ANTHRO D&D: BADGER FOLK (RACE)

This is the start of a series of Anthropomorphic, "furry" races for use with D&D 5th Edition. This and the following races can easily be placed in a D&D 5th Edition setting, joining or even replacing the standard races. In the Cosmic Seas setting, such anthro animals are common in ports of the Dragon Empire, and are the result of magical experiments through the ages. The artwork presented here is from the marvelous Larry MacDougall, a superb artist and friend. Check out his work.


BADGER FOLK (RACE)

“They had felt hungry before, but when they actually saw at last the supper that was spread for them, really it seemed only a question of what they should attack first where all was so attractive, and whether the other things would obligingly wait for them till they had time to give them attention. Conversation was impossible for a long time; and when it was slowly resumed, it was that regrettable sort of conversation that results from talking with your mouth full. The Badger did not mind that sort of thing at all, nor did he take any notice of elbows on the table, or everybody speaking at once. As he did not go into Society himself, he had got an idea that these things belonged to the things that didn't really matter.” -Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Badger-folk are a species of Beastmen created from common badgers. They are a tough, loyal and deeply wise species that has made a society of their own. Badger-folk are wise and tough, with a great passion for building elaborate underground homes and towns, which they defend to the death. Often short-tempered and vengeful, badgers generally live solitary lives, emerging only occasionally from their burrows to hunt, wage war and seek mates. They are known for their strength, wisdom and loyalty.

Personality. Badger-folk are edgy and easily riled, though loyal to those who befriend them and, on rare occasions, even playful (especially toward children). They are most savage and feral when on the defensive, though they are still quite formidable on the attack.

Physical Description. Badger-folk are powerfully built black, white, brown and grey fur with a small head, a stocky body, small black eyes and short tail. All badgers have a broad white stripe of fur running from the bridge of the nose over the top of the head and down to the base of the skull. A badger’s arms are unnaturally large and well-muscled, and her fingers end in hard claws 2 to 3 inches long. Badger-folk constantly emit a fetid odor.

Badger Names. Badgers tend to choose thick sounding names that are easy to say. Male names- Achak, Brock, Dax, Tasso. Female names- Azcona, Brook, Griebel, Honani, Kitchi. 

Badger-Folk Traits

Badger-Folk share the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. +2 Constitution, +1 Wisdom.

Alignment. Most badger-folk are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a well-ordered society. They tend toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of a just order.

Size. Badgers stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 ft. You have a burrow speed of 5 ft.

Bite and Claws. Badger-Folk are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d6 piercing or slashing damage on a hit.

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Tenacious. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this ability, you can't use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

Hybrid Nature. You have two creature types: humanoid and monstrosity. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Badgerish. Badgerish is full of snarls and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a badger might speak.