The Mutophage: Race

The Mutophage: Race

A
t the end of the old world, in the struggle for
power, vast amounts of creative energies were
poured into new forms of life. The mutophagi,
singularly "mutophage" ("muto" for short,
sometimes derogatorily "mangle"), are thought
to be a byproduct of this creation, a race of
creatures who, as legend holds, created
themselves from the leavings of others. As a result, the
mutophagi maintain strange abilities; a race of scavengers,
they take the form of what they eat, slowly transforming over
time. In addition, they still have the taint of creation on them,
making them a feared foe in the wastelands to the present
day.
Appearance
Physically, the mutophagi share one obvious trait: the forms
they take are mutated and often warped versions of what they
eat. On first look, a mutophage, depending on type, could be
confused to be wearing the skin of other creatures.
Oftentimes at a distance, it's hard to judge whether a creature
is a mutophage or not, though close up this uncertainty fades.
Food Consumption
Though mutophagi are known for their particular appetites,
they rarely eat, only needing to sate themselves once every
few weeks. As they rarely need sustenance, they are
notoriously picky eaters, only feasting on their preferred food
(or phage type) unless they have used certain abilities (most
often to fight), which draw a vast amount of energy. When
they are forced to defend themselves, or meld, they undergo
"phage consumption" and are prone to eat almost anything at
hand, even breaking certain taboos (such as non-Salvophages
eating inorganic material), or risking attack by eating other
sentient / sapient creatures.
Young muto, or philophage muto often spend several years
sampling from various local food sources. Once they become
enamored with a particular food, their physical development
will progress rapidly, completely taking on the attributes of
their chosen food source within a few months.

Language and Names

Muto use a series of chittering sounds and clicks to
communicate with each other. Known as Mutolex, or simply
Muto (or, again, derogatorily as Mangle), no effort has been
made to understand this language. Speaking Common can
be a challenge for a muto, but it is normally the only option
available for communication.
Since to most races Muto sounds akin to animalistic noise,
muto names can be difficult to pronounce. As a result, in the
very rare occassion that muto interact with other creatures,
they will often take the names of non-muto creatures, places,
or even objects, as their own.

Behavior
Muto are, by nature, shy and skittish creatures. They will only
attack if a group of other creatures invades their territory and
is particularly aggressive. They know from experience that
their kind is unwanted, and are often hunted as
abominations. This does not mean that they are solitary
creatures; most muto live in clutches of various individual
types, though certain types tend to live only amongst their
own phage type.
When invaded, a singular muto tends to act without malice,
usually hiding away, though in numbers they might approach
out of curiosity, only attacking if threatened. In contrast,
certain more aggressive types may go on the offensive, either
to drive out or kill trespassers, and so gain a food source for
the coming weeks, or even months.
Mutophage Reproduction
Mutophage breeding is by and large a mystery. Early on after
their discovery, many believed them to reproduce asexually,
though this idea has fallen out of fashion. It has been
observed that muto form life-long bonds, though monogamy,
or single pairing, is uncommon.
Though there are no completely verifiable sources on the
topic, the belief is that, when a mutophage is born, they are
without type, coming into existence as something akin to a
human child (or perhaps more accurately a kangaroo joey).
Whether or not this is true, phage type seems to pertain
less to the types of muto in a particular clutch, and much
more to the surrounding food sources. However, when a
phage type is taken, it is believed that this type is maintained
throughout the muto's lifetime.

Page 1 | Mutophage: Creature

This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Melding
Perhaps due to their particular malleability, mutophagi
possess a curious ability which is central to their perceived
danger. When a clutch of muto are threatened and that threat
becomes existential, the clutch will meld, literally melting into
each other, forming a creature often referred to simply as a
"Mangle." This creature is much more difficult to handle, and
wreaks destruction on a much larger scale than the
individual mutophagi could separately.
As of this writing, there is no known size limit of a melded
Mangle; legend speaks of building-sized Mangle (known
colloquially as "Devourers") which, in elden days, destroyed
entire cities. Still, maintaining any melded form takes
immense energy from the mutophagi that compose them,
and so Devourers would only appear in the most rarified of
circumstances.
Once any melded (or composite) Mangle has been taken
enough damage, or has been active for enough time, the
Mangle can no longer maintain the form, and falls apart,
separating into the various individuated mutophagi that
compose it.
Origin and Alignment
While there is a percieved connection between mutophagi
and the undead - both in origin and in certain traits shared -
despite all rumors, mutophagi are living creatures, and are
more accurately described to be undead-eaters rather than
undead themselves.
Though muto are often labeled as "evil," this is by and large
due to their proclivity for eating anything (even other sentient
/ sapient creatures), as well as due to the threat they can pose
to a "peaceful" settlement. It is not due to any particularly
"evil" desires or inclinations of the mutiphage other than the
desire to survive, and to live unhindered. Your mileage may
vary as to what this means to you.

