Homebrew Bearfolk Species Details

Protective Instincts

Bearfolk have thick fur, long snouts, massive paws and a musky odor that makes them stand out in any crowd. Bearfolk usually stand well over 7 feet tall and often weigh upwards of 500 pounds. Like regular bears, bearfolk may choose to put on extra weight and hibernate for months at a time if they so desire. The color of their coat usually depends on the region they inhabit, and most are either black, brown, or white.

Most bearfolk live in groups of family called sleuths that can have anywhere from two to ten members. Bearfolk protect their sleuths fiercely, often times even laying down their own lives in defense of their children or parents. They have a unique relationship with the spirits of their ancestors, who often give them guidance and are even known to occasionally help them fight. Bearfolk will wear parts of their deceased kin on their person as a sign of respect and honor, including pelts, teeth, claws, and bones. All bearfolk have an extremely strong familial and protective instinct, usually just for their sleuth, but occasionally for their travelling partners as well.

Passionate Extremes

Bearfolk are not known for their calm natures. They are boisterous and loud, their minds unable to fathom nuanced emotions. They act extremely when faced with choices and can be hard, if not impossible, to convince once they have made up their minds. Their celebrations are filled with explosive passion, and their wrath is as raging as a forest fire. 

These extreme reactions often lead to fighting, even amongst themselves. Luckily, bearfolk are a hardy people and consider scars to be an honorary reminder of a battle successfully fought, and it is not unusual to see two bearfolk get into a bloody scuffle, only to share a cask of ale moments later.

Giantkin

Nobody is entirely sure how the bearfolk race originated, only that they are distantly related to giants. Some scholars theorize that they were the result of a giant and werebear union that slowly came to become its own race, while others believe that they were feytouched by bear spirits thousands of years ago. 

Bearfolk Traits

Bearfolk have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Bearfolk reach maturity by age 10 and live for around 70 years.

Size

Your size is medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Bear Claws

You have claws which you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Ursine Senses

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that involve or rely on smell.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Daunting Roar

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages

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