Homebrew Lupine Species Details

The lupine people prefer to live outside of civilization and instead thrive in small communities or family packs in remote locations away from larger cities.  On occasion, some may be seen within a town or city, but these visits are typically reserved for necessity and preferably short lived.  Lupines have a fond respect and love for nature and the creatures within it.  They feel a strong responsibility for the preservation of the wilds and will fiercely defend it from those whom mean it harm.  Lupines serve to maintain balance in the land, only taking from it what they need to survive and in doing so find harmony within themselves.

History and Religion

Because of their strong resemblance to wolves  both in appearance and social behavior, the lupine people consider themselves direct descendants of The First Wolves of The Forest.  They believe that they were blessed by the spiritual guardian of the forest who they refer to simply as The Mother.  In the brink of the forest's destruction, brought on by the ceaseless expansions and wars of man, The Mother called upon the wolves to defend their home. She gave enlightenment to those creatures and reshaped them into a stronger, more versatile form. Thus making them into what the lupine are today.

The lupines continue in their charge as guardians of the forest to this day.  But now, after many generations and great distances some packs have traveled, lupines can be found all throughout the world.  Wherever they may call home though, they still remember their purpose.  Every year st the first new moon of spring, they ceremoniously give thanks to The Mother for her blessing and celebrate the beginning of the new cycle.  Once a young lupine reaches adulthood, as part of the ceremony, he or she will dedicate themselves to The Mother's calling.  Then to end the ceremony, the newly devoted lupines must take part in a great hunt.  Here the young lupine must demonstrate a clean kill and show reverence to the slain prey's sacrifice.  By this, they show they are not only able to help provide for ones pack, but also a maturity and understanding of the value which all nature holds.

Packs and Community

Lupines tend to live in smaller single family packs.  But it is relatively common that families will come together to form a larger pack if abundance or necessity leads to it.  Relations between neighboring packs are prevalently strong, though disputes may arise and in rare circumstances result in violence.  But the lupine's strong beliefs and ideals about nature lead them to view their neighbors as mutually beneficial in a common purpose.  Especially true for single family packs, marital unions may form between neighboring packs.  This may lead to the two packs coming together to form a single pack or a new pack being created entirely. 

Lupine Names

Every lupine is given two names in their lifetime.  The first name is given at birth.  The addition of the second name is not given until the lupine's dedication ceremony.  This name represents a more personal and spiritual side of the lupine.  It may reflect the lupin's personality, role in the pack, or in some cases even allude to something greater.

Lupine Traits

Your strongly wolf-like features prove to be invaluable for many situations.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength or Dexterity score is increased by 2, and Wisdom score is increased by 1.

Age

Lupines reach maturity at age 15, and will have a normal lifespan of 60 to 70 years.

Alignment

Lupins tend toward lawful neutral or lawful good based on their strong ideals.  But there are always exceptions.

Size

Lupines stand between 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh between 200 to 300 pounds.  Your size is medium.

Speed

Your base movement speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

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.

Senses

You are proficient in Wisdom (Perception) checks and have advantage in checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Ferocity

As an action you can make an attack by swiping with your claws or biting. On a hit, the target will take (1d6) plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier depending on which you chose to increase. Slashing damage if using your claws or piercing damage if biting. If you take an attack action, you may use your bonus action to bite or claw as well. Following dual wielding rules, you do not add the damage modifier to the second attack unless you have the two weapon fighter fighting style.

At 6th level your attacks increase to (1d8) and are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Pack Tactics

You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Survivor

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Medicine, Nature, or Survival.

Natural Hunter

Following your natural instincts as a hunter, you gain proficiency to Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.

Lupines will also regularly communicate between one another and to other canine creatures effectively through yips, barks, growls, and body language.