Homebrew Pug Species Details

"Munch munch time, little squealer." The ominous voice slithered under the cage door. The pug flinched at the sound, tucking himself into the darkest corner and doing his best to disappear into the shadows. The pale moonlight that invaded the locked room betrayed his creamy tan coat and the dark brown eyes squinted in fear as the footsteps of his jailer drew closer. "Not long now, my tiny friend. Soon you will be set free..." The wicked air of victory dripped from the words as the pug silently prayed for salvation...  

— The Lost Shard

Pugs are known far and wide to be sociable and gentle companions and can be found in quiet hamlets all the way up to the courts of kings and queens.

Short and Stout

Charming and mischievous, pugs are known to be adored in every realm, plane, and demiplane. Though they stand well under 2 feet tall, pugs are sturdy and compact, though they can weigh as much as a small toddler. Their courage and endurance are also easily a match for any of the larger beasts of Faerûn.

Pug coats range from deep brown to a paler hue tinged with white, but the most common shades are light cream or deep tan, like certain tones of earth. Their hair is short and can be easier recognized by their distinct muzzles. The key to adventuring with a pug companion is to groom them carefully, make sure they are given plenty of protection during fights, and to allot them a heaping share of attention and affection once the glorious riches have been acquired.

Long Memory, Few Grudges

Pugs can live to be more than 200 years old in the world of the Forgotten Realms, so the oldest living pugs often remember a very different world. This longevity grants them a perspective on the world that shorter-lived races such as humans and halflings lack. Pugs weather the passage of many decades with a characteristic lighthearted endurance.

Not known to be worrisome sods, pugs offer humor among their social circles and like to show off. They respect the traditions of their surroundings and adopt the required acumen to best provide their love and support. The earliest pugs trace their ancestry back to the founding of most ancient strongholds in the youth of the world, and can seamlessly integrate into their needed roles.

Individual pugs are determined and loyal, true to their bond and perseverant in action, sometimes to the point of stubbornness. Many pugs have a strong sense of justice and for this reason, they are slow to forget insufferable wrongs done by evildoers. So be warned.

Long Lasting Trust

Pugs get along well with most other races. “The difference between an acquaintance and a friend is time spent in hardship together,” is a saying that often is spoken in the gracious company of a loyal pug.

Elves. “It is wise to depend on a pug. Few other races of beast carry such weight through the centuries and still face every with a bright, cheery bark.”

Halflings. “Sure, they’re pleasant companions. But show me a pug hero. An empire may have... three in the whole of its region. And goodness they are hard to take seriously... Even so, they are a treasure for the ages.”

Humans. “You take the time to get to know a pug and you won't be let down. And if you’re extremely lucky, shell have kin—a sister or grandchild, maybe—who’s got a heart as good as hers. You can almost always make a pug your friend. And watch them go! They set their hearts on something, they’ll get it, whether it’s a dragon’s hoard or an empire’s throne, and be back by your side they day, ready for more adventure. You have to admire that kind of dedication, even if it gets them in trouble more often than not.”

Pug Names

A pug's name is granted by a member of it's closest inner circle of friends, in accordance with the history of their time spent together. And since pugs can live for so long, they can come in and out of several of these groups in their lifetime. Therefore a pug identifies itself more by what it has done, where it has been, and who it has known, rather than by what others might call it. Most proper pug name that have been recorded were penned by people who wrongly considered themselves superior to the pug and at times thought themselves the ruler and even owner of the pugs they housed and fed. Therefore if you do find yourself in the company of a pug, it is not recommended that you use a common pet name as this can seriously injure the friendship you have. For all intents and purposes, ignore the following lists. 

Male Names: Charlie, Max, Rocky, Frankie, Oscar, Cooper, Bruno

Female Names:  Bella, Lola, Lucy, Daisy, Stella, Bailey, Pugsley

Pug Traits

Your pug has an assortment of inborn abilities, part of their canine nature.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Languages

You can read Common and Celestial. The language you primarily communicate with is Pug, which is a spoken variant of Canine. It's full of guttural sounds, snorts, and higher squeals, those characteristics spill over into whatever other language you might find yourself speaking.

Age

Pugs mature at the same rate as other canines, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 30. On average, they live about 200 years.

Alignment

Most pugs are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a just society. They tend toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of that just order.

Size

Pugs stand under 2 feet tall and average about 20 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Innate Spellcasting

Your line was blessed eons ago by a benevolent deity that met a pug while walking among the mortals of the Material Plane. Since that fateful meeting, two things have been made certain and passed down to each generation of pug: 1) a sliver of divine healing is available for the pug to tap into. 2) all pugs are guaranteed a home on Mount Celestia after their death

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As a pug, you have access to the expanded Divine Aid spell list. As you level up, you gain innate spell castings abilities.
At level 1 you gain Healing Woof, level 3 you gain Strength of Bond, and level 5 grants you Companion for Life:

If you do not already have a spellcasting class feature assume these statistics:
    Your spellcasting ability is Wisdom and your save DC is 8 + your Wisdom modifier

 

Healing Woof:
- Pugs can innately cast Healing Word twice per day, without requiring spell components
    2/day: Healing Word

Strength of Bond:
- Starting at level 3, you gain the ability to cast the following spells from the Divine Aid spell list:
    At will: Guidance, Light, Spare the Dying
    1/day each: Cure Wounds, Sanctuary

Companion for Life:
- You gain access to a Restitution feature. This effectively allots you a free spell slot that can be used to cast any spell in the Divine Aid spell list without the need for material components. (THIS FEATURE REPLACES ANY CHANNEL DIVINITY FEATURE ATTAINED BY CLASS).
    2/Long Rest: Restitution
- At level 11, you gain another (1) use of Restitution and you now regain uses of this feature per short or long rest
    3/Rest: Restitution 

Spell List: Divine Aid

Added spells that expand a spellcaster's list of spells they can learn cast:

Cantrip: Guidance, Resistance, Light, Spare the Dying
1st: Bless, Healing Word, Cure Wounds, Sanctuary
2nd: Aid, Calm Emotions, Lesser Restoration, Prayer of Healing
3rd: Beacon of Hope, Daylight