Homebrew Blink Dog Species Details

Not Just a Hound Dog

Although at first glance blink dogs may resemble the wild dog species found throughout Faerun, they tend to be larger and stockier than their more mundane compatriots, with slightly larger ears. Most blink dogs have short fur ranging from dark brown to yellowish brown. Some individuals may be spotted with a mixture of browns, blacks, and white, and others-- notably those accustomed to cold weather climates--may have longer, thicker fur.

Pride in the Pack

Blink dogs tend to live in closely knit packs consisting of related individuals. Much like wolves, these packs are generally comprised of a family unit--a mother, a father, and their children. Unlike wolves, it is not uncommon for a pack to also include extended family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) and the adult children of the pack, which are welcome to stay and expand the pack by bringing home a mate.

It is unknown whether or not any social structure above the level of the individual pack is known among blink dogs, as they tend to limit their contact with other races. Despite their relative isolation from other cultures, there exist many stories of travelers and adventurers being aided by individual blink dogs or packs. These encounters tend to be brief, with the dog or dogs disappearing as quickly and mysteriously as they came.

Warranted Suspicion

Blink dogs tend to be highly suspicious of other races, as the wicked and unscrupulous have long sought their fortune by stealing blink dog pups with the intention of "taming" and "training" them and then selling them for outrageous amounts of coin.

Given that blink dogs are sapient creatures the equal of any human, dwarf, or elf, this practice is understandably viewed by blink dogs as kidnapping and slavery. The fact that many believe blink dogs to be mere animals due to their inability to speak the language of most other races is generally not viewed as an acceptable excuse, as many a late blink dog "owner" has eventually discovered. As such, outsiders who unwittingly stumble across blink dog packs may soon find themselves the target of some much unwanted attention, especially if they have approached aggressively. However, an outsider who is kind and courteous is unlikely to find themselves in any danger, and may even be offered help, if only to encourage them to move on out of pack territory!

Curious Companions

Although most blink dogs keep strictly to their own kind, there are a few cases in which a blink dog may choose to venture out into the wider world. Some may be seeking the trail of poachers who have stolen pups from the pack or searching out another pack in hopes of wooing a mate. Still others may be seeking out the source of some disruption to their home territories. However, there are some blink dogs that are simply eccentric individuals who have chosen to attach themselves to roving "packs" of adventurers, spurred on by curiosity.

Homebrew Notes

The racial traits for the blink dog race were based off of D&D 5th Edition wood elf statistics from the Player's Handbook, supplemented with the blink dog stats from the 5E Monster
Manual. Racial flavor text and lore based on D&D sourcebook entries from D&D to 5E. Original flavor text and racial design by frankenmouse.

 

Blink Dog Traits

Your blink dog character has a number of natural abilities due to their fey origin and magical nature.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, your wisdom increases by 1.

Age

Being fey creatures, blink dogs generally stop showing visible signs of aging after reaching physical maturity, although they continue to evolve as their experience with the world around them grows. The average blink dog lifespan is currently unknown, but is estimated to be on par with that of the elves, who share their fey heritage. As such, they may be considered culturally adults around age 100 and may live up to 750 years.

Alignment

Blink dogs tend towards the lawful end of the spectrum, with an emphasis placed on respect for the pack elders, whose word is generally law, and respect for the
natural order, despising those who would twist and poison nature to their own ends. Blink dogs are also generally good; they know what it means to fear domination and enslavement and can occasionally be relied upon to assist in these matters. They also abhor cruelty for cruelty's sake, making them the lifelong enemies of the vicious displacer beasts.

Size

Blink dogs can reach up to 5 feet long, not including their tails, and males average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill and have advantage on rolls that involve smelling or hearing.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak blink dog, a complex language formed by vocalizations and body language. You can understand and "write," but not speak, Sylvan. Some unusually well-traveled individuals may also have picked up an understanding of Common.

Blink Dog

Because of your magical nature, you learn Shift (Conjuration) as a cantrip. You may magically teleport yourself, along with any equipment you are wearing, up to 40 feet into an unoccupied space you can see. Before or after teleporting you may make a single attack. Shifting does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Natural Weapons

 You are proficient in unarmed attacks. You gain the Bite, Claw, and Charge attacks. All attacks have a reach of 5 ft. and can hit only one target, unless a class ability modifies your attacks. Bite and Claw can count as melee weapon attacks for the purposes of class abilities. Your DM may be flexible regarding additions or modifications that could make your natural weapons more powerful (e.g., metal caps on the canine teeth).

Attack	Damage	Properties
Bite	1d6 piercing
Claw	1d6 slashing	Finesse
Charge	1 + STR bashing	Unarmed

 

No Thumbs

There are some things that are just better done by people with thumbs. Unfortunately, you don't have them. Take Disadvantage on any Dexterity based task that
requires fine dexterity (e.g., tying knots, slight of hand). Your DM may determine that some especially fiddly tasks are impossible for you.