Homebrew Lynian Species Details

Lynian-

The hunter, exhausted and beaten, from the battle, gazed up at the Elder Dragon as it let out a final, anguished cry, and sunk to the ground. Their world had been saved from an ethereal threat once again, and the land could live in peace, for now. It seemed like she had taken the glory of slaying this beast all for herself, but no, she could never have accomplished this on her own. The hunter looked atop the dragon admiringly, to see a small cat, clad in armor, licking the Elder’s blood from its paws. She called up to it, and threw it a sausage as a reward.

Physical Description

When standing on all fours, a lynian may be indistinguishable from a normal, domestic cat. However, these felines usually conduct themselves bipedally, and have roughly the same intelligence as a human. They are larger than their domestic cat ancestors, usually standing at roughly 3 feet tall, and weighing 25-60 pounds. Females and males are virtually indistinguishable from each other, both mentally and physically, so there is also a large number of lynians who do not choose a gender for themselves, and are perfectly fine without one. It is not considered taboo by any lynian community. The coloration of lynians encompasses the entirety of the possible appearances for domestic cats, although there can be some restrictions on appearance based on what breed you choose for your lynian character. However, it is common practice among lynians to dye their fur all sorts of colors, whether it be for status, intimidation, or just for fashion. The one portion of lynian appearance that will always be uniform throughout the entire race is the markings on their chests, which resemble a three-toed paw print.

Feyline colors encompass the whole range of markings that can be found in domestic cats, but most traditionally, they have light tan fur with brown stripes, paws, tails, muzzles, and paw print markings.

Melynx have markings that are similar to the traditional feyline appearance. However, their backs, faces, tails, and paw markings tend to be very dark colors, and their bellies, paws, and muzzles tend to be light colored. The most common color combination tends to be black and white. In addition, Melynx are usually smaller than feylines.

Grimalkynes are very tall and slender lynians. Their markings are very similar to those of a Feyline’s, but their muzzles and bellies are white instead of brown. However, the other portions of their coats can range from black, to brown, to gray. Their eyes are golden, and have large mane of white fur around their necks. Their ears are usually tall, with brown tufts at their ends.

History

Lynians are a species of feliforms- that is, they are evolved from cats. Like their ancestors, lynians pride themselves on being very loyal beings, no matter what the canines may say, and most of them are beloved and trusted by the other races. Some were known in historical paintings to have been either royal domesticated pets while others worked as huntsmen for high coin and mercenaries. Very driven by the bonds of friendship and family, providing support to the party is where a lynian may find its strong suit, no matter what.

Society

Most lynians tend to live in tribes or groups, but many choose to go on their own. Because they are known to be loyal and supportive, many people of other races seek to have them as battle partners and companions, also known as palicoes. A palico is usually paid to work in partnership with someone else. When paid and treated well, a relationship between palico and master (or “meowster”) can be very healthy and result in a strong friendship. Sadly, this is not always the case. Some meowsters can be very cruel, and will keep a palico as a servant or a slave, to take advantage of their loyal nature. You should talk with one of your party members and your DM if you wish to have a palico-meowster relationship in your campaign. Good or at least decent meowsters must pay their palico at least once a session. What entails “good pay”, “mediocre pay”, and “bad pay” must be discussed between you, your meowster, and the DM. When partnering with a good or decent meowster, palicoes can quit from their work to become a prowler or change meowsters. When being held under slave-type palico work, it will be much harder to escape the bonds of your meowster, and combat or diplomacy will likely be involved to free you. Lynians who wish to class and fight but do not want a meowster are known as prowlers. They may travel with the party, but still only work for themselves. However, prowlers are usually very loyal to their friends. Prowlers may be subject to prejudice by those who still see them just as animals and nothing more, and are at risk of being captured and forced into palico work by cruel meowsters.

Lynian Names

Most lynians prefer to pick only one name for themselves, and usually lack surnames or clan names. Or, a lynian may be named by a master, if it was bred to serve people of other races. However, most lynians do not have names until they can choose one for themself around adulthood. In addition, lynian societies place very little importance on the significance of gender, so there are many lynians out there who do not identify as male or female, and thus, choose a gender neutral name.

Male Names: Aito, Amiau, Benpaw, Calicrow, Fisher, Gormeow, Jyaratodus, Nyantau, Ofro, Ratha, Skippyjon, Zorah

Female Names: Aintaili, Chiganyan, Chopitel, Diabla, Eigato, Hazak, Huntokar, Mauthra, Quirin, Pawperri, Rathi, Xomiau

Gender Neutral Names: Agnak, Bariae, Catcanti, Deviljho, Fraupurr, Iccan, Kiki, Lanamos, Meowgre, Myante, Rukoclaw, Wyani, Ubignya

 

 

Lynian Traits

Your Lynian character has the following racial traits.

Vigorwasp Trainer

As a action you can release a helpful vigirwasp in the air, targeting either yourself or an allied creature within 30 feet of you. The Vigorwasp then releases a large glob of nectar that heals the target and any allied creature with 5ft of it equal to your charisma modifier.

The Vigorwasp the flies back to its container and lies dormant until a short or long rest.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Strength score decreased by 2.

Age

Lynian have a lifespan of 153 years and reach adulthood of 17.

Alignment

The scale of alignment for lynians is very broad, and where a particular cat might lean depends on its breed/subrace. Feylines tend to populate the neutral areas of the alignment spectrum, but are usually drawn more towards good tendencies. Melynx are cunning and crafty, and indulge in the creation of chaos to use towards their advantage. They are not inherently evil, but societal mistreatment and sketchy upbringings cause many of them to populate the neutral and evil areas of the spectrum. Lastly, Grimalkynes place heavy importance in obeying the laws of nature and their societies, and rarely deviate from this directive. They are more often lawful than not. Despite these differences, each and every lynian will always tend to be extremely loyal to those they trust, regardless of alignment.

Size

Lynians are larger than domestic cats. When standing bipedally, they range from 2.5 to just a little under 4 feet tall. They have a very wide range of body types, from slender, muscular, stocky, fat, and everything else in between. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a burrowing Speed of 15ft , this allows you to move through sand, earth, mud, and ice. You can't burrow through stone.

Darkvision

You have a cat’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.

Cat’s Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Beast Tamer

You have proficiency in the Animal Handling and Survival skills.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Lynian