Katong

WE EVOLVED ALONGSIDE THE SEA. The life that spread throughout the oceans and seas. As aquatic life developed, our selves developed alongside to act as cleaners, curators, and as bulwarks against that which wishes to harm us. As the sophistication of life progressed so did we. Concurrently, cruelty seemed to flourish in the terrestrial world. Under those circumstances, I fear what we may have become.

Physical Description

The Katong are large, bulky, humanoid crustaceans with thick carapaces similar to the much smaller non-anthropogenic crab. They have two sets of limbs. One smaller set whose primary puropse is for fine motor skills and the manipulation of smaller objects. As for the second, they are large, powerful claws used for, first of all, defense, and secondarily, attack.

Intrinsic Drive

The Katong, colloquially referred to as crab-people, are amphibious crustacean humanoids most known as peaceful nomads who keep to themselves. Adapting to vastly different environments divided these undersea crustaceans into Shallows and Deep Katongs. As nomads, they act as guardians of the sea, herd sea creatures, or simply hunt and gather. Most katongs keep far from the settlements of other undersea people, but the more adventurous have proven to be excellent heroes.

Living Conditions

They tend to inhabit natural places, relatively unknown to other sentient creatures. As they are naturally curious about the world, incursions over the last century of terrestrially dwelling creatures making contact through sailing ships, and their subsequent wrecks, have increased the curiosity of Katang scholars.

Katong Names

Traditionally, Katong names get longer as they age. At birth, they are given a first name by their parents. Each time they molt, they will also be given a middle name, each for a revered ancestor. By the time they molt their final adolescent shell, a katong will usually have three or four middle names. In most cases, katangs are addressed by their first name only. Full names are quite formal and used mainly to respectfully address pod elders or by parents scolding a child.

Male Names: Akano, Alamaki, Bakari, Erakano, Ekilo, Halaki, Koni, Kulako, Lakalo, Lamaki, Mati, Nahini, Nomi, Pakoro, Rakiri, Soro, Taneti, Vako, Yikado, Zaki

Female Names: Akona, Areta, Bakadoru, Ekaroka, Ekolu, Holoka, Kana, Kalana, Lakola, Lemoku, Mata, Natanu, Noma, Pokoru, Rakora, Saru, Tanota, Vala, Yadu, Zoka

Katong Traits

Look like crab, talk like people:

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age. Katong are considered adult by their 17 and are generally believed to live to 150 years. But, their nomadic nature and little interaction with other races, some scholars believe they may live to be much older.

Alignment. Katong can take nearly any path in life that they feel suits them, though most tend to be neutral.

Size. Katongs are between 6 and 8 feet and average about 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your base swimming speed is 30 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.

Rending Claws. The claws on your outer arms are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier. Additionally, if you make one melee attack with a claw, you can make a second melee attack with a claw as a bonus action to which you don't add your strength modifier unless you have the two weapon fighter fighting style.

Natural Armor. A thick carapace covers your body. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Constition modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan.

Subrace. Over eons, katongs have evolved into two subraces: shallows katongs and deep katongs. Choose one of these subraces.

Credit: Sean Bigham

Deep Katong

As a deep Katong, the cold and dark sea bottom is your home. The nomadic ways of your ancestors have granted you physical gifts to survive this harsh environment.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.

Darkvision. Accustomed to life deep underwater, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Dwellers of the Deep. Accustomed to the deepest seas, you have resistance to bludgeoning damage and you ignore any of the drawbacks caused by a deep, underwater environment.

Shallows Katong

As a shallows Katong, you are naturally adapted to living in the Sunlit Seas. Your ancestors bestowed you with both knowledge and physical gifts to survive wandering these waters.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Dwellers of the Shallows. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, History, Nature, Perception, or Survival.

Liminal Living. Your base walking speed increases to 30 feet.

Special Notes

The expansion of terrestrial humanoids across the seas have caused a greater interest of Katongs >in the non-aquatic realms. There have been a number of Katong scholars that have entered the 'dry >lands' and have become successful adventurers.

Credits

Skywhaler - Crab Man. Drawing by Sean Bigham (SBigham). Available on DeviantArt. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Original accessed from https://www.deviantart.com/sbigham/art/Skywhaler-Crab-Man-126538969

Edited to make background transparent.

Karokans-Crab Race for 5e. Concept by Shawn Ellsworth https://www.tribality.com/2021/08/27/karokans-a-crabfolk-race-for-dd-5e/

Crabfolk-Crab Race for 5e.
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Crabfolk_(5e_Race)

Credit: Marian Trejo