Homebrew Ford Species Details
Never play cards with a Ford. Not only are you guaranteed to lose, but by some luck you'll have misplaced your coin-purse, your weapons, and your bloody trousers by the time the game's over. It's no wonder the cat men ran Rimwen out of business, the smug pricks are just better at this song and dance.
As one of the two beast men to come to Stramis from the western continent, Ford are still a relative unknown. The cat men are known mainly for their ruthless and skilled trade syndicates, and their uncanny talents as spies, saboteurs, and thieves.
Western Traders
Most Ford never leave their island homeland of San, but those who dare to cross the warm sea are the bravest, most conniving, and most desperate of their people.
Despite their status as neighbors of the fanatical Yirad, Ford tend to be more free spirited, adopting faiths and viewpoints to suit their current situation. They easily blend into society, and know just what to say and do to earn a profit.
Usurpers Of Commerce
Ford have utterly monopolized commerce in the western lands, and have come close to wiping out the competition in Stramis.
Ford are masters of the trade, and never walk away from an exchange worse off than they started. They mingle with others easily, grasping the intricacies of social graces as naturally as breathing. A Ford is always at the center of attention, yet rarely are their true intentions clear.
Despite their charming nature, Ford can be utterly merciless when they chose to be. They will not hesitate to stab their allies in the back, or terminate problems with extreme prejudice. Forder experience on the seas has hardened them in combat against pirates, making them graceful dancers of death on the battlefield.
Glory Hunters
Ford have one underlying purpose behind their wily ways. The most powerful members of the Forder aristocracy are the best manipulators, with leaders of merchant clans having risen to their place in San by making deals, charming the right people, and killing a few ne'er do wells.
Every member of San's society strives to reach this level of acclaim, and Ford are bred from birth to do whatever it takes to stay on top.
Cultured Cutthroats
Despite their conniving nature, Ford are deeply artistic and spiritual creatures, preferring to spend an afternoon reading poetry, rather than haggling with prejudiced humans.
While Ford outside of San are seen as liars and cheats, within their homeland, they are the picture of sophisticated grace. Ford nobles take great pains to appear as living works of art, with carefully manicured fur and complex draping clothing. Yet beneath this tapestry of the exotic, the Ford still maintain their drive to succeed no matter the cost.
Ford clans compete with each other endlessly, jockeying for favor with their emperor, and trying to outdo each other at every turn. In this environment of constant competition, only the best and brightest Ford succeed, while the rest are left to be forgotten in the slums of San's great cities alongside its humanoid population.
Ford Names
Ford names are complicated affairs. Each Ford takes the name of their clan, before being given a child name. This name often lasts only a few decades, as Fords commonly grant themselves new names with grander meanings after each accomplishment.
The following list of sample Ford names.
Forder Names: Ahmya, Chikao, Dannuja, Enmei, Giichi, Hanae, Junko, Kaeda, Maru
Forder Clans: Suuji, Aris, Masa, Tamechi, Teruu
Ford Traits
Your Ford character has the following racial traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Ford have lifespans equivalent to humans.
Alignment
Ford tend toward chaotic alignments, as they let unbridled ambition guide their decisions. They are rarely evil, with most of them driven by success rather than malice or other dark impulses.
Size
Ford are taller on average than humans and relatively slender. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
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.
Feline Agility
Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
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.
Cat’s Talent
You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
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