Cycan
Appearing as bipedal dogs, the cycan is a generic term to cover a wide variety of different folk. Each pack typically has a unique name that they refer to themselves, some preferring the term of Lycan or Cyno. Others may prefer to call their kind after the name of their pack or the settlement where they live, like the Kettil tribe of the town of Kettil.
Cycan Names
Cycan have several names that they are known by within their pack and others that they use with those out of their pack. Typically, their pack names will include their role within the pack and an individual designator, what others would recognize as a true name. The recognizable names are typically short and easy to bark out quickly. They'll often take existing names and shorten them to a single syllable. Many think that pack names are backwards, with the cycan using their last name first. Unlike outsiders though, their pack name might change often if they are given many different roles to fill within their pack.
A name a cycan gives to outsiders could change as many times as they meet new outsiders as they feel no need to provide 'strategic' information about their role in a pack to those they don't yet trust. They may even provide many different names to confuse outsiders on purpose, attempting to make their pack appear larger than it actually is.
Fighting Pack Names: Lead Bert, Swing Terra, Right Flank Jas, Back Lee, Healer Tob
Commoner Pack Names: Baker Jan, Mayor Ash, Farmer Pol, Smith Gail, Chemist Mel, Brewer Sar
Racial Traits
Your cycan character has the following racial traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. Cycan pups are quick to mature, spending only a few years as pups and teenagers. By the time they are 8, they are fully mature adults. They typically live for about 60 years.
Alignment. Cycan are rarely evil as they typically value their community over themselves often - though that doesn't mean they don't have disagreements with laws and boundaries. Most cycan are neutral or neutral good.
Creature Type. You are a humanoid.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.
Brave Nature. Cycan are known for their mental resilience against dangers. You have advantage on all saving throws and ability checks against being frightened.
Subrace. There are a wide variety of cycan though the three major subraces of their kind include: companion, herding, and hunting. Choose a subrace for your cycan, it does not have to match the breed of a typical dog but rather your cycan character's temperament and abilities.
Companion
A companion cycan might have the appearance of skin folds and wrinkles or thick coats of soft fur. They are often known for helping their allies and ability to defuse tense situations.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases
by 1.
Calm Words. You have proficiency in the Intimidation or Persuasion skill, pick one.
Helpful Presence. You can take the Help action as a bonus action. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long rest.
Herding
Herding cycans are fast and quick, appearing often with black and brown fur or wiry bodies. They are known for their seemingly limitless energy.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases
by 1.
Natural Grace. You have proficiency in the Acrobatics or Performance skill, pick one.
Swift Paws. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Hunting
These cycans are dangerous, whether they be hunters or warriors. Their coats are typically short fur and sleek, providing them with protection against water and allowing them to quickly move through thick foliage.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases
by 1.
Hunter's Guile. You have proficiency in either the Athletics or Stealth skill, pick one.
Unstoppable Hunter. As a bonus action, you can target a creature within 60 feet of you and declare them your prey. Until your prey is reduced to 0 hit points or you lose track of them for more than 1 hour, you have advantage on all Survival checks to track or locate them. In addition, if you end your turn more than 5 feet away from your declared prey, you can use your reaction to take the Dash action. You can only use this movement to move as close as possible to your prey, taking as direct a route as possible without taking dangerous risks and avoiding hazards that you can see.