Varag

Varags, also called blood chasers, are a species of feral goblinoids.

Description

Varags resemble hobgoblins with rather primitive and hairy features, as well as two horns that curve away from the skull. They also have double-jointed hind legs. Varags weigh about 320 pounds and are easily 7 feet tall when standing fully upright; when crouched on all fours, as they were wont to do, they are only about 3-4 feet tall at the shoulder.

Personality

Varags are primitive, almost feral, and impulsive creatures, lacking in any ability to plan ahead. They are affectionate to hobgoblins, as they are accustomed to being fed by the more intelligent species, but show intense devotion to anyone who feeds them regularly. In combat and while hunting, varags are vicious and cunning.

Combat

Varags are exceptionally fast and endurant, but require a large amount of food to maintain these traits.
Varags are more than capable of stealth and prefer to sneak up on enemies wherever possible, then rushing into melee with their speed. However, they hate formation fighting and tend to scatter across battlefields to pick off routed enemies first. When faced with tough, well-organized lines of foes, they employ hit-and-run tactics, but they prefer to attack less-armored foes first.

Society

Varags are not a natural species; they are specially bred by hobgoblins and are said to be the result of commingling hobgbolin and dire wolf bloodlines, though varags themselves breed true leading to some scholars to believe that there was some form of divine intervention in the creation of the species. They are used by hobgoblins as mercenaries, of sorts, serving as scouts and marauders in exchange for weapons, armor, and other treasures. However, they are difficult to control and hobgoblin warlords simply just set them loose in an area and let them cause carnage as the varag pack burns, loots, and kills its way through the region.
Varags themselves behave in a distinctly canine fashion, forming small packs and displaying unreserved affection toward hobgoblins. A varag will always protect a hobgoblin in trouble without thought for its own safety, though this devotion wanes if the varag grows hungry. Hungry varags are restless and will seek out hobgoblins that can feed them; if hungry enough they will even eat goblins and orcs.
Hobgoblins, for their part, do not take the dumber varags' dependence for granted, since a varag could easily flatten most hobgoblin warriors in a fight. Thus, hobgoblins always lavish praise on varags and feed them well.

Ecology

Wild varags are characterized by long periods of rest followed by short bouts of violence. Their driving motivation is food, as their hightened metabolisms require three times the amount of food a creature of their size would normally need, as well as spending most of their time sleeping. If one does not get enough food, their speed and endurance will wane; in hobgoblin warbands, such weakened varags die much more easily in battle and are prone to deserting in search of food. Because of this, only larger and wealthier hobgoblin warbands can keep varags.
Varag females gestate for five to six months before bearing a litter of two to three children, who grow to adulthood in only eight years; they eat as much as an adult hobgoblin after only one year. Females only care for their young for four years. On their own, varags will mate continuously until their numbers overtax local resources. In captivity, males and females are kept separate and allowed to mate only when more varags are wanted, with a single warband in each are keeping a female-only pack.
Varags understand the goblin language but have difficulty speaking due to their primitive physiology and low intellects. Many lack language entirely and communicate with hand gestures, howls, and shrieks amongst themselves.
Varags prefer to dwell in warm, hilly environments, though they are known to live in colder areas without much difficulty. They make their lairs in underground burrows.

Religion

Varags intelligent enough to follow organized religion will occasionally pray to Gharghulak, the chief deity of hobgoblins, though this is typically more out of mimicry of the hobgoblins that feed them than out of true piety.

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Table of Contents

Game Statistics

Custom System

To Be Made

5th Edition

To Be Made

4th Edition

To Be Made

3.5th Edition

To Be Made

2nd Edition

Ability Score Adjustment. The initial ability scores are modified by a +2 to Strength, and a +1 to Dexterity and Constitution, but a -4 to Intelligence and a -2 to Charisma.

Ability	Minimum	Maximum
Strength	11	19
Dexterity	8	19
Constitution	8	18
Intelligence	3	12
Wisdom	3	16
Charisma	3	11

Class	Maximum
Fighter	14
‎ ‎ ‎Paladin	—
‎ ‎ ‎Ranger	—
‎ ‎ ‎Barbarian	—
Mage	—
‎ ‎ ‎Specialist	—
‎ ‎ ‎Warlock	—
Cleric	—
‎ ‎ ‎Druid	—
‎ ‎ ‎Monk	—
‎ ‎ ‎Shaman	4
Thief	12
‎ ‎ ‎Assassin	14
‎ ‎ ‎Bard	—
Psionicist	—

Special Advantages. Varags are faster than average goblinoids or humanoids, and have a base move speed of 16.
A varag begins play with an addition 3 hit points.
Varag infravision allows them to see in the dark to a range of 60 feet.
The tough hide of a varag gives it a natural armor class of 7 when not wearing armor.
A varag can detect invisible creatures by scent within 30 feet of them with a 50% chance.
Varags can bite for 1d4 damage and attack with each of their claws for 1d3 damage each.
Special Disadvantages. Varags are exceptionally slow to learn, and take a 15% penalty to experience gained.
Varags must consume three times the amount of food and water as a normal creature their size each day.
Due to the shape of the varag's body, armor made to fit it costs 50% more. Armor not made in this way cannot fit the legs of the varag, and provides 1 worse AC.
Varags take damage as large creatures.
Role-Playing Suggestions. Varags are savage and primal creatures distantly related to hobgoblins. They tend to shower affection on the hobgoblins they live with, and also upon any who feed them.
Varags tend to sleep for long periods of time unless forced to be active for any reason. This is much less common when they are in the employ of hobgoblins.
Languages. goblin, the rudimentary language of wolves and dire wolves, orcish, troll, ogre, common.
Monstrous Traits. Appetite, habits, bestial intelligence
Superstitions. Fear of trolls, fear of full moons
Weapon Proficiencies. Battle axe, broadsword, club, dagger, hand axe, knife, mace, morning star, pick, sabre, scimitar, shortsword, sickle, spear, trident, warhammer
Nonweapon Proficiencies. Alertness, animal noise, close-quarter fighting, danger sense, eating, hiding, natural fighting, observation, wild fighting.

Pathfinder 2nd Edition

To Be Made

Lifespan

50 years

Average Height

6'6"-7'6" when upright, 3'-4' at the shoulder when on all fours

Average Weight

280-360 pounds