Homebrew Lycan Species Details

Raw, cursed, Nature

Once the attendants to the Goddess Luna, these Wolves given humaniod shape are stealthy and ravenous. Currently, there are two types of these roaming the world: The Feral beasts who are called by full moonlight, that are aggressive to all they encounter. Those who are bitten by these are cursed to a dual nature of man and monster. These are often hunted down to be killed or captured, and those who are infected are considered sub human. Most are lanky and lean, but they can often be almost bearish in size. They often appear almost emaciated, due to their infinite hunger for blood and the hunt.

And the Second, who have all but disappeared from the world. These are the ancient guards of the moon goddess, Luna. They live in seclusion, but interbreed with humans and wolves on occasion. There is very little known about these creatures, though reports say that they generally tend to stay in their hybrid forms rather than their human skins. They hunt during the full  moon as well, but for the thrill, rather than compulsion.

A Hunting Breed

Werewolves are generally built lean and strong, to bulky and muscular; averaging from 6 feet to about 8 feet tall standing on two legs and can weigh up to 500 pounds. they are covered in fur that is coarse on the back down to the backs of the legs, with softer fur covering the belly and most of the torso, the neck often has the densest fur, which in some wolves creates a mane of guard hairs that drape over their back and shoulders. They stand on their toes in a more canine fashion than human feet, and have short tails that end around the tops of their raised ankles. Their strong hands have five fingers and talon like claws attached to them for tearing slashing, but are articulate enough to hold weapons like swords and spears. A Lycan's fur color ranges from stark white to midnight black, with dozens of pattern combinations of gray, silver, tan, brown, red, and black.

Feral Werewolves have been only known to eat raw meat when observed in captivity, but their counterparts seem much less picky. Their palates seem to range more in line with human or general omnivorous in most situations. Feral Werewolves have been found to run in packs while hunting briefly, but disperse after the kill, where they often turn on each other. Non-Feral werewolves seem to run in small packs of up to 5, but have mostly been sighted alone, due to their rarity. They tend to hunt larger mammals like moose and deer. Due to their very high metabolisms, Lycans often hunt relentlessly and often, using their greater strength of endurance and physical prowess to take many kinds of prey down. 

Human form: height is between 5' to 7', weight is between 125 lbs to 300 lbs. Walking speed is 35ft.

Wolf form: size is medium to large, colors tend to be black, brown, gray, white with many different patterns. Walking speed is 45ft. Can shift into and out of this form freely, but will shift into it during a full moon. 

Hybrid form: height is 7' to 9', weight is between 250 lbs to 400 lbs. Same colors as Wolf form. Size is large. Walking speed is 45ft. Can shift into and out of freely. 

THE MOON'S SYMPHONY

Non-Feral Lycans are gifted with a penchant for life based magic, or magic that affects their senses and hunting capabilities which are tied to their former guardianship of the Moon Goddess. Alpha Lycans have been shown to induce frenzies in their packs for battles that require much less finess. As such, Lycans can innately be very short tempered, and fly into rages at the drop of a hat. This magic is cause by what is called the Moon's song, which is said to be the Moon Goddess' power that flows through all living creatures closest to the wild. This magic is said to bolster the strength and healing of all who can hear, as well as grant Lycans and other more feral creatures empathy. The larger the moon waxes, the louder the music of the night plays .

Shifting

Lycans can freely shift their form from human to their hybrid forms usually at will, but doing so consumes lots of energy. Shifting to and from each form without sufficient rest can possibly render a Lycam unconscious, or worse, drive them to hunt to recover the lost energy. Non-Feral Lycans can become Feral if pushed too far when they are hungry, stressed, scared, or angry. The Moon's song has been said to aid in the shift, speeding the transformation, removing the more painful elements, and increasing the Lycan's healing factor. Though Non-Feral Lycans don't need to shift when the moon is at her fullest, the moons song can compel them to shed their human forms, run, and hunt.

A Fading Breed

Feral Lycans have been more widespread throughout the world during the last two thousand years or so, and most countries have authorized the killing of Lycans on sight, whether in human or wolf form. As a result, one can only find feral werewolves roaming mostly unused roads or less populated towns where such creatures can more easily blend in. The Non-Feral variety however have all but vanished from the forests of most countries, though there are always rumors of packs running in the most remote areas of untamed wilds. 

