Ursines are bear-like beastborn humanoids based loosely on indian and chinese mythologies. With bulky builds and short fur, Ursines tend to stand as tall as humans if not taller. One of the rarer beastborn species, their homelands are dubious as they are found on all continents in small populations. Most of them integrate well into whatever culture they find themselves in. If a single trait could sum up the ursines, it’s that they live in the moment. They embrace life with gusto. An ursine does everything with vigor, focus, and intensity. Every meal is an event. Every moment with the family is cherished. Every project or work of art demands their full attention.

Every nap is treated as if it will be the last! The ursines work hard, play hard, fight like animals, love with all their soul, tell impossibly tall tales, drink like they mean it, and sleep like the dead. On the whole, ursines are slow to anger and prefer measured solutions to problems. But underneath all of that practiced civility, there is a bear to contend with. When an ursine focuses on combat, each blow rings with the weight of their entire body. Living “in the moment” also means getting lost in the fury of combat; an ursine monk in the midst of battle has fists like wrecking balls and a roar that can be heard from horizon to horizon.

However, it takes a great deal to get an ursine wound up. They tend to emphasize and cultivate a quiet life of inner harmony and focus. Conflicts, no matter how bitter, are quickly forgotten over cold drinks once the matter is resolved.

The ursine sense of inner peace and love of life is infectious. Spend any significant time with an ursine and you, too, can’t help but get lost in the moment. Due to their laid-back nature, ursines—especially the pandos—are a bit looser about time and the passage of seasons than other groups. There are two lineages of ursines, the pandos who stay within their homelands of Eteru and the ursos who have wandered far and wide across every corner of Abmarah. Ursos have a sizable minority population within the Hukumat, with many of them seen wandering around the big cities as well as the Km’mala Peaks. The ursines of Eqos have lived in the continent for countless generations and are completely disconnected from their original homelands. Most of them now follow Ashtadharma, and ursine sages have played a key role in the religion’s spread across the lands.

Racial Stats

When creating an Ursine, you have to pick one of the two lineages. All lineages share the following traits:

Age. The ursines reach maturity around the age of 18 and live to about 100 years.

Alignment. Most ursines live in balance and harmony with their inner selves. They do not have a tendency towards any particular alignment, whether it is lawful, neutral or chaotic.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Size. Ursines stand between 6 and 8 feet tall, weighing on average around 300 – 500 lbs. Your size is Medium.

Bear Claws. You can use your claws to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Natural Prowess. You gain advantage on any Wisdom (Perception) check that benefits your powerful sense of smell. This perception bonus is not granted to any sense other than smell.

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 grey.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Ursine Lineage. You are part of a lineage that grants you additional abilities. Choose a lineage from the Ursine Lineages table. You gain the features of the chosen lineage.

Wanderer Ursines / Ursos

Ursos-Ursines, also known as the “Wanderers” or the “Bhallav” in the Kav’orra, are generally based on all types of bears such as black, brown, and polar bears. They are named after the fact that they wandered away from their mythical homeland and spread across Abmarah. They have adventure and wanderlust in their blood! Courageous, bold, perhaps a bit too much for their own good, but good hearts all the same. Ursos are often said to lack any sort of  culture of their own, as their nomadic spread has made them integrate so well into other cultures that they have forgotten their roots, whatever those were. Black and brown furred ursos are found across the Km’mala Peaks and the Rethi Riverbank, while ursos with coats similar to sun-bears are found within the Goldheim Rainforest in Western Eqos. There are no notable ursos noble families in Eqos, as they are always a minority within all the cities of the continent that they have settled. Most of the ursos who settle down permanently and give up their nomadic lives take up agricultural and hunting related jobs such as farmers, beekeepers, rangers, and even clerics. Their thick fur makes it difficult for them to travel through the Kav’orra Desert, and they rarely wander deep into the dunes unless absolutely necessary.

Imperial Ursines / Pandos

Pandos-Ursines, also known as the “Imperials”, were named after the ancient Ping Dynasty of Eteru. They are most visually similar to the various types of pandas, having thicker fur than their ursos relatives. Most pandos are found in the Xoenni Peninsula of Eteru, and they rarely travel outside their homeland to other continents. While you might see the occasional pandos traveler in port cities like Kasaaq, you’d rarely find them living there permanently. Pandos are said to have a monastic and deeply introspective culture that focuses on self-reflection and tempered responses. While they are deeply integrated into the culture and history of Eteru, it is hard to say how much of it is their own culture anymore as all other species have adopted their ways.

Feats

In addition, Ursine players have access to unique Species Feats that they can choose to take in addition to other General Feats. Species Origin Feats can be chosen during character creation replacing any Origin Feat you would’ve received from your background.

Ancestral Wisdom (Species Origin Feat). You know how to use your body's weight to your advantage to tank certain hits. Whenever you are hit by a weapon attack, you can use a Reaction to reduce the damage taken by 1d10 + your Constitution modifier. You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Bear Resilience (Species Origin Feat). You are well versed to the toxins and poisons of nature, even more so than other Ursines. You have Resistance to Poison damage. You also have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Poisoned and Diseased conditions.

Seasoned Instinct (Species Feat). You can enter a peaceful state of mind and spirit even in the midst of battle. You gain the following benefits:

• Increase your Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence by 1, to a maximum of 20.

• As a Bonus Action, you can enter a state of heightened awareness for 1 minute. While in this state, you gain 10 feet movement speed and have Advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks. Additionally, during this state you can use a Reaction to impose disadvantage on any weapon attack that would hit you. Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.

Far Wanderer (Species Feat). You have traveled far and wide across many lands of the world. You gain the following benefits:

• Increase your Dexterity, Intelligence, or Wisdom by 1, to a maximum of 20.

• You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. If you already have proficiency in Survival, you gain expertise instead. Additionally, when making Wisdom (Survival) checks to detect food, you do so with Advantage.