Homebrew Armoured Bear Species Details

 

Far North, in cold, windy environments, hidden amongst boulders or trees, on mountainsides or in deep wooded forests, dwell the legendary and reclusive armoured bears. Battling for survival against other tribes and the nature that surrounds them since birth, these strong, tough creatures live lifestyles similar to those of the goliath tribes, and the paths of the two races often cross over as they struggle along in the snowy wilderness of their homes. Bears are fiercely loyal to their tribe and clan, as well as all those who befriend them, support them or fight beside them. Whilst they may lack in certain areas, they more than make up for it with their colossal strength.

Racial similarities

The armoured bears, as mentioned previously, have many qualities shared with the goliath tribes. This includes the ability to speak Giant, which they have learnt from their many meetings with goliath tribes living nearby. Every armoured bear is almost guaranteed to meet with a goliath tribe several times during their long lives, and the tribal structures of each race are very similar. However, living close to each other sometimes leads to arguments over territory, and due to the nature of the two races, violence often breaks out over hunting grounds and claimed lands.

Natural Warriors

Armoured bears are renowned for their prowess in combat. Wether in a friendly fight with a clanmate, or a bloody war with another tribe, the fearless, aggressive fighting styles of the bears allow them to dominate battlegrounds, and make them terrifying opponents. They fight mainly with their ferocious claws and teeth, which can rip a weaker enemy's  head clean off. They are proficient with any melee weapons, but prefer to use their natural defenses.

Armour

The most prized possession of an armoured bear is, of course, its armour. Each bear owns a set of plate armour, forged by its clan as a gift at the coming of its adulthood. As such, bears are proficient with all heavy armour.

Names

Bears have three names: a birth name, a nickname, and clan (or family) name. Due to the racial similarities between goliath and bear tribes, the bear naming method (and their names and name sounds) is very similar to that of goliaths.

Birth names are rarely linked to gender. Bears, like goliaths, see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a goliath, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.

A bear's nickname is given to them by a tribe leader. It refers to an event in the bear's life, a deed done by the bear (good or otherwise), or a particular skill possessed by the bear.

Bears present all three names when identifying themselves, in the order of birth name, nickname, and clan name, however for anyone outside of their clan, they prefer to use their nickname.

Birth Names: Aukan, Eglath, Gae-Al, Gauthak, Ilikan, Keothi, Kuori, Lo-Kag, Manneo, Maveith, Nalla, Orbiorn, Orilo, Paavu, Pethani, Thalai, Thotham, Uthal, Vaunea, Vimak

Nicknames: Dawncaller, Fearless, Fishcatcher, Flintfinder, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Steadyhand, Threadtwister, Treeclimber, Twice-Orphaned, Twistedlimb, Wordpainter

Clan Names: Anakalathai, Elanithino, Gathakanathi, Kalagiano, Katho-Olavi, Kolae-Gileana, Ogolakanu, Thuliaga, Thunukalathi, Vaimei-Laga

Armoured Bear Traits

Armoured bears share a number of traits in common with each other. These are also similar to the traits of goliaths.

Ability Score Increase

Due to your size, and tough skin, your Strength score increases by 5, and your Constitution score increases by 3.

Age

Bears mature at the same time as humans - they enter adulthood in their late teens. However, they live a lot longer, usually up to/around their second century.

Alignment

Since bears live in tribes removed from the rest of civilization, they tend not to follow the same laws as much of the world, and therefore are usually Chaotic aligned. They do not feel the necessity to care for others outside of their tribe or clan, and so are usually neutral.

Size

Armoured bears are 7 to 10 feet tall when standing on their hind legs. When on all fours, they are around 4 to 6 feet tall. Bears usually weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. Your size is Large.

Speed

You can walk at a speed of 40ft when on all fours, however when you stand up on your hind legs, you move slower, at 20 ft. Bears can swim at a speed of 30ft.

Natural Athlete

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Icy Endurance

You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Mountain Born

You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You’re also naturally adapted to cold climates, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and (due to living in similar areas and often crossing paths with Goliath tribes) Giant.