Homebrew Canis Species Details

 

I’d be weary of traveling too deep into that forest over there. We were just passing through on a grub trip back to the material plane. They found us with their piercing little eyes and sharp noses. After finding us they told us we needed to immediately leave, or that we would be tonight’s prey. We tried to negotiate, but they wouldn’t budge. We proceeded to be chased for hours, days even until we left the forest brush, and even then it took the town we happened upon to get them off of us. Whatever makes up men as terrifying as them has to be some monsterous, relentless spirit to hunt. I’ll take the quirky Gith over them any day. Speaking of, Slippy, ready the portal again. Heading back to the astral plane.

                             — Cpt. Mikhail Cloud, Lupine Artificer

 

Canis are a people of canidae features. With claws, teeth, might, and senses of the finest scent, you’ll find that there are few prey that are outmatched.

Canis are a tribal folk whom live in tight knit community on the fringes of society. They don’t socialize often and make great bounty hunters. However amongst their own ranks they adore their families and often begin to form breeds of themselves to adapt to their skills and environment. They track their targets for days if not weeks, no time is too long for them to get the job done.

They tend to show great desire for structure and love to create hierarchy’s amongst themselves. Everything is divided among rank, and things of low rank hold little value. They also adore strength and might. While perhaps not matching the might of dragons or orcs, Canis are a strong and hearty folk that endure and possess a treasure trove of raw power and might, and such is the definitive factor in most hierarchy’s amongst themselves. The weak grovel and train while the strong thrive.

Canis Traits

Canis have a variety of racial traits and tricks, however they do tend to form breeds of themselves. No two Canis are alike if they have different families. Discus with your Dungeon Master What kind of family your Canis is from.

Speed

You have a Walking Speed of 35 feet, and a Swimming Speed of 20 feet.

Alignment

Canis have a culture of might makes right and power above all. They tend towards neutral alignments and from their it depends on their rank in the pack. The more higher ranked tend towards Lawful, and the more lowly ones tend to Chaotic.

Languages

You know how to read, write, and speak Common.

Track the Prey

You have Advantage on Wisdom (Perception, Insight or Survival), or Intelligence (Investigation or Nature) checks to track or locate creatures or objects you have learned the scent of.

Pack Tactics

As a Canis, you have advantage on melee attack rolls made against creatures if the target of your attack as one ally of yours within 5 feet of it, and that ally isn’t incapacitated.

Bite

Much like their canine kindred, Canis possess a set of snapping jaws capable of damage on their own, which can be used to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d8 + Your Strength Modifier instead of bludgeoning damage.

Ability Score Increase

As a Canis, you gain a +2 to your Strength Score, as well as a +1 to your Wisdom Score.

Adept Huntsman

As a Canis, you gain proficiency with two skills of your choice.