Lycan

Devoted comrades, capable warriors, and lifelong friends, the canine lycans are a common sight in almost every region of the world. Known for their remarkable ability to work as part of a team, lycans have found their way into nearly all roles that require group work. Military and community leaders, guild masters, clergy, and heads of adventuring parties are all often lycans.

Able Body, Strong Will

Lycans have a predatory physique reminiscent of their ancestors. Their muscles are lean but capable, and they're skilled runners and athletes. Their protruding jaws have a sharp row of fangs inside, and their noses, eyes, and ears are all still attuned to the hunt. These traits also aid them in military or combat roles - most armies have lycan regiments, and it's not uncommon to bump into lycan mercenary bands while traveling the roads. Lycans have sharp minds as well, always aware of their surroundings and the folk they're with. Puzzles, dice and card games, and riddles are all favorites at lycan family gatherings.
Over time, the species has diversified into four distinct subspecies: the volff, the iconic lycan of ages past; the huund, a varied group of lycan better suited to life in cities and towns; the yotte, who have a touch more magic flowing in their blood; and the jakke, a subspecies adapted for life in deserts.

Pack Animals

Lycans are social animals, almost more than any other species. They thrive in social situations, keep huge circles of friends, and become antsy if they're alone for too long. Lycans also have the largest families of any species, save for the Lagombi and Timus, with an average of six children (according to the latest census numbers). Typical family gatherings include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, family friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Woe to the solitary ursinin who moves next door to a lycan.

The Pursuit of Perfection

Lycan society has a two pillar philosophy for making the world a better place: improve yourself, improve your pack. An individual lycan will devote much of their life to these goals, especially the first. The axiom goes, "how can you judge another's den when yours is in disarray?" Training the body, mind, and spirit is seen as fundamental to becoming a better lycan.
One is also expected to help their pack or family above all others, but an individual's definition of pack can vary, of course. It can be blood relatives, traveling companions, a magical school, or a theatre group. Lycans are expected to provide as much as they can for their pack, and dedicate their labor to whatever needs doing. Gathering supplies or food, building shelters or structures, and caring for the young or elderly are all common tasks for lycans in their communities. It's seen as bad etiquette to push yourself too hard however; wearing your body or mind out can make you a liability that others must care for.

You can use the lycan personality table to determine a personality trait or to inspire a mannerism for your character.

Lycan Names

Lycan names are made up of a personal name and a pack name. A lycan goes by their pack name first to those they're less familiar with or in formal settings, and by their personal name within their family and friend groups.
Female Names: Freya, Kit, Lyra, Vex, Wren.
Male Names: Alf, Hugo, Leif, Remus, Soro.
Pack Names: Aesop, Dahl, Lobo, Ochre, Ragnar.

Lycan Traits

Your lycan character has the following species traits:
Ability Score Increase Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age Lycan age and mature at similar rates to other species.
Alignment Lycan lean towards the lawful and neutral alignments.
Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision A master of nocturnal hunting, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Pack Tactics You have advantage on attack rolls against a target if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the target, and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Language You speak Common and Lupine.
During character creation, select one of the following subspecies of lycan and apply those traits to your character.

Volff

The prototypical lycan, the volff's ancestors stalked the forests and mountains of the World, hunting in packs and howling to find more of their kind. Though they may be outnumbered by the other subspecies in modern times, they're still seen as the image of a lycan; with strong, proud faces, capable physiques, and a knack for leadership and teamwork. Militaries and guilds across the World recruit volff to shape their forces into cohesive units and train them for battle.
Ability Score Increase Your Strength score increases by 1.
Size Volff are the stockiest subspecies, averaging 5'6" and 160 lbs. Your size is medium.
Surprise Attack If you surprise a creature and hit it with an attack on your first turn in combat, the attack deals an extra 2d4 damage. You can use this trait only once per combat.

Huund

Appearing in a massive spread of shapes, sizes, and colors, the huund have adapted to nearly any climate and lifestyle. Ranging from small and fluffy, to round and stocky, to lean and tall, other species often confuse huund for wildly different animals rather than members of the same species. This variety of body plans still has much in common - their tails wag when they get excited, their snouts are perfect for picking up scents, and even the smallest and least frightening still have predatory sharp teeth. They have a knack for making friends quickly, welcoming strangers into their lives, and inserting themselves into everyone else's conversations.
Ability Score Increase Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Size Huund come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from barely over 3'6" to almost 6' tall, and ranging in weight from 100 to 200 lbs. Your size is small or medium, chosen when you select this subspecies.
Remarkable Charm Gain proficiency in either the Deception, Performance, or Persuasion skill.

