Homebrew ฅPossumfolk Species Details

Possumfolk are calm and kind protectors of the natural world. They heal both the land and the animalfolk wounded by the Calamity Beasts, and have a deep connection to the natural world. At their best, possumfolk are generous and adventurous guardians. At their worst, possumfolk are skittish and anxious, retreating inward at the slightest provocation.

Personalities

Possumfolk are patient and pragmatic, preferring to observe a situation from an objective standpoint than rush in head-on. However, despite their typically passive nature, they form deep and enduring bonds with their communities and those they consider family, going to furious lengths to protect them.

Possumfolk are natural-born explorers, and jump at the chance to map new regions of Valley and beyond. They have excellent memories, and are veritable libraries of information about the land and what grows there. They're always willing to share this information, of course, so long as its for a good cause.

Playing Dead

Playing dead is not only a survival tactic for possumfolk, but a philosophical way of life and deeply rooted social practice. When faced with extreme stress or when facing overwhelming odds, a possumfolk might retreat inwards and withdraw from the situation entirely, allowing them to observe their surroundings and wait for the right moment to act. This allows them to analyze the full picture, teaching their young ones the value of timing and the power of stillness.

Gardening

In a way, possumfolk are the foils to ratfolk. For every fact of history, every tidbit of occult lore a ratfolk knows, a possumfolk can tell you one more about the fantastic biodiversity of Valley. As such, their equivalent of libraries are their prized gardens. Corpseberries from the Calamity Graveyard, giant strawberries from the fabled passages that lead beyond the Brambles, even rare sunflowers from Beza, the Spring Elk. Their gardens are the prized possessions of the possumfolk, and as reluctant as they are to part with pieces of it, they will always provide what is needed to help someone.

Their Role in Valley

Because possumfolk have such an innate connection to the land and because of their magic, possumfolk make excellent guides for the lands of Valley and beyond. It is said that when travelling with a possumfolk, you leave no footprints nor broken twig underfoot. They also join crisis response teams for Calamity Beast attacks, using their magic to hide wounded animalfolk and heal the land in the Beast's wake.
Many possumfolk also tend to gardens of rare plants and herbs, and may have access to plants that aren't available anywhere else in Valley. For this reason, many possumfolk have day jobs as apothecaries, raising their joeys in their backyard gardens.

Relationships

Possumfolk share a strong and cooperative relationship with the raccoonfolk, with whom they often trade resources and knowledge. Each appreciates the other's knowledge of the natural world and respects their resourcefulness, even if possumfolk sometimes find raccoonfolk to be loud and abrasive. They also have great respect for the morbid yet necessary work of the squirrelfolk. However, possumfolk don't typically get along well with the batfolk and their strict hierarchical rules of their society, which often leads to conflict between the two races.

Weaving

Possumfolk are skilled in magic that conceals themselves and others from danger. They are also natural-born druids, wielding magic that restores balance and heals nature where Calamity Beasts have destroyed it.

Possumfolk Structures and Settlements

Possumfolk homes blend into the natural landscape seamlessly, often nestled into the trunks of great oaks or within the hollow trunks of dead trees. They adhere to a cultural tradition of not altering the natural form of their chosen home, so stray roots and wayward walls become integral parts of the style of the home. The floors are oft strewn with gardening supplies, and rare herbs hang from the ceiling to dry. They typically live in communities with large populations of raccoonfolk and squirrelfolk, far from the hustle and bustle of Three Tree City.

ฅPossumfolk Traits

Your possumfolk character has a the following characteristics.

Weaving

You know the resistance cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the pass without trace spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the feign death spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

 

Nature's Intuition

Thanks to your mystical connection to nature, you gain proficiency with one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.

Play Dead

As a reaction, you can drop to the ground and attempt to play dead. For up to 1 hour, or until you use an action, you appear dead to all outward inspection and to spells used to determine your status. You are blinded and incapacitated, and your speed drops to 0. You have resistance to all damage except psychic damage. If you are diseased or poisoned when the spell is cast, or become diseased or poisoned while under the spell’s effect, the disease and poison have no effect until the spell ends.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age

Possumfolk naturally have rather short lives, but their good diets and active lifestyles can allow them to live well into their 30s.

Size

Possumfolk are a median size for animalfolk, not quite as tall as a badgerfolk but still about three mousefolk high, ranging from around 3 to 4 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.