Homebrew Aārcbear Species Details

"It was the last day of May-month, and the tall, dark pines were silently swaying on a curl of wind. It was that evening that I restrung my bow, sharpened my arrows and, with the setting of the sun, ventured into the maw of Belker Wood in search of prey. It was beautiful in the woods. The sunset burned a band of orange and pink at the top of the tree-line, but below, much was swallowed up by mist and fog, and dew drops clung like tears to the green lashes of the pines.

I had been lucky- already several rabbits dangled from the cord hung over my shoulder- when I reached my favourite place the whole forest: A clearing, where wet slates rose high, and rolling water tumbled from the high brink of these, crashing to the gaping rock-pool below. The pool never overflowed, nor was it ever dry, but then the magical waters there are beyond all logic. The waterfall is always just enough to fill the pool to the brim, and never any more.
Around the edge of the pool, woody thorn-bushes twisted up from the soil that were usually home to small rodents, rabbits, waterfowl and pixies that went about their business.

But that evening, the bushes were quiet. In the middle of the pool, a large brown bear idly played with the water, splashing about and, at intervals, stabbing at fish that hurriedly swam away from him. I raised my bow, and took aim- bears weren't usually trouble, but one this close to the village would be nothing but. I almost released the eager arrow, but just then, the most miraculous thing happened. The bear spoke. Not just a grumble, or grunt. He actually spoke, in my toung. He started to mumble something about his mate and cubs, and what kind of fish his mate had asked for his catching that morning , and, he was grumpy to add, how angry she would get if he couldn't find any. It was then that I noticed the hempen bag slung across its shoulder and the fish he had caught in it. Why, this bear was more human than anything else! I watched the bear until the moon rose high, after which point, the bear gathered its catchings and left the clearing, heading north in the starlit wood, its fur sparkling with silvery droplets. 

To this day, this encounter remains most magical I've ever had." 

- Reskan the hunter.

 

The Caretakers

Aārcbears are the caretakers of their homes. Once bears, they possess humanlike intelligence, a gift from the goddess Diana many millennia ago. But unlike humans, Aārcbears are without much ego, and have no desire to build large empires. Instead, they use their strength to protect their homelands and keep them in prosperity. 

Big and friendly

You will only very rarely find an evil Aārcbear. They are mostly peaceful and reticent, and very willing to take a creature of another race into their extended family. 
Aārcbears are huge, standing usually well over seven feet tall. They have short, stubby snouts, and rounded ears.  Their fur is thick, and varies in colour depending on where that bear comes from.

A force to be reckoned with

Aārcbears aren't usually warlike, but if prompted, their massive claws and powerful jaws are enough to reckon most foes either dead or wishing they were.

Aārcbear Traits

Most Aārcbears are quiet and peaceful. Yet their powerful figures mean that they are a great force to be reckoned with, and can withstand most any punishment.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, as does your Constitution score. Your Intelligence score decreases by 1

Age

Aārcbears age slightly faster than humans, with a young adult being around 10 or 11 years of age. Yet the most willful Aāvardbears can live to around seven hundred years old.

Alignment

Aārcbears value tradition and family, yet also the harsh laws of nature, placing them at neutrality between order and chaos. Most Aārcbears are good, but in rare exceptions, you may come across a neutral or even evil one. This can happen when an Aārcbear has suffered much loss in its lifetime.

Size

Aārcbears can stand anywhere from seven feet to nine feet tall. Your size is Medium, but only just.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

A master of nocturnal hunting, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Clumsy Brute

You have disadvantage on Slight of Hand checks, but advantage on Athletics checks.

Keen Senses

You have advantage on Perception checks that involve smell or hearing, as well as on Survival and Investigation checks to forage for food.

Powerful Paws

You have retractable, razor-sharp claws, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common and one other language of your choice of the following: Dwarvish, Elvish, Draconic or Giant. 

You find it hard to write with tools crafted to the human hand (such as quills). You take double the time to write legibly on parchment, though no longer to scratch words out in dirt or wood with your claws.