Homebrew Beastfolk Species Details

Ranging from 8 to 9 feet tall, beastfolk are naturally large.  beastfolk commonly appear like large, humanoid monkeys with hand-like feet long tails, with fur all over their body except for their face, chest, belly, and hands.  Female beastfolk (Beastwomen) tend to be very muscular and full-bodied, while the men (Beastmen) very often are very muscular and commonly taller than the females.  It's also somewhat common for a beastfolk to have horns and/or tusks in varying shapes and sizes.  Beastfolk tribes tend to be small and in exclusive areas, and are not common at all.  Given that beastfolk are large, look like monsters, and have no spoken language, people that come across them out in the wild will often mistake them for monsters and try and attack, and anyone attempting to explain what they saw are often considered "crazy."  Because of the rare sightings of a beastfolk (and the fact that whenever a beastfolk is seen they are attacked), not much is known about them aside from the occasional cryptid-like sightings.  They have an age that can be anywhere from about 150 years to 200.

beastfolk tribes are often secluded in hidden areas, like a cavernous alcove beneath a cliffside, treehouses way up in large trees, etc.  They typically wear pelts as clothes when hunting, but commonly wear either a loincloth for beastmen, or a loincloth and some type of chest coverage for beastwomen.  Weapons are usually things like knives and spears fashioned from sharp teeth, and only some tribes have made bows and arrows.  Like mentioned before, beastfolk don't have a spoken language aside from animal-like grunts, groans, growls, etc.  So, communication between beastfolk is commonly done through body language, facial expressions, and reading the behavior of tails (tucked between legs for fear or discomfort, low to the ground in anger, or swaying for joy).  

The customs of beastfolk are considered unusual by other races.  For example, they deem their back as an incredibly sensitive and vulnerable part of their body since it's not easily defendable or visible.  Touching a beastfolks back is considered rude, offensive, and/or a form of attack.  So, if  you'd like to keep your arms attached to your body, please keep that in mind.  Due to this, Beastfolk don't "hug" normally.  A beastfolk "hug" consists of two beastfolk placing their hands palm to palm in front of them, and coming close.  A more endearing version of this (usually reserved for best friends, family, or devotees (will get to that later)) is the same, but the two beastfolk touch their foreheads together.  As mentioned earlier, their tails are used as a form of expression, but they are also incredibly sensitive and carry a complicated form of expression on top of that.  When a beastfolk is interested in another beastfolk as a devotee, they will brush their tail against the other (anywhere excluding the back or tail, so somewhere on the arm, chest, leg, or even chin) to communicate that.  When two beastfolk want to be there for each other (like a relationship), they can be blessed by the tribal priest and become "devoted" to each other.  Being a devotee means that you promise to be by the others side for as long as the two of you shall live.  However, you are not necessarily bound to them.  There are a few reasons for this.  One is because tribes are very often small and separated, another is that they support and incorporate homosexual relationships (WLW, MLM), which cannot produce children.  Infertility is also an unfortunately common problem, so those that have the gift of reproduction are encouraged to gift those who cannot have children with children, either through socially acceptable intercourse or letting the childless couple adopt their own child.  Alternatively, if a couple does not want children of their own, they can still help raising other couples' children, since beastfolk believe in communal raising of children.  Going back to more tail customs, touching a beastfolks back with a tail is usually reserved for devotees, as well as intertwining one tail with another.  Another common feature for beastfolk to have is being tailless, and looking like an ape of some kind.  They may be felt sorry for because they cannot emote like other beastfolk (since they don't have tails), but are not discriminated against.  Disabilities, like being born without limbs, senses, or being some kind of mentally ill, are not looked down upon, but are rather seen as blessings from the gods.

Speaking of which, beastfolk often believe in a myriad of gods and goddesses, but there are three that are common throughout.  Unnamed, they are the goddess of the forests who presides over things like nature, animals, and the land, but is also considered the mother of land based gods beneath her.  Then there's the god of the winds, who presides over birds, storms, and the hunt, as well as whatever gods might be associated with him that are beneath him.  Lastly, the goddess of the seas.  In some tribes, she's considered the mother of all, including the goddess of the forests and the god of the winds, but very often she is like the goddess of the forests.  Very loving, but very harsh.  

Beastfolk Traits

You have the following traits:

Dark Vision

You can see in dim light like it's bright light, and in darkness like it's dim light.

Keen Senses

You have advantage on perception checks that involve hearing or smell.

Animal Insight

You are innately better at interpreting and predicting the behavior of animals, and gain proficiency with Animal Handling.

Beastial Cry

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing cry. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdomsaving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, or regaining expanded uses on a Long Rest.