Page 2 | Mutophage: Creature

Muto Racial Features
Want to play a muto? Discuss with your DM where muto
might hide in the world, and what the world's reaction might
be to a muto with the bad sense to walk in daylight.
Phage Type. When you take this race, pick a "food" type.
This may include anything (speak with your DM about
acceptable "food" types). You may only eat this type of "food"
unless undergoing "phage consumption."
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Constitution by 2.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and can
speak Muto.
Life Span. Mutophagi have a slightly shorter lifespan than
the average human, usually between 50 and 60 years. This
can be substantially shorter if they find themselves in heavily
populated areas, as they are often hunted if discovered.
Phage Consumption. Muto only need to eat once every few
weeks unless they have used a large amount of energy. If a
muto uses a large amount of energy, they must eat in the next
24 hour period or take a level of exhaustion. Every additional
24 hours that the muto does not eat, they gain another level
of exhaustion, even if they have taken a long rest. Levels of
exhaustion gained this way are dispelled once the muto eats.
When eating to dispel "phage consumption" a muto may
eat anything, including other creatures (though it cause
problems with the non-muto population), and even inanimate Mutophage Subraces
objects (though this may cause disapproval from other non-
salvophage muto). Whatever they eat, they must consume at Carniphage
least their own bodyweight in "food" before phage
consumption is dispelled. Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity by 1.
Discuss with your DM might cause phage consumption. Silent Stalker. A carniphage uses their natural dexterity to
Typical causes might be intense combat or difficult stalk their prey. You have advantage on stealth checks relying
spellcasting. on sound or when in shadow.
Size. You are medium or small. Fungophage
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet. Ability Score Increase. Increase your Wisdom by 1.
Startling Visage. To most races, mutophagi are somewhere Spore Cloud. A fungophage uses their spore cloud to
between uncannily strange and hideously ugly. You are easily monitor their surroundings. You can’t be surprised by any
noticed in daylight even in a crowd, and can only escape creature within 10 ft. of you. This does not extend beyond
prying eyes if hiding in shadow or when heavily obscured, as closed barriers.
with a very good disguise. While in bright light, you have
disadvantage on stealth checks relying on sight, and have Salvophage
disadvantage on Persuasion checks when recognized as Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength by 1.
muto; however, when recognized as muto, you have
advantage on Intimidation checks. Thick Skin. Through eating tough materials, the salvophage
has gained a thick hide. Your AC is increased by 1.
On PC Melding: All muto can meld; however, melding is
done at great risk, and only in the right circumstances. Philophage
Melding is only feasible when living or travelling with other Ability Score Increase. Increase your Charisma by 1.
muto. When melded, muto consciousness becomes
something akin to a hivemind, so player control should be Fast Evolution. A philophage is a young muto who has not
limited if not nonexistent. Also, damage against a muto-meld yet chosen their particular phage type. At dawn, you may
is randomly distributed between all composite creatures, and choose one trait to gain from another race you have eaten in
muto that die while melded are often absorbed by the others the last 24 hours. When you gain a trait using Fast Evolution,
involved, and cannot be brought back to life. Still, if PC you must replace Fast Evolution with that trait. Once Fast
melding is desired, speak with your DM about the possibility, Evolution has been replaced, it cannot be regained.
as well as melding traits. See Mutophage: Creature for more.
Page 3 | Mutophage: Racial Features
This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
 Credits
Homebrew

Strange Biscuits Christopher Delvo

Images
Gerald Markham Lewis
Arnoldus Montanus
Odilon Rebon

Making Weirder Check out more content at awaveringspeck

Content
Mutophagi were first put together as part of a
video game / playtest campaign of a game
entitled The Source (product pending). The
game and its contents owe their existence to
other games such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill,
Mother, Lisa, Nier, and many more, in addition to
books like Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Karin
Tidbeck's Amatka, China Mieville's Perdido
Street Station, amongst others.

I would also like to make mention of Christopher

Delvo's "Mangle." Though the concept and
application of the mutophage were developed
independently, certain aspects of "The Mangle"
have been referenced. Check it out in the credits.

As always, though, much of the credit goes to

friends and family who have supported me
through many daft ventures.

Cover Art: Pieter Bruegel the Elder

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