Bugbear
Basic Information
Anatomy
Bugbears are almost universally incredibly tall and muscular, the smallest of them being the size of an average human, and the largest being 6 or 7 feet tall. In some ways, they simply resemble bigger hobgoblins. They stand upright, they have sharp, triangular ears, and have rather big teeth as well. However, they also sport numerous bearlike features, such as claw-like nails (Who aren't quite large enough to effectively be used in combat), a bear-like nose and a coat of shaggy fur covering most of the body, barring the face. The fur is thickest and darkest around the face, and the color of the fur usually matches the creatures' skin colour, ranging from pale yellow (for bugbears living underground or in cold regions) to dark orange (For those living in warmer, more sunny climates). Despite their rather large size, bugbears are very agile and above all, incredibly stealthy.
The perfect combination of brawn and subtlety, bugbears are capable of one moment sneaking silently up on an unsuspecting foe, and crushing them to pulp in the next. Unsurprisingly, bugbears are incredibly talented hunters.
The perfect combination of brawn and subtlety, bugbears are capable of one moment sneaking silently up on an unsuspecting foe, and crushing them to pulp in the next. Unsurprisingly, bugbears are incredibly talented hunters.
Genetics and Reproduction
Just like bears, bugbears get the urge to mate annually, in spring and summer. This will cause the males in the group to fight amongst themselves to impress the females, after which the winner must fight and defeat the female in order to earn the right to mate. Sometimes it's the other way around, with the females fighting over the males.
Oftentimes, when many bugbears are gathered at the same place in the mating season, what appears as a great battle between rival groups may just be a mating ritual.
Oftentimes, when many bugbears are gathered at the same place in the mating season, what appears as a great battle between rival groups may just be a mating ritual.
Growth Rate & Stages
Bugbears are pregnant for about as long as a human, and carry one child at a time. Children stay with their mothers, learning to hunt and fight, until reaching adulthood at about 12 years of age, after which they strike out on their own, the mother no longer wanting anything to do with them. Bugbears seem to have lifespans slightly shorter than humans, but despite their desire for survival, few die of old age. The average lifespan for a bugbear is around 20 to 30 years, but if it isn't killed, it is assumed it could live up to around 70 years.
Ecology and Habitats
Bugbears prefer mountainous regions and cave systems. Their thick hide and fur make them highly suited for cool and damp climates, though they can survive relatively easily in warmer temperatures.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Some civilized humanoids have spitefully likened bugbears to lowly predators with humanlike intelligence, which might actually be quite true. However, bugbears do not take insult at this. They are carnivorous creatures and natural hunters, and they live according to what their instincts and impulses tell them. As such, assuming you could get into a philosophical debate with a bugbear (which it is capable of if it feels like it, which it rarely does), it would argue that its lifestyle is only natural, and liken itself to an apex predator, the civilized world being its prey. A bugbear sees no distinction between hunting a deer for food or burning down a village for treasure, weapons and armor (and eating the inhabitants). Morality, a bugbear would argue, is an abstract and frankly unnatural concept. To bugbears, there is no Good or Evil:
There is only prey, predators and the Hunt.
Bugbears generally do not craft much (Aside from primitive, wooden weapons such as bows), as they believe that just as their prey provides them with food, they are also supposed to provide them with weapons and armor if the bugbear is strong enough to take it. They generally feel that hard work is for lesser creatures than themselves (such as goblins and hobgoblins). They are capable of making a number of basic traps, primarily through using rope to make net traps, but prefer to stalk and kill their prey personally. Generally, the goal of a bugbear is to enjoy life to the fullest, which usually involves making it miserable for all other creatures it encounters.
Bugbears generally do not craft much (Aside from primitive, wooden weapons such as bows), as they believe that just as their prey provides them with food, they are also supposed to provide them with weapons and armor if the bugbear is strong enough to take it. They generally feel that hard work is for lesser creatures than themselves (such as goblins and hobgoblins). They are capable of making a number of basic traps, primarily through using rope to make net traps, but prefer to stalk and kill their prey personally. Generally, the goal of a bugbear is to enjoy life to the fullest, which usually involves making it miserable for all other creatures it encounters.
Behaviour
Some civilized humanoids have spitefully likened bugbears to lowly predators with humanlike intelligence, which might actually be quite true. However, bugbears do not take insult at this. They are carnivorous creatures and natural hunters, and they live according to what their instincts and impulses tell them. As such, assuming you could get into a philosophical debate with a bugbear (which it is capable of if it feels like it, which it rarely does), it would argue that its lifestyle is only natural, and liken itself to an apex predator, the civilized world being its prey. A bugbear sees no distinction between hunting a deer for food or burning down a village for treasure, weapons and armor (and eating the inhabitants). Morality, a bugbear would argue, is an abstract and frankly unnatural concept. To bugbears, there is no Good or Evil:
There is only prey, predators and the Hunt.
