Homebrew Canin Species Details

Canin guard those closest to them with the fiercest of loyalty.

Packs of these nomadic, canine-like humanoids rarely interact with other peoples, having all they need in their small pack families and knowing the treachery of strangers.

Still, some Canin wonder what lies beyond the safety of the pack and seek to test themselves in a wider world.

Noble and Fierce

Canin tend to be tall compared to humans and move with a boldness that suggests their physical might, however there are a select few subraces of canin that are actually quite small. Varying colors and thicknesses of fur cover a canin's body, depending on its heritage. While their hands prove as nimble as those of other humanoids, canin have canine nails and jaws, which they can use to tear into any unfortunate enemies foolish enough to cross someone a canin holds dear. This, along with their ability to produce spine-chilling howls, gives most caninan air that readily shifts between regal and fearsome. Canin often act with confidence, which can come off as egotistic to those that don't know them well. While this can reassure their allies, it can also suggest defiance in the face of what they perceive as imposed authority or unworthy experts.

Quick to Quarrel

Other peoples often perceive canin as quick to take offense, intolerant of criticism, or belligerent. The truth is that many caninsimply enjoy fighting, whether verbal or physical. They take pleasure in argument, wrestling, sparring, and even battle, enjoying the opportunity to exercise their minds and bodies in a way similar to how other races of peoples would consider "play". It follows, too, that canin aren’t inclined to carry grudges. A warrior might react with sudden violence to an insult, but when the fight is over (and the canin's superiority proven), the insult is forgotten—along with the vanquished foe.

 

Canin rely on themselves and their packs. A pack is bound together by the experience of a shared challenge and, in particular, the sacred act of the hunt. 

Canin Names

Along with their personal names, canin identify themselves by their pack. A member of the ironclaw pack with the personal name of Scraw, for example, would likely style themselves as Scraw of the Ironclaw. Canin don't have a set system in place for personal names, rather, they name themselves early on in their youth with what feels right to them.

 

Pack Names: Embereye, Flintclaw, Goldenfield, Ironmane, Starfeller, Sunguides

Canin Traits

Your canin character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

You choose one ability score to increase by 2, and another to increase by 1.

Age

Canin mature and age at about the same rate as humans but typically won't live past 60 years of age.

Alignment

Canin tend toward good alignments. Canin who are focused on the pride lean toward lawful good.

Size

Canin are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. However, some rarer subraces of canin stand 5 feet or less. Your size is Small or Medium.

Here’s how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d8

Height = 4.5 feet + 6 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 140 + (3d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Jaws

Your jaws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Pack Instincts

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.

Ancestral Howl

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially chilling howl. Creatures of your choice within 20 ft. that can hear you become inspired by the ferocity of your ancestral battlecry and have advantage on all rolls to hit a creature until the end of your next turn.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and canin.