The mogogols began as an offshoot group of boggards (frog people) who were driven from their swampy homes by another group of boggards. Also around this time, the offshoot group underwent an unexplained change, possibly magical in nature, which caused them to be more open and tolerant of outsiders and practically incapable of intentionally committing an evil act. The group eventually settled in and near saltwater marshes along the coasts and over time their forced contact with outsiders prompted them to take up a seafaring lifestyle. While not as skilled at seafaring as other races, mogogols have made their livings transporting cargo and fishing. The greater exposure to the outside world has also resulted in more genetic diversity, producing a stronger and healthier race. The mogogols of today have only a few common characteristics with their more inbred boggard cousins.
Mogogols in your Game
The mogogols in this document are presented as a fairly new race to the world. However, boggards (perhaps known by a different common name in your campaign world), the mogogol ancestor, as well as other frog-like races are rumored to have existed for eons. If such is the case in your campaign setting, the mogogol race requires almost no adjustment to your world to begin play immediately. Because they do have a lineage that they can trace, mogogols do not lack tradition, language, and history common to other PC races.
The degree to which mogogols and boggards relate can be adjusted by the Gamemaster as needed. Obviously the two races would not get along, but if they are arch-enemies or simply noisome neighbors is entirely up to the campaign setting. In any case, mogogols may try to encourage boggards to take up their seafaring lifestyle, while the boggards, in turn would fear the mogogols’ strange racial curse.
However, if your campaign setting does not allow for boggards or other ancient race of frog people that the mogogols could have descended from, then there are other possibilities that can be explored to bring the mogogols in. Perhaps they are from a different world or plane—trapped in this new and alien world. Maybe mogogols are the result of a mad experiment gone wrong—an attempt to make kindly helpers out of common frogs. Lastly, mogogols may have always been around, but in very small numbers and easily overlooked.
Whatever the case, the mogogol will make a welcome addition to any game as the only aquatic member of the adventuring party, an unusual option for the player who likes frogs, a challenge for the player who has played everything, or just a good match for those that could use a little more motivation to be a hero type.
Physical Description: Mogogols are essentially overgrown frogs that managed to learn to speak, walk upright, and wear clothes. It is immediately apparent to anyone visiting a mogogol village that there really is no standard look for a mogogol, except that they are frog-like. The clan has amazing physical diversity, which has proven an enigma to sages who study the mogogols. A mogogol’s form can be patterned after tree frogs, toads, bullfrogs, and can have just about any sort of coloring, spots, stripes, bumps, or superficial differences that make each individual a little different from the other. Mogogols also differ in size greatly when compared with other races. This is likely due to their ancestral mingling with a plethora of humanoid frog species, some of which that were Small-sized. Mogogols have no prejudice related to height, and treat all members equally. About seven out of every ten mogogols grow to be Medium-sized. Players choose the size of their character at the time of creation. Despite their prolific variety, mogogols do have a few things in common. All mogogols have three fingers and one thumb on each hand. Their clawed, webbed feet enable them to be excellent swimmers. They have extremely muscular legs, which aid in swimming and jumping. Small mogogols can utilize their disproportionately long limbs, finger pads and light weight to climb extremely well. Ecology & Society: Male and female mogogols are virtually identical in appearance, and gender has little meaning for the species. Additionally, if the population has a shortage on one gender, the older members of the tribe automatically transform into the gender that is needed. The reproductive system of the mogogol is highly adaptive. Occasionally, mogogols will be born with no reproductive facilities at all (and therefore no gender.) This is a permanent condition. Mogogols hatch from eggs the size of golf balls. These eggs are soft and have a jelly-like consistency, and must stay underwater to remain viable. Mogogols start out as larger— though normal looking— tadpoles, and are unable to breathe air or move on land until they are 3 years old. At that point, they begin looking less like a tadpole and more like a miniature mogogol, with a tail and tiny underdeveloped arms. By age 6, they look like normal, albeit small (2-3 feet tall) mogogols. At this age they are able to learn skills and speech. By age 12, a mogogol is sexually mature. They tend to reach old age at about 45, aging a bit quicker than humans. Mogogols often form small communities on the edge of swamps. This has less to do with preference, as mogogols do have diverse tastes in living environments, and more to do with affordability and biological needs. Some speculate that the mogogol ancestors strayed too close to chaos magic, or that the eggs were hatched in brambleberry wine. Whatever the cause, the mogogols think differently than the average PC race. All mogogols seem to have an impeccable sense of right and wrong, and are compelled to avoid the wrong. Their warped