Homebrew Varg Species Details

Varg are wolven humanoids who have developed their own culture. Among the most social of the beast races, they form close-knit tribal clans among the mountains and forests of the world.

Varg clans, particularly in the north, are somewhat nomadic. Each clan will have a territory which they claim, and within that territory they will establish summer and winter communities. Trade between clans is common, and travelers are welcomed as long as they behave well. Like most such clans and tribes, identity and membership is along racial lines. Varg are no more “species-ist” than any other; this is simply because cross-species couplings do not produce children, and without such continuity there is little basis for tribal identification. Non-Varg can be welcomed into clans as allies or even as honorary members, but leadership is always reserved for Varg.

Each clan will be lead by a warrior chieftain and a shaman spellcaster (the “spirit-singer”), who are selected by family matriarchs and patriarchs. Gender is not considered, only prowess and suitable temperament. While in some Varg tribes these positions are traditionally hereditary, the clan-moot always has the final say, and confirmation of new leadership can be a time of threats, deals and intrigues.

Moreso than almost any other culture, the Varg exalt music and storytelling, and many Varg devote time and energy to their mastery. Skilled craftsmanship, acts of fearless valor and expert hunting are also held in high esteem. Accumulation of personal wealth, particularly in an ostentatious manner, is seen as selfish and not having the interests of the clan at heart; such individuals are usually considered inherently untrustworthy, having turned away from honor and tribe to the ways of greed and arrogance. They are considered to be corrupted, to have given themselves to the ways of the "Sunlanders" who have brought about so much tragic history.

The Varg can be slow to grant deep trust, but once they accept someone they are fiercely and fearlessly loyal. Varg are adaptable and sometimes settle in human cities, where their status ranges from fully equal to “dog”. The extent to which such a “civilized” Varg retains their original culture varies widely, but in general the farther south one finds Varg the less like their northern progenitors is their behavior.

Physically, the Varg are approximately the size of humans, averaging about 6'2" for males and 5'10" for females. Their legs are digitgrade with large paws; their hands are human-like with short fingers tipped with blunt claws. Varg are generally well-muscled, though not to an extreme. Their heads are very wolf-like, with long muzzles. Varg fur colors come in a wide range, varying from coyote-like ash/tan/white to grey to (rarely) all-black or (more rarely) all-white. Some Varg have full heads of hair, some just manes on the backs of their heads and necks, while others with no hair at all ("naturalistic" fur-length only). They grow and age at a rate similar to humans, with the same potential lifespan. Varg are not cross-fertile with non-Varg.

Varg Traits

Your Varg has traits reflecting their wild origin and deep social bonds.

Ancestral Ward

The shades of a Varg's ancestors bolster and protect that Varg's mind and spirit. Your Varg is Resistant to psychic damage.

Fangs of the Wolf

Varg have a natural 1d4 Bite attack which they may use upon opponents whom they have Grappled.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength, Constitution and Charisma score are all increased by 1.

Age

Varg mature at approximately the same rate as humans, and enter adulthood around 16 years of age. Barring premature death, a Varg can reach 70 to 80 years of age, with exceptional individuals passing the century mark.

Alignment

Varg can be of any alignment, though as intensely social creatures there is a slight bias towards the Lawful portion of the alignment spectrum.

Size

Varg are approximately the size of humans, averaging about 6'2" for males and 5'10" for females. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Scent tracking

Varg have Advantage when using scent to track using the Survival skill.

Keen Senses

Centuries of life as hunters in the wilds and their distant wolf ancestry have honed your Varg's senses. All Varg are proficient in Perception.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Vargen. Vargen is a language spoken by most of the northern beast-races.