Homebrew Lycan Species Details
The small girl stared back at the town that had abandoned them. Many of the windows visible were boarded up after the recent attacks but, eyes were still visible between the slats. The girl closed her eyes and forced back the tears welling behind them. The memory was still too vivid. The howls. The dark forms darting through the night with little more sound than the rustling of leaves and the soft thump of paws. The Lycanthropes had charge threw the night before looking for fresh meals and new "recruits" to bolster their pack. Five had died and been dragged away, but they were the "bitten" ones. Eight in total and all barely beyond adolescence. The girl was not the oldest or the biggest, but she had a quality about her. She commanded attention and loyalty without effort, and there was no questions that the ones who survived the "changing" would follow her lead.
This was their moment to decide what little they could about their impending destiny. It wasn't as if they had much options, go back to their past and be killed by those who once called them friend or family, or join those who had ripped them from their normal lives. But that was not what the girl was thinking.
As she turned back to the group, her eyes were no longer filled with tears but instead held a fierce strength that caused the others to step away. Had her changing begun? It normally took longer for the beast to take hold of a person. But as she spoke, the others realize it had nothing to do with the changing and everything to do with her spirit.
"We were bitten so that we would join their pack, but that is not the only option before us. We cannot go back, but we do not have to live as beasts. For those who want a different life, follow me. We will travel beyond this pack and away from people that would mistrust us, and we will start our own pack, not as wild beasts but as a new family."
We all followed. There was no way to know that more would continue to follow long after we left.
Descendant from ancient Lycanthropes, the Lycans are often greeted with fearful incomprehension. Unlike their brutal ancestors, they are generally a gentle loyally people that enjoy their tribal existence. On rare occasion a pack will infringe on another pack's territory and brief skirmishes ensue, usually between the young pups of the tribes who are trying to prove their dominance and value. Most disputes end peacefully once the alpha's of the packs have meet and established a mutually beneficial arrangement. Due to their connection with lycanthropes, many communities shunt the Lycans and even would hunt down and slaughter packs that made homes too close to their homesteads or establishments. As a result Lycans packs are extremely rare and reclusive. On rare occasion members of the pack will gain a sense of wanderlust or become isolated from the pack and live a solitary nomadic existence.
A Balance of Strength and Swiftness
Lycans look disturbingly similar to their brutal accessors, standing erect in humanoid form, with distingcty canine features. The fur and markings of each Lycan is a reflection of their heritage and native territories of their birth arctic. Lycans from Artic packs usually have white or faun fur with minimal markings, brown to reddish fur is common of planes packs. Planes Lycans also can have variations of brindle patterning. Dark brown to black fur with blotchy patterns is common amongst forest packs. Lycans are usually tall and strongly built, often standing near 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. Their hands and feet are strong, their fingers are claw-like and their feet more closely resemble paws.
The Lone Lycan
To any Lycan, the pack is more important than the individual. An individual that chooses a solitary lifestyle away from his pack is exceptionally rare. Regardless of their motivations for leaving their pack, a lone Lycan is still fiercely loyal to his pack and is often eager to find a new "pack" to belong to. They will often join groups of adventurers or gangs, and on the rare occasion, when they are accepted by a town or community, they will stay and protect the people within the community. When they bond with others, their loyalty is unwavering.
Potentially due to their canine attributes, Lycans are exceptionally good judges of character and honesty, are masters of detection. The same attributes that help them smell and hear clues about their surroundings also drives a strong sense of curiosity and impulsiveness. Their curiosity and intuitions can occasionally come across as abruptness however other races that have similar traits often respect this quality and have come to respect Lycans
It is the deepest longing of every Lycan to belong, however their desire is not to be confused with incompetence. Lycan are strong and resourceful. They come from wild and untamed lands where most races will not settle in. Even alone, a Lycan will be self sufficient but will continue to look for other individuals of any race to connect with.
Lycan Names
Lycan have personal names given at birth, but their pack names are considered sacred. A pack name is derived from their ancestral pack and its territory A childhood name or nickname is often used among tribe members and is considered a term of endearment and these are only shared with those a Lyan trusts.
Male Names: Abhasa, Banta, Chaske, Drexar, Chani, Goshe, Jaci, Koda, Misun, Malik, Rayen, Sequi, Shedinn, Tansek, Tanish
Female Names: Amaya, Anya, Bhanu, Haloki, Iara, Imala, Jacira, Jheri, Kasa, Kwani, Mai, Maki, Nova, Pazi, Soyala, Surina, Tehya, Zahmi
Childhood Names: Scruffy, Digger, Dash, Pouncer, Toothy, Zag
Clan Names: Foreststrider, Moonhowler, Nightstalker, Rockchaser, Snowsong, Whitepaw, Windrunner, Wisperingwind
Lycan Traits
While Lycans have forsaken the brutality of their anscestors, various traits have persisted and are manifested differently for each pack.Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity or Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Lycan pups grow at a similar rate to humans. They learn to walk a few months after birth and during their adolescence they spend a majority of their time rough housing with their littermates and following just behind their elder's swishing tales. Lycans reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 70 to 80. The rare individual that leave the pack usually does so between the ages of 20 and 25.
Alignment
Lycans tend to appreciate balance, making a choice not for a particular side but to achieve a peaceful balance. Most Lycans tend towards good however some feel that there needs to be a punishment for those they feel has forced their race to the brink of extinction and restricted them to only the most rugged territories,
Size
Lycans are similar in size and stature to humans, standing between over 51/2 to 6 feet tall and averaging almost 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Canine Ancestry
You have canine ancestry. Choose one type of ancestry from the Canine Ancestry table. Your Lycan Frenzy and damage resistance are determined by the ancestry type, as shown in the table.
Canine Ancestry
| Ancestry | Damage Type | lYCAN fRENZY |
|---|---|---|
| Arctic | Cold | 5 ft x 20 ft line, 2d6 piercing + 2 cold |
| Prairie | Poison | 15 ft cone, 2d6 piercing + 2 Poison |
| Forest | Fire | 15 ft cube, 2d6 + 2 fire |
Lycan Frenzy
You can use your action to attack with a Lycan Frenzy. Your canine ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the frenzy. When you use your Lycan Frenzy, each creature in the area of the frenzy must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your canine ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 piercing damage and an additional 2 damage (type is determined on ancestry) on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 +3 at 6th level, 4d6 + 4 at 11th level, and 5d6 + 5 at 16th level. After you use your Lycan frenzy, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Damage Resistance
You have resistance to the damage type associated with your canine ancestry.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and can understand canine body language and intentions. Due to their nomadic and rugged lifestyles, they often have interactions with goblins and orcs and while they cannot speak the language, they can understand and read it. Their canine ancestry also grants Lycans Darkvision.
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