Myrmex (3.5e Race)

Author: the bluez in the dungeon (talk) Date Created: 3rd November 2024 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Myrmex

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

• Humanoid (Anthro): Although they look like insects, myrmex are fully urbanized and highly intelligent creatures. 
• Tiny: As a Tiny creature, a myrmex gains a +2 size bonus to Armor Class, a +2 size bonus on attack rolls, a –8 size penalty on special attack (bull rushes, grapples, overruns, and trips) checks, and a +8 size bonus on Hide checks, but it uses smaller weapons than humans use, and its lifting and carrying limits are one-half of those of a Medium character. Furthermore, as a tiny creature, a myrmex has a default space of 2 and 1/2 feet and 0 feet of reach.
• Myrmex base land speed is 20 feet.  
• Darkvision: A myrmex can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and a myrmex can function just fine with no light at all. 
• Anklebiter: 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 feat for free. 
• Hidden Strength: Myrmex can unleash incredible physical power. They get the feat and the 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 feat and they can use Strength instead of Charisma on Intimidate checks. 
• Ant Core: 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 feat for free. 
• Mighty Arms: Their strong arms can inflict considerable damage. They get a feral strike in the form of a slam attack, with the characteristics indicated below. 
• Compensate for Size: To overcome their inherent weaknesses, myrmex have had to learn compensation techniques to even out size differences. They get the Compensate for Size feat for free. 
• Shackled Will: Despite their physical strength, they are weak to mental assaults. They take a -2 penalty against Mind-Affecting effects. 
• Vermin Body: They count as being Vermin whenever it would not be beneficial.
• Automatic Languages: Common
• Bonus Languages: Any, except secret ones
• Favored Class: Fighter
• Level Adjustment: +0
• Effective Character Level: 1

Mighty Arms

One-Handed Melee

Cost:	— gp
Damage (Small):	1d4
Damage (Medium)1:	1d6
Critical:	20/x2
Weight2:	— lbs
Type3:	Bludgeoning
HP4:	10
Hardness:	5

1. See Damage Increases by Size to calculate the damage for a weapon larger than Medium or smaller than Small.
2. Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weighs twice as much.
3. When two types are given, the weapon is both types if the entry specifies "and", either type (player's choice at time of attack) if the entry specifies "or", or each end of the double weapon is a different type if the entry specifies "/".
4. The hp value given is for Medium armor, weapons, and shields. Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium.

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