Beastkin
From Vanathul Wiki
| Beastkin[T] | |
|---|---|
| Type | varies |
| Ability Scores | varies |
Description
Exact descriptions are challenging, as there are a great variation in phenotypes. In general beastkin are bipedal with several characteristics reminicent of one or more beasts. Clawed hands, hoofed or cloven feet, or animalistic anthropoid facial features are all common.
As the cause of the mutations was of a magical nature, they are very rarely debilitating or deforming to a fatal degree.
Society
The Beastfolk of Orn are almost exclusively found in the forests of Atun'Var in the Fellfen. Reports of the occasional hunting party have been spotted around Stillwater, but never closer to the Verdant Veil than that.
Relations
There is mistrust, if not hatred, of the human population of the Fellfen as well as hostility towatds travel and trading routes from Mendaris and Brienyamar that pass close to their territories.
The ruins of Fairbrook is but the most recent symptom of this conflict. It's no secret that Fairbrook was the source of frequent clashes with highly territorial beastfolk, but even if the murder and razing of the city was justified, it did not help what little relations beastfolk had with Fellfens human population.
History
What we today know as beastfolk were originally the known as the Khimer soldiers of Orn. Enhanced humans from the age of conflict with K'Shaal. They traditionally kept the borders safe from invaders, and acted as security for the rich an influential.
The nature of the enhancements varied, but were largely derived from animals. Stronger muscles, quicker reflexes, or acute hearing to name but a few. For the most part none of the augmentations took the soldiers far away from the basic human template, and besides some exotic irises, exceptionally lithe bodies, or excessive musculature, they were all "mostly human" so to speak.
When Orn fell, the fey did what they could to get humanity under their sway with their deals and gifts. And as so often is the case, a deal with a fey ended badly in the long run. Some soldiers accepted a deal of a particularly capricious fey, which twisted their forms to better express their animalistic traits.
These Khimer beastfolk, or now simply beastkin survived and thrived to an extent, and can be found mostly in the Atun'Var forests in Fellfen.
Applicable races
Most races with a beastly aspect and humanoid/human base are candidates, but some races may be excluded if presented elsewhere. In any case, beast races are not an ordinarily playable race, so there should be a discussion with the DM if a player has any questions.