Homebrew Cernunnos Species Details

Rare city dwellers

Born protected by the forest, Cernunnos have to grow up quickly to survive. Whilst Adults have the means to protect themselves their children are vulnerable and weak. These infants look close to new-born fawns although bigger and heavier, their face a misshapen form between the animal they are mostly and a babies face, they would scare away most humans approaching in looks alone. The infants are much more capable than human babies however, being able to move about alone not long after their birth with their mothers showing great care for the young until it is old enough to defend itself.

A Cernnunos intelligence should not be valued less even with their naturalistic upcoming, some of these species have turned away from their ways of life in the forest and dwell in cities among other races, fitting in with their unique ability of Shapeshifting into a humanoid form that makes them look closer to elves than what they actually represent. These fellows have left behind leading people into their demise and instead are attentive shop owners and traders out to peacefully coexist with the other races of the world they live in. 

Cervine Body

Cernnunos are graced by a frankly weird and alien look. Their bodies are that of a deer, stag and doe alike. Their neck is graciously haired forming a mane and their neck ends in a human face with two variously shaped antlers and fine cervid ears. The faces vary in shape just as much as those of humans do with each being unique in their own way. The only resemblance is, that many Cernnunos prefer to have their eyes hidden by the hair that grows on their human head to protect their rather sunlight sensitive eyes from being blinded. Some Cernnunos may express short deer like tails but many do not have tails at all. Their fur can vary in colour and patterning just as much as those of the different deer species do. 

Capable Shapeshifter

Being magic affine, Cernnunos are able to shift their being into that of a closely elven looking humanoid to fit into the Hussle and bustle of the cities and villages they live near. Whilst generally being seen as not very intelligent, Cernunnos are just as capable as any human being of average intelligence.  Within the cities, they will prefer their humanoid bodies over their natural one but they might choose to change into their natural forms once they leave to the outskirts, in the end, their original body is important to them, giving them superior speed and senses but they know not to show it amongst eyes that will fear their looks and hunt them down. Once changed into their humanoid form, the way to tell them apart from the Elven races, is their eyes. Their eyes keep the animalistic look, looking close to that of a deer, horse or goat although more colourful and vibrant, some might even have a subtle glow to them, which they still tend to hide under their hair to raise less weird looks or freaking out potential customers entering their shops.

Cernunnos Traits

Ellusive and rare, Cernnunos deceive with their deer bodies and lead those hunting them deeper into the Forests. However, some have found their way away from their gory tendencies into cities where they find ways to fit into society.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Cernunnos mature faster than humans, reaching full maturity at 14 years of age but their brain keeps developing until they're 18. The age they're known to reach are longer than that of a human with about 120 to 150 years.

Alignment

Cernunnos living inside cities tend toward neutral good or true neutral alignments, whilst those still living the old ways out in the forests are chaotic neutral.

Size

Cernunnos are diverse in their size, the smallest about 5 feet tall with 3 at the withers and the largest up to 8 feet tall and 6 feet at the withers. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed in your Original form is 40 feet, and as a humanoid is 30 feet.

Antlers

Your antlers act as natural weapons with which you are proficient with in your original form. When you hit a target with them, the target takes damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Hooves

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

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Languages

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