Homebrew Bajushki Species Details

Baju, Bajushki Baju
Sleep, my darling, tucked so tight
Else the ol’ Grey Wolf will come
Or take you away in the dead o’ night

He’ll snatch you up between his teeth
If on the bed's edge you sleep
And drag you to the forest deep
Beneath the quaking tree

- Children’s Lullaby

Many different things reside in the forest. There is one thing, however, that has long been a part of folklore and stories to keep children disciplined; the wolf-people known as the Bajushki. 

Remote Outcasts

No one knows where the notion that the Bajushki are a race to be feared came from. Some speculate a child was taken away by a pack of wolves, and the people of the nearby village blamed it on the Bajushki. Either way, the Bajushki are a race feared by many culturally traditional villages near the forests, for fear they will take away their children in the night.

A Wolf-Like People

The Bajushki are essentially wolf-people, due to their appearance and culture. To the Bajushki, nothing matters more to them than their pack. The term “pack,” however, can mean many different things. This can be their literal clan or family, their adventuring party, or anyone they care for closely. 

Strong and Kind

While being feared, the Bajushki in reality are typically kind to strangers, caring for those they feel are worse off than they are. This results in very strange interactions when one has heard the terrifying myths of the Bajushki. 

When one is lost in the forest and a wolf-like person emerges from the thicket, they expect that their next few minutes are their last. In reality, this Bajushki will likely take this person to their pack for food and rest before returning them to their village.

Bajushki Names

A Bajushki has only one name, chosen at birth. Names don’t have much of a meaning to the Bajushki, rather just being something to be referred to for ease. Examples of a Bajushki’s name are detailed below. Whenever a Bajushki name is spelled with a ‘j’, it’s pronounced like a ‘y’

Male Names. Andrej, Anton, Danek, Fjodor, Ivan, Karol, Misha, Nikolaj, Pjotor, Vasili, Vitalik, Zahar

Female Names. Danika, Darja, Eva, Hana, Jeva, Katarina, Masha, Mira, Nadja, Olesja, Valentina

Bajushki Traits

Your Bajushki character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom scores each increase by 1.

Age

Bayushki have lifespans equivalent to humans.

Alignment

Due to their pack-culture, they tend to lean to the more lawful alignments.

Size

Bayushki are taller on average than humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

You have a wolf’s keen senses, especially in the dark. 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.

Wolves' Talent

You gain proficiency in two of the following skills: Athletics, Perception, Stealth, Survival

Canine Bite

Your bite is a natural weapon with which you can make unarmed attacks with. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Keen Senses

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Wolfkin

When interacting with wolves, you may attempt to befriend them, making them not hostile towards you. When you do so, you must make a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check or a Charisma (Persuasion) check against the wolves’ Wisdom check to see if they trust you or not.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.