Homebrew Dawnfolk Species Details

In that year, being the first of which our brave ancestors pushed northward across the Pale River and into the frigid territories beyond, a people were encountered there.  Almost human in their bearing, though stouter, being of less stature yet greater in girth.  How they acclimed to such barren and frozen lands, to the terrible grinding ice, it was not known.

— Urtal of the Grudlik, On the Peoples of Baruglond

 

Shaped by Environment

The Dawnfolk have a form necessitated by their harsh frozen environment. An individual can stand from 4 feet to a little over 5 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 200 pounds. Beneath the skin is an essential layer of blubber, giving even the most muscular of Dawnfolk a soft and rounded appearance.  Skin shades range from nearly black to light brown, and hair colors tend in the black to brown range (curly, kinky, or straight); facial hair is not common, but when present is thick, yet sparse. Dawnfolk reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live beyond 150 years.

Nimble Craftspeople

Their sparse environment necessitating effective and efficient use of all resources available to them, the Dawnfolk are experts at making something out of nothing.  Clever and adroit, their small hands move effortlessly over tiny detailed creations of any kind. Tools, weapons, housing, clothing, all made primarily from the creatures they hunt, with nothing going to waste.

Dawnfolk Society

Tightly knit tribes are essential for survival in the harsh and endless tundra.  Most tribal leadership is rooted in a gerontocracy, with the elders leading the tribe, utmost respect being given to experience and wisdom accrued with age.   

Dawnfolk Names

 While naming conventions vary from tribe to tribe, names tend to be gender neutral, and not given until a child comes of age.  Tribal names usually come before the individual's name.

Tribal Names : Āntai, Parundu, Dahnge, Oonai, Timiṅ

Individual Names : Tunnic, Nērmai, Uṉuada, Pirakacamā, Kouban, Kaṭumai, Iṭi

 

Dawnfolk Traits

Your Dawnfolk character has the following natural traits:

Layered Blubber

You have natural resistance to cold damage.

Aquatic Hunter

You can hold your breath underwater for 10 minutes.

Clever Crafts

You have proficiency with Leatherworker's Tools and one other set of tools

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity increases by 1, and your Constitution increases by 2.

Age

Dawnfolk mature slightly faster than humans, and are considered 'of age' at 14, at which point they are given a name. Dawnfolk live 100-120 years on average, though their are tribal records of ancestors reaching 145.

Size

Dawnfolk range from under 4 to 5 feet tall and have round builds.  Your size can be Small or Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet and you have a swimming speed of 20 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Moḻi, common and one extra language of your choice. You can manage simple conversation with the speaker of another Dawnfolk dialect without much difficulty.