Homebrew Cheetah Species Details

Tribes of the South

The large felines of that live south of the Aigia River have always lived free of any ruler, despot or overlord. Attempts to conquer them have always been in vain, as they simply vanish into the jungle, savanna or mountains. The tribes share no unity between them, grouped into each's own species, tigers with tiger, lions with lions, so forth. Rivalries or all out war used to be the norm, before the Aspelain conquest. Seeing an opportunity to use the tribes as a buffer against invasion for the southern lands, the Aspelians were able to broker a tentative peace between some of the tribes. But it was not to last, the felines were proud and not willing to give in so easily to diplomacy, always at each others throats. The Aspelians did their best to avoid bloodshed, but with the fall of what had been their domain, vicious, brutal tribal wars started, only the more savage due to the decades they had been simmering, held back only by the threats and bribes of the Aspelians. 

Outsiders

Due to the savage nature of the tribes, the Aspelians never viewed them as citizens. Few of the felines ever traveled north of their home into the Realm. Most who now roam the lands north were brought there as children before the Sundering. Larger than most races, even the smallest of the large felines stood above the stoats and foxes. Hearing tales of the savagery of the cats, most creatures tend to avoid them, or engage in outright specism in the current day and age. The priests of the Blood Order value their pelts, and when in a sadistic mood will engage in torturous hunts of the poor soul's they abscond with. 

Predators of the Savanna

Cheetahs live in the farthest reaches of what is the range of the tribes, just beyond the jungle, in the wide savanna that stretches south of the realm. They make their living through the raiding and hunting of the cervine tribes, following the larger packs as far south as they dare. Living as hunters, they live a lifestyle that is constantly moving and is in flux. 

Prey of the Savanna 

The cheetahs are the smallest and frailest of the large cat races. This means that they are often hunted. From the south, the massive equine hordes that roam the savanna value their pelts as trophies, the Iontach Empire leads expeditions for sport and the other feline tribes consider them prey. In cheetah society, only the fastest and most cunning survive, those who don't meet the mark perishing at a young age. The cats have a tight bond of kinship with each other, as they are a species few in number. Some however chose to flee their ancestral home, making the perilous track through the territory of the other tribes and manage to join the Realm. 

Fast but Frail

Cheetahs don't have much going for them aside from their speed. They have both sharp teeth and claws like other felines, however their ability to use them is mitigated by the lack of strength they can put into blows. Their average height is about 5 ft 6 inches, and weight around 105 ibs. Cheetahs are obligate carnivorous and eat cervines and small mammals in their homeland.  

Cheetah Traits

Cheetah's rely on their speed to give them an advantage, and not much else.

Ability Score Modifiers

Your DEX score increases by 2, and your STR and CON decrease by 2.

Sprint

You may move at 3 times your movement speed when you take the dash action. You may only use this ability once until you take and short or long rest. 

Cat's Evasion

You get a +2 bonus to AC when not wearing armor. 

Cat's Reflexes

You gain a +2 bonus to Initiative and DEX saves.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Aspelian and The Southern Tribal Language. If communicating with other tribes aside cheetahs you will have to make Wisdom check, DC 11 or they will not be able to understand you.