Bearfolk

The hulking bearfolk make up an intimidating visage. Brutish and powerful, they combine features of a bipedal humanoid with the raw strength of a mighty bear. Their heads appear to be entirely ursine, and their muscled bodies are covered in thick fur. They are most often seen in Pelan Icefields, but can also be found in northern Gaulm.

Passionate Extremes

Bearfolk are not known for their calm natures. They are boisterous and loud, their minds unable to fathom nuanced emotions. They act extremely when faced with choices and can be hard, if not impossible, to convince once they have made up their minds. Their celebrations are filled with explosive passion, and their wrath is as raging as a forest fire.
These extreme reactions often lead to fighting, even amongst themselves. Luckily, bearfolk are a hardy people and consider scars to be an honorary reminder of a battle successfully fought, and it is not unusual to see two bearfolk get into a bloody scuffle, only to share a cask of ale moments later.

Bearfolk Traits

As a bearfolk, you have the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. Bearfolk reach maturity by age 11 and live for around 70 years.
Alignment. Their prowess and rashness in battle makes bearfolk lean towards a chaotic alignment.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Keen Smell. You have +2 on Perception checks that rely on smell.
Bearfolk Weapon Training. You have had to defend your home from invaders and hunters. You have proficiency with the battleaxe, greatclub, and warhammer.
Bite. Your mighty jaws are packed with sharp teeth. You can make a melee attack with them, biting a creature within 5 feet of you. On a hit you deal 1d6 piercing damage + your Strength modifier. You are proficient in these attacks.
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Giant.

Subrace

You choose your bearfolk subrace depending on where your bearfolk character was raised. You can choose either Arctic Bearfolk (Pelan Icefields) or Cave Bearfolk (Gaulm).

Arctic Bearfolk

You grew up in cold steppes among a nomadic, traveling people. You have white fur and an acute sense of the wilderness around you.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Tracker. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
White Fur. You have advantage on Stealth checks made to hide in snowy terrain.

Cave Bearfolk

Your people live in settled tribes based out of immense cave systems. You have a great understanding for the mountains you call home and your fur is brown or dark gray.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Darkvision. Your time below ground means you see well, even in dim light. 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.
Fearless. You have +1 racial modifier on saving throws against being frightened.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Bearfolk pay a lot of respect to their history and their ancestry, as well as any heroic deeds they might have accomplished in their lifetime. They choose their parent names upon reaching maturity, wherein they choose to be named after either their father or their mother. If the bearfolk later in life should accomplish a great task and earn a nickname as a result, this name is considered their surname in place of their parent name.
Female bearfolk use the suffix -tir at the end of the parent name, drawn from the giant word for ‘daughter,’ whereas male bearfolk use the suffix -sorn, drawn from the giant word for ‘son.’
Female Bearfolk Names: Adis, Arnfri, Freena, Hallfri, Hrefna, Joru, Magna, Mjoll, Tora, Vardis, Yrra
Male Bearfolk Names: Arn, Brok, Grummir, Jorund, Kolls, Marr, Ragar, Onund, Svanar, Thorinn,
Parent names: Anntir, Dagfrisorn, Eimltir, Hildrsorn, Skortir, Steinsorn, Tannisorn, Vigfutir
Nicknames: Angelhammer, Blood Eagle, Magebreaker, Ropekiller, Trollsbane

Lifespan

70 years

Average Height

7 feet tall

Average Weight

Around 400 to 500 pounds