Homebrew Ailurus Species Details
When a small pack of red pandas was discovered by a cluster of travelling elven traders, they were seen as plush, cuddly and exploitable. Stolen from their treetop homes and whisked away to the Feywild, they were subjecting to inhumane experiments and treatment, often resulting in death and deformity. It didn't take long for the resourceful creatures to escape, using their newfound intelligence and magic bestowed by their kidnappers to evade them and elude capture.
Now known as the Ailurus, they are a tricksy and untrusting bunch, often living in small sanctuaries atop the tallest trees and keeping away from the larger towns and settlements. Naturally adorable and quick with their hands, many put their talents to use as thieves, pickpockets and performers. Many hold a resentment to those with elven ancestry for their former mistreatment, and many elves see them as escaped slaves and traitors, giving them the widely used nickname of the "Rubrum Menace".
Ailurus Traits
Ailurus have the following traits:Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity increases by 2, and your Wisdom increases by 1.
Elven Experiment
Brought from the Material Plane by elven traders to serve as pets and subjects, experiments and adaptation over time slowly turned the once animalistic red pandas into the famed Ailurus. Your creature type is Beast and Fey.
Age
Ailurus fully mature after 18 months, and often live to around 50 years. Interestingly, they do not show signs of being affected by their old age, even if they live much longer than usual, climbing trees and being a serious threat until their last breath.
Size
Ailurus are slightly larger than their formerly wild ancestors, standing around 2 feet in length and weighing between 18 and 26 pounds. Your size is small.
Scrabble Speed
While known for their trickery and large appetites, they have sharp claws that helps them run on all fours up almost any surface, escaping many situations before many creatures even see them. Your base walking speed is 35 feet, and you have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. You can use your claws to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Dexterity modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Limited Darkvision
While making their dwellings within the tall trees and twisting woods of the Feywild, Ailurus often hunt in the darkening hours of evening, their eyes adjusting to the dusk with ease. You can see in dim light within 30 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.
Fuzzy and Fiesty
Seen as adorable and cat-like by the majority of other races, they can in fact be quick and vicious when the need demands. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion and Intimidation skills.
Innate Spellcasting
You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. You can cast Disguise Self a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier per long rest. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast Mirror Image with this trait. Once you cast it, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Fey Ancestry
While not originating from the Feywild, Ailurus were altered ratherly aggresively by their captors and adapted very quickly to their surroundings. You have advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Languages
While having no comprehensive language from the days before their brief enslavement, they now speak in a variety of tongues picked up throughout the Feywild. You can speak, read and write Common, Elvish and Sylvan.
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