Wo’nari

From the second a Wo’nari is born they are racing against the world. Their short lifespans and early maturity give them little time to waste. By the time they are able to face the world they likely already have their life’s goal planned in fine detail. They are relentless and extremely quick learners, picking up concepts in days that would take other species years to comprehend. A clan of Wo’nari is a powerful ally to have, and a dangerous foe to fear.

Svelte and Fearsome

Wo’nari can range wildly, from beautiful fur with meaningful markings, to dirt mottled fur that bristles at the slightest provocation. They are tall, adults ranging anywhere from 6 to 7 feet in height. Their bodies are usually light for their size, nearly all their mass being made of finely toned muscle. Wo’nari range from 100 to 160 pounds. There are four major colorations of Wo’nari. White, Brown, Grey, and Black. The dominant color of their fur typically correlates to the specific type of Wo’nari they are. Their temperament often defines how they maintain their appearance. Those preferring the wilds of blood and moon will keep themselves unkempt, regarding unprotective clothing as a waste. The more civilized may indulge in finer garments and jewelry but will rarely wear something that impedes their body for the sake of fashion. All Wo’nari indulge in painting and designing of their fur. Wo’nari fur marking is steeped in cultural lore, every small symbol carrying a story within it.

Focused Ambition

Wo’nari have very little time to accomplish their goals. They reach maturity at age 5 and live a maximum of 60 years, typically dying far earlier. It is expected for a Wo’nari to already have their life’s goal set and detailed by the time they reach maturity. They are trained from birth to move quickly and learn quicker, those who cannot are ostracized for fear of them dragging down the group. Because of this, the Wo’nari have incredible ambition, striving to do as much with their time as they can possibly accomplish. They have little patience for nonsense of any kind and may develop a disdain for leisure activities. Slights against them are either dealt with swiftly or forgotten, giving up the offended senses so they may pursue more important matters. Very little is passed from a parent to their offspring, due to the nature of their clans and breakneck lifestyle. This means that Wo’nari almost never have a blood legacy, relying only on their actions to immortalize them in history.

Their rapid lives are only outpaced by their incredible intelligence. Wo’nari have an amazing ability to absorb and retain information. It is rare that they forget anything of importance until their minds begin to fade in old age. Even then a Wo’nari is an amazing fount of knowledge and many older Wo’nari find themselves serving as scholars or advisers; having likely already accomplished their life’s goal. If a Wo’nari sets their mind to learning a skill or task they can usually master it in half the time it would take another species. Unfortunately, their short lifespan means that only a lucky few in the world will benefit from their amazing skill at a given craft. This makes any creations by a master Wo’nari exceedingly valuable as it may be one of the few masterpieces they created before they died.

Clan-panionship

Clans of Wo’nari are by nature, fleeting things. They rarely last longer than a few generations and typically do not survive the death of an Alpha. Despite this, Wo’nari clans are powerful arrangements; their vast intellect and strength making them fearsome foes to have. Wo’nari cities are great centers of science and discovery but can rise and fall within a century. Each clan is ruled over by an Alpha. The Alpha is not an elected position but doesn’t always need to be taken by force either. Leaders rise to this status through a mix of cunning, leadership, and raw strength. An Alpha may rule over the clan for their entire life, considering it to be their life’s goal. There is little concept of blood lineage in Wo’nari culture, meaning that an Alpha’s offspring is rarely the one to succeed them in this role. Often, the new Alpha must prove themselves to the rest of the clan by beating out other rivals in tests of strength and will. When that fails, a fight of blood and bone will always reveal the next Alpha. During this time the clan is at its weakest, having no clear leadership. Rivals vying for the Alpha position may find the clan has dissolved while they quarreled, leaving them nothing left to preside over.

While most Wo’nari are content with the clan arrangement, others strike out on their own. Each lone Wo’nari has their own reason for preferring solitude. Some are rebelling against their former clan. Others have failed to formulate their life’s goal and meander about aimlessly. Some may consider themselves too great for their clan and go out in search of a worthier one.

Clans almost never ally with one another as it would require two Alpha’s leading together. If a clan must merge with another, the Alphas will typically challenge one another with the victor ruling over the newly fused clans. There is rarely open war between clans as having others fight your battles for you is considered dishonorable and cowardly.

Wo’nari Names

Wo’nari names are a mixture of animistic noises and references to their life’s goal. A Wo’nari chooses their name when they reach maturity, whatever name they were called before this is willingly forgotten by all their kin. Knowing that they are likely to interact with other species they will usually pick a name that others can pronounce. They also use a clan name in a similar way to how humans use last names, adding “of” to denote belonging to that clan. For example, Forygrre of Darkclaw. Those with no clan will often lie, using a well-known clan name or creating a new one, to avoid the dishonor of belonging to no clan. There are no name distinctions between gender. Clan names do not always relate to the actions of the clan. Sometimes a powerful name is chosen for the sake of intimidation. Other times the clan name is something that evolves over time, based on the clan’s actions. Some clan names have been used many times by different clans in different times through history, names being resurrected to evoke the legends behind them.

