Homebrew Polarbearfolk Species Details

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.

Polarbearfolk Traits

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. The Strange Experiences table suggests a variety of memories a friendly bearfolk might share.

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.

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.

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.