Homebrew Bearfolk Species Details

Bearfolk

Making their home in wild, untouched corners of the world, bearfolk thrive on their own independence. Covered in shaggy fur, bearfolk resemble common bears not only in their appearance but in their ability to survive and even thrive in the wilderness. Their keen senses and physical prowess make them formidable enemies, but their practical nature and protective instincts make them fantastic allies. Bearfolk rarely approach the civilized world without good reason. Those who do often find themselves pulled into excitement and adventure.

Solitary Hunters

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 6 feet tall and often weigh upwards of 350 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.

Bearfolk typically live alone, seeking out company to mate and raise children, or to defend their territory. A few bearfolk make a habit of visiting nearby humanoids to trade handmade goods, food, or stories. Their dwellings can be anything from a comfortable cave to a cabin of sturdy construction. They are obligate omnivores, and spend most of their time hunting game and gathering edible plants to satisfy their massive caloric needs. They are known to take good care of the land they inhabit, using controlled burns to prevent wildfires and choosing which animals to hunt in order to ensure ecological balance and prosperity.

Perplexing Personalities

To most outsiders, Bearfolk tend to come off as standoffish or asocial, but any friendships they do form are fiercely defended. Likewise, while many Bearfolk try to avoid conflict and have been known to walk away from fights, the aftermath of a Bearfolk being stirred to violence can be disturbing. Many attribute this to the fact that Bearfolk, who usually grow up without much company, simply aren’t well adjusted to most social environments. This is corroborated by the stories Bearfolk themselves will tell to those they befriend. The Strange Experiences table suggests a variety of memories a friendly Bearfolk might share.

Forgotten Ancestry

The true origin of Bearfolk is unknown, but many scholars suspect they are the descendants of werebears that took to living in the wilderness. Over time, their lycanthropy became permanent and integral, giving them the best features of human and ursine biology, along with some weaknesses. The best evidence for this is their aversion to silver, which true lycanthropes are known to share. It is not uncommon for Bearfolk to take in and mentor those who have been newly cursed with lycanthropy, teaching them how to live with their animal characteristics. It is not possible for Bearfolk to pass on their ancestral curse, but the question of whether they can be infected with any new form of lycanthropy is unknown. What is certain is that their origins are not mundane, even though their connection to the natural world is strong.

Bearfolk Traits

Your Bearfolk character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Bearfolk mature and age at about the same rate as humans.  They reach maturity by age 11 and live for around 70 years.

Alignment

Bearfolk have much prowess and rashness in battle and makes Bearfolk lean towards a chaotic alignment.

Size

Bearfolk are typically over 7 feet tall, with some standing over 8 feet. Your size is Medium.

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

Size modifier = 2d10

Height = 6 feet + 6 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 280 + (2d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have either a swimming speed or a climbing speed equal to your walking speed (choose when you select this race).

Claws & Bite

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.  Your mighty jaws are packed with sharp teeth. You can make a melee attack with them, biting a creature within 5 feet of you. On a hit you deal 1d6 piercing damage + your Strength modifier. You are proficient in these attacks.

Born Survivor

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

Ursine Fortitude

You have resistance to cold damage. At the end of a short or long rest, you can expend and roll one Hit Die to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the number rolled + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While you have these hit points, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Aversion to Silver.

The cuts of silver blades cause searing pain. Attacks made against you with silvered weapons ignore the AC bonus of Ursine Fortitude. You cannot reduce any bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage dealt to you by silvered weapons.

Keen Smell

Thanks to your sensitive nose when you are on all fours, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that involve smell.

Languages

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