Homebrew Cynocephalos Species Details

Members of the Cynocephalic race tend to be almost universally loyal and intelligent. You were born the head of a dog with a furbearing humanoid body with a tail appropriate to your breed and have a mixture of both humanoid and canine strengths and weaknesses.

Traits:

Depending on your base breed, your size can be either medium or small.  If your breed is toy, your humanoid body approximates a gnome or goblin in size. If you are based in a miniature breed, your body approximates that of a svelte Halfling or short human.  If your breed is standard, your body approximates that of a human.

Cynocephalics tend to intellectually lean slightly more into either their humanoid or canine natures, depending on the individual. In times of stress however, either side of one's behavior may be triggered with little warning, again, depending on the individual and the situation.

History

Theories regarding origins of your race generally fall into two camps. The first tends to suggest that your progenitors are the result of overly-amorous pet owners. The second suggests that some deity or other either blessed (or cursed) a humanoid and/or canine with the curse/blessing of living as a mixed species.

Society:

From a social/breeding standpoint, coupling is possible between most humanoids, canines, as well as other Cynocephalics, depending almost entirely on your own personal orientation.

While there is no real canine language, you can communicate in general terms with most canines. That said, most canine communications are very simple expressions of base emotions, with almost no descriptive function.

Lycanthropy

While it is possible for a member of the Cynocephalic race to be lycanthropic, that condition is separate and entirely independent of your base race.

Cynocephalos Traits

Your general appearance depends largely on what sort of dog breed you evolved from.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.  Despite your canine nature, you have the burrowing speed of a standard humanoid.

Dark Vision

You gain one darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.

Age

Cynocephalos mature at the same rate humans do, and have a similar lifespan to humans.

Alignment

Cynocepalos tend to be good dogs. Even if they have had a hard life or were abused at a young age or trained from birth to be evil, at their core, they want to be good.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma and Wisdom score increases by one.

Bite

Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d10 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Creature Type

You are a humanoid with the head and tail of a canine. 

Size

Your size is Small or Medium, depending on what is appropriate for your canine breed.