The martial art of Caci is often taught generation to generation within cultures. While used as part of sacrificial rituals, dispute settlement, and community bonding, the art of fighting with whip and shield in hand is an ancient one. While traditional Caci warriors were skilled one-on-one fighters, many who have kept this fighting style alive have learned to manipulate the entire battlefield in far more unique ways than their ancestors.

Being a Caci warrior is more than just the fight. It’s about the ceremony and pageantry, leading many Caci warriors to be notable performers in dance and song. While this fighting style is difficult under the waves, it is prominent among those on the coasts and jungles of the Serpent’s Maw. Many Leonines, Turts and Torts, and Serpentkin will master this method as part of coming-of-age rituals for many people. Annually, different tribes will come together and have their strongest Caci Warriors duel. These fights can be bloody, loud, and can even result in a slashed eye. In the end, these annual meetings are meant to improve camaraderie between tribes and remind all of the people of the Maw the importance of unity.

Bonus Proficiencies

Part of the fighting style of a Caci is the performance one gives to a crowd of onlookers, or the taunts made toward an opponent. You gain proficiency in the Performance and Intimidation skills.

Caci Fighting

Your mastery of the whip and shield has given a variety of benefits while wielding one or both of these:

• Whip Training. You gain a +2 to damage rolls with whips. Additionally, the damage die of a whip increases for you as you gain levels in this class. 1d6 at level 5, 1d8 at level 11, and 1d10 at level 17.
  

• Shield Training. While wielding a whip and a shield, you gain a +1 to your Armor Class. Additionally, when you are hit by an attack while wielding a whip and shield, you can use your reaction to add 1 + your shield’s AC bonus to your AC for that attack, potentially causing the attack to miss.
  

Whip Duelist

Starting at 7th level, if you are within 10 feet of a hostile creature, and no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, you have advantage on the attack roll if you attack with a whip.

Taunting Shout

Beginning at 10th level you can give an intimidating shout or dance to enemies around you. As a bonus action, you can roll an Intimidation or Performance check. Hostile creatures within 10 feet of you must succeed a Wisdom saving throw, against a DC equal to your Performance or Intimidation check, or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

Blinding Strike

Starting at 15th level, when you make an attack against a creature you can give yourself disadvantage on the attack roll aiming for the eyes. If the attack hits, the creature suffers the attack’s normal effects and is blinded until the end of their next turn.

Caci Master

At 18th level you have mastered all of the techniques of Caci fighting. You gain the following benefits:

• You gain expertise in the Performance and Intimidation skills. If you already have expertise in one or both of these skills, you gain expertise in one or two skills you are already proficient in.
  

• You are resistant to slashing damage from weapon attacks.
  

• You gain Blindsight out to a range of 10 feet. If you already have Blindsight from another source, this range increases by 10 feet.
  

• Once per turn when you make an attack with a whip, you can make one additional attack as part of the same attack action, against the same creature.