Something More

In Ikkollon, the first Therianthropes were men and women who participated in a druidic ritual; swearing to honor and defend the beasts of the wild from the overreach of civilization.

Much later, during the Age of Chaos, the only Therianthropes to be found were those poor souls twisted by proximity to dark cults and the profane taint they left on the world in service of the Old Ones.

When the gods of the wilds returned alongside their brethren, to end the darkness and usher in the Age of Dawn, they elevated mortal champions into Therianthropes to purge the corrupted forests, caves, and other natural places of the Eldritch forces.

These days, most Therianthropes are descendants of those champions or cursed survivors, and live together in packs or clans; in both the civilized parts of the world and the wilds alike, though the wild gods still bestow their blessings, and poor souls are still twisted by remnants of chaos.

A Curse or a Blessing

Daily life as a Therianthrope can be difficult, depending on your circumstances. The peoples of Ikkollon view non-gifted Therianthropes with suspicion at best, and hostility at worst. Indeed, even Therianthropes that have been given their form as a blessing from divine powers tend to favor use of their animal form, as their hybrid form is found to be terrifying to most.

A Brute with anger issues may be inclined to wander, making use of their ferocity and strength as a member of an adventuring party. Aquatics may find life by the water stagnant, and seek to explore inland.

Whatever their origin, as adventurers, Therianthropes are prone to travel far and wide, whether to find a place safe enough to call home or simply to avoid notice.

Creating a Therianthrope

When creating a Therianthrope, consider your character's origins. Were they bitten (Cursed), blessed by the gods/wilds (Gifted) or did they inherit their power from a parent or ancestor (Inherited)? Why did they take up the adventuring life? Are they trying to tame their inner beast, or do they want to let it run wild? What do 'Werecreatures' in your world's setting look like, and how do they live?

Therianthropes in other worlds, or "Lycanthropy" The world of Ikkollon is well acquainted with the existence of Therianthropes, and while most are considered suspect, some are seen as champions of the divine. Most worlds and settings will probably only view Therianthropes as monsters to be slain for the sake of the local village. Talk with your DM to figure out what challenges your Therianthrope can expect to face as a result of their unique gifts. Do your setting even have such creatures as Weresharks, or are Werecreatures specifically limited to a single breed, such as Lycanthropes? Do Werecreatures in your world even take on a 'hybrid' form in the classical sense? Or is their 'fur on the inside', as one short story put it?

Quick Build

You can make a Therianthrope quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Strength, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the outlander background. Lastly, pick the Inherited Origin and the Brute Form Subclass.

OPTIONAL RULE: MULTICLASSING

If your group uses the optional rule on multi classing in the Player's Handbook, here's what you need to know if you choose Therianthrope as one of your classes.

Ability Score Minimum. As a multiclass character, you must have at least a Dexterity score of 13, and a Strength or Wisdom score of 13 to take a level in this class, or to take a level in another class if you are already a Therianthrope.

Proficiencies Gained. If Therianthrope isn't your initial class, you gain proficiency with simple weapons and light crossbows when you take your first level as an Therianthrope.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per Therianthrope level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10+ your Constitution Modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per Therianthrope level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: None
• Weapons: Simple Melee, and Light Crossbow
• Tools: None
• Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
• Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth, and Survival

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a spear or (b) two daggers
• (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
• A spare set of traveler's clothes

Therian Origin

Starting at 1st level, you choose your Therian Origin. You gain one of the following features of your choice.

Wereshape

Also at 1st level, you gain access to a transformation called a Wereshape. While using your Wereshape, the following rules apply.

• You can assume and exit your Wereshape as a bonus action on your turn.

• You gain darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.

• Your type is Monstrosity, and you count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

• You can maintain your Wereshape for a number of hours equal to half your Therianthrope Level (rounded up).

• When you assume your Animal or Wereshape form, and also when you leave this transformation, you keep your current hit points. Dropping to 0 hit points causes you to immediately assume your normal form.

• Features and abilities gained from your race or other classes, such as the Barbarian's Rage feature, the Spellcasting feature, or the Tortle's Natural Armor are suppressed for the duration of your Wereshape. This does not include ASI, proficiencies or feats gained through those sources. Transforming breaks your concentration on spells.

• You can Wereshape a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier per long rest. Each use of your Wereshape thereafter inflicts 2 levels of exhaustion.

• When you take damage from any source, reduce the amount taken by a number equal to half your Therianthrope level (rounded up). Damage from any silvered source cannot be reduced in this manner.

• While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Strength or Wisdom modifier (whichever is higher).

• You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed strikes.

• You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike, and it's damage is slashing. This die changes as you gain Therianthrope levels, as shown in the Ferocity Die column of the Therianthrope table.

• When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action.

• You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, or merges into your new form. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you exit Wereshape.

Beast Traits

At 2nd level, you gain two Evolution Points. You have a number of Evolution Points equal to your Therianthrope level. When you gain a level, you can spend Evolution Points to buy Beast Traits. Your Beast Trait options are detailed at the end of the class description.

