Bullywug

Life as a bullywug is nasty, brutish, and wet. These frog-headed amphibious humanoids must stay constantly moist, dwelling in rainy forests, marshes, and damp caves. The following features are intended for a player character race and not meant to be used with the **bullywug** statistic block in the Monster Manual.

## **Foul Aristocracy**

Bullywugs consider themselves the right and proper rulers of the swamps. They follow an etiquette of sorts when dealing with outsiders and each other, subject to the whims and fancies of their leader - a self-styled lord of the muck. Bullywugs introduce themselves with grand-sounding titles, make great shows of bowing and debasing themselves before their superiors, and endlessly vie for their masters' favor.

A bullywug has two ways to advance among its kind. It can either murder its rivals, through it must take pains to keep its criminal deeds secret, or it can find a treasure or magic item and present it as tribute or a token of obeisance to its liege. A bullywug that murders its rivals without cunning is likely to be executed, so it's more common for bullywugs to stage raids against caravans and settlements, with the goal of securing precious baubles to impress their lords and win their good graces. Once a gift loses its sheen, a bullywug lord invariably demands that its subjects bring it more treasure as tribute.

## **Unruly Diplomacy**

Bullywug warriors attempt to capture intruders rather than simply slaying them. Captives are dragged before a king or queen - a bullywug of unusually large size - and forced to beg for mercy. Bribes, treasure, and flattery can trick the bullywug ruler into letting its captives go, but not before it tries to impress its "guests" with the majesty of its treasure and its realm. Struck with a deep inferiority complex, bullywug lords fancy themselves as kings and queens, but desperately crave the fear and respect of outsiders.

## **Amphibian Allies**

Bullywugs speak a language that allows them to communicate over large areas by croaking like frogs. News of intruders or other events in the swamp spread within minutes across this crude communication system.

Bullywugs also use this language to form strong bonds with giant frogs, which they train as guardians and hunters. Larger specimens are sometimes used as mounts as well. The frogs' ability to swallow creatures whole provides a bullywug hunting band an easy means of carrying prey back to their villages.

## **Bullywug Names**

Bullywug names often comprise guttural croaking sounds and tend to include numerous letters and syllables so as to be more impressive-sounding to other bullywugs. Some bullywugs of status often adopt a long, pompous title they become very proud of, regardless of how nonsensical it may sound to other cultures.

Male Names: Buhmbub, Grugenos, Haari, Horglash, Kermshugg, Pharblex, Touddun

Female Names: Begritha, Gertrudd, Mershent, Pubbee, Quaffoda, Quinaquen, Swumpiff

Title Names: Charmander, Garbleglib, Marshmuster, Muckglobber, Rippledrip, Spattergoo

## **Bullywug Traits**

Your amphibious nature and your affinity to the swamps has granted you the following traits.

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

**Age.** Bullywugs begin life as tadpoles and grow to maturity just after six months or so. Bullywugs are expected to start contributing to the army after their first year and are considered fully mature by 5 years. If they are able to survive in the perilous swamps, bullywugs can live almost as long as humans, roughly 80 years.

**Alignment.** Bullywugs are greedy and lazy creatures. They love nothing more than lording over those who trespass on their territories. While a majority have a tendency toward evil, few bullwugs have broken away from the traditional mindset.

**Size.** Bullywugs are slightly taller than the average human, but often perch hunched or squatting which can make them seem deceptively smaller. Your size is Medium.

**Speed.** Your large flipper-feet are awkward on land but swift in the water. Your base walking speed is 25 feet and your base swimming speed is 40 feet.

**Amphibious.** You can breathe air and water.

**Skulker.** You have proficiency with the Stealth skill.

**Speak with Frogs and Toads.** You can communicate simple concepts to frogs and toads when you speak in Bullywug.

**Swamp Camouflage.** You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in swampy terrain.

**Standing Leap.** Your long jump is up to 20 feet and your high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

**Languages.** You can speak Common and Bullywug. Bullywug is a strange, guttural language of croaks, clicks, and groans that can be understood by all types of frogs and toads.