Homebrew Canid Species Details

Noble and Fierce

Canid tend to be tall compared to humans and move with a boldness that suggests their physical might. Brown, Black or white fur covers Ursus bodies.  This, along with their ability to produce bone-shaking howls, gives most Canid an air that readily shifts between regal and fearsome. Canid often act with confidence, which can come off as haughtiness. While this can reassure their allies, it can also suggest defiance in the face of what they perceive as imposed authority or unworthy experts.

Quick to Quarrel

Other peoples often perceive Ursus as quick to take offense, intolerant of criticism, or belligerent. The truth is that many Canid simply enjoy fighting, whether verbal or physical. They take pleasure in argument, wrestling, sparring, and even battle, enjoying the opportunity to exercise their minds and bodies. It follows, too, that aren’t inclined to carry grudges. A warrior might react with sudden violence to an insult, but when the fight is over (and the Canid superiority proven), the insult is forgotten—along with the vanquished foe.

Clan and Self-Reliance

Few Canid devote themselves to the service of the gods. Centuries ago, the Ursus worshiped the same gods that humans do, but after many of their prides suffered depravities at the hands of the tyrants most Canid rejected the gods. It’s not that they deny the existence of deities; they merely see the gods as mercurial and ultimately unworthy of adoration. The Canid and the Gods table suggests the range of attitudes that Ursus might adopt toward the gods.

Canid rely on themselves and their clans. A clan is bound together by the experience of a shared challenge and, in particular, the sacred act of the hunt. 

Canid and the Gods

d6	Attitude
1	I’m amused by the antics of the gods and their earnest, but ultimately deluded, mortal champions, and I feel smugly superior in my detachment.
2	The meddling of the gods in mortal affairs makes me angry and bitter. I wish they would just leave us all alone!
3	I view the gods as worthy adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games.
4	I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the gods, but I roll my eyes at each new twist of fate and try to get on with my life.
5	I wish that I could be as naive as humans and other mortals who actually think the gods are looking out for them. I miss that kind of innocence.
6	I don’t talk about it among other Ursus, but I actually revere the gods and try to please them by my actions.

Canid Names

Along with their personal names, Canid identify themselves by their clan. A member of the Ironclaw pride with the personal name of Zeah, for example, would likely style herself as Zeah of the Ironclaw.

 

Clan Names: Frosteye, Ironclaw, Blackrock, Gladestalker , Mountainrunner

Canid Traits

Your Canid character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Age

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

Alignment

Canid tend toward Chaotic alignments. 

Size

Canid are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. Your size is Medium.

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

Size modifier = 2d8

Height = 5 feet + 4 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 180 + (2d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 30 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.

Bite

Your bite is a natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Predator's Instincts

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.

Howl

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially loud howl. 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 6 + 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 Canid.