Homebrew Awakened Brown Bear Species Details

Brown bears are solitary hunters and scavengers used to mostly getting their way, the only competition being another larger bear. Needing massive amounts of food to maintain their size or provide milk for their young, bears are always eating or looking for their next meal. However they can seem somewhat docile in the process in order to conserve energy. Don't let the lazy manner fool you. Underneath the fluffy, easygoing appearance lies the powerful build and unexpected speed of an apex predator. The situation can turn violent in the blink of an eye if threatened, or if that will procure a meal. Male brown bears are selfish creatures, only concerned for themselves, finding food, or finding a mate. When both of those activities become scarce, you will most likely find him sleeping. Females are a little more broad minded, as they also have concern for their offspring. The only thing scarier than a 1200 pound male Grizzly charging toward you is a 450 pound female doing the same in defense of her young.

Rather Be Sleeping

 

After Awakening, many things remain the same for a bear. Food and sex remain the most important motivations, but the process has broadened the horizons so to speak. Along with higher intelligence comes a self awareness the animal didn't possess before. This can manifest in a variety of ways, depending on the type of person that awakened them. The bear doesn't just learn the same language as the caster, but some similarities in character and quirks such as an aversion to nudity, or a distaste for raw flesh. Work with your DM to determine the origin and reasons for the transformation. These personality traits often clash with a bears natural tendencies, so just being an eight foot talking bear is not going to be the only reason they have trouble fitting in with society.

Always Hungry

A bear needs to constantly eat, so if they are unable to carry it themselves, they will need to spend some time foraging every day. The voracious appetite means that a single ration will not satisfy it. Having a keen sense of smell makes this a quick excursion usually. Its always a good idea to share some food with a bear companion as if they smell a favorite snack on you, and they will, they will practically force you to share it with them. Smarter than their forest relatives, but they are still a bear.

Loyal to One

An Awakened bear spent the first thirty days of their awakening charmed. Depending on the nature of this relationship, they may be fiercely independent. Usually, if the bear chose to remain friendly to the caster after the charm has worn off, then a more loyal friend you could not find. This can be a blessing and a curse, as social graces are not a strong suit. A bear may maul a person for merely being rude to their friend. A bears sense of humor can take some getting used to, as they are more inclined to wrestle friend instead of shake hands, and a bears pranks can be a little off-putting. 

Bear Names

A wild bear that has been awakened has a name given to it by its mother, but it will usually keep it to itself as they are hard to translate. They can also be a little embarrassing as they include not just words or descriptions, but also smells, and places. They usually take a name given to them by the awakener that they use with other people.

Birth Names: Wind-blowing-through-grass, Sunlight-shining-on-snowy-mountain, Crying-for-much-to-long-from-beestings, Smell-of-rotten-log-full-of-grubs, Gas-that-can-empty-a-burrow-in-the-dead-of-winter.

Nicknames: Fuzzy, Longclaw, Mr. Bearigard, Slasher, Mauler, Todd.

Awakened Brown Bear Traits

Owing to their great size and strength, bears are faster than they appear.

Ability Score Increase

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

Bear Claws

With 4+ inch claws, one swipe of a paw can cause significant damage. On a successful hit, an unarmed strike causes 2d6 +Strength Mod damage to the target. You are proficient with unarmed strikes.  

Age

Wild bears have a shorter lifespan than the Awakened variety. Part of the spell that brought intelligence also extended their life span to the same as humans.

Alignment

A bear that chose to remain friendly most likely is of the same alignment as the caster. Most others tend to be of the neutral persuasion. 

Size

Bears are between 4 and 5 feet tall on all fours, and between 7 and 9 feet tall when standing. They weigh between 400 and 800 pounds for the females, and males range from 700 to 1200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet through non magical terrain, and you have a climbing speed of 30 feet.

Bear's Strength

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Bear's Endurance

You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Bear's Might

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift. Tough skin and thick fir provide an extra layer of defense giving you a +1 to AC.

Forest Born

Prey can't run or hide. Few things can slow a charging bear. Up a steep incline? Full movement. Down a steep incline? Full movement. Through three feet of water? You guessed it, full movement. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks involving smell, so if they run, they just die tired.

Languages

You can speak and read Common, speak Bear, and can generally get a simple point across to other animals via body language and vocal noises. Four+ inch claws make writing Common nearly illegible.