Axolotl

Axolotl are an amphibious species with a very peculiar appearance: they have feathery external
gills on the sides of their heads (resembling an axolotl’s gill stalks), soft slick skin that ranges
from pale pink and blue to dark mottled colours, and youthful features that they retain into old
age (axolotl exhibit neoteny, holding onto juvenile traits all their lives). They are often mistaken
for young salamander or even elemental creatures due to their fringed gills and often-unblinking
eyes. Axolotl hail from deep freshwater lakes and underground water systems, often with
connections to mystical energies (in some tales, they originally came from the Feywild or were
touched by a god of healing). They are rare and usually keep to themselves, but their
communities are tight-knit and kindly. Notably, axolotl have remarkable regenerative
capabilities – they can recover from injuries that would leave permanent scars on others, and
even regrow lost limbs over time. This, plus their perpetually youthful traits, has given them a
reputation as near-immortals (though they do age and die, just gracefully). Culturally, axolotl
value knowledge (especially of medicine and magic) and compassion; many are natural healers
or sages. They often worship or honor a deity of healing, growth, or mercy, believing they were
given their regenerative gift to serve as caretakers. Adventuring axolotl tend to be drawn to
healing professions (clerics, druids, bards focusing on support) or to scholarly pursuits
(wizards, artificers). Some, however, delve into dangerous territories seeking to unlock the
secrets of life, death, and rebirth – after all, who better to research such things than one who
regrows flesh? Their demeanor is typically gentle, patient, and somewhat curious about the
world outside their hidden lakes.

Axolotl Traits: Your axolotl character has the following species traits:

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

2. Age. Axolotl reach maturity by 10 but often keep a youthful appearance for much of their
lives. They can live a bit longer than most species; many reach 100 years or so, with
some elders possibly living to 120 or 130, all the while retaining a somewhat childlike
look due to neoteny.

3. Alignment. Axolotl are strongly inclined toward good alignments, usually neutral good.
They are compassionate and try to help others, not big on strict rules (they’re neutral in
that sense), but naturally altruistic. They usually abhor cruelty and conflict, preferring
peaceful resolutions and aiding the suffering. It’s very rare to find an evil axolotl; such an
individual likely had some tragic corrupting influence.

4. Size. Axolotl are small-medium, typically around 4 to 5 feet tall, but with a somewhat
delicate build. They usually weigh between 60–100 pounds. You count as Medium,
though some smaller ones could be considered Small (ask your DM if you wish to be
Small; it might affect some of your carrying capacities but generally it’s fine).

5. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a swim speed of 30 feet as well.
Axolotl are excellent swimmers, spending much of their time underwater.

6. Amphibious. You can breathe air and water. Your external gills and lungs both function
to keep you alive in either environment indefinitely.

7. Rapid Regeneration. You have the ability to recover from injuries rapidly. During a
short rest, you regain additional hit points equal to your proficiency bonus for each Hit
Die you spend to heal. (For example, if you spend 2 Hit Dice during a short rest and your
proficiency bonus is +2, you regain an extra 4 hit points.) Additionally, you can reattach a
severed body part or regrow a lost minor body part (finger, toe, etc.) over the course of a
long rest. (Major limbs might take several days or weeks depending on DM’s call, but you
eventually can recover them – this isn’t usually relevant in standard D&D campaigns
unless the DM includes limb loss mechanics.)

8. Healing Factor. You have advantage on death saving throws. Also, when you roll a Hit
Die to regain hit points, you can treat any roll of 1 as a 2. (Your regenerative powers
make you hard to kill and improve baseline healing.)

9. Calming Presence. Axolotl often exude a reassuring, gentle aura. You have proficiency in
the Medicine skill. Also, you can cast the spell Calm Emotions once per long rest without
using a spell slot (Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this). This reflects your ability
to soothe those around you with a gentle word or touch.

10. Sensitive Gills. You are a creature of pure, clean waters. You have advantage on saving
throws against poison, and you have resistance to poison damage. However, you are
sensitive to toxic environments: you have disadvantage on saving throws against
diseases (your body focuses on regeneration, making disease tricky for you to fight off)
and you suffer if immersed in foul, polluted water (if you spend more than 1 hour in
heavily poisoned or polluted water, you gain one level of exhaustion – most axolotl avoid
such areas).

11. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Beast Speech. (Axolotl Beast
Speech is often described as soft and echoey, with a melodious cadence. They can also
communicate simple ideas with bioluminescent glows of their skin or slight colour
changes, but that’s a cultural detail, not an extra language.)