Homebrew Blood Hoof Cervitaur Species Details

The cervitaur race encompasses a variety of phenotypes: one population of cervitaurs might have longer fur, rougher character and resemble reindeer, while another will share the tiny frame and tusks of muntjacs. This makes it hard to make generalizations about cervitaur physiology, although the following usually hold true: males have imposing antler crowns, while females sport smaller, straighter antlers; they are herbivores and almost always ruminants; and they are relatively small, standing no taller than a human and often much shorter.

Tales of the Great Cervant

In the Blood Hoof clan, many tales are shared throughout history of their existence. The most notable of them all is a collection of stories about the Great Cervant. It is said, that one day, a peculiar Cervitaur was born. His body more on the muscular side, his fur white as a snow cloak and his hooves red, as if they were dipped in the blood. This rather strange Cervitaur tried to fit in the society of a care-free beings, but their rather simple way of life was rubbing him the wrong way. He tried hunting, sneaking around, even tried to establish rules and learn how to make weapons. Most care-free Cervitaurs didn't like his ideas, but he found a few followers, who were willing to learn this new style. They soon left into the woods of Feywild to establish a new colony, as he called it. While building, his little clan encountered adventurers going through Feywild. These strange two-legged creatures fascinated the Cerviaturs and mostly Cervant. He invited them over to a cup of tea made out of some local herbs and they were chatting into the night. It is said, that these adventurers tried to murder all his followers, including him in the middle of the night, but Cervant find out before they could excecute the plan and he single handendly defeated them all. 
In these tales also lies a story about Great Cervant visiting Queen of Feywild for a cup of tea, or stories about how he defeated many creatures, overcome impossible obstacles or him possesing god-like powers. 
Where the thruth lies however, that is a mystery. But as this Cervitaur clan grew stronger and Great Cervant left it in the hands of three leaders, he became a local legend, mostly praised as a god. 

There is also a very old legend of a very strange bread, which serves more like a warning to those, who wish to experiment with magic without Shaman's approval and them overlooking the whole process. It is said, that one day, human travelers gave these Cervitaurs a loaf of bread. Excited by the taste, they quickly wanted to replicate it's structure with magic. But it went horribly wrong, as their version of bread started expanding quickly, and was almost impossible to stop it's grow. Nobody has ever found ab expanding loaf of bread, so it was left in their mind as only a story, a legend. Yet the picture of a bread growing rapidly haunts many younglings so much, that they rather tried to avoid magic, until Shamans were not sure that they are ready. 


Social Structure

Normally, Cervitaurs tend to arrange their society by gender. While males live alone, or in a small groups, females hang out in bigger groups, waiting for a male to come and try his mating ritual. However Blood Hoof clan has adopted a rather human-like structure based on the informations they've gathered from many travelers. Male can only be in a relationship with one female and cheating would result in a fight between both males. During these fights, they cannot use their hands of hooves, but they have to clash with their antlers. Whoever lowers their head first would loose the fight.
Another change from care-free Cervitaurs is a leader-like structure, where two or three shamans oversee their clan, handle any rituals, social gatherings and meetings with 'Otherworlders' as they call adventurers from the Forgotten Realm. 
In Blood Hoof clan, each Cervitaur has a purpose. Some may hunt for fur, others will look for berries, some will stay in the village making products, taking care of newborns or learning something new. They've socially distanced so much from the care-free Cerviaturs, that the only thing that's connecting them to their kin is their deer-like body structure. 
This was possible thanks to Great Cervant, as almost every Blood Hoof Cervitaur would tell you. 

 

Rituals and traditions

Blood Hoovea are doing their best to build a working society based on what they heard, but they are also trying their best to give it their own touch. Unlike Cervitaurs, Blood Hooves tend to mate with only one male or one female and they stay together, till death tears them apart. However in order to even form this type of relationship, both male and female dance together for five nights around the fire. If one of them makes a mistake, it is a bad sign. Make three mistakes in total however and shamans won't approve of your relationship, as in their judgement, the connection between both partners got cursed with bad luck for the rest of their lives. In that case, another partner must be found and the process has to repeat again. 

Cervitaurs are also herbivores, so are Blood Hooves. They still hunt for fur, bones, and other useful things, but the meat itself acts as a sacrifice to beasts of Feywild. First, only the best hunters are selected for this task. These chosen individuals have to sprinkle the meat with delicate flowers, edible for Feywild creatures. Once it's done, they have to wrap the meat in leaves, then deliver it to a certain spot. They believe that flowers help wild beasts to digest the meat and leaves help to keep insects away. It is also a a way of saying 'What we took from the forest, we shall return fully'. 

Many rituals are held during many occasions. When new or old visistors show up, it is only normal to serve them as they please, as long as the asked Cervitaur doesn't mind the command. It is also a tradition to offer a special herbal tea called 'Welcoming Tea.'

Not only that, but Blood Hooves gladly provide shelter and protection to their allies.

Outside of their community, Blood Hooves acts different from the carefree Cervitaurs. They tend to move around as quietly as possible, always being on guard. Before they settle down to rest, some even tend to check the surrounding areas for possible dangers multiple times. Once they are sure about their safety however, they gladly play on simple instruments during their rest, or just love chatting about things, while they keep their eyes and ears on alert. Afterall, they are still fragile herbivores. 

 

Enemies and allies

For carefree Cervitaurs, party is like their middle name. You would often find them screwing around with Fauns or Fairies, but what they can't stand are the outsiders. 

Blood Hooves are their opposites. They don't really like Fauns nor Fairies for their mischieavous and carefree behavior. For them, they are more like 'Those neighbors you don't like, but have to live with them'. Outsiders on the other hand are warmly welcomed in their ranks, as they bring goods for exchange, or news from the 'Other World'. As long as the Outsiders come in peace. 

 

 

Notice: The original race - Cervitaur, exists in many shapes and forms. But the one I used as a template for this is posted on dandwiki.com. The name of the author wasn't there sadly. 

I also borrowed this idea of an expanding loaf of bread from Intelligent_Idiot, who makes some really awesome homebrew monsters and items. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blood Hoof Cervitaur Traits

Being of a Blood Hoof clan brings many traits, that differ from the original Cervitaur kin.

Ability Score Increase & Extra profiency

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

You can also choose one extra profiency from the following: Animal Handling, Nature, Survival, Herbalism Kit or Alchemy Supplies

Age

Cervitaurs mature in around 2 or 3 years and live up to be around 40 years old, but thanks to many years of magical experiments, Blood Hoof clan was able to extend life of their kin up to 50 years.

Size

Most cervitaurs stand 4 to 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright ligh, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Hooves of Fury

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.

Deer Half

You cannot wear boots, pants, or anything that is worn on the legs or waist area except for belts and specially made armor and saddles. All armor you wear must be specially made to accommodate you, doubling the cost. You cannot ride mounts.
In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your equine legs. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Rideable Anatomy

You can willingly serve as a mount for a Medium or smaller creature as long as their additional weight doesn't cause you to be encumbered. Furthermore, your carrying capacity is multiplied by 1.5.

Fey Ancestry

Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid. You also have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic cannot put you to sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common, Sylvan and one extra language of your choice. This was possible due to years of communication with many types of travelers.