Homebrew Bearfolk Species Details

“The bandit leader lay with his back against the

shattered tree, cupping his hands to his body as warm blood flowed past his fingers. The plan had been so simple, just as they had done a dozen times before. A small village, in the middle of nowhere, with nothing more than a smith’s tools to defend themselves. Show up, make a show of force, demand all their valuables, and be gone. He hadn’t counted on that beast charging out of the forest, roaring and bellowing, with fur like armor and swinging that battleaxe hard enough to fell a young oak. A fatal mistake, apparently.”

—Braton Durik, The Eye in the Woods

Making their home in wild, untouched corners of the world, bearfolk thrive on their own independence. Covered in shaggy fur, bearfolk resemble common bears not only in their appearance but in their ability to survive and even thrive in the wilderness. Their keen senses and physical prowess make them formidable enemies, but their practical nature and protective instincts make them fantastic allies. Bearfolk rarely approach the civilized world without good reason. Those who do often find themselves pulled into excitement and adventure.

Solitary Hunters

Bearfolk have thick fur, long snouts, massive paws and a musky odor that makes them stand out in any crowd. Bearfolk usually stand well over 6 feet tall and often weigh upwards of 250 pounds. Like regular bears, bearfolk may choose to put on extra weight and hibernate for months at a time if they so desire. The color of their coat is usually dependent on the region they inhabit, and most are either black, brown, or white.

Bearfolk usually live alone, seeking out company to mate and raise children, or to defend their territory. A few bearfolk make a habit of visiting nearby humanoids to trade handmade goods, food, or stories. Their dwellings can be anything from a comfortable cave to a cabin of sturdy construction. They are obligate omnivores, and spend most of their time hunting game and gathering edible plants to satisfy their massive caloric needs. They are known to take good care of the land they inhabit, using controlled burns to prevent wildfires and choosing which animals to hunt in order to ensure ecological balance and prosperity.

 

Perplexing Personalities

Most outsiders tend to perceive Bearfolk as standoffish or asocial, but the friendships they do form are defended fiercely. They often avoid unnecessary conflict and have been known to walk out of fights with the opponent still beating on their back, but when they choose to bare their teeth the aftermath can be disturbing. Many attribute this to the fact that Bearfolk, who usually grow up without much company, simply aren’t well adjusted to most social environments. This is corroborated by the stories Bearfolk themselves will tell to those they befriend.

 

Forgotten Ancestry

The true origin of Bearfolk is unknown, but many scholars suspect they are the descendants of werebears that took to living in the wilderness. Over time, their lycanthropy became permanent and integral, giving them the best features of human and ursine biology, along with some weaknesses. The best evidence for this is their aversion to silver, which true lycanthropes are known to share. It is not uncommon for Bearfolk to take in and mentor those who have been newly cursed with lycanthropy, teaching them how to live with their animal characteristics. It is not possible for Bearfolk to pass on their ancestral curse, but the question of whether they can be infected with any new form of lycanthropy is unknown. What is certain is that their origins are not mundane, even though their connection to the natural world is strong. Despite not being related to true bears directly, they are still capable of limited communication with them.

Bearfolk Names

It is not uncommon for a lone bearfolk not to have a name at all. Some lineages of bearfolk have gone generations without contact with the outside world, and barely use spoken languages. Bearfolk that live in close proximity to towns or outlying settlements may take on names given to them by the people there.

Bearfolk Traits

Your Bearfolk character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of ursine/lycanthropic nature.

Aversion to Silver

The cuts of silver blades cause searing pain. Attacks made against you with silvered weapons ignore the armor bonus of Ursine Fortitude. You cannot reduce or negate the bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage dealt to you by silvered weapons.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Bearfolk don’t live quite as long as humans, but mature faster and are self-sufficient much earlier.

Alignment

Bearfolk keep their demesnes orderly and healthy to survive, and tend towards lawful alignments. They rarely engage in moral disputes and are usually neutral as a result, but when they must they often take the side of good.

Size

Here's how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with a modifier:

Speed

Your standard speed is 30 feet. Your burrowing speed is 30 feet. Your climbing speed is 30 feet. Your swimming speed is 30 feet.

Keen Smell

A highly attuned sense of smell is necessary for hunting and safety in the wild. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that involve smell.

Born Survivor

You are proficient in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Intimidation, Nature, or Survival.

Powerful Build

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

Bear Claws

You have large, curved claws that extend from your hands. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.

 

Ursine Fortitude

You have resistance to cold damage. At the end of a long or short rest, you can spend one Hit Die to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to a roll of your Hit Die plus your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While you have these hit points, you gain a +1 bonus to AC if you are not wearing heavy armor. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common as well as one other language of your choice.

Bear Paws

Your huge, powerful paws afford you a stronger grip on your weapons. You gain the following benefits:

• Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• Attacks made with your claws can now deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on a hit.
• When wielding a weapon with the versatile property, you can roll damage for the weapon as if you were wielding it in two hands even when you are only wielding it in one hand.
• You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws to avoid being disarmed.

Hunter's Nose

Your nose is highly specialized, allowing you to navigate and hunt without light. You gain the following benefits:

• Increase your Constitution or Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You gain blindsight out to 10 feet, limited only to things that have an odor and are not behind airtight walls. Creatures with a detectable odor cannot be hidden from you within this area. You lose this ability if you cannot smell, or while you are in an area permeated by exceptionally strong smells or noxious gases.
• Your Keen Smell trait now grants advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks against creatures within 5 feet of you that you can smell.