Homebrew Equine Species Details

The last of those select animals to become awakened, the youngest of the Awakened Animals, so to speak. Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators and they have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight response.  Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general size: spirited Regular Horses with speed and endurance; War Horses, suitable for slow, heavy work; and Little Equines, such as ponies, dwarf horses, most common in cities working as cart pullers.

Equine Traits

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Hooves

Your hooves are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Equine Build

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

In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your equine legs. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Appearance

Equines come in shades of brown, tan, red and black. Common combinations are brown bodies and black manes, tails, and points, red coats ranging from light to dark, some have a variety of shades but showing dorsal stripe, horizontal striping on legs, dark-tipped ears, dark points on the face or shoulder blade stripes. Then there are those with golden coats and creamy white manes and tails or white hairs or ticking throughout the coats and finally those with spotted or blanketed.

All Feet

As you have no hands, you can not effectively wield anything that requires hands to wield.

Exception: You can still use your hooves for somatic components of spells, and can potentially still use a spell focus or material components if you have ready access to them (on the ground nearby and not kept within a component pouch).

Of Hoof and Mane

The Equine in the world are unique, they all seem to be gifted in some way or another. Pick one of the following.

Ability: Effect

Heavy Coat:

You have a heavy coat. You grew up in cold climates and as a result you are resistant to cold.

Workhorse:

You you have done things with your life. You've gained some skills. Gain proficiency with two skills of your choice.

Standing Rest:

Some people say it's all a rumor, but you know better. You have perfected the art of sleeping while standing. Because of this unique skill you require only 4 hours of sleep to complete a long rest.

Easily Startled:

You just can't help it. If someone sneaks up behind you the instinct to protect yourself is too strong to handle. When any creature is behind you within melee range, you must use your reaction for a hoof attack.

Eyes of the Prey:

Unlike other awakened, you are a creature not of the predatory nature. Because of this you like sharp teeth, and front-facing eyes. But you have adapted, And for this you have natural superior dark vision.

Of Sound Mind:

You are calm cool and collected. When creatures try and force fear into your mind you can cast it aside. As an Action you may remove the fear condition from yourself. You may use this ability Once per Short Rest.

Won't Be Glue!:

All horses, young and old, big and small fear the inevitable end that comes with an untimely death. Through sheer force of will, you won't go down easily. When you are taken down to 0 hit points, your body and mind won't let you fall so easily. You will get back up at 1 hit point. You can do this once per long rest. 

A Gifted Horse:

You aren't just a horse, you're a really smart one! You gain a +1 to your Intelligence Score.

 Foal of Nature:

You are possibly descended from the mythical centaurs of legend. You seem to simply know where herbs for healing can be found, and if other plants are harmful, and you are skilled in the application of these herbs.  You understand wild animals, and Nature itself far better than any other Equine around. You may choose to have proficiency in one of the Centaur Skills. Your coloring is primarily White or grey.

Sea Horse:

Your ancestry probably goes further back than any others realize. You, unlike most other horses love the sea, you could frolic in the shallows of a lake all day. But there is something strange about you. Other Awakened notice it but humans seem to trust you at face value. It's strange, similar to the Kelpie of legend. You have advantage on all Charisma Checks against Humans. Your coloring is primarily Black.

Equine of Prophecy:

Somehow you are able to know something before it happens, or maybe you're just lucky. Who knows? But this has helped you live a little easier. Once per Long Rest, you may reroll One Skill Check, Saving Throw, or Attack Roll.

 

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2.

Age

Those of the Awakened Equine race tend to reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

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