Bearfolk
— Braton Durik, The Eye in the Woods
Making their home in wild, untouched corners of the world, bearfolk thrive on their own independence. Covered in shaggy fur, bearfolk resemble common bears not only in their appearance but in their ability to survive and even thrive in the wilderness. Their keen senses and physical prowess make them formidable enemies, but their practical nature and protective instincts make them fantastic allies. Bearfolk rarely approach the civilized world without good reason. Those who do often find themselves pulled into excitement and adventure.
Solitary Hunters
Bearfolk have thick fur, long snouts, massive paws and a musky odor that makes them stand out in any crowd. Bearfolk usually stand well over 6 feet tall and often weigh upwards of 350 pounds. Like regular bears, bearfolk may choose to put on extra weight and hibernate for months at a time if they so desire. The color of their coat usually depends on the region they inhabit, and most are either black, brown, or white.
Bearfolk typically live alone, seeking out company to mate and raise children, or to defend their territory. A few bearfolk make a habit of visiting nearby humanoids to trade handmade goods, food, or stories. Their dwellings can be anything from a comfortable cave to a cabin of sturdy construction. They are obligate omnivores, and spend most of their time hunting game and gathering edible plants to satisfy their massive caloric needs. They are known to take good care of the land they inhabit, using controlled burns to prevent wildfires and choosing which animals to hunt in order to ensure ecological balance and prosperity.
Perplexing Personalities
To most outsiders, bearfolk tend to come off as standoffish or asocial, but any friendships they do form are fiercely defended. Likewise, while many bearfolk try to avoid conflict and have been known to walk away from fights, the aftermath of a bearfolk being stirred to violence can be disturbing. Many attribute this to the fact that bearfolk, who usually grow up without much company, simply aren’t well adjusted to most social environments. This is corroborated by the stories bearfolk themselves will tell to those they befriend. The Strange Experiences table suggests a variety of memories a friendly bearfolk might share.
Strange Experiences
| d6 | Experience |
|---|---|
| 1 | Once I made the mistake of drinking from a river too close to my kill, and felt awful for days afterwards. Since then, I never have food and drink at the same time. |
| 2 | I once lived in a cave together with a real bear for several weeks. The whole time, I thought he was actually my older brother. |
| 3 | One time I visited a halfling village near my home to trade, and the children spent hours braiding my fur and weaving flower stems into it. I’ve never been so nervous. |
| 4 | I’ve never been so offended as the time a druid saw me and immediately cast a spell to let them talk with animals. It took several minutes of speaking in Common for him to even realize what I was. |
| 5 | One time I roared out loud because I stubbed my toe on a rock, and then I heard another bearfolk roar back to me, from far away. We kept at it for hours, but they just kept copying what I said. |
| 6 | A hunter once gifted me some smoked venison, but it was poisoned because he was sick of me telling him to hunt responsibly. Nowadays I prefer all my food raw. |
Forgotten Ancestry
The true origin of bearfolk is unknown, but many scholars suspect they are the descendants of werebears that took to living in the wilderness. Over time, their lycanthropy became permanent and integral, giving them the best features of human and ursine biology, along with some weaknesses. The best evidence for this is their aversion to silver, which true lycanthropes are known to share. It is not uncommon for bearfolk to take in and mentor those who have been newly cursed with lycanthropy, teaching them how to live with their animal characteristics. It is not possible for bearfolk to pass on their ancestral curse, but the question of whether they can be infected with any new form of lycanthropy is unknown. What is certain is that their origins are not mundane, even though their connection to the natural world is strong.
Bearfolk Names
It is not uncommon for a lone bearfolk not to have a name at all. Some lineages of bearfolk have gone generations without contact with the outside world, and barely use spoken languages. Bearfolk that live in close proximity to towns or outlying settlements may take on names given to them by the people there.
Bearfolk Traits
Your bearfolk character has the following racial traits.
Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
Size. You are Medium.
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet. You have either a swimming speed or a climbing speed equal to your walking speed (choose when you select this race).
Bear Claws. You have claws which you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Born Survivor. You are proficient in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, or Survival.
Keen Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that involve smell.
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Ursine Fortitude. You have resistance to cold damage. At the end of a short or long rest, you can expend and roll one Hit Die to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the number rolled + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1). While you have these hit points, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Aversion to Silver. The cuts of silver blades cause searing pain. Attacks made against you with silvered weapons ignore the AC bonus of Ursine Fortitude. You cannot reduce any bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage dealt to you by silvered weapons.
Optional Bearfolk Feats
If your DM allows the use of feats from chapter 6 of the Player's Handbook, your bearfolk character has access to the following special feats.
Bear Paws
Prerequisite: Bearfolk
Your huge, powerful paws afford you a stronger grip on your weapons. You gain the following benefits:
- Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
- The damage die of your claws increases to a d8.
- While wielding a weapon with the versatile property, you can roll damage for the weapon as if you were wielding it in two hands even if you are only wielding it in one hand.
- You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws to avoid being disarmed.
Hunter's Nose
Prerequisite: Bearfolk or Puca
Your nose is highly specialized, allowing you to navigate and hunt without light. You gain the following benefits:
- Increase your Constitution or Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
- You gain blindsight out to 10 feet, limited only to things that have an odor and are not behind airtight walls. Creatures with a detectable odor cannot be hidden from you within this area. You lose this ability if you cannot smell, or while you are in an area permeated by exceptionally strong smells or noxious gases.
- You have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks against creatures within 5 feet of you that you can smell.
Bearfolk v2.1 for D&D 5e
Created by: u/NotTheDreadPirateArtist Credit: fuckorange - Chaos Dawn -- Bear Guard