Homebrew Bomok Species Details
"They say you can't teach an old Bomok new tricks, but I've never met one who'd need it."
These canine humanoids create close, familial bonds with those who prove themselves worthy of loyalty. They will unflinchingly protect those with which they have pledged loyalty, putting the lives of their family other their own. Any Bomok who forsakes a bond is cast out b others of their kind and considered a traitor to the very race. Blessed with sturdy builds and finely honed senses, these canines are well suited to becoming guards, watchmen, or any number of other protective professions.
Bonds of the Bomok
Loyalty is perhaps the most important things to a Bomok, and their vulture heavily revolves around that idea. Bomok form tight bonds of loyalty to those they grow closest to, whether that be their family, ruler, or ever members of their own adventuring party. It is rare and almost unheard of for any Bomok to be deceitful and unfaithful in practically any way.
As much as they stay true to their friends, they also stay true to their enemies. There is never a questions as to when you have invoked the ire of a Bomok, they will let you know. Tabaxi are the Bomok's natural dynamic opposites; the Tabaxi being free-roaming, independent opportunists, and the Bomok favouring loyalty and steadfastness. Their dislike and prejudices for each other can be overcome but not without time and patience, not to mention willingness from both parties to reconcile.
Earning the trust of a Bomok is a rare and challenging thing to do. It is an immense honour and it signals one's own valor and worth to those around you. Once you have one on your side, they will never willingly leave you, going so far as to put your own safety over their own, and as such are almost infallibly reliable in a pinch.
Loyalty has a such a huge influence on Bomok culture that is is even sued to convey social status amongst other members of the species. the most well respected Bomoks are the ones hat have formed the strongest bonds, some of which can even last generations. Conversely, Bomok deplore any and all acts of betrayal and treachery, viewing them as acts against their very way of life. Any Bomok found committing such heinous acts are forever cast out in the eyes of others, and such exile is usually accompanied by the cropping of the traitor's right ear.
Fierce Guardians
The Bomok have been blessed with astounding sense and awareness. Their highly tuned ears and noses make them very capable at sensing danger, tracking prey, or finding things that have lost. Bomok will often put these talent to use as guards or watchmen, protecting others and keeping watch over important locations and people. If their charge ever does come under threat, there can be no doubt that a Bomok will defend it to their last breath.
On constant vigil, a Bombok is rarely (if ever) caught off-guard, even in casual settings. They have their heads ever on a swivel, searching for signs of danger or threat. They have uncanny awareness of their surroundings, and even older Bomok, whose hearing may be fraying, still retain their astounding sense of smell. Hardly anything can escape the notices of a watchful Bomok.
Aptitude for Learning
One of the most endearing but lesser known things about the Bomok is their aptitudes for learning. Most people view Bomoks as a harsh and standoffish race, but they are as eager and curious as any, perhaps more so than most. They take to new skills very swiftly, and have been kin own to master trades and skills in half the time it normally takes others. Because of this, Bomok are able to excel in a wide variety of things, and can often be found with multiple skills or talents honed to excellence.
Some Bomok will even take to following around an individual who possesses a skill they are interested in and begin to learn the skill simply by watching the other performs it. Such tendencies make Bomok exceptional apprentices and pupils in all sorts of areas. from blacksmithing to wizardry, and everything in between. As artisans, this aptitude allows them to excel in a wide variety of crafts, rather than focus on just one. Many a Bomok trader can be expected to know half a dozen languages or more.
Bomok Names
Bomok names typically follow the tradition of the local culture, but can be expected to have short syllables and deep, basal sounds akin to the barking and growling of their ancestors.
Male Names: Aaron, Alf, Arno, Boris, Cain, Duran, Edd, Fargo, Klaus, Mortimer, Paul, Rolf, Rudy, Sid, Winston
Female Names: Amber, Anne, Barb, Bella, Cheska, Dianna, Elwyr, Gertrude, Hadda, Nenna, Ora, Rhea, Sam, Zelda
Bomok Traits
Your proud Bomok character has the following racial traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age
Bomok mature at a faster rate than humans, reaching adulthood at around age 12. They age slightly faster, and tend not to live past the age of 85.
Alignment
Bomok tend towards either good or lawful alignments, but may shift towards the alignments of those they give their loyalty to.
Size
Bomok are typically 6 to 7 feet tall and average around 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Fast Learner
The time it takes to learn a new language, tool, weapon, or skill proficiency is halved.
Bite
Because of your fierce bite, your teeth are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength Modifier, instead of bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Keen Hearing and Smell
You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing smell.
Hound's Vigil
You have proficiency in the Perception. In addition, before you roll initiative, you can give yourself advantage on the roll. Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Fierce Loyalty
If a creature attacks another friendly creature within 5ft of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that attack.
If the attack misses, the attacker must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of it's next turn. The DC for this saving throw is 10 + your Charisma modifier.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.