Homebrew Laap Race Details

The tall-eared laap are known for their strength in battle. Laap also have tails, which are short, fluffy, and mostly white. Laap fur is too fine to see with the naked eye, but it still contributes to their coloration, and some laap dye their fur before battle to try to intimidate their opponents, especially outlanders. Their natural hair color is dark, often brown or black, but the vast majority of laap dye it to another color. Laap eyes are red, brown, or hazel; and some laap even extend their customization to wearing lens to change their eye color.

Xenophobic

Laap don’t like outsiders. They prefer to keep company with their own kind and only begrudgingly tolerate the mao who live among them. Although they deny it, laap collectively fear being subjugated again by an outside force. Long ago, the laap were slaves to a race whose name has long been forgotten to history, for the laap rose up and purged all traces of its existence from Entira.

Warrior Culture

Laap believe in proactive defense. If they think a fight is coming, they will start it themselves, so that it happens on terms favorable to them. They are aggressive and assertive, frequently boastful of achievements. Others often regard them as savages or brutes, but that is not correct. Laap have a beautiful artistic traditions — and their artisans talk as much trash as their fighters.

Warring Factions

Their dislike of outsiders often extends to each other as well. Over laap history, they have been split into numerous factions. Currently, laap are split into two factions. The Protectors of the Mountain live on Mount Syk and believe they are protecting the old ways and the laap themselves from the wrath of their old gods. The rest of the laap view dogmatic adherence to the past as nothing more than a form of control. Ironically, the Protectors are more friendly towards outlanders and tend to get along better when traveling than do their plains-dwelling brothers and sisters.

Laap Traits

Whether plains-dwellers or protectors of the mountain, all laap share the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2.

Age

Laap reach adulthood in their mid-teens. Their lifespans are shorter than most of the other major races of Entira, although not by much. Laap live between 60 and 70 years on average.

Size

Laap are strong but not bulky. Men average about six feet tall while women are a bit shorter. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Threat Sense

It’s been eons since your kind weren’t apex predators, but genetic memories of those prior days still exist. You have an uncanny knack for knowing when someone or something is trying to get the drop on you. You have advantage on Perception (Wisdom) checks opposing Stealth (Dexterity) to notice hidden creatures.

Language

You read, write, and speak lowven. Lowven is a low-density language whose phonemes are strung together into compound words to convey meaning. It can be spoken very quickly, making it difficult for even well-practiced non-native speakers to keep up and understand.

Plains-Dweller

You live on the plains with your kin. You’re strong like any other laap, but you’re nimble too. You’re more adept at avoiding incoming foes or navigating social situations. Compared to the protectors, your hair and fur exhibits diverse coloration, coming in a range of earthen tones. You are likely also shorter. That’s especially true if you are a woman, but in exchange you are better endowed.

Plains-Dweller Ability Score Increase

Your choice of Dexterity or Charisma score increases by 1.

Savage Attacks

When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Nimble Escape

You can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of your turns.

Protector of the Mountain

You hail from the sacred mountain that towers over the plains where the other laap dwell. Your kind have trained in and protected the ancient monasteries for generations, learning to fight with hafted weapons and with great fortitude both physically and mentally. Your ears are longer than the average plains-dweller’s and usually black-tipped. Your hair and fur tends to be blues and grays, though some rare protectors have fiery red hair, which is taken as a portent of greatness. You are more likely to have traveled outside of laap lands.

Protector Ability Score Increase

Your choice of Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom score increases by 1.

Brave

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Relentless Endurance

When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Polearm Proficiency

You are proficient with polearms.