Homebrew Asinus Species Details

The Asinus are a hardy group of donkey humanoids that live on Ayr. Their species originated from a number of the human populace adapting to and evolving the more common Donkey Curse into their base physiology. Asinus can shapeshift between a massive beast of burden with incredible strength, and a more humanoid form with donkey-like features. They have a natural compulsion to trade and haul goods, and thus the vast majority of Asinus are traveling merchants, moving their wares between different settlements on Ayr.

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid. When shifted to your full donkey form, you are considered a Beast.

Life Span

Asinus are shorter lived and more prolific than humans, and live an average of 50-70 years

Height and Weight

Player characters, regardless of race, typically fall into the same ranges of height and weight that humans have in our world. If you’d like to determine your character’s height or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player’s Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

Asinus Traits

As an Asinus, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid. When shapeshifted in to your Donkey form, you are considered a Beast.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Bestial Instincts

Channeling the beast within, you have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, or Survival.

Shifting

As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. This transformation lasts until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. You can shift a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. 

While shifted:

• You're Creature Type becomes Beast
• You are considered one size larger for the purposes of shoves, grapples, strength checks, and carrying capacity
• You're carrying capacity is quadrupled
• You can't speak by normal means
• You're back hooves are natural weapons. You can take an action to make an improvised weapon attack against a target within 5 ft that you can see. On a hit, deal 1d6 bludgeoning damage