Homebrew Wendigo Species Details

People can do many terrible things, to the point where they may or may not be able to be considered a person at all. One of these things, among many, many, MANY atrocities, in one that has occurred since the beginning of life. It all began one day, back when the world was young and elves had just graced the world with their presence. One village of elves was hit with waves of famine and pestilence, and all food was destroyed. But self-preservation prevailed, and the remaining elves survived, though some could say that that was when they sealed their fate. In their time of desperation, these elves turned to a taboo source of food, other elves. By committing the sin of Cannibalism, these elves forfeited their mortality, and became the first Wendigos. This story has been repeated throughout the history of every world and race, and it, invariably, has the same outcome, the transformation into a Wendigo.

There are two ways to be a Wendigo. If a humanoid were to eat the flesh of another humanoid, they would slowly become a wendigo. In this case, the sinner's body will slowly seem to waste away, growing taller and skinnier, becoming mostly muscle. While this happens, their metabolism will increase exponentially, and they will thus be constantly hungry. In addition, their face will lengthen into the snout of an elk or caribou, and they will develop small antlers that will continue to grow as their life continues. Their body will become covered in fur, and their fingers will lose their nails, and will develop claws. Their feet will also slowly turn to cloven hooves. If the sinner eats lots of food, the transformation will speed up.

The other method is to be born a Wendigo. This can come from two wendigos having a child or a wendigo and a humanoid. In all cases, the Wendigo genes take over. The child is born as a normal child, but grows up to be a Wendigo, much like the process above. 

Now, I hear you asking, "But Mr. Seven Thunderbolts, why wouldn't I become a Wendigo?" Well, let me tell you. If you know anything about these mythological creatures, you would know that they need to consume the flesh of Humans. Obviously, that extends to all humanoids. If you didn't eat enough humanoids, you would go into a hunger frenzy, and would lose control until you sate your appetite. In addition, fire is very dangerous against you, and the cities of humanoids often use fire. Your monstrous appearance, endless hunger, and aversion to fire are all reasons to not be a Wendigo.

Not turned away yet? Good, because curses are often blessings in disguise, at least partially. To start with the more mundane benefits, Wendigos can leap fast and far, much farther than normal humanoids. They have their natural bite weapons and a resistance to the cold, due to living in the colder north. In addition, Wendigos can eat their enemies to regain health, mimic voices, and demonstrate increased senses of smell than most normal humanoids.

Ready to enter a world of hunger and hate? If so, go on.

Wendigo Traits

As a manifestation of Cannibalism, you gain the following abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Due to your powers as a Wendigo, you add 2 to your strength score, and 1 to your constitution score.

Miscellaneous

Age: Wendigos can live infinitely as long as they can eat humanoid corpses.

Size: Wendigo range from 7 feet at the shortest, to around 9 feet. However, there is a rumored tribe of Wendigos that have reached the towering size of 11-13ft tall. Add in that most antlers reach 1ft tall, and you are a very tall humanoid. Your size is Large.

Speed: The long, muscular legs of a Wendigo are one of their best features. Your speed is 35ft.

Leaping Legs

Wendigos are renowned for their ability to leap through the canopy of the forests that they live in. Your high jump and long jump distance triples, and the limit on this movement is your movement speed plus 20 feet. This changes to having no limit at 10th level. If you leap before attacking a creature, you have advantage on the first attack against that creature.

Enviornmental Adaptation

The biology of a Wendigo makes it usually suited to live in colder climates. In myths to the Wendigos, they are described as even having hearts made of ice and snow, but there is no evidence this is true. You have resistance to cold damage, and are acclimated to high altitudes, including places above 20,000ft. However, when you take fire damage, you take extra fire damage equal to your proficiency bonus, and cannot gain fire resistance or immunity.

Curse of Hunger

Here it is folks, the moment you've been waiting for! The main curse and blessing of Wendigos. Your mouth is a very powerful weapon indeed. You gain a bite attack, which counts as a natural unarmed strike. This attack uses Strength, and deals 1d6 piercing damage. You are proficient in this attack. In addition, when you hit with a bite attack while below half hit points, you regain hit points equal to half your proficiency bonus, rounded down. At 10th level, this increases to your proficiency bonus, and at 15th level, the hit points regained becomes equal to your proficiency bonus plus your constitution modifier. In addition, at 5th level, your bite counts as a magic weapon for the purposes of overcoming resistance and immunity.

Now, this is great and all, but it is a curse for a reason, and nothing comes for free. The only thing that conveys nutrition is meat, so you must eat meat to meet your daily intake of food. In addition, eating vegetables or fruits causes you to feel nauseous and weaker, but this give no statistical penalty. In addition, if you kill a creature that is at least partially made of meat, you must make a DC:15 Wisdom saving throw. On a success, nothing happens. If you fail the save, you must immediately begin consuming the fallen creature. This takes one round, and you finish at the end of your next turn. After consuming a creature, you regain hit points equal to the creature's CR. If the creature is Huge, you regain double the CR, if the creature is Gargantuan, you regain triple the CR, and if it is Gargantuan (Titan), you regain four times as many hit points. If the creature is tiny, you regain no hit points. 

Due to eating all kinds of meat, you have advantage on saving throws against the poisoned status condition.