Laguz (5e Race)

Laguz

Physical Description

Laguz appear to be tall, well built, attractive humans. Their hair and eyes may be any color; a notable Laguz, Ranulf, has blue hair and a blue and a lavender eye. The beast laguz sport long tails and animal ears. The ears and tail carried by a laguz depend on their race. Wolves bear the tail and ears of an actual wolf. Tigers have the ears and tail of a tiger, and so on. Bird Laguz have the wings of their animal side (a hawk has hawk wings, a raven has raven wings). Bird laguz do not have any other animal features except their wings. Other than that, they appear perfectly human.

History

The Laguz and the Beorc (Humans) were created by the goddess to coexist in peace. However, peace was not possible between two prideful, violent races, and many wars broke out. The Goddess tried to stop the fighting, but to no avail. The humans eventually triumphed, and enslaved the laguz. The laguz's lack of discipline, leadership, and strategy and all to pervasive foolhardiness contributed to this. Laguz have been known to charge into battle even when completely outnumbered and surrounded with no chance of victory. Whatever the reason for their fall, Laguz were enslaved, and a dark period in their history began. They coined the term "human" as a racial slur for their Beorc masters. eventually many of the Laguz escaped slavery, settling in the west. They learned nothing from their defeat (probably because they are extremely stubborn), and continued their same leadership and military style they had in their wars with the humans. Throughout their existence, Laguz have perpertrated the same hate that was given to them, even organizing mass hunts of Branded (children of Beorc and Laguz). They did go to war again with the humans to free the rest of their brothers in Bengion, but were defeated when the humans outsmarted them and pinned them between two armies. Only the intercession of their prince saved them from certain death. They retreated, and nearly were slaughtered when they angered the Dragon Laguz, the most powerful creatures on the face of Tellius. Only the presence of a heron laguz saved them. They did not stop, however, trying to free the rest of the Laguz slaves (for the rest of the story, this is one of the campaigns in Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn).

Society

Laguz have hated Beorc for as long as the two races have coexisted. Laguz society bears many scars from their long enslavement. They still live in primitive monarchies, with little or no skill in anything except war. Even in war, they are only good at fighting, not leading or strategy. Nearly all Laguz are prideful, stubborn, single-minded, and violent. They exhibit this in their society, where ordinary civilians will give their lives to save fellow laguz, but outsiders are ostracized, or worse. Crime is low among the Laguz, probably because everyone can fight, but when a Branded pops up, they will ritualistically slaughter him/her for no reason other than race. Laguz are very primitive, using brute strength to build their structures, rather than any machine. They refuse to wield the weapons of a human, calling it "cowardly". In all honesty, this is stupidity at its worst. They are continually fighting humans, but are so pig-headed and obstinate they will not learn from their enemy, which results in them losing every time. Many Laguz, break this mold, however, and associate freely with humans and Branded. Some of these even fight for humans (against other humans of course). Wolf Laguz as a whole are an exception to this. They dwell far across a vast desert, and so no information of this conflict has reached them. Wolf Laguz freely welcome humans and Branded, and their queen has fought in human wars against other laguz (because she believed in the cause. Laguz never have been, and never will be, mercenaries).

Branded

If a Laguz has a child with a human specifically, that Laguz loses their power at the birth of the child. They are never able to shift again. At this point, the Laguz might take up spellcasting or weapons. The birth of a Branded is met with great sorrow, as they are considered abominations (unjustly, I must add. The creator of the Laguz and Beorc, the goddess Yune, said that such oppression was unintended, that there is nothing wrong with Branded). The shock of a Branded's birth is usually enough to split most Laguz-Beorc unions.

Laguz Names

Laguz names vary wildly

Male: Tibarn, Reyson, Kurthnaga, Ranulf, Mordecai, Skrimir, Dghinsea, Nealuchi et al.

Female: Lethe, Lyre, Leanne, Ena, Nailah, et al.

Laguz Traits

Proud warriors who use the power of the beast inside to fight.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Beast Laguz can live up to 500 years, and Bird Laguz can live up to 1000.
Alignment. Laguz tend towards good, as most of them will do the right thing for their people, but definitely more towards chaotic or neutral.
Size. Laguz vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Laguz Vulnerabilities. The tough hide of the wolf, tiger, and cat laguz is flammable, so they are vulnerable to fire damage. Ravens and Hawks have hollow bones, making the vulnerable to force damage. Ravens and Hawks also make all saving throws that would knock them prone at disadvantage.
Laguz Training. Laguz have plenty of experience in fighting with their fists and feet, as that is how most fight while not shifted. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
The Beast Within. As a bonus action, you may channel the raw, primal energy of your ancestry. If you do, you shift (change into your bestial form from your humanoid form) into a massive beast (determined and detailed by your subrace). When you shift, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level, and your gear changes with your body into your bestial form (you cannot use items stored on your person while you are in your beast form). You may stay shifted for 1 minute, and may revert (change back into your humanoid form) before the time is up by using a bonus action on your turn. You may shift a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all uses of this feature after you finish a long rest.
Natural Armor. When unarmored or shifted, your Armor Class is equal to 12 + your Dexterity modifier.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Subrace. Tigers, Cats, Wolves, Hawks, Ravens

Tiger

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Transform. When you transform, you become a massive tiger, larger than a man. You do not actually gain the colors or rough physical outline of a real Tiger.
Natural Weapons. While transformed, your claws and fangs deal 1d8 slashing damage.

Cat

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Transform. When you transform, you become an enormous cat. The average cat's head reaches between the knees and waist on a normal sized human male.
Natural Weapons. While transformed, your claws and fangs deal 1d6 slashing damage. You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls with these unarmed strikes.
Fleet of Foot. Cats are the fastest and most nimble of all laguz. Your movement speed is increased to 35 feet.

Wolf

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Transform. You transform into a massive wolf, reaching about shoulder height on a human soldier.
Natural Weapons. While transformed, your claws and fangs deal 1d6 slashing damage.
Wolf Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Hawk

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Transform. When you shift, you become a massive hawk, roughly the size of a man.
Natural Weapons. While transformed, your talons and beak deal 1d6 slashing damage.
Hawks' Wings. You gain a flying speed of 30 feet. If you are wearing armor you are not proficient in or any Medium or Heavy armor, you may not fly.

Raven

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Transform. When you shift, you are a massive black raven, similar in size to the Hawks of your kind.
Natural Weapons. While transformed, your talons and beak deal 1d6 slashing damage. You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls with these unarmed strikes.
Ravens' Flight. You gain a flying speed of 30 feet. If you are wearing armor you are not proficient in or any Medium or Heavy armor, you may not fly.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
′ ″	+	lb.	× () lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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