Homebrew Canitaur Species Details

Roamers at heart but loyal to a fault, canitaurs love open spaces and the freedom to travel. As much as they can, canitaurs run. They race the wind, paws thundering and tails wagging behind them.

Nature’s Cavalry

Canitaurs have humanoid upper bodies, still covered in fur as their ancestors would be. In size, they are comparable to a human rider mounted on a great dane, and they fill similar roles — as cavalry, messengers, outriders, and scouts.

Canitaurs share many characteristics with canines, such as their facial features and lower body structure. The humanoid upper body sets them apart, as well as their developed intellect and personality.

Nature and Community

Canitaurs have a strong sense of the interconnectedness of the natural world, and they celebrate family and community as microcosms of that greater connection.

The birth of a litter is always cause for festivities. At the same time, canitaurs revere the traditions of the past, preserving old ways and keeping alive the legends of ancestral heroes. They feel a close kinship with wild animals, perhaps because of their own link to nature, and delight in the feeling of running alongside herds and packs of beasts. Unfortunately, the free and over-friendly nature of the canitaurs lends itself to a revulsion of the selfish and more reserved nature of tabaxis, as the two occupy many of the same spaces. Canitaurs also tend to create very strong bonds with those that show them kindness, willing to lay down their loves for their loved ones at any given moment. However, their protectiveness can be a double-edged sword as they are quick to see threats where there are none.

Canitaur Names

Canitaurs’ given names are passed down through family lines. The name given to a new puppy is typically the name of the most recently deceased family member of the same gender, keeping alive the memory — and, the canitaurs believe, some shard of the spirit — of the departed.

Canitaurs rarely use family names, but wear symbols that represent their family membership. These symbols might include graphical representations of plants or animals, printed mottos, braids and beads worn in the hair and tail, or even specific patterns of woven fabric.

Canitaur Traits

The following traits are shared by player characters who are canitaurs.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Age

Canitaurs mature to adulthood in a year and live up to 15 years.

Alignment

Canitaurs are inclined toward lawful alignments.

Size

Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Howl

Once per long rest, you can let out a fearsome cry, intimidating anyone that can hear it. Any enemy creature within 30 ft of you must succeed a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns they can make another saving throw to alleviate their condition.

Bite

Your bite is a natural melee weapon, with which you’re proficient. If you hit with a bite, the target takes piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Canine Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push or drag.

In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your paws. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Finally, a Small creature can ride on your canine back if you allow it. In such a situation, you continue to act independently, not as a controlled mount.

Keen Senses

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.