Homebrew Fangbearer Species Details
Throughout my storied life I have not seen a more resilient people then the fangbearers. They are varied in size and claw but have no lack of determination to both their own kin and outsiders. Though I'd hope they'd wash themselves more often, the smell of wet dog is quite unpleasant after a rainy day. — Omolon Zanafrax, The wandering Archmage
Some say a curse fell on the woods when Lanafir died during the chromatic exodus. The curse that the hero had left to the forest where he died, a great tree sprouted from his body and its roots leaked a sap that would invigorate the animals who'd dare drink it. Turning them into half man half beast and granting them sentience and strength. Eventually these beast men went outside the forest and brought many other animals to the forest to drink of its splendorous sap. But the sap has now hardened and what remains are the fangbearers. Some still live near the old tree while others have chosen to live amongst the world as vagrants or citizens.
A Broad Spectrum
With their penchant for migration, fangbearers are more physically diverse than other common races. There is no typical Fangbearer. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. This varies slightly if the variant has rodent or fish like roots. Fangbearers usually resemble an existing animal but in rare cases of crossbreeding a fangbearer can inherit mixed traits from multiple animals.
Fur and village
The curse of Lanafir is still a recent occurrence compared to the origin of this world. As such the Fangbearers have not gained the largest population to spread around the world. Instead they are colorful individuals that bring joy to any settlement or outpost. Most will quickly become citizens rather then migrants so the line blurs as to when and where they joined a settlement. As such they are seen as exotic things in the beginning but become no less a citizen than their original habitants in no time. Because of this get along with mostly anyone except for their own people. Some Fangbearers are so varied that disputes sprout against their own kin.
EVERYONE’S SECOND-BEST FRIENDS
Just as readily as they mix with each other, Fangbearers mingle with members of other races. They get along with almost everyone, though they might not be close to many. Fangbearers serve as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants, and functionaries of all kinds.
Dwarves on Fangbearers. “They’re kind people, stalwart friends, and true to their word. Their families are horrible to visit though, so much infighting. And that can rowdy with all the beaks and claws they have Haha. ”
Elves on Fangbearers. “They are of the forest in a similar manner as us. Though they did sprout from an Elven betrayer it is still joyful to see them adapt to any environment as we do. Sometimes they do tend to be 'emotional' in an bestial manner we find to be barbaric. Some things from their animal nature linger on in their smarter form.”
Fangbearer Traits
It’s hard to make generalizations about fangbearers, as such they have a wide spread of traits to chose from.Ability Score Increase
Your ability scores each increase by 1. Or you can give one ability score +2
Animal Blood
Choose a base Animal for your fangbearer form. Depending on that choice you can choose a benefit from the list below that you find fitting to your character. You can choose 3 traits from this list.
- Animal Senses: Smell, sound, touch and taste. You can choose to enhance one of these traits and gain advantage on rolls when using this sense.
- Animal Acrobatics: Your animal body has given you the power to perform acrobatic feats with ease. Whenever you make an acrobatics roll you gain advantage.
- Animal Leap: Your body has an inert bounciness to it, You can jump twice as high and twice as far.
- Animal Hide: Your hide is thick like hardened leather giving you +1 to your AC when wielding no heavy armor.
- Animal Strength: Muscles as strong as a horse have given you advantage on Strength saving throws and doubles your carry weight.
- Animal Speed: You are a fast runner and your movement speed is increased to 40 Ft
- Animal Camouflage: Your fur or skin makes it harder for enemies to spot you. You gain advantage on stealth checks either at night or when you are inside terrain that would hide you well like forests or tall grass.
- Animal Resilience: Thanks to your unique body you are able to survive in harsh environments where others would quickly die. You can choose this environment yourself but are only immune to the effects of that area. Examples would be immunity to harsh temperatures or pressurized area's.
- Animal Adaptability: You have fins or wings or maybe even digging claws that make you move faster through otherwise rough terrain. You can choose if either your swimming, flying or underground speed is double your normal movement speed
- Animal Claws: You have a sharp beak, claw or horn that you can rend your enemies with. You gain 1d4 extra damage on top of your unarmed damage when using this bodypart.
- Animal Poison: You are venomous and dangerous. Any attack using your venomous organ deals 1D6 poison damage. This can be put on top of your unarmed damage.
- Animal Endurance: You are a never ending source of energy. You do not get tired from long and exhausting activities. You are also Immune to abilities that would put you to sleep.
- Animal Hibernation: You are able to enter a state of deep sleep, as such you only need to sleep for 3 hours to have a full rest.
- Animal Patterns: Your beautiful colors and patterns of your body are mesmerizing and when put in full showing give you advantage on performance or persuasion checks.
- Animal Voice: You sound like an angel but can speak a tongue only other animals can understand. You can converse with animals similar to your species and understand them completely. Do know that what an animal says may differ from a being with more sentience.
- Animal Vision: You have the eyes to stalk prey at night or feel their tremors on the ground. You can choose to gain either Blind sense, Tremor sense or nightvision.
- Animal Territory: The region you have lived in has given you a tremendous amount of knowledge about that area. You can ask the DM anything about your chosen region and he will answer everything truthfully to the degree you would know something about it.
- Animal Trait: If a trait is not listed here that fits your character you can choose this one and discuss with your DM for an appropriate trait to your animal form.
Age
Fangbearers reach adulthood in their late teens and live for around a century.
Size
Fangbearers vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium or small.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Fangbearers typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.
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