Feast

Starting at level 3, while in your Wereshape, you can use your action to make a special melee Bite attack against a creature within range. You are proficient with it, and you add your Strength modifier to its attack and damage rolls. Its damage is piercing, and its damage die is a d4. This die changes as you gain Therianthrope levels, as shown in the Ferocity Die column of the Therianthrope table. If the attack hits, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1) plus your Therianthrope level, and you can't use this attack again until you finish a short or long rest.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Feral Strikes

Beginning at 5th level, while in your Wereshape, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Apex Predator

Starting at 6th level, your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Enduring Form

At 7th level, your Therianthrope blood makes you immune to disease.

Grim Visage

Starting at 9th level, when you use your Wereshape feature, you can fill your enemies with desperate panic. Choose a number of creatures equal to your Proficiency Bonus within 120 feet that can hear and see you. These targets must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the end of your next turn. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Dark Flight

Beginning at 10th level, your speed increases by 10 feet.

Wild Regeneration

At 14th level, while in your Wereshape, at the start of each of your turns, you regain a number of hit points equal to half your Therianthrope level (rounded down) if you have no more than half of your hit points left. You don’t gain this benefit if you have 0 hit points or if you took damage from a silvered source since the end of your last turn.

Sanguine Frenzy

You become a nigh-unstoppable killing machine.

At 20th level, when you reduce a creature to 0 hitpoints with an attack while in your Wereshape, you can make another attack against a creature within range.

Additionally, you can maintain Wereshape

indefinitely.

Fathom Dweller

Starting at level 1, you gain a swim speed equal to your walking speed. Additionally, your Wereshape gains the following benefits.

• You can can breathe both air and water.
• While underwater, your darkvision range extends to 120 feet.
• You are naturally adapted to cold climates, as described on page 110 of the DMG.

Abyssal Maw

At 6th level, when you successfully use your Feast feature, you can attempt to grapple the target with your powerful jaws. For this attempt, you may choose to treat your Savagery DC as your Strength (Athletics) result.

The target can attempt to free themselves using an action on it's turn to attempt an Athletics or Acrobatics check contested by your Savagery DC, ending the grappled condition on itself on a success.

Additionally, you treat grappled creatures as being two sizes smaller than you for the purposes of dragging.

Hunter in the Deeps

Beginning at 11th level, your Wereshape gains Blindsight out to a range of 30 feet while underwater.

Additionally, while in your Wereshape, you can make one attack as part of the Dash action.

Blood in the Water

At 17th level, while in your Wereshape, creatures which are grappled by you that don't have all of their hit points have disadvantage on checks to escape the Grappled condition.

Additionally, after using your Feast feature, you may immediately move up to your speed without triggering opportunity attacks.

Aerial Build

Starting at level 1, while in your Wereshape, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.

Additionally, you can use your Wereshape feature as a reaction when you fall more than 10 feet.

If you are falling when you enter your Wereshape, you can soar to any location that is an amount of feet away from you equal to the total number of feet you have fallen.

Aerie

Starting at 6th level, you gain proficiency in the Survival skill. If you already have proficiency in the survival skill, add double your proficiency bonus to checks made using that skill.

Additionally, you can spend an hour while in your Wereshape gathering twigs, branches and small stones to form a nest. At your DM's discretion, other materials can also be used to construct this nest. It can fit a number of Medium sized or smaller creatures equal to your level. It provides full cover, and shelter from the elements. It has an AC equal to your Savagery DC, a number of hitpoints equal to five times your level and is immune to Psychic and Poison damage.

While constructing this nest, you may choose to create it with a trigger mechanism, which upon using your Action to interact with, will destroy the nest immediately. This may be a perfectly positioned twig or small stone, known only to you, that once removed causes the collapse of the structure.

Cut and Run

At 11th level, while in your Wereshape, when you hit with a melee attack against a creature, you don’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn.

Harrier

Also at 11th level, while in your Wereshape, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee attack targeting the creature's eyes, if it has them. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw vs your Savagery DC. On a failure, you subject the target to the Blinded condition until the start of the target's next turn. You may use this special attack a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier per long rest.

Ruler of the Skies

Finally, at 17th level, while in your Wereshape, your flying speed increases by 20 feet.

Additionally, while in your Wereshape, if you hit a creature with the special attack granted by your Harrier feature, you can instead choose to reduce that creature's movement speed to 0 until the start of your next turn, so long as the targeted creature is no more than one size larger than you.

Brute Form

Brute form Therianthropes are made up of the more 'classical' shapechangers, such as Werebears, Wereboars and, of course, Werewolves.

These Therianthropes often reside in heavily forested areas where prey abounds, where they make use of the overwhelming speed and ferocity to dispatch foes.

This form's distinctive traits must include fangs or sharp teeth and claws. Your canine's may lengthen into long fangs, or all teeth may sharpen.