altruistic nature leads them away from the dismal swamps and into civilized areas. In addition, mogogols are prone to wild obsessions that they tend to pursue their entire lives. A young mogogol who becomes fascinated with ships, for example, is very likely to devote his entire life to them, becoming a ship builder or captain. It is hard to predict exactly what will catch a mogogol's eye, but when it does, little can be done to steer the creature away from the new obsession. When playing a mogogol, one must remember that they are indelibly good and optimistic. It’s not a choice, it’s a virtual curse. A particularly downtrodden mogogol will still seem upbeat, though his mania may be particularly acute at this time as well. Performing an evil act makes a mogogol physically ill, and they learn early to avoid it if at all possible. Some sages believe the strange mogogol behavior to be the result of a magical curse, although no style of divination has yet been able to prove that the mogogols have any magical taint. Others believe it to be the result of some sort of neurological disease that only infects intelligent amphibians. However, this theory is also shot down, as no magical or mundane methods to cure disease or remove poison has altered a mogogol’s personality in any way. Whatever the cause, mogogols are here to stay. They will venture from their dismal marshes in search of good deeds and a worthy title. Other amphibian races have come to fear and loath the mogogols. Adding to the validity of the disease theory, normal boggards usually flee rather than face a mogogol, for fear they too will succumb to the 'curse of altruism'. A boggard’s worst imaginable fate is to be forever doomed to help old ladies across busy streets, defend the helpless, and be generally optimistic and nice. Relations: Mogogols, being eternally open-minded optimists, find no problems with any race that honor the ways of good. However, even evil races are not shown prejudice, and a mogogol will work hard to convert these creatures to their side. Mogogol missionaries go on frequent expeditions to boggard territories, which have caused many boggards to retreat further and further from civilized races. While not the desired effect of the mogogol missionaries, this does make the local swamps much safer. Conversely, the core races often find most mogogols to be slightly annoying at times, especially dwarves and elves who see the mogogols blind optimism to be a bit foolish. Relations to Remarkable Races: Mogogols are close with all Remarkable Races, and often forge strong bonds with muses, squole, and xax. Even mahrogs tolerate those mogogols who harness more nature-related classes such as barbarians and druids. Of course, amphibian anumi and mogogols have the closest bond, as the former was often originally a beloved pet of the latter. Amphibian anumi and mogogols can often be found in the same communities. Alignment and Religion: Mogogols can only be of good alignment, but are found ranging from wildly chaotic to strictly lawful. A mogogol’s alignment is largely dependent on his obsession. Mogogols are fond of all good deities, especially those that favor water in some way. Many mogogols are drawn to the paladin and cleric classes, and thrive on fanatical devotion. Adventurers: Mogogols, much like humans, are found in just about any class. Their simplistic nature draws them away from arcane magic, but mogogol wizards exist regardless. Their innate sense of right and wrong prevents them from truly profiting from roguery, but the occasional “Robin Hood” mogogol is well known. They truly excel at divine magic, where their fanatical obsession and good nature makes them the perfect servants of goodly deities. Their manias drive them in unpredictable directions, and it is not uncommon to meet a mogogol who is not physically or mentally well-suited for his class; the wizard with a low intelligence, the warrior weakling, and the clumsy rogue are just a few examples. Still, they usually manage to overcome these shortcomings with a positive attitude and uncanny preservation. Names: Mogogols have three important naming practices. The first, and most confusing tradition, is that all mogogols are named Mogogol. The second, whose name is probably a corruption of the word “epitaph” (and an unfortunate one at that), is the ever-so-common “epitab”. An epitab, as the mogogols describe it, are words that people tack onto the end of your name. So one would know one mogogol from another by calling one “Mogogol with the green spots” or “Mogogol who broke his leg”. The epitab carries with it no honor, and its use generally denotes a mogogol who has not yet succeeded at anything worthwhile. All of the noteworthy mogogols have a title, which to the race, just means that someone decided to tack on a noteworthy prefix to their name rather than a suffix. Nearly all mogogols are guaranteed the title of Father or Mother if they have children, and Grandfather or Grandmother if they live to see their children have children. But the more prestigious titles are ones earned from another race. Among the most memorable of these are Captain Mogogol, Friar Mogogol, Doctor Mogogol, and Dread Pirate Mogogol. Generally mogogols make no distinction between male and female (in fact, the title of Father and Mother is often awarded incorrectly). | Racial Traits
Random Starting Age
Random Height and Weight
Racial FeatsThe following feats are available to a mogogol character who meets the prerequisites. Racial Classes and/or Prestige ClassesThe following classes and/or prestige classes are available to a mogogol character who meets the prerequisites. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
