Homebrew barghest Species Details

Physical Description
The barghest are a race of fiends resembling big goblin-wolves. They are covered in rough fur that ranges from grey to black to sandy colored at young ages. A barghest sports wicked claws and a mouth filled with curving fangs, along with fiery eyes. These eyes glow with their excitement, particularly during a hunt. They are power eaters, growing only by consuming the powers of those it kills. Born to ordinary goblin parents, barghest whelps resemble ordinary wolves. Their home plane is Gehenna, but they are sent to Prime to mature by devouring its denizens. As a barghest eats and grows, it will shed its skin. Once it reaches maturity, it grows ever larger and stronger. Mature barghests have blue or dark blue fur. There is also evidence that barghest are shapechangers, capable of changing form between their default wolf and a goblinoid shape. Their goblinoid shape is used often to blend in among regular goblins

History

Barghest are the exemplary creatures of animals which leave their young to fend for themselves. Unlike the myth of lions throwing their cubs off cliffs, a barghests tough upbringing is grounded in reality. Barghest parents would throw their whelps from Gehenna into portals designated to Prime. Once there, the whelps were forced to savagery to feed and grow. They are an utterly foreign menace to the world and intent on wreaking havoc and evil. Because their growth was directly positively correlated to the power they consumed, they actively searched for larger and stronger prey. It was rumored that barghest particularly loved to feast on heroes and warriors due to their stalwart magics and strength. In fact, barghest had to consume many mortal heroes before they were considered mature and worthy for return to Gehenna. Despite their legendary savagery which has made them even a god among goblins, few barghest ever make it back to their home plane. Most roam the Primal Material Plane for eternity, terrorizing its people and heroes.

Society

Barghest live sparsely in Gehenna, as most whelps just go and stay in Prime. Being at a competition for growth and feeding, they are usually solitary creatures. However, they may band together in duos or trios to take down threats to themselves, like a particularly powerful hero maybe. Barghest are idols of worship to goblins, who feel an affinity for the lupine creatures. Many worship barghests as gods from another realm and greedily do their bidding. Other evil creatures like gnolls and quicklings are also drawn to barghests, making them often barons with small armies beyond the reaches of laws. Barghest whelps usually take refuge within houses they claim as spoils after having killed the inhabitants. Their shape changing skills also make it easy for them to blend into many societies.

In Gehenna, barghests are at their most ferocious, being at constant odds with one another for dominance. Gehenna's four layers are very volatile and sustain less life for barghests to feast on. They thus are always vying for dominance. Barghests which have returned from Prime are usually large, greater barghests, who gain respect. Whelps which have not eaten enough heroes are derided and not allowed to the packs, even less return to Gehenna. To survive and dominate in Prime is a mere test of one's survival skills for when they are allowed to return to their home plane

 

 

 

barghest Traits

Fiendish lupine goblins

size

Barghest are usually about six feet tall on all fours alone

Shapechanger

While in goblin form, the barghest cannot use its natural weapons but can wield weapons and wear armor. Its statistics, other than its size, is unchanged. Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies or faints
While in wolf form, the barghest can't speak, its walking speed is 40 feet and it cannot use the claw actions. In addition to its changed statistics, the barghest while in wolf form can use pass without trace at will. Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged. Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies or faints

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1

Hellish Glare

Your eyes can glow and scare even the bravest. You are proficient in the Intimidation skill

Keen Smell

Like wolves, barghests have great senses of smell. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on smell

speed

the Speed of an barghest is 60 ft. (30 ft. in goblin and 50ft wolf form)