The Awakened Canine

<div class='cover-header'>The Awakened Canine</div>

> ##### This is a work in progress
> Any trait or feature of this playable race is subject to change.

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# The Awakened Canine
Awakened Canines that have achieved complete sentience thanks to exposure to the flow of magic, enhancing their physical and mental capabilities well beyond that of the average dog. Having achieved sentience, their lives are their own and can follow any path they so desire.

### Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 1. Your Charisma score increases by 1.

Medium sized Canines Strength score increases by 1. Small sized Canines Charisma score increases by 1.

### Age
The flow of magic enhances the mental and physical capabilities of Awakened Canines, allowing them to live longer lives than their non-magical counterparts but have short lifespans none the less. Reaching adulthood at around 18 months old and can live between 20 to 25 years.

### Size
Awakened Canines are shorter than humans but can vary wildly in size between different breeds. Pick between Medium and Small size for your Awakened Canine.

### Speed
Medium sized Canines have a base walking speed of 40 feet. Small sized Canines have a base walking speed of 35 feet.

### Keen Senses
Awakened Canines have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell but don't rely on color.

### A Good Dog
You have proficiency in Performance and Persuasion skills.

### Quick and Nimble
Awakened Canines can move through the space of any creature or object that is the same size or larger than them.

### New Tricks
Despite their vocal cords lacking the necessary range to communicate with other species, Awakened Canines can magically project their thoughts so others can hear them, allowing them to express simple thoughts, feelings and ideas with creatures that can speak the same language. However, even though they can communicate better than their non-magical counterparts, understanding other species is not always so easy. You can comprehend simple thoughts and ideas, but struggle to grasp complicated intentions or commands. Whenever a new word, subject or command is heard, you must make an Intelligence check (Investigation) to see if you can comprehend the new word, subject or command. It takes 3 successful checks in order to completely learn something new. The DC is determined by the DM.

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### A Helping Hand
While Awakened Canine are limited to holding things in their mouths, they are able to manifest a spectral, floating hand that inhabits the same space as them at will. This hand can assist the Awakened Canine with simple tasks that would normally be impossible for their non-magical counterparts, such as using items, opening doors, writing in spellbooks, completing Somatic requirements for spells, donning armor or acting  as a second hand to wield two-handed weapons.

### Worse than my Bark
Because of the Awakened Canines powerful bite, your teeth are natural weapons. If you hit with them, your bite deals piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

### Take and Down
Immediately after you use the Dash action on your turn and move at least 20 feet, you can then pounce on a creature in an attempt to grab and force them to the ground. You must make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the targets Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses). If you succeed, the target is Grappled and Knocked Prone. While Grappling a creature, you can make a bite attack as a bonus action.

The Grappled creature can use its action to make another contested grapple check in order to escape.

### Your Best Friend
Thanks to their natural charm and newfound magical ability, Awakened Canines can cast Charm Person once per long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

### Language
You can speak, read and write in one language of your choice.

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<div class='cover-header'>Afterword</div>

### Nothing here
But you,

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### me,
and the Awakened Canine.

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