Homebrew Cerberen Wolf Species Details

Critiques and recommendations for changes are welcome and encouraged.

Physical Description:

 

Cerberen Wolves (Canis Infernus Cerberus): Cerberen wolves or cerberen, also known as the Chimeran Hellhound by other races, are the lifelong bound partners of chimerans. For their entire recorded history, they have worked exclusively side by side with this species of four legged canines. This species features two heads and two long, fox-like tails, the length of which is the length of nose to start of the tails. They are always hermaphrodites and are capable of reproducing via both sets of genitalia. On the back are two rows of bone-like rib protrusions at the lowest point on the back and spaced to fit a chimeran. Their chest features an oval gem resembling a slitted eye with a black pupil like their own eyes and an iris the same color as their eye color. The creature is able to make this gem and their eyes glow on command. There are two protective, bone-like structures that resemble white bow ties on their necks. Like chimerans, cerberen also mate for life with other cerberen though they still live with their non-wolf companion.

Shortly after birth, they are paired with a newly hatched chimeran to be their life long partner. Because of this, cerberen are, by law, never treated poorly. They function as loyal companions, capable of serving as a mount, courier, guardian, or the like. Though they can't speak, they have the intelligence of the average six year old chimeran and are very quick to learn meanings of words, tasks, and commands. Every year their fur coat thickens during the winter months and is shed during the spring. Their shed fur is often used by chimerans for crafting purposes like blankets and clothing. On average they live as long as their chimeran counterparts. They are able to reproduce once they reach thirty years old and usually give birth to three to seven pups at most every fifty years. Fully grown, they average 7.5 ft from paw to shoulder. Their offspring average 1.5 feet from paw to shoulder tall.

Due to their extremely long symbiotic history, they are immune to the same poisons and venoms as their chimeran companion. A few times per day, each head is capable of firing a fireball from their mouths. The heads are prone to the peculiar or sometimes comical behaviour of arguing with each other. There are times where they can be quite stubborn or mischievous.

Their eye/gem color can range the full rainbow of natural colors. Their primary fur color comes in a darker shade of their iris and gem color. Companion fur colors come in shades of brown, black, white, and darker shades of green, blue, red, and gray.

 

 

History: 

Cerberen wolves have been symbiotically linked with the Chimeran for so long no one on either side knows exactly when they met. 

 

Society:

Because of the deep bond with the Chimerans, their society very closely matches theirs. Most cerberen wolves live in the same cities as the chimerans. Some have packs outside chimeran towns and cities and are very rarely found farther away when they are unbound. 

It is possible but rare for a non chimeran to become bound to a Cerberus Wolf. In the event the bound non-chimeran dies, the wolf may either stay with their partners family or may go their own way if deemed unworthy. 

It is unheard of for a cerberen wolf to be mistreated by their bond partner. Especially a chimeran bond partner. They are always treated as family by chimerans. Any that are mistreated will either turn on their partner or abandon them. 

Due to there being more cerberen born than chimerans, it isn’t uncommon for unbound cerberen to live solely in chimeran cities and towns. They will usually hunt with others as needed. It is very rare that a cerberen can become bound to a non-chimeran. One example of this happening is when an unbound wolf happened on a young child seemingly abandoned in a forest. The wolf “adopted” the child and took him to a nearby chimeran town and stayed with him for the rest of his life. Depending on the lifespan of their companion and how they are treated by their companion’s family, they may stay bound to that family line for the rest of their life or they may leave to do their own thing. Anytime this happens a chimeran is usually called on to help the bonded pair adapt.

Names:

Due to their race, they are both genders. One head identifies as male and the other female.

Male: Ash, Hati, 

Female: Linea, Anise, 

Preferred Class:

Only unbound cerberen can have classes. Once they find a bond they lose their class. 

 

Cerberen Wolf Traits

Two-Heads, Hellfire, Malleable Form, Battle Mount, Poison Immunity

Ability Score Increase

Strength +1, Dexterity +2. Intellect always starts at 7.

Age

You reach adulthood at 23. Your average lifespan is 500 years.

Alignment

All unbound Cerberen hover between chaotic neutral and chaotic good. All bound cerberen match their bonds alignment but will never be evil aligned. 

Size

Your mount size is Large. Battle size is medium.

Poison Immunity

Due to their close ties with Chimerans, they share their immunity to poisons. 

Languages

Common and Chimir. You can speak simple words and phrases like “I want to eat this”, “This is bad”, or “Are we there yet?”.

Bound Cerberen wolves can also understand any languages their bond can. They can also speak telepathically to their bond even if their bond doesn't have a telepathic ability.

Cerberen Hellfire

Cerberen Hellfire: 1/day per head 

Targets in the 15 foot sphere effect must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 4d6 on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. This fire spreads around corners and ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't worn or carried.

Cerberen Mage Hand

You can use the cantrip Mage Hand at will but can only carry up to 5 pounds. This can be used for spells that require a somatic component.

Keen Hearing and Smell

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Pack Tactics

The wolf has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Malleable Form

Depending on the need, you can be a large size mount or a medium companion in a fight.

Unbound cerberen need training to become a battle mount.

Changing size takes 1 action

Multiheaded

The cerberen can't be surprised, and it has advantage on saving throws against being knocked unconscious.