dnd5e-mote
Cetean
Description
Ceteans are a whalefolk species who explore Mote and Fellspace in the pursuit of knowledge and starstuff.
Distribution
Ceteans originate from distant regions of Fellspace, where they swam through starstuff nebulas and thrived off of the material's magical nourishment. These free-flying pods were drawn to the starstuff regularly bombarding Mote, and eventually took up permanent residence in the world's bountiful oceans. The gift of Echospeak possessed by all ceteans meant that even when these groups forever left the realm of Fellspace, they continued to communicate with their stellar brethren and share knowledge with the wider cetean community.
After a massive starstuff asteroid impacted with Esterfell, many cetean pods came to the new land, eventually becoming founding members of the nation of Xiahulia.
Multiple pods of ceteans reside within the oceans surrounding Esterfell, with the largest groups settling along the northern coasts of Lenya. They mostly stay away from the continent's landbound societies, but occasionally can be found in port cities to engage in trade.
Traits
- Creature Type: Humanoid
- Size: Medium (6-9 feet tall)
- Speed: 30 feet, swim 30 feet
As a cetean, you have the following special traits.
Echospeak. Without the assistance of magic, the baleen structures in your mouth make it difficult to speak the non-cetean languages you know. Instead, you primarily use a telepathic technique known as Echospeak to convey your thoughts. You can communicate telepathically with willing creatures you can see within 120 feet.
Hold Breath. You can hold your breath for up to 1 hour.
Large Build. You have Advantage on Strength-based ability checks and Strength saving throws. In addition, you count as one Size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Whalesong. You can use your Echospeak to connect to other members of your pod over great distances, benefitting from shared knowledge carried through your people's collective whalesong. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you gain Proficiency in one skill of your choice. You acquire this Proficiency by drawing from shared cetean knowledge, and you retain it until you finish your next Long Rest.