Yotte

Slightly smaller and more slender than their volff cousins, yotte are known for their lighter coloration and characteristic yipping laugh. Stories claim that the yotte were cursed in the distant past for fooling a powerful spirit, and now their blood is stained with deception. These are simply folktales, of course, but many people still believe that if you see red eyes peering in the darkness, it's a yotte who has come to steal your soul away.
Ability Score Increase Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Size Yotte lycan average 5'2" in height and 130 lbs. Your size is medium.
Yotte's Trick You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.

Jakke

Unique among lycan society, jakke culture places less emphasis on large groups and big families, and more priority on individual, personal bonds. It's rare for a jakke to ever meet their extended family, spending time almost entirely with their siblings, parents, and few close friends. Specially adapted to the hot regions of Pirenni and Nalendi, the jakke typically have dark fur around their eyes, and have longer legs and broader feet for dashing across harsh terrain.
Ability Score Increase Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Size Jakke are on average the smallest lycan, averaging 4'4" in height and 110 lbs. Your size is medium.
Desert Stride Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet. In addition, you can attempt to hide even when lightly obscured by foliage, terrain, weather, or other natural features.

Origin/Ancestry

Empire of Carassia

Lifespan

60

Average Height

4'2" - 5'6"

Average Weight

120 - 190 lbs.

Related Organizations

• Empire of Carassia

Howling at the Moon

There are plenty of jokes and stereotypes about lycans gathering in groups to howl at the moon each night. While it may sound funny to other species, there's missed cultural context behind these assumptions. Howling is an ancient lycan ceremony, usually only done under a full moon, and in modern times carries religious significance. It harkens back to an era of tribal life, when lycan shamans would send prayers up to the Wolf Mother (the lycan version of The God) by howling at the moon, where she and all the souls of the dead reside. Though the story of the Wolf Mother may not have as much sway now as it did then, the belief that the souls of lycans past reside with the moon is foundational to lycan faith even now.

Wolf-Dogs

Though they are considered different subspecies, the four kinds of lycan are all capable of having children with one-another. It's not uncommon for a huund and a volff to fall in love and begin a family together. These "mixed-breed" children often appear as a blend of their parents - with a height and build somewhere between the two, and coloration and fur patterns jumbled together. Among high-society lycans who marry only for political reasons, these mixes are known as "mutts". Common folk view that word as a derogatory term, and don't take kindly to any who use it.
If you'd like your lycan character to be of mixed heritage, compare the ability score increase and the subspecies trait of their parentage. Pick one of each that fits your character best.

My Companion in the Valleys

I traveled with a lycan once, for a time. She was a kind sort, with shaggy white and grey fur, floppy ears, and friendly eyes that peeked through her fuzz. We traversed the valleys of Adressia one spring, hiking up and down hills, climbing boulders, and seeking respite from the rain in caves. Her optimism for the next day never faltered.
Each morning, she'd wake me, boots squeaking on her feet and bow and quiver already in hand. "Wake up, sleepy mouse! We ought to be moving already!" Some days, the sun was barely cresting the mountains and she'd say we were late to break camp. I'd wake to the smell of cooking meat some mornings - she'd already gone out to hunt and was preparing breakfast. "You need to eat! We have a long journey today, my friend!" We'd quickly devour a dove she'd sniped with an arrow and snuff the fire, beginning our trek for the day.
With nothing much to do aside from talk, we learned all there was to learn about each other. We knew one another's families by name, our home towns in detail, and the paths through life that led us to meet on the road west and travel together. Through all that life had thrown her way, all the loss, strife, and troubles, she never lost her spirit or her belief that tomorrow would be a better day. "How do you remain so steadfast? How can you look past the pain you've seen others inflict? You fled a war, my friend, that's not a small encumbrance!"
She smiled, though I could tell her eyes were sad, even through the fur that partially covered them. "Without those moments of pain, how can I savor the moments of joy that come my way? Each brick, perfectly shaped or jagged and rough, can build a road to somewhere new."
When next I find myself in Edessa, I shall look her up.
-Rodanté