Homebrew Wererat Species Details

One of the most ancient and feared of all curses, lycanthropy can transform the most civilized humanoid into a ravening beast. In its natural humanoid form, a creature cursed by lycanthropy appears as its normal self. Over time, however, many lycanthropes acquire features suggestive of their animal form. IN that animal form, a lycanthrope resembles a powerful version of a normal animal. On close inspection, its eyes show a faint spark of unnatural intelligence and might glow red in the dark. Evil lycanthropes hide among normal folk, emerging in animal form at night to spread terror and bloodshed, especially under a full moon. Good lycanthropes are reclusive and uncomfortable around other civilized creatures, often living alone in wilderness areas far from villages and towns.

Curse of Lycanthropy

A humanoid creature can be afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy after being bitten by a lycanthrope, or if one or both of its parents are lycanthropes. A remove curse spell can rid an afflicted lycanthrope of the curse, but a natural born lycanthrope can be freed of the curse only with a wish.
A lycanthrope can either resist its curse or embrace it. By resisting the curse, a lycanthrope retains its normal alignment and personality while in humanoid form. It lives its life as it always has, burying deep the bestial urges raging inside it. However, when the full moon rises, the curse becomes too strong to resist, transforming the individual into its beast form - or into a horrible hybrid form that combines animal and humanoid traits. When the moon wanes, the beast within can be controlled once again. Especially if the cursed creature is unaware of its condition, it might not remember the events of its transformation, though those memories often haunt a lycanthrope as bloody dreams. A natural born lycanthrope can instinctively control the curse. Despite this inherent mastery, they too feel the pull of the beast within when the moon is fullest.
Some individuals see little point in fighting the curse and accept what they are. With time and experience, they learn to master their shapechanging ability and can assume beast form or hybrid form at will. Most lycanthrope that embrace their bestial natures succumb to bloodlust, becoming evil, opportunistic creatures that prey on the weak.

Wererat Traits

Your Warerat character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Warerats have lifespans equivalent to humans.

Alignment

Lycanthropes are capable of any alignment, although it is usually influenced by their base race.

Size

Wererats are taller on average than humans and relatively slender. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You have a rats keen senses, especially in the dark. 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 color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Feline Agility

Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.

Rats Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Rats Talent

You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.

Keen Smell

While in your Rat-Humanoid Hybrid form, or your Rat form, gain advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Rat Hybrid Form

Your size is tiny. You have natural armour equal to 11 + Dexterity Modifier. You gain the Bite attack and are considered proficient: Melee Weapon Attack, one target, 1d4+Dexterity piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10 + Constitution Modifier, Constitution Saving Throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy.

Weaknesses

Wererats are unable to swim and can only stay on the water's surface (with considerable struggle) for about half a minute.

Languages

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