Homebrew Awakened Cat (Cats & Catacombs) Species Details
A Cat's the Only Cat...
A sudden, fleeting movement glimpsed in the corner of an eye. A svelte shape insinuating itself into an implausibly small gap. A small, curled form in front of the fire, suddenly startled from sleep. Cats get everywhere, comfortable in any situation, and adaptable in the way that few creatures are. They find a home in the most inhospitable of places, making themselves warm and comfortable almost instantly. But they are also deeply Loyal, often friendly, and willing to defend those they love to the death. Cats are perfect adventurers; they are capable of withstanding hardships and do not trust lightly but protect fiercely those in whom they have placed their trust.
Common Interests
Cats are, by nature, somewhat solitary creatures, often preferring their own space and company to that of a pack of group. But this is not always the case. Cats often form small circles of friends which, while looser than those formed by other animals, are no less devoted. If a cat is in trouble, their friends arrive in moments to assist them. Cats also form groups to achieve specific goals; solving a mystery? Looting a dungeon? Stopping a villainous wizard with designs on the city's supply of treats? Cats band together when faced with such threats, utilizing each other's differing strengths to achieve their ends. Afterward, they may part ways or may remain together...not that they need to. They could split up any time they want...
An Old Bond
Cats have been welcomed into the homes of man, dwarf, elf, and even orcs and goblins for thousands of years. They provide an invaluable service, after all. Catching mice, rats, and other small vermin requires speed and coordination, not to mention a small stature, that most of the bigger races simply do not possess. and so, a relationship of mutual advantage began and continued, strengthening the strange bond between the cats and those who, quite mistakenly, believe themselves to be the owners, or maters/ Cats aren't recklessly loyal like dogs, but they do love and form deep attachments to those who take the time to earn such devotion. It is not enough, with a cat, to simply feed it and expect adoration. It requires patience and persistence, it requires consistency. Cats are as varied in temperament and appearance as humans or dogs and need to be treated with respect, care, and attention. But they repay those who are prepared to spend the required time to earn their friendship a thousandfold. This is true even with awakened cats, blessed with human levels of intelligence. They can be suspicious by, if treated properly, become fiercely loyal companions.
Agile and Hard to See
Renowned for their nimbleness, cats can make the most extraordinary leaps fit into spaces that barely seem wide enough to slide a sheet of parchment through and walk away, casually from the most dangerous of falls. Awakened Cats still possess these traits, but it is now combined with acute intelligence and an understanding of how to use these natural traits to their best advantage. This makes cats extremely dangerous combatants, able to evade enemy attacks before suddenly appearing at their enemy's back, pouncing onto a vulnerable patch of flesh, and sinking their claws in. This makes even heavily armored and well-trained soldiers fear facing Awakened Cats in combat...you never know from where they'll strike next!
Awakened Cat (Cats & Catacombs) Traits
While the many different breeds of cat make generalizing difficult, there are a few traits which pertain to all felines.Ability Score Increase
All cat breeds increase their Dexterity Score by 2.
Age
Cats reach maturity between the age of 2 and live, on average, to the age of 15.
Alignment
Cats tend towards neutral alignments; they are very rarely wholly evil or wholly good. Their main preoccupation is themselves and the small circle of loved ones they seek to protect. This can occasionally seem like callousness or disinterest in the larger world. This is often misleading, however.
Size
While there are larger and smaller cats, this variation in size and length is much more limited than it is in dogs. As a result, all cats are considered small-sized.
Speed
A cat's basic speed is 30ft.
Language
A cat can speak and read Common, Feline, and one other language. Cats only use language with humanoid races when with each other, they communicate entirely through gestures, small inflections of the face and eyes, and carefully modulated thrusts of the paw or flank. This language is called Feline and is exclusive to Cats.
Darkvision
Cats have Darkvision up to 60ft
Bite and Scratch
Sharp teeth, and claws that can be quickly unsheathed and used to slice through flesh-all cats possess these natural weapons. Cats are proficient with this attack, which counts as both a weapon and unarmed attack. The attack does 1d6 plus the cat's Dexterity or Strength modifier.
All So Different
There are many different varieties of cat breeds, each with its own idiosyncrasies, preferences, and behaviors-remember any breed can belong to any of the three subraces; cats are born of all sizes. Choose a feline subrace from the list below and then choose one ability from the subsequent list. You may only choose one such ability.