Lycans have been known to interbreed with Wolves and Humans, and often, the latter does not reveal their Lycan heritage until generations later. Sometimes, the werewolf never manifests, and the human(or wolf) remains like every other human until death.

Lycan packs are often ruled by a leader, called the Alpha, that generally serves as the ruler of their pack, and their territory, which can span for miles. Packs often are mostly collections of friends and close relatives, though single wolves breaking off on their own and forming their own groups wasn't uncommon.

Lycan Traits

You Lycan heritage has certain qualities in common with all other Werewolves

Hunting senses

You have advantage on Perception and Investigation checks that have to deal with finding scents of people you've met, monsters and enemies you've previously encountered, and when listening to voices within a 50 foot radius of you while in Wolf or Hybrid form.

Lycan Transformation

You have the ability to spend a bonus action to take your Wolf or Hybrid shape. You have advantage on Athletics, Acrobatics, Constitution, and Strength checks, add +2 to your attack rolls and your walking speed increases by 10. You may remain in this form for an hour outside of combat, See rules below for rules on multiple shifts.

In battle the amount of time you may remain in Wolf or Hybrid form is:

your level + 2 = rounds able to stay in that form in battle.

One can attempt to shift again during battle by using their bonus action to roll a d20, and they must beat a DC save of 10, which increases by half the user's level each successful roll. On each failed roll the player must make an additional Constitution check with a DC save of 12. Upon failure, the player's muscles cramp and seize, causing that player to be stunned on their next turn.

The DC on these rolls reset after a short rest.

Age

Werewolves reach adulthood in their late teens and can live up to several thousand years with their regenerative abilities.

Alignment

Non-Feral Lycans generally lean towards true neutral or lawful neutral due to their more isolationist and wild tendencies. They seem to flit between extremes as easily as any human.

Size

Werewolves are generally built lean and strong, to bulky and muscular; averaging from 6 feet to about 8 feet tall standing on two legs and can weigh up to 500 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. As former guardians of the Moon Goddess, you are gifted with being able to comprehend some of natures oldest creatures.

Lycan Traits

+2 to Constitution and +1 to Strength and Dexterity

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2 while Strength and Dexterity increase by 1.

Full Moon Rage

During every full moon, you will need to roll a saving throw of DC15 for Wisdom. If successful you will remain sane and in control of your human form; if you fail, you will shift into either your Wolf form or your Hybrid form and the Dungeon Master will have full control over what your character does during the next hour. At each hour of being Berserk you can roll again for the DC15 Wisdom saving throw and if successful you will remain in control for the remainder of the night.

Lycan's Claws

While in your Wolf or Hybrid form, unarmed Strikes deals 1d6+STR modifier Slashing damage and at lvl 10 it becomes 1d8+STR modifier and at lvl 18 it becomes 1d10+STR modifier.

Lycan Darkvision

You have darkvision up to 90ft, with dim light being seen the same as bright light and darkness being seen the same as dim light.

Lycan Regeneration

 At the start of each of your turns, before you roll for bloodlust, you regain hit points equal to 1d4 + your Constitution modifier (minimum of one) if you have at least 1 hit point and no more than half of your hit points left. At level 8 it increases to 2d4 + your Constitution modifier and at level 18 it increases to 3d4 + your Constitution modifier.

Resistances and Weaknesses

Silvered Weapons Weakness

Poison Resistance due to natural regeneration

Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing Resistance while in Wolf or Hybrid form due to possessing very thick coat of fur.

Languages

You are able to speak, read and write Common and Primordial but due to your races' age, Primordial is your native language.

Bloodlust

Bloodlust. If you begin your turn with no more than half of your maximum hit points, you must succeed on a DC 8 Wisdom saving throw or move directly towards the nearest creature to you and use the Attack action against that creature. You can choose whether or not to use your Extra Attack feature for this frenzied attack. If there is more than one possible target, roll to randomly determine the target. You then regain control for the remainder of your turn.