Homebrew Deerfolk Species Details

Deerfolk are the physical embodiments and protectors of the wild places of the world. Their herds are tightknit group led by the oldest wisest members of the tribe. Xenophobic by nature the attitudes of tribes can vary from simply distrustful, to outright hostile to outsiders in their home territories.

While their distrust of outsiders makes them hard to work with at first, the friendship of a Deerfolk; once earned is for life. Remember though that if that trust is broken, it will not be able to be restored.

Nature is the greatest gift the gods have given, and it must be protected for all generations to come.

Touched by a God

In their physical forms, Deerfolk are visually similar to their creator god, Cernunnos. They are bipedal deer with hands and tall bodies from 7-8 feet tall. Deerfolk's impressive antlers connect to their heads at the base of their skulls, while their legs end in sturdy hooves. Thick fur covers heir entire bodies from head to hoof. Males and females both sport antlers with female antlers being somewhat smaller.

Defenders of the Green

Most Deerfolk believe that the other peoples of Abhaile are terribly concerned with progress. Deerfolk scorn the efforts of civilized peoples with their laws and homes of stone, and they laugh at those who think nature is a thing to be controlled and exploited. Deerfolk look at nature as a living breathing being to be respected and worked with, a friend that will provide the necessities of life to those that learn and show respect.

At odds with the world

The many races of Abhaile look at Deerfolk as backwards savages standing in the way of progress, Deerfolk see themselves as all that stands between a green paradise and a desolate wasteland. The various herds take different approaches to how they interact with the peoples of the wide world. The nomadic herds of the great plains trade and work alongside the peoples they interact with while using subterfuge and sabotage to disrupt harmful practices. The dangerous herds of the Wyldwood patrol their territories and act with ruthless efficiency to eliminate any threat or interloper they find. The herds of the Kingswood have realized that by allying themselves to the kingdom of Tus and acting as the King's rangers they can protect their forest home with the laws of man on their side.

 

Deerfolk Creation Myth

The Deerfolk were once humans who looked in horror as the minds of their neighbors turned from living in harmony with nature to dominating it. Where once people had only taken from nature what was necessary to survive and instead took more to build wealth and power for themselves. This attitude grew until the King himself decided that for sport he would hunt one of the mythical white stags, sacred to the great god Cernunnos. This blatant disrespect to the god who had cared so well for them was too much for the people to bare, so when the king and his huntsman took to the hunt; the people dressed in deerskin coated in ash and led the hunters away from the holy herd. So touched was Cernunnos by this sacrifice that he blessed the people with a form better suited to protect the wild places and from then on the Deerfolk stood as guardians of the world.

Deerfolk Traits

Your Deerfolk character has the following racial traits.

Light on your Hooves

You have advantage to stealth checks when walking on soft surfaces.

Ruminant

You do not need rations so long as you are in an area with abundant foliage to consume.

Guardian of nature

As a protector of wild places, you have proficiency in nature and survival skills as well with the herbalism kit

Ram

You can use your head and horns to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d46 + your Strength modifier.

Ability score increase

+2 Wisdom, +1Dex

Age

Deerfolk mature and age at about the same rate as humans.

Alignment

Deerfolk live by very strict codes. They gravitate toward being good, but some have been known to employ terrible techniques to preserve their home.

Size

Deerfolk range from just under 7 feet to about 8 feet in height, with generally muscular builds. Your size is Medium.

Here’s how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d6

Height = 7 feet + 8 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 400 + (2d4 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.