Bugbears generally do not craft much (Aside from primitive, wooden weapons such as bows), as they believe that just as their prey provides them with food, they are also supposed to provide them with weapons and armor if the bugbear is strong enough to take it. They generally feel that hard work is for lesser creatures than themselves (such as goblins and hobgoblins). They are capable of making a number of basic traps, primarily through using rope to make net traps, but prefer to stalk and kill their prey personally. Generally, the goal of a bugbear is to enjoy life to the fullest, which usually involves making it miserable for all other creatures it encounters.
Bugbears generally do not craft much (Aside from primitive, wooden weapons such as bows), as they believe that just as their prey provides them with food, they are also supposed to provide them with weapons and armor if the bugbear is strong enough to take it. They generally feel that hard work is for lesser creatures than themselves (such as goblins and hobgoblins). They are capable of making a number of basic traps, primarily through using rope to make net traps, but prefer to stalk and kill their prey personally. Generally, the goal of a bugbear is to enjoy life to the fullest, which usually involves making it miserable for all other creatures it encounters.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Most scholars would laugh at the very notion of bugbear
"society"; in some academic circles, they're considered less organized and civilized than orcs. And indeed, the goal in life for the average bugbear is quite simple: To survive, to eat well every day, to acquire themselves a hoard of treasure, and to satiate their bloodthirsty love for hunting and fighting. Naturally, those goals are all attainable through the bugbear lifestyle of raiding, hunting and pillaging any and all weaker than themselves.
Bugbears feel no real connection to family or kin. They rarely form tribes, and are just as likely to kill each other as to join forces. Bugbears care very little for other bugbears, or indeed, other creatures than themselves, but since they can see the value of working together, they are not beyond teaming up with other goblinoids. Groups of bugbears form small hunting parties not unlike wolf packs, and several of these groups often fight other groups over territory or treasure. Gender means very little to a bugbears role in the group: Regardless of gender, the fiercest bugbear, the chief, leads the pack, eats first and takes the largest part of the treasure, and the remaining ones fight over the scraps left behind. If lone bugbears encounter goblins, they will usually rise to leader positions through brute force and enslave their smaller brethren. Bugbears often serve as mercenaries in hobgoblin armies, provided they are paid well in coin, food and drink.
A bugbear's ultimate allegiance is to itself, however, and they do not entertain any desire to die in combat. As such, when its life is on the line, a bugbear will usually flee a battle, gladly abandoning its allies for its own sake. When a bugbear is encountered alone, this is usually what happens.
The only beings that bugbears show a nugget of deeply felt respect is their deities, mostly Hruggek. Though bugbears have a small pantheon of deities, all of whom are lesser gods or demigods from the lower planes, Hruggek is by far the most popular and the mightiest, bossing the other gods around. He appears as a humongous bugbear of 12 feet, with an equally humongous two-handed Morningstar. It is said that he prowls the lower planes, killing and eating anything in his path, be it demon, devil or otherwise. His home is said to be in the plane of Acheron (Some sources suggest the plane of Pandemonium), where he allegedly lives in a great cave filled with talking, dismembered heads, called Hruggekolohk. Sometimes the other bugbear gods hunt with (or rather under) Hruggek, but it does not happen often as they generally try to stay out of his way. Hruggek represents all that a bugbear wishes to become: A powerful and strong hunter and warrior, feared by all the other beings in the region, eating what or who he wants, taking what he wants and dominating his neighbors. Hruggek is usually invoked when bugbears battle against others of their own kin or other humanoids, whether over territory or for other reasons.
Another very venerated bugbear god is Grankhul, the god of hunting, senses and surprise, and the second-most powerful. While Hruggek is seen as the symbol of the bugbears' physical strength and fortitude, it is said that Grankhul was the one who taught them to be stealthy and agile, and to ambush their prey rather than giving them a fair fight. Bugbears see hunting and stalking as a ritual act to Grankhul, and whether the goal is hunting for food or raiding for treasure, Bugbears view and refer to both as a Hunt and invoke Grankhul for success.
Skiggaret, the bugbear demigod of Fear and messenger of Hruggek, and Stalker, the vengeful bugbear god of death, also receive moderate veneration among the bugbears. They are also believed to have a god of fertility.
