Half-Magala (5e Race)
Half-Magala
| “ | A Gore Magala is loose on the Ancestral Steppe. Those weird scales it's scattering hither and yon have all the villages on the verge of panic! Tell me you'll step up and fix this situation? | ” |
| —Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Tipping the Scales | ||
Physical Description
Descended from the dragon worshiped as a god, Gore Magala, this race of humanoids bear many similarities to Dragonborn, and for good reason. Like their ancestor, they have poorly developed eyes, black scales with mostly purple details and red tint near their hands and feet. Half-Magala also retain the extra set of arms that double as wings; they attach near the shoulder, the elbow rests near the small of their back, and the hands rest atop their shoulders. The wings that drape from the arms at rest give the race the appearance of wearing a mantle at all times, but can limit the kinds of clothing they wear. Luckily, their scaly hide can mitigate this lack of environmental protection most of the time. Finally, a Half-Magala possesses a turtle-like mouth, with a sharp beak rather than typical teeth.
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| The draconic ancestor of the race. |
History
In remote regions, villages among the forested mountains worshiped a dragon god they call Shagaru Magala. When these villages were researched, and their dragon god descended on the rest of the world, what appeared instead was a Gore Magala. Gore Magala is a younger, incomplete form of Shagaru Magala, and it caused great calamity when it appeared due to the scales it shed to aid its perception. The scales carried Gore Magala's unique microbes, which infected all creatures that came in contact with them. Depending on bio-mass, the infection could be harmless, such as to insects or terrestrial mammals like Gargwa or Aptonoth, but larger wyverns or beasts could find themselves in great peril. Humans were uniquely affected by the microbes and had a similar reaction to larger monsters: the initial symptoms caused increased aggression and progressed in one of two ways. If the infected subject could sufficiently stimulate its bloodflow, the microbes would actually help strengthen the subject and prevent further infection, creating apex predators of their species. However, if this heightened aggression ended for naught, the microbes would slowly kill of their host.
This event is likely the root of the Half-Magala race. Perhaps wyverians who were infected had altered offspring that took on the appearance of Gore Magala as a result of the residual microbes... Or perhaps it is Shagaru Magala's divinity which caused a miraculous creation.
Society
Half-Magala society has become a mirror of the mountainous villagers that seem to be their progenitors. They live in secluded villages hidden in forested mountains, upon the slopes or in the valleys. Like the Gore Magala, they shed fine scales, like dust, to help them see despite their poorly formed eyes, and they are immune to their own infection. This black or purple dust practically coats their villages and the nearby area, creating a dangerous miasma to almost any other race. They are aware of this so-called "Frenzy virus," and so rarely travel to avoid inconveniencing other races. Yet, also like their draconic ancestor, they are prone to wanderlust in their own right, and those who do travel simply make considerations for the microbes that fall from their wings.
Half-Magala Names
Male: Schattenstolz, Aasklauen, Stahlurteil, Teufelsschleuder
Female: Eiferschild, Leumundslist, Verräterarm, Trauerklang
Half-Magala Traits
Your Gore Magala heritage gives you strong physical abilities and the distinct mantle of your ancestor.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. Your Gore Magala blood allows you to live up to 200 yrs, reaching full maturity around age 20.
Alignment. Your heritage has taught you to care for others, but your nature is at odds with the culture. You tend toward Chaotic alignments.
Size. You have the same stature as a human, but are heavier because of your scales and wings. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Malformed Eyes. You lack proper eyes and have disadvantage on Perception checks requiring sight.
Pollen Scales. You constantly produce a cloud of minuscule scales around you that allow to sense the presence, but not exact location, of any creatures in a 40 foot radius around you, even creatures hidden by magic. This skill doesn't work underwater, or on creatures that do not breathe.
Wings. You may use a bonus action to grant yourself a fly speed equal to your walking speed. To remain airborne, you must repeat this bonus action, or you begin falling. You cannot use this feature if your extra arms are currently otherwise engaged, such as holding something or manipulating an object. When retracted, the claws on each wing rest on the corresponding shoulder.
Extra Limbs. The clawed hands on your wings can be used as an extra pair of arms, however they are too poorly positioned to wield weapons or shields. Your wing arms are a foot longer than your primary arms and can be used to interact with objects, grapple an opponent, or make an unarmed attack for 1d6 slashing damage with them as a natural weapon.
Optional Trait: Frenzy Virus. Creatures affected by your Pollen Scales trait unwittingly ingest the microbes you play host to. The scales do no damage, but the target must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus) or be put into a frenzied state. On a failed save, a creature cannot spend hit dice to regain hit points for 8 hours, and only regains half as much hit points from other sources. If the creature successfully lands four attacks in 1 minute, it may repeat the saving throw to negate this effect. On a successful save, a creature is immune to this effect for 8 hours. If the same creature successfully saves against this effect twice, it is permanently immune to it, but can still be affected by your Pollen Scales trait.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Draconic.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 0″ | +2d12 | 240 lb. | × (2d4) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
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