Dynastes

Singular, Plural: Dynastes.

"One is never really prepared to be adopted by a Render, especially me. It's like having a giant walking shield follow you wherever you go. Sometimes they're silent as the dead, sometimes they're bloody parrots when I try something risky. But in the end, it's like... It's like having the caring parent you never really had." - Ricardo, elven rogue, out of earshot of his three render companions.

Mythologized as guardian beasts eons ago, the sudden sapience of the dynastes two hundred years ago is still a mystery. Nevertheless, their bulky size and dangerous appearance strikes worry in the hearts of many, despite dynastes sharing an innate desire in their hearts to protect others.

Art by Maxkayart!

Hulking Figures

Dynastes, no matter their origin across Galdera, tower over the humanoid races they live alongside. Ranging from seven to ten feet tall and around four feet wide, it is common for these folks to reside in towns that also house other large races, be it orcs, drakes, and the giant-kin. Dynastes are naturally hairless, with their leather-like skin often compared to segmented armor. What strikes a dynastes from another most distinctively are their eyes; six sparkling eyes, split between two rows, with colors and sheen rivaling the most precious of gems.

Beyond their eyes, one final distinction from each other is their ancestry, derived from the environment they are innately adapted to. Those adapted to the sea and rivers share vivid coral-like colors and an affinity to swimming. Those from the mountains wield mighty grasping claws, with those originating from jungle regions having skin akin to wood or bamboo. The most visually distinct are tundra renders, their snowy fur often mistaking them for yeti's at a distance.

Unknown Awakening

The existence of dynastes was first recorded just under three hundred years ago, arriving from all corners of the world with the ability to speak and coexist with other humanoid races. Nobody has been able to confirm what brought forth this sapience, with the only possible lead originating from the very first dynastes claiming to be “protectors for what is to come”. What the first dynastes meant is still unsure.

This awakening is as much of a mystery to everyone as it is for existing dynastes. Many share a lingering confusion and wonder to why their parents gained this improvement in brainpower, while their cousins remained the same. This question is not an uncommon reason for adventuring dynastes, searching crypts and dungeons for any answer to their past.

An Instinct to Protect

An instinct innate to all dynastes is one to protect others. This instinct can be easily suppressed, but it is one that allows them to excel in certain professions over other races. This bond allows them to protect a creature of their choice with a terrifying ferocity, allow them to unconsciously move to protect their bonded creature, or strike the attacked with unerring accuracy. Due to this, many dynastes find themselves in the professions of caretakers, bodyguard, midwives, and other workplaces.

What is even more striking with regards to this instinct is their means of reproduction. A dynastes reproduces asexually like its cousins, only ever producing one to three offsprings in the entirety of its lifetime. Such a child remains with its parent until it reaches a point for which it can defend itself and to which it can fully utilize its instinct. It is entirely possible that this instinct is one entirely parental, one out of place for a being that produces so few offspring but passed on genetically ever since their creation.

This means of reproduction does not stop dynastes from building families with those outside their race. The concept of marriage and love is one understood by dynastes. Despite their brute appearance, dynastes make for surprisingly great parents for any child. It is mythologized that if a dynastes finds their soul mate, their kid will be appear as the other parent.

Dynastes Names

Dynastes share no concept of naming their kin by gender. Dynastes culture has its name originating from the child itself, which it picks upon it has reached its age to leave. Until then, it is nicknamed after two distinctive parts of the child's life; the season or place for which it was born, and the first thing it had taken to care for or taken as its own.

Names: Guuran, Bruthan, Pruc, Braeltru, Fureld, Fubemu, Marum.
Nicknames: Summerbee, Snowpup, Thunderhelm, Fjordstone, Rivercoin.

Dynastes Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Renders can live to up to 150 years.
Creature Type. You are Humanoid, but count as a Monstrosity for the purposes of being detected.
Rarity. Rare.
Size. Dynastes tower over other humanoid folks, ranging between 7 to 10 feet tall. You are Medium.
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Your many eyes allows you to see more in darkness. 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 blue.
Adoptive Bond. Each time you finish a long rest, you can choose a Medium or smaller creature. Until the start of your next long rest, when that creature would be the sole target of an attack and you would be within 5 feet of them, you can spend your reaction to be the target instead. Doing so gives you advantage on the next attack roll you make against this attacker before the end of your next turn.
- You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses upon finishing a long rest.
Environmental Movement. Each Render shares a physical connection to their ancestors and wild cousins, dependent on the environment they came from. Choose one of the following benefits.
- Coastal. You gain a swimming speed of 30 feet, and can hold your breath for 1 hour.
- Desert. You have advantage against being grappled or falling prone.
- Jungle. You can move through a creature's space regardless of their size.
- Mountainside. You gain a climbing speed of 30 feet. You are also ignore negative effects of being in high altitude, up to a range of 20,000 feet.
- Plains. Your walking speed increases to 40 feet.
- Tundra. Your long jump is up to 15 feet and your high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start. You also ignore the effects of extreme cold.
Fang and Claws. Your claws and teeth are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing or slashing damage (your choice on a hit) equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
'''Powerful Build.*** You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

d6	Dynastes Characteristics
1	I have lost someone dear to me, yet my protective instincts still tell me they live. I wander in hope to find this to be true.
2	I envy the shortness and nimbleness of smaller folks. I would like to be carried like them.
3	I wear clothing that makes myself look even bigger. I will stop at nothing to look like the biggest person in the room.
4	I am deeply in love with beauty & the beast-like stories.
5	My eyes glisten in the light like gems and my skin is hard as rock, often causing me to be mistaken for a golem.
6	I seek to enlighten the wild, perhaps akin to whatever enlightened my ancestors.