Troglodyte (3.5e Race)

Author: Darth Rabbitt (talk) Date Created: May 26 2021 Status: Mostly finished Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Troglodyte

Foul-smelling subterranean reptilian humanoids armed with stone age weaponry and camouflage abilities, troglodytes fill the "cave man" niche of D&D races.

Personality

Troglodytes are obligate carnivores that can eat just about any meat, but prefer humanoid flesh to all else. They typically don't wear clothing beyond belts and the occasional piece of armor. They lack the capacity for metal working, and thus they heavily value steel when they can find it; pieces of it are put into crude armor or belts, and steel weapons are a sign of status in troglodyte society (most of their weapons are made of stone). Between their desires for steel and flesh they frequently raid humanoid settlements on the surface. Troglodyte society values strength above all else, but troglodytes recognize that cunning, knowledge and stealth have a strength all their own. Troglodytes are surprisingly long lived creatures; they can reach over 350 years if they don't fall in battle.

Physical Description

The average troglodyte stands 5 feet tall and weights 150 pounds. They resemble bipedal lizards with squat legs, slender tails and spindly arms. They have bony crests on top of their lizard-like heads; males and females look very similar other than these crests typically being more prominent in the former than the latter. Their tough and leathery scales vary in coloration (compounded by their camouflage abilities that allow them to change their color) but grayish-brown is the most common. They have sharp claws and teeth that they often use in battle. They have scent glands that can secrete a very powerful odor when frightened or angry, and have learned how to utilize this ability in battle as well.

Relations

Troglodytes tend to raid the surface for metal and food, and this coupled with their stench results in most surface dwellers not liking them very much. Their isolation results in this feeling being largely mutual. While most troglodytes shun and are shunned by other humanoids, some realize that working with other races can be beneficial. Troglodytes have few natural predators because they taste as bad as they smell to most creatures, although troglodytes themselves will eat fallen rivals from other clans.

Alignment

Being an aggressive race, troglodytes lean towards chaotic evil, but can be of any alignment.

Lands

Troglodytes tend to live in clans in underground caves, with chieftains typically being the largest and fiercest members of their clans. Other than their xenophobia and reputation nothing actually keeps them from living above ground, though. Some clans make this observation and will ally themselves with other races.

Religion

The most popular troglodyte deity is also their patron deity: Laogzed, the chaotic evil god of hunger. Other troglodytes worship demon princes or the spirits of their ancestors.

Language

Troglodytes speak Common and Draconic, the languages shared by all reptilian humanoids. Especially intelligent ones typically learn the languages of evil humanoids and Underdark dwellers.

Names

Troglodyte given names tend to be one or two syllable guttural words (or occasionally simple words in Common), and their clan names are usually descriptive names that have to do with violence, anatomy, or both. Troglodyte names are not gendered.

Sample given names: Urg, Hobart, Krog, Narg, Snorlock, Slash

Sample clan names: Sharp-Tooth, Arm-Torturer, Foul-Body, Filthy-Eyes, Murk-Face, Iron-Claw

Racial Traits

• -2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, -2 Intelligence: Troglodytes are exceptionally hardy, but physically clumsy and slow learners.
• Humanoid (Reptilian): Troglodytes are underground lizard people. 
• Medium: As a Medium creature, a troglodyte has no special bonuses or penalties due to its size.
• Troglodyte base land speed is 30 feet.  
• Darkvision: A troglodyte can see in the dark up to 90 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and a troglodyte can function just fine with no light at all. 
• Natural Armor: Troglodytes gain a +2 natural armor bonus. 
• Natural Weapons: A Troglodyte gains two primary claws which deal 1d4 damage, and a bite which deals 1d4 damage. 
• Racial Skills: The skin of a troglodyte changes color somewhat, allowing it to blend in with its surroundings like a chameleon. This gives a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks, which increases to +8 in rocky or underground settings. 
• Stench (Ex): A troglodyte may secrete an oily, musk-like smell at will that almost all animal life finds offensive. Living non-troglodytes within 30 feet capable of smell must make a Fortitude save (Constitution-based) or be sickened for 10 rounds. Creatures who make their save cannot be affected by the same troglodyte’s stench for 24 hours. This is a poison effect.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic
• Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Grimlock, Kuo-Toa, Terran, Orc, Undercommon
• Favored Class: Cleric or Druid
• Level Adjustment: +0
• Effective Character Level: 1

Vital Statistics

Table: Troglodyte Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
75 years	+3d6	+5d6	+7d6

Table: Troglodyte Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
150 years	200 years	300 years	+d100 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Troglodyte Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 5"	+2d6	120 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
Female	4' 5"	+2d6	120 lb.	× (2d4) lb.

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