Flesh-Ripper

At 17th level, while in your Wereshape, you can use your action to perform a special Rend attack targeting a creature of your choice within range. That creature must make a Dexterity saving throw vs your Savagery DC. On a failed save, the target takes 10d6 + 10 Slashing damage, or half as much on a success.

Removing the 'Curse'

Whether your Therianthrope considers themselves to be cursed or not, NPC's may seek to 'cleanse' you in one way or another. Speak with your DM to ensure that your progress in this class will not be destroyed by something like a Remove Curse spell without your pre-approval.

Scavenger

Beginning at 1st level, you gain one of following features of your choice.

• You gain a climb speed equal to your walking speed.
• You gain a swim speed equal to your walking speed, and you can can breathe both air and water.

Additionally, you gain the following benefits.

• You gain proficiency with martial ranged weapons, as well as weapons with the light or finesse property.
• You gain proficiency with shields, as well as light and medium armor.
• While in your Wereshape, you can use your ferocity die in place of your weapon die for melee attacks.
• When you transform into your Wereshape, you may choose to wear your equipment in the Wereshape.
• While in your Wereshape, worn equipment functions as normal, but the GM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment.

Slinking Shadow

Starting at 6th level, you can Hide as a bonus action on your turn.

In addition, any hit you score against a creature that is surprised is a critical hit.

Pack Tactics

Beginning at 11th level, while in your Wereshape, you have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Swarm Lord

You've learned to call out openings in an opponent's guard to your pack, and coordinate with them to put your prey down.

At 17th level, as a bonus action, you point out a weakness in a creature's guard within 30 feet of you. Allies that can see the target and hear you have advantage on their attacks against that creature until the beginning of your next turn.

Aerial Fighter (2)

Prerequisite: Avian Form

When you transform into your Wereshape, you may choose to wear your equipment in the Wereshape.

You gain proficiency with Darts, Slings, and light armor.

Ambush Hunter (2)

You gain proficiency in the stealth skill. If you already have proficiency in Stealth, choose another skill available to the Therianthrope class to gain proficiency in.

While in your Wereshape, if you are in a lightly obscured area, you are treated as being heavily obscured.

Bestial Suffusion (3)

Prerequisite: Level 12, Ingrained Ferocity

While in your Wereshape, you have advantage on all Strength Saving Throws and Dexterity Saving Throws.

Bounding Assault (2)

Prerequisite: Feral Charge

While in your Wereshape, you can use an action to triple your jump distance until the end of your turn. Additionally, if you use your action in this way and jump as part of your movement before the turn in which you used this action is over, you may make one attack as part of your movement.

Cursed Bite (3)

Prerequisite: Level 5, Cursed Origin

You may use your Feast feature twice between short or long rests.

Additionally, if you reduce a creature to 0 hitpoints using your Feast feature, but do not kill it outright, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw vs your Savagery DC. On a failure, they are inflicted with Therianthropy.

The DM may determine when they assume their Wereshape, and whether or not they will be hostile to creatures in this form. If that creature takes a level in this class, their Wereshape appearance, Therian origin, and Therian Form will be identical to yours.

Depths Fighter (2)

Prerequisite: A swim speed

When you transform into your Wereshape, you may choose to wear your equipment in the Wereshape.

You gain proficiency with Tridents, Nets and light armor.

Diminuitive Form (1)

Prerequisite: Gifted Origin

When you use your Wereshape feature to assume your Animal Form, you can choose to be Tiny size.

If you assume a Tiny size through the use of this feature, damage you deal to other creatures is reduced to 1.

Dire Form (2)

Prerequisite: Gifted Origin

When you use your Wereshape feature to assume your Animal Form, you can choose to be Large size.

Feint and Retreat (2)

Prerequisite: Cunning Form

If a creature makes a melee attack against you and misses, you may use your reaction to immediately move up to half of your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Feral Charge (2)

While in your Wereshape, if you move at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hit them with a melee attack on the same turn, that creature must make a Strength Saving throw vs your Savagery DC or be knocked prone.

Feral Surge (1)

Prerequisite: Your base size is Small or smaller

You may choose to be size medium when you assume your Wereshape.

Guided Madness (2)

Prerequisite: Cursed Origin

When your Cursed Origin feature forces you to make a saving throw to maintain control, and you fail that saving throw, you instead move and attack the nearest hostile creature. If there is no creature within range after your movement, you also take the Dash action towards them.

Hamstring (2)

Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with your unarmed strike, you can reduce that creature’s speed by 10 feet until the end of your next turn.

Horrifying Visage (3)

Prerequisite: Level 15, Cursed Origin

Your Grim Visage feature affects any number of targets of your choice that can see you.

Additionally, you can use your Grim Visage feature twice before a rest.

V1.1

• Finally added class description/flavor text.
• Changed Beast Traits from a nearly direct copy of Warlock Invocations to the Evolution Point system.
• Alphabetized Beast Traits and subclasses.
• Wording fixes/clarifications.
• Increased Exhaustion penalty (from 1 to 2) for using Wereshape beyond a number of times per long rest equal to your Con mod.