Flying Anime Cat
This is not official for Cats and Catacombs! You are the special flying cats from the anime Fairy Tale.
Hefty Cat
These big, substantial cats are the biggest of their kind and are tougher and more durable than their feline kin. If you want to play a Main Coon, a Norwegian Forest Cat, or just have a chonky baby, choose a hefty cat.
Lap Cat
Smaller, more delicate, and all the smarter for it, Lap Cats are experts at getting others to do the work for them. After all, when you're this adorable, why wouldn't you? Play a lap cat if you want to be a Persian, a Sphynx, a Ragdoll- or if you want to be a small, cute lovable bean.
Regular Cat
The typical cat. Neither too large nor too small. Purrfect, you might say. Play a medium cat if you want to be a Tabby, a Bengal, or an American bobtail; you're the kind of cat who knows how the world works. You can live in a home or in the wild.
Cat Abilities
Choose one Cat Ability from the list.
Action Cat
You're always ready for what comes next; you're poised, cunning, and able to anticipate. Add +1 to your initiative.
Adaptation
You were born in freezing cold conditions, you're used to them, capable of putting up with anything. You are resistant to cold damage.
Attention Must be Paid!
Are they...IGNORING YOU? Have they seen what you look like? Well, you'll soon put a stop to that. Add proficiency bonus to all Charisma Checks.
Big Unit
Hulking and mighty, it doesn't matter that you aren't as be as a dragon....you pack just as much into a smaller package! Add +1 to your Strength score.
Defensive Fluff
Your fur is spectacularly fluffy, softening the blows of your enemies and protecting you against whatever forces you must confront. Add +1 to your Armor Class.
Everybody Wants to Be a Cat
You know it's natural to envy your grace, your fur, your beauty. How could they not? They won't get close, of course, but they can always try. Add +1 to your Charisma Score.
Feline Intuition
You know things. Even if you're not entirely sure how sometimes, you just do...gain a +1 bonus to your Intelligence Score.
Flower Marked
Your distinctive patterned fu is actually highly camouflaged, making you difficult to spot in the wilderness. You have advantage on all stealth rolls made in natural terrain, like a forest or a jungle.
Going Limp
You've spent a lot of time going limp and playing dead. You're eerily good at it, in fact, but you've learned something more while lying there, unmoving. When knocked Prone, you suffer no disadvantages in avoiding or evading attacks.
Gone!
No thanks, you're not sticking around to be smashed with a mace. You know how to stay safe and stay alive. When fleeing or escaping from combat, double your base speed! This cannot be used in combat.
Good Luck Cat
You're just...lucky. You don't know why, but you are. Once per day, you may reroll one failed test.
How Did They Get Up There?
Moving with preternatural speed grace, you scramble up sheet surfaces with ease. You are at advantage on athletics and acrobatics when climbing.
Lands on Feet
You are incredibly agile, so much so that even falling from a great height seems to scarcely affect you. Whenever you take fall damage, it is halved.
Life in the Shadows
Twilight is your element, your coloring and lithe form making you almost impossible to track as the light dims. Whenever you are in partial or reduced light, you can a +2 to all stealth checks.
Light Sleeper
You don't need much in the way of recovery time. You can get by in a way others can't. When short resting, determine the number of hit points regained in the normal fashion )roll Hit dice and add your constitution modifier), then add an additional 1d4+2 to the total.
Like a Wolf
As you shed your fur, you begin to resemble a vicious wolf, teeth bared and hungry for blood. You know how to use this appearance to your own ends! Whenever making an Intimidate check, you may use your proficiency bonus on top of any other modifiers.
Like Smoke
The enemy flails about them, trying to hit you, But you've already gone, like mist in a strong breeze. Whenever attempting to move past an enemy, or disengage from combat, you may avoid the First Attack of Opportunity made by an enemy.
Nine Lives
Everyone knows cats are too fast for death to catch. You make all death saves at advantage.
Skilled Hunter
You can follow your prey through any terrain, no one is getting away from you! Add +2 to Survival, Perception, and Investigation when tracking a target.
Slippery Customer
Someone with your dignity is, most assuredly, not going to be manhandled! Whenever an enemy attempts to grapple you, you make your opposing Acrobatics check at advantage.
Stubborn
You don't go down. You've been in a lot of fights and you don't like losing. You don't like doing anything unless you want to do it. When you're reduced to 0 hit points in combat, make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, you are not knocked unconscious but remain standing with 1 hit point. This ability can only be used once per short rest.
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