Homebrew Awakened Cat Species Details

Many years ago I met an Awakened Cat. I thought I had been feeding a stray cat but one night it said "thank you" to me. I still think about it to this day

— Miles Hawthorne, innkeeper

Curious and changed compared to their wild brethren, Awakened Cats are brought into a world they thought they understood from the moment of their awakening. After their minds are awakened through powerful magic, experimentation, or a stroke of luck, Awakened Cats are introduced to customs they never knew and people they may have never met. Aiding those they meet or who can win their trust first, Awakened Cats are a powerful allys to have in a world full of dangers with their loyal nature.

Magic of the Feline

Awakened cats all look like normal housecats. However, each awakened cat has a gem hidden somewhere on their furry bodies that hold their life force and keeps them from becoming a regular cat. If this gem is destroyed, they become a normal cat and lose any and all abilities they may have had when they were sentient. If this gem is reconstructed in any way, such as by the mending cantrip, the cat will regain all of the abilities it lost.

Fur and Claw

Because Awakened Cats are cats and have claws, they deal slashing damage instead of bludgeoning damage when they score a hit using an unarmed strike. They use their dexterity modifier instead of their strength. 

Awakened Cat Traits

Abilitiy Score Increase: Awakened cats increase their Dexterity scores by 2 and their Wisdom scores by 1.

Age: Awakened cats have no longer lifespans than any normal cat, unless their lives are magically extended, and can live up to twenty years.

Alignment: Awakened cats tend to be neutral in their outlook on life, although life experiences and their heightened intellect might cause them to have a different opinion on matters.

Creature Type: You are a beast.

Size: Awakened cats are Small in size and can grow up to twenty inches long. As a small creature you have the following features: 

• You can move through a creature's space if it is medium or larger.
• You can not grapple a creature more than one size larger than you.

Speed: An awakened cat's base walking speed is 35' and their base climb speed is 20'.

Quadreped Frame: While not wearing armor, your Armor Class is equal to 11 + your character's Dexterity modifier. Additionally, armor costs double to be made for you, due to your unusual body shape.

Creatures of Magic: An awakened cat is a being created and sustained in part by a magic gem called a soulstone. Any effect that suppresses magic returns an awakened cat to their former animalistic state and temporarily strips away its conscious thought. This can be averted with a successful Charisma saving throw of DC 10 + the spell slot's level used to remove the awakened cat's intellect. Should they leave the area of effect or its duration expire, they awaken with no memory of the time while under the antimagic’s influence. Additionally, due to the magic of the soulstone, an awakened cat can use Mage Hand as per the spell, with the following effects:

• You may use this spell to perform finer functions that normally require hands, such as lifting a mug and taking a drink, and writing a letter.
• You also may use Mage Hand to wield a one-handed weapon. However, you cannot use this ability to extend the range of your weapon attack beyond five feet of your person. Additionally, an awakened cat cannot use any item with this ability weighing over 10 pounds + the awakened cat's Charisma score.

Darkvision: An awakened cat has darkvision out to a range of 60'.

Feline Grace: Awakened cats have proficiency in the acrobatics skill.

Nine lives: As a reaction, an awakened cat can negate all damage from a fall. This ability can only be used once before requiring a long rest.

Languages: An awakened cat can speak, read, and write Common and one other language their creator spoke frequently. Additionally, awakened cats can communicate with other felines in their own language, as if under a continuous speak with animals spell.

Cats Talent: You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.

 Awakened Cat Origin

D8
1	"A wandering bard found me on the street and awakened me for a stage performance."
2	"Magic from the Feywild opened my mind to the world around me."
3	"I was a druid's companion and helped them guard our home."
4	"A wizard experimented on and awakened me. I was lucky to escape!"
5	"I woke up one day suddenly blessed with greater intelligence."
6	"A ranger found me on the street and took pity on me, making me their companion."
7	"I was a familiar to a powerful archmage who awakened me to send me on a great quest."
8	"A god opened my mind in exchange for devotion to it."

Awakened Cat Traits

Your Awakened Cat character has the following racial traits.

Quadruped Frame

While not wearing armor, your Armor Class is equal to 11 + your character's Dexterity modifier. Additionally, armor costs double to be made for you, due to your unusual body shape.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Awakened Cats have a lifespan of 20 years unless their lives are magically extended. 

Size

There is no physical difference between a regular cat and an Awakened Cat. Your size is small. You weigh anywhere between 8-11 pounds and are 9-10 inches tall.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

You have a cat’s keen senses, especially in the dark. 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.

Cat’s Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Cat’s Talent

You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Creatures of Magic

Creatures of Magic: An awakened cat is a being created and sustained in part by a magic gem called a soulstone. Any effect that suppresses magic returns an awakened cat to their former animalistic state and temporarily strips away its conscious thought. This can be averted with a successful Charisma saving throw of DC 10 + the spell slot's level used to remove the awakened cat's intellect. Should they leave the area of effect or its duration expire, they awaken with no memory of the time while under the antimagic’s influence. Additionally, due to the magic of the soulstone, an awakened cat can use Mage Hand as per the spell, with the following effects:

• You may use this spell to perform finer functions that normally require hands, such as lifting a mug and taking a drink, and writing a letter.
• You also may use Mage Hand to wield a one-handed weapon. However, you cannot use this ability to extend the range of your weapon attack beyond five feet of your person. Additionally, an awakened cat cannot use any item with this ability weighing over 10 pounds + the awakened cat's Charisma score.

Creature Type

You are a beast.

Feline Grace

You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

Nine Lives

As a reaction, an awakened cat can negate all damage from a fall. This ability can only be used once before requiring a long rest.