Homebrew Borsukk Species Details

Ancestors, we thank you for the wisdom and insight you have passed down to us. With your omniscient perspective, we ask you to guide us to safety, to prosperity and to high esteem. Please help us in our times of need, so that we may continue to bring honour to your revered names.

We bring this offering to you as a sign of our trust and admiration for you. May we be a guided generation, like so many generations before us’.

– Excerpt from the ‘Borsukk Ancestral Sacrament’

Borsukk are a proud and somewhat tribal race of badger humanoids – they are famously described by outsiders as having only three senses: smell, hearing and loyalty. Thick fur covers their bodies, and their mouths are equipped with sharp canine teeth. Respect is hard to gain from a borsukk, but once an ally is found they will defend them with tenacity and devotion.

Tooth and Claw 

A fully-grown borsukk stands at around 3 feet tall. They are covered in thick fur and, due to their underground living arrangements, generally mud as well. The fur across their body varies from one borsukk to another – they might have white stripes on their heads, black-ringed patterns, or just have plain grey, brown or black fur. Borsukk are stocky and sturdy for their size, and normally weigh between 35 and 40 pounds. When angered or provoked, a borsukk will growl and bare their impressively sharp canine teeth.

Borsukk prefer to wear tan and yellow colours, and avoid expensive piercings and jewellery. Dressing plainly shows modesty and humility before their ancestors, who borsukk believe to be ever-present in their lives.

Sacred Ancestors 

Borsukk are in touch with their spirituality, and each has a strong sense of their heritage. They grow up with stories about the borsukk in their bloodline and, at several points during the year, will give meaningful offerings to their late family members. They believe their ancestors communicate with them frequently, so might accept that a sudden change of weather or other natural occurrences are direct results of this communication. The matriarchs and patriarchs within borsukk society are proud and welldecorated shamans and spiritualists.

Generally, borsukk are kind and caring, their two priorities above all else are family and friendship. Because of this, they can be fiercely loyal and sometimes stubborn when it comes to matters they are passionate about. A borsukk reaches adulthood around the age of 15, and can live until around 70 years of age.

Muddy Burrowers 

It is common for borsukk to favor dense woodland when building their vast underground burrows, keeping their sacred homes out of sight and close to food and vegetation. They do not live exclusively in their burrows, many borsukk in fact prefer life on the surface and leave their homes to join the cosmopolitan communities of the world. They are not shunned or outcast for doing so, and are free to migrate as they wish. However, due to their strong connection to their families and ancestral homes, many surf

Naming Conventions

Borsukk have a deep connection to their names, which are often that of a famous relative or ancestor they will try to live up to, or relate to a personal destiny set out by their matriarchs and patriarchs. Alternatively, a borsukk’s name may be a new invention of their parents, designed to give them a unique sense of self. Despite being proud of their first names, borsukk are especially protective about the name of their bloodline and treat their surnames with holy reverence. It is their surname that connects them to their ancestors. This connection comes with a huge sense of pressure, and some borsukk live in constant fear of bringing dishonor or shame upon their ancestral name. Many borsukk favour the adventuring lifestyle – they see it as not only a journey of daily self-discovery, but also a way for them to bring honour to their ancestors through slaying monsters or achieving feats requiring great bravery.

Borsukk First Names: Fessel, Stripe, Canis, Fleece, Rell, Phully, Lupo, Drog, Bessec, Sirril, Lossel, Growl, Musky, Dessel, Light, Cupo, Amber, Brave, Sare, Yuss, Vully, Dell, Messec, Hopeful, Anko, Howl, Vare, Wessel.

Bloodline Names: Blackmane, Wildtail, Proudtooth, Longclaw, Deepscar, Coldburrow, Whitestripe, Loudpaw, Greyfoot, Sharphair, Moonborn, Widesnout, Cedartree, Snapjaw, Sunhowler, Redprint, Mudtrack, Oakseed.

Borsukk Traits

Your borsukk character has the following racial traits.

Blessing of the Ancestors

The ancestors in your bloodline guide everything you do, and you are always seeking help from them. Once per day you can cast the Guidance cantrip on yourself as an action

Languages

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

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1

Age

Borsukk reach adulthood around the age of 15, and can live to be 70 years of age. They often find mates early on in their adult lives either by arrangement from their parents or by finding one themselves.

Alignment

Born into a society that values heritage, loyalty and tradition, borsukk are naturally lawful in their alignment and stick to the rules that are put in place around them.

With their friends, family and ancestors at the heart of everything they do, they have a strong leaning towards good.

Size

An adult borsukk’s height is generally around 3 feet tall. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, you have a burrowing speed of 10 feet.

Darkvision

Living in underground burrows has allowed your eyes to adapt to both light and dark conditions. 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 colour in darkness, only shades of grey.

Hind Leg Dash

Your powerful bone and muscle structure makes you quick and dexterous. You can move an additional 10 feet when you use the Dash or Disengage action by running on all four of your limbs.

Claws

Your claws are sharpened weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your claws, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Bite

Your fanged jaws are a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your bite, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Hunter and Gatherer

You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Survival, Stealth, Nature and Perception.