Goatfolk
As they travel the cold northern continents, the goatfolk herds value their freedoms as a people as well as their attachment to the herd. Each tightly-knit nomadic herd, numbering in the hundreds, travels the land year after year. On the surface, these peaceful bands are seemingly aloof and wild, making loud communal goat-like chants as they march, hoof after hoof, together across the arctic tundra. However, their somewhat unusual exterior hides a wise and historical set of core beliefs, entrenched in the mystical energies of the Great Mother and their alliances with the Giants of ages past.
Herds Within Herds
While smaller in stature, the goatfolk thrive in a world of larger beings—relying on their tightly knit community and strength in numbers. Even when performing errands that could easily be achieved by a single creature, the goatfolk always travel in small, bleating packs, performing most actions as a cohesive group.
Within the larger herd that commonly numbers in the hundreds, it also isn’t uncommon for artisans and professions to travel and camp as a group, lending each other aid in carrying their tools: sages and spiritual leaders with their collections of dusty tomes, smiths with their heavy metals and equipment, soldiers with their weapons, and brewers with their casks of the traditional milk stout, Bleatbräu.
On rare occasions, individuals or groups within the herd may decide to settle and start a sedentary lifestyle. If these settlements last long enough over the years, they commonly become stopping points for the nomadic herds and must accommodate hundreds of visitors for a short stretch of time.
Horns, Hooves, and Hair
Goatfolk are generally covered in fur, ranging in colours of white, grey, brown, ginger, or black. They are not entirely the cleanest of peoples, with their fur becoming matted or dirty after years of constant travel.
Goatfolk tend to braid and weave their hair and fur as it becomes longer, incorporating rings and jewellery as forms of personal and familial expression. Since their fur protects in colder climates, clothing is simple, practical, and mostly utilitarian. It’s also not uncommon for the fringes of clothes or other fabrics to become chewed or frayed due to old primal habits.
Adolescent goatfolk begin to develop horns that can grow throughout their lives; younger goatfolk sprout small nubs, while the older can grow massive curling horns, seemingly too large to support.
Pastural Pilgrimages
While the goatfolk primarily exist as nomadic herd collectives, there exists a separate sedentary herd—the Herd of Ibexia. Deep in the northern climate, nestled into the mountains is the Monastery of Ibexia. It is here, where the small Herd of Ibexia teaches other spiritual herd members a deeper connection to the shamanistic ways of the Great Mother.
When a goatfolk of the nomadic herds displays an interest in deeper thinking and their place in the world, he or she pilgrimages to Ibexia. After learning, meditating, and communing for years in the monastery, the learned goatfolk gains the title of “Behooved” and returns to their herd to assume a role of spiritual leadership.
Goatfolk Names
A goatfolk has a single given name. They also have herd name that is commonly named after a kind of environmental topography—for example, Brell of the Steep Slope or Behooved Yonten of the Open Field.
While the majority of herds are nomadic, these names act as a reminder of the herd’s origins. If members of the herd leave to assume sedentary lives, they may abandon their herd name for one that references their new home.
Male Names: Yonten, Blurt, Grinlau, Korrik, Mlem, Yurnish, Duhoop, Yerg, Dolem, Llamo, Tenzin, Mlap.
Female Names: Hyinka, Brell, Thist, Kyipo, Pemla, Yergi, Dolmi, Lham, Bruni, Slu, Mleep, Slif.
Herd Names: Steep Slope, Green Glade, Open Field, Singing River, Biting Sky, Howling Canyon, Screaming Volcano, Yellow Snow.
Goatfolk Version 1.2
Design by u/deloaf
Page 1 Art: GoatMan by Even Mehl Amundsen (https://www.artstation.com/mischeviouslittleelf)
Page 2 Art: Snowy Mountain and Sunset by Quentin Mabille (https://quentinmabille.artstation.com)
This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Goatfolk Traits
Your goatfolk character has certain characteristics in common with all other goatfolk.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. Goatfolk reach adulthood at the age of 15 and they generally live into the end of their second century.
Alignment. The majority of the herds are good and kind, and while they are a people that keep to themselves, they are protective of all life and are willing to help in times of need.
Size. Goatfolk are between 3 and 4 feet tall and average about 85 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Herd Mentality. Goatfolk are strongest when they are working as a group. As a reaction to being hit by an attack or failing a saving throw, you can gain a bonus to your AC or saving throw equal to the number of allies you can see within 15 feet of you (maximum bonus of +5). Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Sure-Footed. You ignore non-magical difficult terrain incurred steep terrain, such as hills, mountains, or escarpments. In addition, you have advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws made against effects that would knock you prone.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant. In their past, goatfolk associated with mountain Giants, with many of their ancient texts being written in Giant. Exclamations and expletives have roots in Giant.
Subrace. The two main kinds of goatfolk, herd goatfolk and behooved goatfolk, are more representative of spiritual aptitudes than true subraces. Choose one of these subraces.
Herd Goatfolk
The majority of goatfolk are hardy and defensible. Most tend to live calm nomadic lives amongst the herds, but some choose the life of adventure.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Headbutt. Your thick skull and horns are a natural melee weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with this unarmed strike, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.
Headstrong Charge. Immediately after you use the Dash action on your turn and move at least 15 feet, you can make one melee attack with your headbutt as a bonus action.
Behooved Goatfolk
Behooved goatfolk have spiritual leanings, often having trained at the Monastary of Ibexia. They commonly become leaders of their herds but occasionally decide to strike off on their own.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Spiritual Leader. You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the ceremony spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the augury spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.