Apefolk

Deep within the heart of forests across the land, dwells the primate race known as apefolk. They call themselves the gora, a word that holds roughly the same meaning and is derived from their own language. Their lives are simple and revolve around the protection of the forest.

Physical Description. Apefolk are exceptionally large human-like primates. Adults are roughly 6 to 7 ft in height and weigh from 200 to 300 pounds. Their eyes are soulful with the usual colors of coal black or cocoa brown and their presence is very intimidating. Coarse black fur sprout from behind their clothing made from animal skins and simple, cheaply traded fabrics. They prefer to walk on four limbs, lessening their stature somewhat. An ape can increase their height substantially by standing tall to add weight to a threat or wield weapons more comfortably. Female apefolk are relatively smaller than males.

Society. Quiet and aggressive to those not of their tribes, the apefolk rarely solve disputes with words. While actually very slow to anger, they will try to intimidate and attack those they see as threatening to their territories. Amongst themselves and friends, the apefolk actually are very playful with a simple sense of humor. Their tribes are ruled by an alpha male who holds their seat of power by being the strongest and most aggressive of the males. This position also comes with the responsibility of protecting and sustaining survival for the rest of the tribe.

Relations. They protect their forest home and surrounding territory with a fanatical zeal. Other tribes need step carefully when venturing near their domain. Other races who enter their homelands are confronted, often aggressively, and are questioned on their intentions. Those who respect the gora and their lands are seen as allies and treated with kindness, or at least basic hospitality.

Alignment and Religion. The apefolk worship the spirit of nature on a very primitive level, but not any deity in particular. They refer to nature as “Mag mag”, the gora equivalent of mother earth. The druids are their closest thing to priests, and are central to the healing and divine contentment of the apefolk. Usually Neutral, neither exactly evil nor good, the apefolk will protect their lands no matter the cost.

Adventurers. It is rare that an apeman will venture from the confines of their tribes territories. Those found traveling the lands and interacting with non-ape tribes are usually males who challenged an Alpha male, lost, and was exiled.

Male Names. Oog, Rah, Pohk, Mak

Female Names. Sim, Ni, Ara, Upa

Racial Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
• Age. Apefolk mature more quickly than humans, reaching maturity at around 8. Apefolk rarely live longer than approximately 50 years.
• Alignment. Though apefolk tend towards neutral alignments, they also exhibit a full range of different alignments among individuals.
• Size. A given apeman can be as tall as 7 feet, with females generally being slightly smaller. Your size is medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Great Leaper. You increase your long jump distance by 5 feet, or 10 feet when you get a running start.
• Naturally Athletic. You have proficiency in the Athletics and Acrobatics skills.
• Rough and Tumble. You have advantage on saving throws against gaining exhaustion levels.
• Unimpeded. You ignore difficult terrain when you take a Dash action.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and another language of your choice.

Subrace

Among the apefolk, there are three variations that represent an evolutionary split.

These variations help the apefolk be more resilient and able as they work together as a community. Choose one of these subraces.

Sub-Race: Orange Fur

Your lineage is that of a particularly thoughtful and tree loving line of apefolk. Orange furs are regularly looked to for guidance. The orange furs can sometimes act as historians of their people, usually through oral tradition.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Arboreal. You can move along a tree line by leaping and swinging at a speed of 30 feet. Additionally, you gain a climb speed of 30 feet.

Sub-Race: Strong Backs

The largest of the apefolk, strong backs are in fact known for their toughness, their endurance, ferocity, and dedication. Though they have great capacity for kindness and empathy, the strong backs are doubtlessly the backbone of the apefolk society.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
• Powerful Build. You count as one size bigger when determining your carrying capacity, and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
• Slam Attack. You gain a slam attack that deals bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Sub-Race: Long Limbs

Though they are the smallest of the three apefolk types, the long limbs are the most numerous. They are also talented generalists, and do much of the day to day work within their society. Though they are not as strong as the strong backs, they are deadly in a fight. Though they are not nominally as wise as the orange furs, they are far from being dull. In fact, the long limbs work hard to complement their bretheren, and are just as likely to hold the same clout.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
• Talented Improviser. You are proficient with all improvised weapons. You can also attempt to use any tool, adding half of your proficiency bonus.