Homebrew Laika Race Details

Note: This entry was inspired by and is an updated version of the Web Enhancement for Savage Species written by Rich Redman and published for free download in 2003 on Wizard's D&D Website.

Call of the Wild

The first time a person sees a Laika, they might mistake them for a werewolf. Laika resemble wild canines with its body is covered with silver, white, black, brown, or reddish fur, and its eyes are blue, yellow, or brown. A laika has a pronounced muzzle, triangular ears set high on its head, and a fur-covered tail. Due to their uncanny resemblance, it’s no wonder Laika are often called “Dogfolk” or “Wolfkin”.

Stalwart Nomads

Laika clans are known to move about several times within their lifetimes and are capable of enduring some of the harshest climates, from scorching deserts to frozen tundras. While a majority are happy living with the pack, there are those that hear the tales of excitement that comes with the life of an adventurer and seek it out for themselves - this usually requires some kind of push, though. Rarely does a Laika decide spur of the moment to just leave their clan.
Maybe a traveler stopped by the Laika encampment, weaved a few stories of his own adventure, and one of the Laika decided to follow them? Others may have been recruited out of a sense of duty - perhaps a stranger saved them from a group of malcontents or an avalanche and the Laika feels a need to repay them? Whatever the reason, Laika that decide to live on the road of adventure find it quite suitable to their natural tendencies.
Laika are noted as being very trustworthy and capable companions. Very rarely will they do something to upset one of their pack mates on purpose and can be quite sensitive and empathetic when they do. And anyone who threatens the well-being of a member pack invites the wrath of the Laika.

A Pack of Their Own

Laika usually organize into two major distinctive groups - Clans and Packs. Direct relatives usually are what encompass a Pack, while a Clan is a collection of Packs that travel together - usually for the protection of the entire clan. While Packs aren’t typically identified by a name, Clans accept names based on the original founder (Example: If the clan founder was named Grigori, the clan as well would be called Clan Grigori).
Laika are social creatures, practically living with their families for the entirety of their lives before setting out on the road. Because of this, Laika constantly have a need to find something similar to the family unit they left behind - a Laika that can’t trust their compatriots will likely not last long in the group and it could take years before a Laika decides to invite their traveling companions into their pack.

Buried in Tradition

A Laika’s name consists of three parts - Given/Chosen Name, Lineage Name, and Clan Name.
A Laika’s first name transitions as they age - while they receive one in youth, when a Laike becomes an adult, tradition allows them to choose their own name as a coming of age. Given names are typically taken from the area and races around them and it’s very common for children to be named after a person, place, or thing that the parents enjoy or adore, while Chosen names can be anything the Laika desires. Adolescents may even insist on being called several different names as they grow up to ‘try out’ different names and see what sticks.
A Laika’s Lineage name is derived either from their father’s name, mother’s name, or a combination of the two.
Clan names are used in place of Surnames. To prevent confusion, Clan Founders are never referred to by their clan name but instead simply as “Clan Leader”. On the occasion where a Laika accepts a guild or organization as their ‘clan’ they will often use the Guild’s Name as their Clan Name. (For example, if Marco was the son of Frederick and Valentina in the Grigori Clan his full name might be something like “Marco Frelin of Clan Grigori”).

Version 0 - Initial
Version 1 - Adjusted Pack Tactics from a duplicate of Kobolds' to a reaction ability.
Version 2 - Adjusted Pack Tactics from a reaction to a bonus action. Also changed Scent Tracker to Keen Senses.
Version 3 - Added more details in the description of the species to flesh them out.
Inspired by the Web Enhancement for Savage Species written by Rich Redman and published in 2003.

Laika Traits

Your laika character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Laika have lifespans equivalent to half-orcs.

Alignment

Laika tend toward lawful alignments, adapting easily to structure and rules. They are rarely evil but can be influenced by the company they keep.

Size

Laika are on average similar in height and weight to humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Keen Senses

Your canine sense of hearing and smell is incredibly strong. You get advantage on scent and hearing based Perception rolls.

Pack Tactics

Once per round, as a bonus action, you can give advantage to an ally on one attack against a target that both characters are within 5 ft of. This may not be used if either you or your ally are incapacitated.

Bite

Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.