Metatheria

The Metatherians, a nomadic race traversing the vast expanse of the Mammalia region, are distinguished by their unique attributes and merchant-centric lifestyle. Renowned predominantly for their roles as merchants, they wield an innate advantage in the form of built-in pouches, enabling them to securely carry valuable items while on the move.

Nomadic Lifestyle

Metatherians typically travel in small family groups or solitary journeys, their nomadic existence shaping their identity and livelihood. Constantly on the move, they navigate the diverse landscapes of Mammalia, trading goods and fostering connections across various settlements and territories.

Communication and Social Dynamics

Possessing strong communication skills honed through their merchant endeavors, Metatherians excel in conveying their trade propositions and negotiating deals. However, their nomadic lifestyle often impedes the development of well-rounded social skills, making it challenging for them to form enduring social bonds. Consequently, they are sometimes perceived as socially awkward or apathetic, although such stereotypes may not accurately reflect every member of the race.

Subraces:
Kangaroo
Possum
Wombat

Genetic Descendants

• Kangaroo
• Possum
• Wombat

Geographic Distribution

• Mammalia

Related Historical Events

• 5376 DE/ME
  Naming of Metatheria

Metatheria

The Metatheria are a nomadic race of almost exclusively merchant class. Due to their built-in pouches, when they are not carrying their young they are able to utilize their own bodies to carry valuable items in a highly secure manner. They may travel in solitary or small family groups. They are typically strong communicators but otherwise lack well-developed social skills due to their nomadic lifestyles making it challenging to form social bonds with others. This results in the Metatheria being stereotyped as socially awkward and/or apathetic, which is not necessarily accurate for every member of the race (although it's not necessarily inaccurate either...).

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Any

Size: Medium

speed: 20ft Walking

Languages:

sub races:
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Kangaroo

The largest of the Metatheria, the Kangaroo and their cousins the Wallabies are perhaps the most common and well-traveled of their race. They are highly protective of their young and have extremely powerful hind legs.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Any

Size: Medium

speed: 20ft Walking

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Aussie Jump

Your powerful hind legs allow you to long jump 20 feet or high jump 10 feet without requiring a running start.

Kangaroo Kick

You rear back on your stabilizing tail and give two powerful kicks with each leg for 2d10 bludgeoning damage + your strength modifier. Target must make a DC10 Strength Check or they are knocked prone and unconscious (lose 1 turn).

]
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Possum

Possum Metatheria are most know for their gift of gab, adaptability and "playing possum". When they're not scavenging and trading off their finds, they're either helping raise their large families or spending what they just earned.

Possum families tend to be large ones, with the amount of young numbering anywhere from 6 to 12, and occasionally more! Because they have such large family units Possums tend to travel with a few other Possum families, or in even larger caravan groups where they raise their young communally, though its not completely unusual to see a lone family raising their own young. Being raised in large communal groups gives most of their race strong familial type bonds to each other, whether they're actually related or not.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Usually good or neutral

Size: Medium

speed: 20ft Walking

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Darkvision

You have strongly dilated pupils that allow you to see well in the dark, granting you darkvision out to 60 feet.

Possum Play

As a reaction to an attack you can drop prone and play dead. Anyone you're attempting to fool must succeed on an Insight check equal to 10 + your Charisma Modifier. If failed they will believe that you are dead and disengage. This ability can only be used once per short or long rest.

]
[blocklink:

Wombat

Burrowing deep into the ground, Wombat Metatheria are small, night-loving creatures, who have little respect for property ownership and low levels of personal hygiene.

Wombats are bipedal, with rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws. Their fur varies in colour and they glow under ultraviolet light. Wombats have keen senses and are aggressively territorial. When under threat, they are able to quickly burrow and hide in tunnels.

In contrast to their Metatheria cousins, they are less often merchants themselves and are more likely to be suppliers for other Metatheria merchants, or merchants/shopkeepers of other races.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Any

Size: Small

speed: 20ft Walking, 20ft Burrowing

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Darkvision

As a nocturnal marsupial, your tiny eyes work better at night. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.

Burrower

As a reaction to being attacked, once per short rest you can dig a small tunnel and hide in it, giving disadvantage to any attacks against you. You cannot take any attack actions whilst in the tunnel. You must spend a bonus action to leave the tunnel again.

]

race features:

Gift of Gab

After generations and generations of merchants and similar occupations in your ancestry, you're born with an inherent gift for gab. You are proficient in persuasion and are able to negotiate a d% discount on goods purchased from other merchants.

Backpacker

Your natural pouch provides you with additional carrying space, increasing your carrying capacity to that of one size larger. You also have advantage on sleight of hand saving throws due to the security of your pouch.