They tend predominantly towards neutrality, with a certain predisposition for good and order.

===Customs and Society===

Although they no longer have their original culture, the centuries spent as fighting slaves has allowed them to develop a new one, made up of small propitiatory rituals, a lexicon with metaphors and words connected to combat and battle, care for their objects, camaraderie and positivity . They tell their children stories of the great fighters of the past, passing on their legacy.
Despite this strong inclination for combat, not just warriors emerge from myrmeconian society, on the contrary, for the most part they are artisans and simple workers, and although they often practice fighting as a sport, few truly become warriors or adventurers, and for this they are celebrated.

===Lands and Relations===

The myrmex no longer have any native region to call their own, but they have mixed with great success among other peoples, especially humans, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. They live simple and quiet lives, always industrious and useful, although they may suffer some episodes of discrimination due to their monstrous nature.

===Religion and Spirituality===

Although their primitive cult is now forgotten, the myrmex are decidedly spiritually inclined, and venerate their ancestors and heroes, all gladiators who died in the arena or gained their freedom and are believed to be the founders of myrmex society. They typically worship deities of strength and battle.

===Language and onomastics===

The myrmex speak the Common, and above all they learn the language of the community that hosts them.

Common male names: Naca, Fetten, Ricabic, Sebopy

Common female names: Arga, Guere, Vynth, Suweq

===Racial Traits=== 

{{3.5e Racial Traits
|name=Myrmex

|type=Humanoid
|subtype=Anthro
|typefluff=Although they look like insects, myrmex are fully urbanized and highly intelligent creatures.

|size=Tiny
|basespeed=20

|vision=darkvision
|darkdist=60

|specialtext1=Despite being extraordinarily small, myrmex quickly learn to defend themselves from creatures larger than them, an essential skill when they needed to fight in the arenas. They get the [[Anklebiter (3.5e Feat)|Anklebiter]] feat for free.
|special1=Anklebiter
|specialtype1=

|specialtext2=Myrmex can unleash incredible physical power. They get the [[Deceptive Strength (3.5e Feat)|feat]] and the [[Deceptive Strength (3.5e Trait)|trait]] Deceptive Strength for free, even if you don't meet the requirements. When they gain a Strength score of at least 20, the Deceptive Strength feat is immediately replaced by the [[Powerful Build (3.5e Feat)|Powerful Build]] feat and they can use Strength instead of Charisma on Intimidate checks.
|special2=Hidden Strength
|specialtype2=

|specialtext3=Their ant-like nature makes them capable of lifting incredible weights. They count as if they were one size larger creature towards their carrying capacity. From 5 HD they count as a creature two sizes larger and from 10 DV three times larger. They also get the [[Power of the Ant (3.5e Feat)|Power of the Ant]] feat for free.
|special3=Ant Core
|specialtype3=

|specialtext4=Their strong arms can inflict considerable damage. They get a [[Feral Strike (3.5e Variant Rule)|feral strike]] in the form of a slam attack, with the characteristics indicated below.
|special4=Mighty Arms
|specialtype4=

|specialtext5=To overcome their inherent weaknesses, myrmex have had to learn compensation techniques to even out size differences. They get the [[Compensate for Size (3.5e Feat)|Compensate for Size]] feat for free.
|special5=Compensate for Size
|specialtype5=

|specialtext6=Despite their physical strength, they are weak to mental assaults. They take a -2 penalty against [[Mind-Affecting]] effects.
|special6=Shackled Will
|specialtype6=

|specialtext7=They count as being Vermin whenever it would not be beneficial.
|special7=Vermin Body
|specialtype7=

|autolanguage=Common
|bonuslanguage=Any, except secret ones
|favoredclass=Fighter
|la=0
|ecl=1
}}

{{3.5e Mundane Weapon
|weap=Mighty Arms<ref>Medium size value is for Tiny size</ref>
|sme=n
|ulot=o
|ampt=m
|cost=—
|sdamage=1d4
|mdamage=1d6
|crit=20/x2
|range=
|type=Bludgeoning
|weight=—
|hp=10
|hardness=5
}}
<!---
===Vital Statistics===

