Homebrew Buffkin Species Details

Created by a wizard Millennia ago as shock troops, modern Buffkin have a paradoxical nature, ready for war, but preferring to embrace life and peace.  They are highly Literate, but lazy and scatter-brained.  Aloof in the wild, but when mixed in with other races, tend to find themselves in subservient roles.  Many individuals from many different races can admit to have fought and even being defeated by a Buffkin force, but few will ever show resentment, as to they are just so darn weird!

Born of Magic

Buffkin were originally created by a Genasi wizard more than a thousand years ago, a fact they are readily aware of.  She employed them as shock troops, and made them capable of breeding and with an impulse to teach their young to fight so that she didn't have to continue creating or training them.  While they readily and willingly served the wizard, the Buffkin felt no outstanding attachment to her as their creator.  They simply viewed her as "The One in Charge".  When she was defeated, and the group who defeated her rejected their service, they left to find their own purpose in the world. 

In the Wild; Militant and Laid Back

Any Jungle or forest with particularly tall trees and dense canopy is now almost guaranteed to have a Buffkin village up there.  They rarely venture to the ground, happily subsisting on fruit, nuts, seeds, and bugs.  When they are old enough to move independently from tree to tree, around three, they are given from parent to village leader to enter military service for the next ten years of their life.  While we would consider them fully matured at this age, Buffkin do not consider one of their own an adult until they complete their ten years of military service.  During this time they are constantly drilled and instructed on not only single combat, but also large party tactics.  After their service is complete, most will never use this training again, as they rarely make villages any where close to creatures that would like to hurt them.

Buffkin, as adults are by and large risk averse.  This is not cowardice, so much as laziness.  They don't want to have to deal with fighting.  If most buffkin had their way, they would spend all their days relaxing in a hammock, with fresh fruit in one hand, and a fermented fruit in the other.

Bizarre Brains

Because they were designed to grow rapidly and absorb training quickly, Buffkin are imbued with remarkable memories, however they are not excellent at concentrating, and have very little motivation to put what they learn to use.  While a buffkin can be very smart, bringing that intelligence to bare is a different story.  They were also designed to be subservient, taking orders without question.  Should a leader charismatic enough convince a group of Buffkins to work for them, they shall have very obedient servants.  Anthropologists disagree on why this is.  Some believe it is because they are programmed to be soldiers and follow orders.  Others hold the view that the Buffkin just find it easier to let someone else make big decisions, attributing this back to their bizarre laziness.

Lazy as they may be, Buffkin who find themselves in cities among other humanoid races, often go through massive libraries, only being chased out when the librarians realize you cannot get a buffkin to properly re-shelve their book to save your life.

Don't Mess With the Monkey!

While almost comically lazy, and appearing quite cowardly when coming across dangerous beasts by accident, do not under-estimate a Buffkin who has chose fight instead of flight.  Every Buffkin is a trained warrior.  While they would prefer to avoid the hassle of a fight whenever possible, they are loyal and protective friends who will fight for you.

 

Acknowledging the Obvious

This race is obiously based on the Flying Monkeys of the Wizard of Oz, and more specifically the depiction and name of the flying monkey in the Vertigo Comics series Fables, written by Bill Willingham.  I don't want to take credit for brilliance and creativity that aren't mine.  I just like the idea of a flying monkey as a PC

 

Buffkin Names

Buffkin are not very attached to names.  They will happily accept whatever nick-name is given them, and might over time decide to use it as their proper name.  Their first nick-names are usually from the combat trainers, and are usually very rudimentary or insulting.  They do not gender names.

Buffkin of either gender might introduce themselves as: Short Wing, Dark-Fur, Slow-Flap, Weak-Tail, Loud-Skwack, or other descriptive name.

 

 

BUFFKIN BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that best fit Buffkin are sage, and outlander backgrounds

 

 

Buffkin Traits

As an Buffkin, you have certain traits in common with your people.

Focus of Battle

In combat a Buffkin gains advantage on all intelligence and wisdom checks.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Buffkin reach maturity by age 2.  Consider themselves Adults at 12, don’t usually live longer than 50 years.

Alignment

Most Buffkin are Neutral and rarely choose sides when it comes to good and evil. combat trainers might be lawful, But on the whole they are fairly chaotic.  They may choose Good or Evil, if they are currently serving an individual, but it will not be personal to the Buffkin

Size

Buffkin are about 3.5 to 4 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 45 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Toes and Tail

You are skilled climber with a 30 ft climb speed

Clever Linguist

You can speak, read, and write Common, Sylvan, Auran, and 2 languages of your choice

Buffkin Training

You are proficient with Short Bows, darts, spears, javelins, daggers, short swords, and shields.