Homebrew Bruin Species Details

The bruin hail from the deep forests and tundras, building outposts and villages amongst the forgotten wilds of the world.
Rarely seen in more urban areas, the reclusive bruin are nevertheless welcoming of outsiders, and have formed a strong culture of hospitality toward strangers.

Occasonally, a brave or curious bruin will set out for a life of travel, so that they may return with news of the world beyond their settlements, and tales of their many adventures and exploits. Regardless of where their travels take them, they are always an extraordinary encounter for those they meet on the road.

Proud and Strong

Bruin tend to be tall compared to humans, and move with a lumbering gait that implies an easygoing, laid-back nature. They are covered in thick black, brown, or white fur, and certain regional variants even sport white-and-black coats. Despite their large, non-retractable claws, their hands prove nearly as nimble as those of other humanoids. This, along with their ability to produce bone-shaking roars, gives most bruin an air that readily shifts between peaceful and fearsome. Bruin often act with deliberation and patience, which can come off as lethargy. While this can be somewhat charming to their allies, it can also throw off enemies who might perceive the bruin as slow-witted or lazy.

 

Slow to Anger

Other peoples often perceive bruin as slow to take offense, and slow to act. The truth, however, is that many bruin are belligerent and eager to fight, whether verbally or physically. Bruin often take pleasure in argument, wrestling, sparring, and even battle, enjoying the opportunity to exercise their minds and bodies. Their tempers, however, tend to build slowly rather than flaring up all at once. It follows, too, that bruin aren’t inclined to carry grudges. An individual might react with simmering rage to a barrage of insults, but when the fight is over (and one party has apologised), the insult is forgotten and hospitality resumed.

 

Honour and Community

Many bruin devote themselves to a code of honour. Some may be more prone to anger or violence than others, but nearly all adhere to some sense of honour and firm rules of hospitality. It’s not unusual for an aggressive or hostile bruin to briefly set aside his aggression in order to observe proper introductions and requests to parley. The bruin are well noted for their hospitality and storytelling, and a wise adventurer could find themselves overwhelmed with food, lodging, and fireside tales simply by observing customary manners while travelling in bruin lands.

Bruin rely on their communities and their clans. A bruin clan is bound together by the shared experiences and stories of its members, and each individual sees it as their duty to aid and care for those who are weaker than themselves. A bruin community is a village, town, or outpost consisting of several clans banding together. Larger communities may contain as many as twenty clans within a single region.

 

Bruin Names

Along with their personal names, bruin identify themselves by a clan name. Clan names are earned by ancestors who performed legendary feats, and these names are passed down from one generation to the next. An individual may start a new clan name of their own by achieving something worthy of being immortalised in legend. A bruin who manages to earn their own clan name is given the honour of being revered amongst the ancestors of the community.

Female Names: Anya, Ivanna, Larysa, Myroslava, Natalka, Olga, Sofi, Tetyani

Male Names: Andriy, Borys, Dmytri, Griygori, Ivan, Oleg, Sergiy, Volodymir

Clan Names: Broadbound, Deepspring, Half-Seen, Northshod, Skygazer, Stoneclaw, Treefellow, Whiteriver

Bruin Traits

Your Bruin character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Choose an ability score to increase by 1, and another ability score to increase by 2.

If you gain more than one increase, you can’t apply those increases to the same ability score, and you can’t increase a score above 20.

Age

Bruin mature and age at about the same rate as humans.

Alignment

Many bruin tend toward good & neutral alignments.

Size

Bruin are typically over 7 feet tall, with some standing over 8 feet. Your size is Medium.

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

Size modifier = 2d10

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

Weight in pounds = 300 + (1d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Thick Hide

While you are wearing no armor, your AC equals 12 + your Dexterity modifier.

Claws

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

Natural Instinct

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

Daunting Roar

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages

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