Homebrew Lupine Species Details

Humanoid creatures covered in fur with canine heads, the lupine dominate the steppes and forests where their nomadic packs roam.  Their culture is built around honour, loyalty, and friendship, but woe be to those who cross them with deception or steel.  They typically speak Common and Sylvan.

Contested Histories. The origin of the lupine race is a topic that not even the lupine themselves can be certain of.  The oldest tales of lupine packs speak of a time where the lupine and werewolf races were one and the same, however, the lupine descend from lycanthropes who cast off the chaos of their monthly murderous sprees in order to become something more.  A sophisticated race, fully in control of both body and mind. Other lupine scholars have more recently proposed a radical theory based on what little written history of the lupine people exists.  This new theory suggests that the lupine race came from a union of humans and gnolls, and that early lupines became famed werewolf hunters in order to prove to their fearful human neighbours that they indeed were not werewolves.  This has been called into serious doubt by the lupine and any scholars aware of them, as hyenas are a vastly different species than wolves, more closely related to cats.  It is also possible the lupine are divinely created, much as the tabaxi were, which would explain the gaps in their otherwise robust oral histories.  The objective truth may never be truly known as the vast majority of lupine culture is passed down orally, and therefore the question lingers still.

Werewolf Hunters. Lupines are experts in the field of hunting lycanthropes, specifically, werewolves.  The act of hunting and killing werewolves has always been of great significance and bears a nearly spiritual significance amongst the lupine packs.  Once a child reaches maturity, they are immediately taken into the fold of lupine hunters and taught the ways of hunting werewolves following an initiation rite known as the Moonset.  Werewolves are seen as a mockery of lupine kind.  The death and destruction they spread reflects poorly on lupine communities, as many other races often mistake lupines for werewolves from a distance.  The murderous tendencies of werewolves also goes directly against the friendly and charitable outlook held by most lupine communities, and as such, werewolves are seen as abominations which must be destroyed.

Nomadic Packs. Lupines typically live in communities consisting of three to fifteen packs consisting of two to twelve individuals (and several pups).  These communities practice strict egalitarian democracy and usually operate without an individual leader, though elders in the community can often sway the votes of younger members.  Trade and communication with other communities are carefully maintained, and balance with the local ecosystem is of the highest priority.  Lupines are perfectly capable of sustaining themselves on an omnivorous diet and are well capable of large scale agriculture, but reserve the practice as a desperation tactic when faced with starvation, finding it less ecologically sustainable and much less palatable than traditional hunting.  Once per year, the overall community selects a representative from among the packs’ elders as a spokesperson.  This post is only ever held for one year and cannot be selected again until an elder from every other pack in the community has acted as spokesperson.   Once per year, the selected spokesperson and any of the youths within the community who wish to go travel to a gathering of other lupine representatives from nearby communities called a White Howl.  This White Howl acts as both a meeting for important discussion among the elders and as a chance for young lupines to find companions from outside the community in an effort to intertwine the overall lupine people with bonds of friendship, rivalry, and love.  Once the important aspects of the White Howl have been attended to, it often turns into a three week long celebration.  Though it has been lifetimes since one was called, there also exists a dreaded tradition known as a Black Howl, a call to war only invoked under the most dire of circumstances, something that threatens the survival of the lupine people or the world as a whole.  Elders hope one will never need to be called again, but fear that it may.

The Eternal Flame. Each lupine community is liable to wander within their territory to a degree, however, they do construct villages composed of wooden longhouses typically built in a radial pattern surrounding a public space. In the center of this space, the lupines maintain a continuous flame known as a bg’tyr. Even when the tribe moves from its village to wander for long periods of time, a single member of the community, usually an adolescent,  always remains behind to tend the flame and ensure it doesn’t go out. These individuals are referred to as flame keepers, and often grow up to prominence as one of the lupine communities’ spiritual leaders.

Ah’flir. The week of the full moon is an important and sacred time for lupines. During the three days when the moon is brightest, accomplished lupine werewolf hunters (called hruffs) from all the packs in a region gather together and form a temporary pack of their own called an ah’flir. These ah’flir packs have the specific purpose of hunting down and killing as many lycanthropes as possible, especially werewolves.

Lupine Traits

The lupine's wolf heritage runs strong to this day, and they combine the strengths of their canine ancestry with the ingenuity and cunning of their egalitarian civilization.

Darkvision

Lupines have Darkvision out to 60 feet, causing areas of Dim Light to appear as Bright Light, and total darkness to be Dim Light.  In the latter case, only shades of grey can be made out.

Natural Tracker

You are proficient in the Perception and Survival skills.  Moreover, you have advantage on any checks relating to hearing or smell.

Jaws of the Wolf

The teeth of the lupine are as dangerous as they look, and can deliver a deadly bite attack.

Fierce Loyalty

The loyalty of the lupines is instinctual as well as cultural, and manifests in combat as well as in hospitality.  Lupines are naturally quick, but are never faster than when protecting an ally, and will often throw themselves in front of strikes meant for their friends.  When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your Reaction to make the attack target you instead.  This ability can be used after the attack is rolled, but before the roll is resolved.

Canine Heritage

Lupines pride themselves on their discipline and civilized nature, but their biology remains bestial enough that certain forms of magic and other phenomena affect them differently than most other races.  You count as both a humanoid and a beast for purposes of the effects and targeting of spells and abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by two and another by one, or increase three ability scores by one each.

Bonus Language - Sylvan

Lupines are able to learn new languages as easily as any other race, and are always taught Common to better integrate into civilization and convince people they aren't werewolves. 

In spite of this, it is almost unavoidable that a Lupine learns Sylvan. 

The history of the Lupine people remains a mystery, even to them, but some form of a deep-rooted connection to the Feywild seems inarguable given how effortlessly Lupines learn the immensely complex Sylvan language.  Even the babbling of infant and toddler cubs seems to be the basics of the ancient tongue, so it is almost invariably the first language they learn.