Homebrew Canus Species Details

Canus

Usually known as "Man's best friend". Most Canus are kept as slaves, pets, or mercenaries for most of their life, but some find freedom from their masters through escaping, good behaviour, or kindness. Canus are widely considered inhumane, and therefore don't have human rights, though this may be untrue for certain regions. In regions where they aren't considered human, they are considered "attack dogs", "dog maids", or sometimes even simple "house pets".

Physical Description

Canus are humanoids with certain dog-like features. This includes almost always ears and a tail, and rarely furred forearms and hands. The specifics of these traits change with sub-race, or in the harsher side of their heritage, "breeds". Hellhounds have darker furs, and fire seems to burn in their eyes. Servants have white fur nearly all the time, but sometimes a mutation will cause them to have grey hair, their eyes look quite normal. Domestics have brown fur, and usually, have a slightly blank look in their eyes.

History

The Canus are a result of ancestors with lycanthropy giving birth to children with regular humans. Since lycanthropes are considered monsters, their children were considered freaks of nature, a mixture of monster and human that shouldn't exist. That is until one was allowed to grow up. This singular creature was docile and friendly, had little intelligence and seemed like a domestic wolf. That is when they became simple pets. However, once they started to become more and more human-like, it has become a question of if they can be given human rights.

Society

There is not much to Canus society, they were treated like pets originally, so most of their society is basically pet society.

Canus Names

Canus names are given by masters and are often very demeaning.

Male: Fido, Max, Doog, Bork

Female: Baby, Lola, Dixie

Canus Traits

Your Canus character has certain traits deriving from your Canine ancestry.

Natural Digger

You have a burrowing speed of 10 feet.

Part Beast

Your creature type is both beast and humanoid. You are proficient in the Animal Handling skill and instead of making a Charisma (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion) check creatures can instead make a Wisdom (Animal Handling), however, if someone does this, it is completely obvious to other creatures.

Beast Fighting Stance

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2.

Keen Sense

Your sense of hearing and smell are better than most humanoids. You are proficient in the Perception skill.

Age

Canus reach maturity around two thirds the rate of humans (12), but live slightly shorter, with the average life expectancy of 70.

Alignment

Due to the way they are usually raised, Canus are almost always lawful, no matter what kind of ideal they have, they have a sense of inferiority.

Size

Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Subrace

Canus are often bred for specific jobs, and there are 3 breeds. These are Hellhound, Servant, and Domestic. Hellhounds are often used for hunting and mercenary use, while servant and domestic are self-explanatory.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common, and one other language that your master spoke.