Therian

There have always been humans with animal traits. Early men painted them on walls and worshipped them or cast them into the role of monsters, humanoid figures with horns and antlers, wings and tails, half human, half animal. Often outcast as freaks or demons, sometimes worshipped as gods, Therian are humans who can shapeshift into an animal form. Therians are a rare sight in the civilised cities these days but are said to have once been far more common. These days most Therian seek secluded places to live where residents respect shapeshifters as representatives of the wildlands they inhabit, the druids and the Fae, who tend to be more tolerant. Some sages consider Therians throwbacks to a time when the gods were tinkering with forms and shapes, a dying anomaly that in time will vanish and die out altogether. Others suggest the Therian are descendants of the Fae, changelings perhaps, left by the Fae in place of a stolen human child. Some cultures believe Therians are the descendants of lycantropes or responsible for the disease themselves and have them hunted down on sight. In other cultures Therians are considered half gods and worshipped. Some sages claim all humanoid species with animal traits are Therian offspring and a rare few claim Therians were the original race of shapeshifters from which all humanoid species descended. Those sages most knowledgeable know that Therian births from human parents sometimes just happen, albeit very rarely. It is a leftover trait from a time when the forms and functions of physical bodies were not as set in stone as they are today. Most modern day Therian births however are from Therians mating with humans, which has a 50% of creating another Therian of the same type. Therians of two different types cannot produce offspring together. Therians of the same type mating will produce another Therian of the same type 100% of the time. When Therians of the same type breed together for generations a new species forms from that branch which cannot mate with actual Therians anymore.

Therian traits

Ability Score Increase: Therians are healthy and start with a +1 Constitution. They also tend to be lean and agile and start with +1 Dexterity.

Age: Therians reach adulthood in their early teens and live less than a century.

Alignment: Therians can be any alignment but most lean toward neutral.

Size: Therians can be Small or Medium in their Hybrid forms, depending on their animal form.

Speed: 30 ft.

Languages: Therians can speak Common and one more language.

Names: Therians are born all across the world and tend to be given names that fit the culture they are born into.

Natural Shapeshifter

Therian can shapeshift between their hybrid form and their animal form. The change takes one round and any equipment carried becomes part of the new form and can't be used in animal form.

Animal Form

The Therian can shift into their common animal form an unlimited number of times but the transformation is limited to only one common animal form that they always transform into. If brought to 0 hitpoints the Therian reverts to its Hybrid Form and excess damage transfers to the Hybrid Form. If forced to revert to Hybrid Form the Therian cannot shapeshift until after a short rest. Common types: Cat. Mastiff. Rat. Bat. Eagle. Goat. Raven. Boar. Frog. Hyena. Owl. Reef Shark. Giant Lizard. Dolphin.

Hybrid Form

Pick 2 traits that fit your chosen animal form. These manifest in your hybrid form which largely is humanoid but expresses your animal traits as well.

Predatory traits: Bite. Claws. Speed burst. Enhanced smell. Enhanced hearing. Leap. Expert Climber.

Prey Traits: Speed burst. Enhanced hearing. Leap. Enhanced smell. Camouflage. Dig. Horns. Hoofs. Expert Climber.

Aquatic Traits: Breathe underwater. Electric Touch. Poison Spines. Bite. Pincers. Double swim speed. Bioluminescence. Sonar.

Avian Traits: Beak. Claws. Wings. Sharp vision. Mimicry. Hollow Bones.

Animal traits

Bite (piercing)/Claws Slashing/Beak Piercing)/Horns (piercing or blunt)/Hoofs (Blunt)/Pincers (slashing): Unarmed attack 1d6 dmg.

Speed burst: During your turn when you move you can move twice your normal speed. But after doing this you need to move at normal speed one turn before able to repeat this feat.

Enhanced smell: Advantage on smell Perception rolls and Survival Tracking rolls.

Leap: Double Leap distance.

Enhanced hearing : Advantage on hearing Perception rolls.

Camouflage: Advantage on Stealth rolls (but only if not wearing clothes)

Breathe underwater: You can breathe underwater and above water.

Electric Touch: 1d6 electric damage on successful unarmed attack.

Poison Spines: 1d6 poison damage/round to target who grapples.

Double swim speed: Double land speed when swimming.

Bioluminescence: cast dim light in a 10 foot area.

Sonar: Advantage on Perception roll underwater (but is audible when used).

Sharp vision: Advantage on seeing Perception rolls.

Dark vision: see up to 60 feet in normal darkness.

Mimicry: mimic voices and sounds.

Wings: While wings in your hybrid form don't allow full flight you can slow your fall to avoid damage and glide 10 feet horizontally to every 10 feet you go down.

Hollow Bones: Yay! Your bones are hollow and you take double damage from blunt attacks. But you also double your jumping distance, can climb at running speed and if you also have wings you can glide 20 feet horizontally for every 10 feet you go down.

Expert Climber: You are balanced like a cat or a natural climber like a monkey and have Expertise on Athletics rolls that involve climbing.

Superior Transformation

At level 3 Therian develop more control over their animal for and get Superior Shapeshift: As a full round action you can assume a larger version of your common animal form 1x/short rest. If brought to 0 hitpoints the Therian reverts to its Hybrid Form and excess damage transfers to the Hybrid Form. If forced to revert to Hybrid Form the Therian cannot shapeshift until after a long rest. Common Forms: Tiger. Wolf. Giant Rat. Giant Bat. Giant Eagle. Giant Goat. Giant Raven. Giant Boar. Giant Frog. Giant Hyena. Giant Owl. Hunter Shark. Crocodile or Pteranodon.