```metadata
title: Awakened Canine
description: ''
tags: []
systems: []
renderer: legacy
theme: 5ePHB
```
## Awakened Canine
By whatever whims of fate, a powerful spellcaster may feel inclined to use the Awaken spell in a canine creature. As result, those canines receive sentience and intelligence previously unknown to them.
Many are longtime friends of Druids or powerful Wizards, but some may be the result of foul intentions and hapless magic.
:
Now self aware, they can choose for themselves who to follow and which path to take.
### Less than Humanoid
Awakened animals are regarded as something lesser than other sentient races by most humanoids, but Canines in particular have found some level of acceptance in certain circles.
Canines usually either try to ingratiate themselves to society, or eschew the company of humanoids altogether.
:
Those that try to curry favor have a hard road ahead, and will find many doors closed to them that would otherwise be open for a normal adventurer.
### No Hands
Despite now having the intellect on par with other humanoids, Awakened Canines still have to deal with a rather extreme handicap... namely, the lack of opposable thumbs.
:
This prevents Canines from performing delicate actions or operating anything that requires hands.
:
However, they are used to it. Enterprising Canines might hold things in their mouth and will often resort to magic or tinkering to overcome their own lacks. They still can't do everything a humanoid can, but they will not hesitate to try, or ask for assistance.
### Canine Personality
A Canine might have motivations and quirks that are different from a dwarf, an elf, or a human. You can use the following tables instead of the trait and flaw from your background.
##### Canine Traits
| d6 | |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I’m dauntless in the face of adversity. |
| 2 | Threaten my friends, threaten me. |
| 3 | I stay on alert so others can rest. |
| 4 | People see an animal and underestimate me. I use that to my advantage. |
| 5 | I have a knack for showing up in the nick of time.|
| 6 | I put my friends’ needs before my own in all things. |
```
```
##### Canine Flaw
| d6 | |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | If there’s food left unattended, I’ll eat it. |
| 2 | I growl at strangers, and all people except my pack are strangers to me.|
| 3 | Any time is a good time for a belly rub. |
| 4 | I’m deathly afraid of water. |
| 5 | My idea of hello is a flurry of licks to the face. |
| 6 |I jump on creatures to tell them how much I love them. |
### Canine Traits
As a Canine, you are hindered by several limitations, but also gain unique abilities.
##### Ability Score Increase.
Two unique ability scores of your choice increase by 1.
##### Age.
Due to the magic flowing through them, Awakened Canines live longer than their non awakened counterparts. An awakened Canine reaches adulthood at around 2 years old, and can live up to 50 years.
##### Alignment.
Because of their nature, Awakened Canines are usually good. However, their alignment might be heavily influenced by their master, if they had one.
##### Size
You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you gain this race.
##### Speed.
Your walking speed is 30 feet.
##### Beast.
Your creature type is beast, rather than humanoid.
##### Language.
Awakened Canines are able to speak and read common plus one language of your choice, which must be a language known by the caster of the Awaken spell.
They can also write, but no amount of training can make their writing entirely legible to anyone but themselves.
To communicate with other dogs, they can bark.
##### Heightened Senses.
You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. You are proficient in the Perception skill.
\page
##### All Paws, No Hands, and a Dog's Body.
An Awakened Canine is limited to holding things in their mouths, and their lack of hands impose a number of limitations:
- You automatically fail skill checks, if they require hands.
- You can only wield weapons that have the Light attribute and cannot throw them. While wielding a weapon, you cannot speak or cast spells with a vocal component.
- Spells can be cast using paws for somatic components, but material components must be either in your mouth or secured on your body, with a collar or harness.
- Canines can play woodwind and percussion instruments, but stringed instruments may prove to be a challenge without the aid of a tool or magic item.
- Armor has to be specially modified to fit your form. As a result, armor is twice as expensive for you to buy, and you cannot wear armor meant for a humanoid.
##### Bite Attack.
Because of your fierce bite, your teeth are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes.
:
If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to ld4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
### Adventurer Training
Awakened Canines can choose to live peacefully with their limitations, but those that decide to venture out in the world must go through arduous study and training to be able to match the humanoid races.
You may choose one Way of Adventure.
#### Way of the Wild
Even though you're now sentient, you eschew the idea that you need enhancements to be able to adventure.
You may have been a wolf or a wild dog, or perhaps just a canine with a strong sense of independence.
:
You try to capitalize your natural abilities in a way that no humanoid ever could, embracing both your newfound intelligence and your wild side.
##### Ability Score Increase.
Your Strength score increases by 1.
##### Vicious Bite.
you have mastered your natural weapon and are able to increase the amount of damage you do with your teeth.
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Your Bite attack now deals damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
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If you hit an enemy with your bite attack, you can spend your bonus action to attempt to either knock prone or grapple your target.
#### Way of the Arcane
You decided to study magic or train under a powerful spellcaster. You now know how to bring out the magical energy flowing through you, to make up for what you lack.
##### Ability Score Increase.
Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
##### Canine Magic.
You know one cantrip of your choice from the Wizard spell list and Mage Hand.
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Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for them.
##### Hands On.
Your Mage Hand does not utilize components, and does not use an action to cast. Additionally, you can use your mage hand to form Somatic components or hold Material components.
#### Way of the Wielder
After training alongside a powerful warrior, you have learned to wield heavier weapons and maintain them. Now that you have mastered these techniques, you use them to fight as well as any humanoid.
##### Ability Score Increase.
Your Constitution score increases by 1.
##### Crafting Knowledge
You gain proficiency in Smith's tools, and do not require hands while making any check with them.
##### Strong Jaw
With special training you can now you can wield any weapon that isn't heavy or two-handed in your mouth. You can also throw light weapons.