Homebrew Awakened Kodiak Bear Species Details
These lumbering beasts commonly roam the northern forests, prowling the mountains, foothills, and dense conifer forests in search of prey. To mistake their size and soft appearance as a weakness would be a fatal mistake: in a pinch, these animals can spring into action with swift and fierce martial prowess. They most often keep to themselves, hunting, sleeping, mating, and hibernating during the winter months.
However, throughout time, some of these beasts have been inexplicably Awakened, roaming from their forest homes to travel the lands putting their strength, intimidating physique, and overwhelming combat prowess to good use wherever it may be needed.
Awakened Kodiak Bear Traits
Choosing this race, you gain the following featuresAbility Score Increase
Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age
Kodiak bears mature within a couple of years from birth and can live to be almost 30 years old.
Alignment
Kodiak bears tend towards neutral alignments. Even Awakened ones are accustomed to the laws of nature, and as such tend to keep to themselves and leave others be unless trouble arises.
Size
Kodiak bears stand as tall as 5 feet at the shoulder on all fours, but almost 8 feet if they rear up on their hind legs, and can weigh over 500 pounds. Your size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision
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.
Ursine Might
A natural predator, you are well adapted to the cold, harsh northern environment and are equipped to deal with any threat to your territory. You gain the following traits:
- You have resistance to cold damage. You are also accustomed to cold environments and high altitudes.
- You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
- Your claws and teeth are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal either slashing or piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier instead of normal unarmed bludgeoning damage.
Nature's Strength
You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.
You also never become sick from eating raw food, provided that it is not poisoned or diseased.
Daunting Roar
As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Lack of Thumbs
Your crude paws hinder you in many ways. You have the following disadvantages:
- You are unable to wield weapons or perform delicate actions like threading a needle.
- Simple actions like turning a doorknob with your paws or picking up small objects can be done at disadvantage.
- Using your teeth, you can pick up one tiny or small object with no hinderance.
Languages
You can speak and read (but not write) Common and one other language of your choice. You can understand and speak to other bears, although you can only communicate basic two-to-three word sentences.
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