Kagerane

Origin & Overview

The phylogeny of D&D species often depicts amphibians as tribal and brutal creatures, akin to Grungs or Bullywugs, struggling for survival in poisoned swamps. The Kageranes ("Kage" meaning Shadow and "Rana" meaning Frog) represent an evolutionary break. Heirs to a secret civilization founded in misty valleys and twilight jungles, they have developed a highly disciplined monastic society centered around the arts of assassination, espionage, and control of water flows.

Moving Shadow

Kagerane monasteries teach that water and shadow are two sides of the same mirror. As a people, they often sell themselves as mercenaries or shadow protectors for distant lords. They are silent, methodical, and never succumb to the territorial rages of their wild cousins. The Kageranes wield their own physiology as a deadly and versatile weapon.

Amphibious Appearance

A Kagerane stands between 5.5 and 5.9 feet tall, possessing an incredibly athletic and hydrodynamic build, devoid of any excess fat. Their smooth, moist skin ranges from deep blue to jet black, sometimes streaked with yellow or white geometric patterns that warn of their venomous nature.

Their most striking visual characteristic is a long prehensile appendage—a hypertrophied gland or their own elongated tongue—that they can manipulate at will. Their limbs end in long, webbed fingers equipped with microscopic suction cups, ideal for climbing the smoothest surfaces, and their muscular thighs function as powerful biomechanical springs.

Kagerane Names

Kageranes typically distinguish between genders. Their names often reflect concepts related to darkness, water, or subtly mimic the natural sounds of their species.

Names related to shadow and night: Yami (darkness), Kage (shadow), Kageko (child of the shadow), Kuro (black), Yoru (night).

Names related to water and fluids: Shinkai (deep sea), Kaito (ocean traveler), Kaiyō (ocean), Mizu (water), Shimizu (pure water), Umi (sea).

Onomatopoeic names (soft croaking): Geko, Kero, Gero, Lero, Heko.

Ideas for Male Names: Enkai, Kaito, Yami, Geko, Suijin, Shinba, Tobi, Ren, Hado.

Ideas for Female Names: Kageko, Mizu, Shimizu, Umi, Rika, Nami, Shizuku, Kasumi, Rin, Suiren.

Clan or Monastery Names (Surnames): Kageranes frequently use the name of their monastery or assassin clan as their surname. Out of respect for martial tradition, this clan name is always spoken before the first name during formal introductions.

Examples: Black-Lotus (Black-Lotus Kaito), Thick-Fog (Thick-Fog Kasumi), Silent-Blade (Silent-Blade Ren), Blood-Drop (Blood-Drop Shizuku).

Racial Traits

A Kagerane embodies shadow, water, and venom.

You have the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity increases by 2.

Age. You reach maturity around 15 years and live up to 70 years.

Size & Weight. Your size is Medium, and you weigh less than 130 pounds.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a climbing speed of 30 feet and a swimming speed of 40 feet.

Creature Type. Your creature type is Humanoid.

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

Amphibious. Your dual respiratory system allows you to breathe both air and underwater. You do not suffer from the water dependency penalty typical of other amphibious tribes.

Propulsive Anatomy. The muscular structure of your legs defies gravity. Your long jump distance is fixed at 20 feet and your high jump at 10 feet, whether you take a running start or not. This ability replaces the standard jumping rules based on Strength.

Adhesive Tongue. You can use your tongue and stretch it up to 5 feet away. For 1 minute, you can hold an object by wrapping your tongue around it. The object must be small and weigh no more than 30 pounds. After the minute is up or if you take damage, the object falls, and your tongue instinctively returns to your mouth.

Shadow Embrace. You are a master of twilight atmospheres. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill. Additionally, when you are in an area of dim light or darkness (or submerged underwater), you can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

Gland Strike. At 3rd level, you learn to control your venom glands to release the toxin at the perfect moment. When you hit a creature with an attack (whether using a melee weapon, a ranged weapon like a bow, or unarmed), you can release a dose of venom. The attack deals an additional 1d6 poison damage. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses after a long rest.