Vulpimaster (5e Race)
Vulpimaster
| “ | 'Vulpe' is fox as in I'm a FOX, not a wolf! | ” |
Physical Description
 |
|---|
| By Hibbary |
The vulpimasters are a race of bipedal beasts, namely a mix of fox and racoon. Like the latter, their face has the trademark black fur around the eyes, making them look like bandits. They have the bushy tail, as well as the glimmer of mischief in their eyes that both raccoons and foxes have. Their fur has a mix of greys and reddish browns and the hairs are thick and coarse. Their fingernails are long and claw-shaped, and are much tougher than normal nails. That is because the inside of the nails are lined with a silver like substance. Their eyes are larger than that of a human, along with a flattened nose. Their ears are slightly pointed and a bit taller than a regular animals, and greatly enhance their hearing. Vulpimasters typically have rather short arms in proportion to their legs.
History
Vulpimasters are a race of mysterious origin. Their own story believes themselves to be a rare living fossil, ancestor to modern-day raccoons and foxes. Their name comes from the belief that their ancestor actually taught foxes their wily and resourceful habits, thus making them masters. However, most external records indicate they appeared around the time after humans rose into prominence on the world stage. There are some hieroglyphs that depict vulpine humanoids with black bands over their eyes as shepherds near rivers by ancient civilizations. It is now largely accepted that they were the result of mating between fox and raccoon-like creatures that were semi-bipedal. These humanoids supposedly came to the Material Realm after the opening of the Feywilds. However, it required generations longer of mating before the modern day vulpimaster was born.
Society
People often mistook vulpimasters for some kind of lycanthrope and treat them like the diseased. Thus, they have a hard time fitting in where people fear werewolves to a fault. In their own societies, ethnographers have noted there are very strange customs. For example, the vulpimaster tribes rarely have all-out war. This is because disputes between tribes are settled with both tribes choosing one warrior to represent the tribe. These two are called 'tributes' and brought to the central arena. The two warriors are then released into the wild. Then after 3 days, if the chosen tributes have not killed each other or died, they are brought back into the arena. In the arena, they are allowed to keep anything that they were able to procure in the 3 days to survive. New tributes will then be chosen, and the ritual repeated, until one side's tribute dies or is killed. The victor of the fight between tributes is then given a feast in their honor, along with the tribe that they represent, which has been proved in the right.
Some may call the vulpimasters barbaric for letting life and death decide their squabbles. However, this is because vulpimasters heavily value survivability in their society. Only those who survive have the right to celebrate, as it is the ultimate challenge. Vulpimasters in urban environments are sometimes seen scavenging around for trash. Many think them similar to rats, ignorant that they are not used to environments of plenty. Also, they are often rendered destitute as a result of discrimination against them anyway. Vulpimasters thus make their own societies in rather desolate or empty spaces where their survivalist lifestyle really shines.
Vulpimaster Names
Vulpimaster have Sylvan names but many have hints of human names mixed in. They are also identified by a short tribal name as a last name.
Male: Efan, Alan, Cisasha, Udallen
Female: Sahia, Ralalelle, Annia, Ami
Tribal Name: Luh, San, Fou, Da, Kin, Mah, Knrak, Rasv, Rah, Knoh, Lurz, Zurlk, Sark, Soh, Nozruk, Atrl, Yco
Vulpimaster Traits
Fox and raccoon hybrid humanoids
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age. Vulpimasters don't live long, as they are animals. They're lucky to reach 70 and never exceed 90 years of age.
Alignment. Vulpimasters tend to be more chaotic due to their upbringing.
Size. Vulpimasters are usually just above six feet and many are smaller. 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.
High Ears. You have ears more perceptive than even normal animals. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that use your hearing.
Quadrapedal Dash. As a bonus action, you can drop on all fours or revert to bipedally standing. While on all fours, your base walking speed is 40 feet. However, while quadrupedal, you cannot hold or use items.
Scavenger's Tenacity. Like raccoons and foxes, who survive off scraps and their wits, vulpimasters are very hardy, left to their own devices. You are proficient in the Survival skill.
Scavenger's Appetite. To survive is to make do with anything you have and surviving the bad parts of it. You have advantage in saving throws against diseases and against being poisoned ingested substances.
Languages. You can read, write and speak in Common and Sylvan.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 5″ | +2d4 | 115 lb. | × (1d8) lb. |
|
*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races