{{3.5e Racial Starting Age
|name=<!-- insert race name 
|start=<!-- Starting age for PCs. 
|simple=<!-- Age modifier for simple classes (i.e. Barbarian, Rogue, and Sorcerer) 
|moderate=<!-- Age modifier for moderate classes (i.e. Bard, Fighter, Paladin, and Ranger) 
|complex=<!-- Age modifier for complex classes (i.e. Cleric, Druid, Monk, and Wizard) }} 

{{3.5e Racial Aging Effects
|name=<!-- insert race name 
|middle=<!-- starting age for middle age --
|old=<!-- starting age for old age --
|venerable=<!-- starting age for venerable age 
|maximum=<!-- max age modifier }} 

{{3.5e Racial Height and Weight
|name=<!-- insert race name --
|mHeightBase=<!-- male base feet height --' <!-- inches --"
|mHeightMod=<!-- male height modifier --
|mWeightBase=<!-- male base weight --
|mWeightMod=<!-- male weight modifier --
|fHeightBase=<!-- female base feet height --' <!-- inches ->"
|fHeightMod=<!-- female height modifier --
|fWeightBase=<!-- female base weight --
|fWeightMod=<!-- female weight modifier --}}

=== Racial Options ===

* [[Duskborn Bloodhunter (3.5e Racial Substitution Levels)|Duskborn Bloodhunter]]: A cabal of paladins formally untied from any particular spiritual institution and without any traditional religious belief, formed exclusively by crepusculars, who declare themselves heirs of their vampire-hunting ancestors and who have developed techniques to better hunt these monsters, combining training with alchemy.

* [[Duskborn Impaler (3.5e Racial Substitution Levels)|Duskborn Impaler]]: Duskborns who choose to train in martial weapons often learn the discipline perfected by the Dreadspears, who focus on using the spear and intimidation to bring their opponents to their knees.

====Feats====

* [[Night Fangs (3.5e Feat)|Night Fangs]]

'''Other feats'''

* [[Spearmonger (3.5e Feat)|Spearmonger]]

* [[Dread Thrust (3.5e Feat)|Dread Thrust]]

=== Pathfinder Options ===

In Pathfinder, the ombra gain a +2 to Dexterity.

==== Alternate Racial Feature ====

* ''Night Fangs'': Some duskborns have more pronounced vampiric traits than others, starting with their teeth. They gain the [[Night Fangs (3.5e Feat)|Night Fangs]] feat for free. This alternate trait replaces the Impaler trait.

* ''Call of the Vampiric Blood'': Those who embrace their vampiric nature find they have more in common with these creatures than what meets the eye. They gain a +4 racial bonus against mind-affecting effects and a +2 on Charisma-based checks to influence vampires. They take only half damage from negative energy. They are perceived as evil undead by Divination effects and have a +2 racial bonus on Disguise checks to look like vampires. This alternate trait replaces the Sinister Nature trait.

* ''Night Lodge'': Not all duskborns fight vampires, on the contrary the members of the Night Lodge collaborate with them. They gain the [[Skill Focus]] (Knowledge Religion) feat for free and treat the [[Knowledge]] (Religion) skill as a class skill for all of their classes.  This alternate trait replaces the Enemy of Undeath trait.
--->
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{{3.5e Races Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
[[Category:User]]
[[Category:Race]]
{{Navboxes}}
Author	the bluez in the dungeon +
Class	Melee +
Cost	— gp +
Critical	20/x2 +
Damage	1d6 +
Damage Type	Bludgeoning +
Effective Character Level	1 +
Favored Class	Fighter +
Hardness	5 +
Hit Points	10 +
Identifier	3.5e Race +
Level Adjustment	0 +
Proficiency	None +
Racial Ability Adjustments	None +
Range	— +
Rating	Undiscussed +
Size	Tiny + and One-Handed +
Subtype	Anthro +
Summary	A people of humanoid ant-like creatures, who possess incredible strength despite their small size. +
Title	Myrmex +
Type	Humanoid +
Weight	— +