Bugbear clerics (Usually called Godspeakers or Warshamans) are rare, as bugbear religion is far from organized and bugbears tend to be uncharismatic creatures unwilling to study or work. However, occasionally one of the gods finds a worthy champion with a silver tongue and a strong spirit, and such a creature can usually attract a very large group of followers with its powerful magic and inspire great religious fervor. As such, whenever great hordes of bugbears assemble and go to war, usually a cabal of Bugbear clerics uniting under a common cause leads them.
Bugbears feel no real connection to family or kin. They rarely form tribes, and are just as likely to kill each other as to join forces. Bugbears care very little for other bugbears, or indeed, other creatures than themselves, but since they can see the value of working together, they are not beyond teaming up with other goblinoids. Groups of bugbears form small hunting parties not unlike wolf packs, and several of these groups often fight other groups over territory or treasure. Gender means very little to a bugbears role in the group: Regardless of gender, the fiercest bugbear, the chief, leads the pack, eats first and takes the largest part of the treasure, and the remaining ones fight over the scraps left behind. If lone bugbears encounter goblins, they will usually rise to leader positions through brute force and enslave their smaller brethren. Bugbears often serve as mercenaries in hobgoblin armies, provided they are paid well in coin, food and drink.
A bugbear's ultimate allegiance is to itself, however, and they do not entertain any desire to die in combat. As such, when its life is on the line, a bugbear will usually flee a battle, gladly abandoning its allies for its own sake. When a bugbear is encountered alone, this is usually what happens.
The only beings that bugbears show a nugget of deeply felt respect is their deities, mostly Hruggek. Though bugbears have a small pantheon of deities, all of whom are lesser gods or demigods from the lower planes, Hruggek is by far the most popular and the mightiest, bossing the other gods around. He appears as a humongous bugbear of 12 feet, with an equally humongous two-handed Morningstar. It is said that he prowls the lower planes, killing and eating anything in his path, be it demon, devil or otherwise. His home is said to be in the plane of Acheron (Some sources suggest the plane of Pandemonium), where he allegedly lives in a great cave filled with talking, dismembered heads, called Hruggekolohk. Sometimes the other bugbear gods hunt with (or rather under) Hruggek, but it does not happen often as they generally try to stay out of his way. Hruggek represents all that a bugbear wishes to become: A powerful and strong hunter and warrior, feared by all the other beings in the region, eating what or who he wants, taking what he wants and dominating his neighbors. Hruggek is usually invoked when bugbears battle against others of their own kin or other humanoids, whether over territory or for other reasons.
Another very venerated bugbear god is Grankhul, the god of hunting, senses and surprise, and the second-most powerful. While Hruggek is seen as the symbol of the bugbears' physical strength and fortitude, it is said that Grankhul was the one who taught them to be stealthy and agile, and to ambush their prey rather than giving them a fair fight. Bugbears see hunting and stalking as a ritual act to Grankhul, and whether the goal is hunting for food or raiding for treasure, Bugbears view and refer to both as a Hunt and invoke Grankhul for success.
Skiggaret, the bugbear demigod of Fear and messenger of Hruggek, and Stalker, the vengeful bugbear god of death, also receive moderate veneration among the bugbears. They are also believed to have a god of fertility.
Bugbear clerics (Usually called Godspeakers or Warshamans) are rare, as bugbear religion is far from organized and bugbears tend to be uncharismatic creatures unwilling to study or work. However, occasionally one of the gods finds a worthy champion with a silver tongue and a strong spirit, and such a creature can usually attract a very large group of followers with its powerful magic and inspire great religious fervor. As such, whenever great hordes of bugbears assemble and go to war, usually a cabal of Bugbear clerics uniting under a common cause leads them.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Bugbears have a nose much like that of a bear with the same fine sense of smell. It is this feature which earned them their name, despite the fact that they are not actually related to bears in any way. Their tough leathery hide and long sharp nails also look something like those of a bear, but are far more dexterous.
The typical bugbear's sight and hearing are exceptional, and they can move with amazing agility when the need arises. Bugbear eyesight extends somewhat into the infrared, giving them nightvision out to 60 feet.
The typical bugbear's sight and hearing are exceptional, and they can move with amazing agility when the need arises. Bugbear eyesight extends somewhat into the infrared, giving them nightvision out to 60 feet.
Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Since bugbears have a tendency to kill everything they meet, rather than negotiate, they rarely ally with other creatures unless they serve a more valuable purpose than food. Even when they are not in the killing mood, the egoistic and mistrusting nature of the bugbears tends to make relations with other creatures sour at best. They sometimes find hire in civilized societies as bodyguards or mercenaries, which they excel at as long as they are paid handsomely in food and coin, but their loyalty is shallow; a higher bidder or the threat of death will cause a bugbear to change sides on a whim for its own good. When bugbears do work together with creatures other than themselves, it is usually with other goblinoids.
Goblins: Individual bugbears find great delight in oppressing their smaller brethren into their service. Goblins subjected to the rule of a bugbear work tirelessly to delight their new chief, or the latter might choose to eat them. Bugbears find goblins useful for providing them with armaments and for assisting it in hunts and raids, but does not care in the slightest for its underlings. Bugbears treat goblins like dirt, bullying them mercilessly into submission and killing any who shows signs of rebellion.
Hobgoblins: Bugbears see hobgoblins as weak, and inferior to themselves, but are quite aware that their organization and tactical skill makes them formidable foes. Bugbears find that assisting their lesser kin in waging their many wars can make them a decent living, but they demand a great amount of loot and food in exchange, and do not take orders well, preferring to be in charge themselves if possible. Bugbears serve as scouts and shock troops for hobgoblins, often being on the front lines ready to break the enemy line apart. However, just as with any other creatures, a bugbear will likely abandon smaller employers if it gets into a potentially life-threatening situation.
Barghests: Bugbears do not take well to the dominating nature of these creatures, yet they fear them due to their considerable power. Nonetheless, bugbears will rarely find themselves subject to the leadership of a barghest, believing it to be a demon sent by the gods of the lesser goblinoids to bully them, and encountering one means bad luck and ill fortune. As such, the more pious of bugbears will likely attack a barghest on sight.
Orcs: Bugbears respect orcs for their great physical prowess, but only in the same way as the lion respects the tiger. Orcs are enemies and competitors, and the two species rarely, if ever, get along at all. Orcs and bugbears are almost never encountered close to one another for longer periods of time, as one side will eventually annihilate the other.
Others: Unless the creatures unfortunate enough to have bugbears as their neighbors are strong in numbers and have enough gold and food to hire the bugbears for their armies, the bugbears will attack them indiscriminately.
Unlike goblins, they find that humans and dwarves make poor underlings, and that elves and orcs rarely wish to pay them as much as hobgoblins will (Or more commonly, that they outright refuse to work with them at all). The usual bugbear response to an encounter with any non-goblinoids is to steal, stalk and slay.
Goblins: Individual bugbears find great delight in oppressing their smaller brethren into their service. Goblins subjected to the rule of a bugbear work tirelessly to delight their new chief, or the latter might choose to eat them. Bugbears find goblins useful for providing them with armaments and for assisting it in hunts and raids, but does not care in the slightest for its underlings. Bugbears treat goblins like dirt, bullying them mercilessly into submission and killing any who shows signs of rebellion.
Hobgoblins: Bugbears see hobgoblins as weak, and inferior to themselves, but are quite aware that their organization and tactical skill makes them formidable foes. Bugbears find that assisting their lesser kin in waging their many wars can make them a decent living, but they demand a great amount of loot and food in exchange, and do not take orders well, preferring to be in charge themselves if possible. Bugbears serve as scouts and shock troops for hobgoblins, often being on the front lines ready to break the enemy line apart. However, just as with any other creatures, a bugbear will likely abandon smaller employers if it gets into a potentially life-threatening situation.
Barghests: Bugbears do not take well to the dominating nature of these creatures, yet they fear them due to their considerable power. Nonetheless, bugbears will rarely find themselves subject to the leadership of a barghest, believing it to be a demon sent by the gods of the lesser goblinoids to bully them, and encountering one means bad luck and ill fortune. As such, the more pious of bugbears will likely attack a barghest on sight.
Orcs: Bugbears respect orcs for their great physical prowess, but only in the same way as the lion respects the tiger. Orcs are enemies and competitors, and the two species rarely, if ever, get along at all. Orcs and bugbears are almost never encountered close to one another for longer periods of time, as one side will eventually annihilate the other.
Others: Unless the creatures unfortunate enough to have bugbears as their neighbors are strong in numbers and have enough gold and food to hire the bugbears for their armies, the bugbears will attack them indiscriminately.
Unlike goblins, they find that humans and dwarves make poor underlings, and that elves and orcs rarely wish to pay them as much as hobgoblins will (Or more commonly, that they outright refuse to work with them at all). The usual bugbear response to an encounter with any non-goblinoids is to steal, stalk and slay.
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