Wo’nari Names: Vicuus, Rangl, Graanal, Bayrik, Haala, Halthon, Orannayr, Warrgrar, Ghunter, Araleir, Tarrn, Maeestyrr

Clan Names: Lightfoot, Moonpaw, Whitetooth, Archfur, Throatdrinker, Hardbody, Beateater, Forcearbiter, Goldwraith, Huntorn

Other Species

How a Wo’nari interacts with other species is highly dependent on their breed. They have no particular bias for or against any type of creature but prefer to work with more intelligent persons. They are generally well received in the world but enough is known about each breed to color the opinions of the people they may encounter.

Racial Traits

Your Wo’nari character has a variety of trait that differ by the type of Wo’nari they are

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2.
• Age. A Wo’nari reaches adulthood by age 5 and rarely lives past 60.
• Alignment. Wo’nari that live within a clan are naturally inclined towards a sense of order. Those who abandon the clan tend to be more chaotic in nature, living on a whim rather than by any specific code of conduct. Their moral compass will vary wildly based somewhat on their breed and majorly on their limited experiences.
• Size. All Wo’nari have a similar build. They average 6 to 7 feet tall and 100 to 160 pounds. They may appear skinny to onlookers but are packed with muscle under their fur. Your size is medium.
• Speed. You base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you clan teaches. Clans typically enforce the learning of another language to all their pups. The language is often one of a local group of creatures that the Wo’nari must deal with on a regular basis. This other group could be an ally or an enemy..
• Bite. All wo’nari can use their bite as an attack. Make an unarmed strike against a creature, on a hit the target takes 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage.
• Laser Vision. An ability unique to the Wo’nari is that their eyes can produce a laser effect. The origin of this ability is unknown, and the breeds differ on how they can use this ability. After you use your laser attack, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Subraces

There are three major breeds of Wo’nari: Winter, Moon, and Gaia. The ideals and fur color of each breed all follow their own similar path, though there have been many exceptions to this rule.

Winter Wo’nari

As a winter Wo’nari, you were raised in a clan that valued wit and charm over raw strength. You prefer trickery or persuasion over direct confrontation. You are typically easy to get along with and meld into social circles effortlessly, gaining influence with your smooth, toothy smile. Some use this influence to build major clans that far outlast them. Others use this influence as a steppingstone to the next stage of their life’s goal, abandoning those they no longer need. Winter Wo’nari are not inherently evil but are rarely ever described as good. Their fur is usually white to gray with subtle hues of pale colors denoting ancient lineage. They enjoy marking their fur with myriad puzzles and mathematics. Those that can understand and solve these riddles are picked out by the winter Wo’nari as potential allies or threats.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
• Alignment. Winter Wo’nari are hard pressed to be loyal to anyone outside their clan. They tend towards neutral or evil alignments. Evil ones never indulge in violence for the sake of violence, preferring a gentler hand in their conquests.
• Arcane Simplicity. You have the ability to decipher inscrutable texts with relative ease. When reading magic runes or ancient languages, you have advantage on Insight or Investigation checks to decipher their meaning. Additionally, you can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.
• Laser Vision. Your laser eyes manifest in highly focused but harmless beams. On your turn, you can focus a thin laser on a single target you can see within 60 feet. The lasers last until the end of your turn. While you have the lasers targeted on a creature you have advantage on any ranged attack rolls you make against that creature. If you focus an attack on a different target, your beam is lost.

Moon Wo’nari

As a Moon Wo’nari, you were raised in a clan that placed great value in order and tradition. Your upbringing placed much focus on the cycles of life, teaching you discipline and willful resolve. Moon Wo’nari often have a religious or monastic background. They are stupendously loyal to those aligned with their clan or faith, lending their fearsome strength to those in need. They rarely abide evil, unless their god demands it, and find neutrality unsuitable to their resolve.

Moon Wo’nari have dark fur with deep violets or hard black being the primary colors. They mark their fur with symbols of their god or self-mastery. They have no desire to hold their faith inside and do not fear those that may recognize their alignment.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Alignment. Moon Wo’nari almost always serve good gods. Their near obsession with order and tradition mix with their stalwart resolve to make a good aligned creature with very few exceptions.
• Clan’s Weapon Training. You are proficient with 3 weapons of your choice. These weapons should be something that your clan taught all their pups.
• Laser Vision. Your laser eyes create a high energy bolt that burns foes. Make a ranged attack roll against a target that you can see. On a hit the target takes 1d6 + your Intelligence modifier radiant damage. The range is 30 feet and you are proficient with this attack. The damage die increase to 2d6 at 4th level, 3d6 at 8th level, 4d6 at 12th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. Your laser may cause a different type of damage at your GM’s discretion.

Gaia Wo’nari

Wild and free, your clan placed no value on the trappings of civilization. Nature and the wild expanse are your true homes. You are savage and reckless in your speech and your attacks. Some may call you uncouth, and those same would not last a day in the harsh world you were raised in. You have dealt with life and death, victory and loss all your days. The petty trifling of kings and saints mean nothing to a Gaia Wo’nari. What matters is the clan, the wilds, and yourself.

Gaia Wo’nari have fur of browns and reds. They mark their fur with symbols of war and battle. Some take the symbols of the forest or mountains. Their furs often feature lost friends and families, though this is not something most will openly discuss.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
• Alignment. Gaia Wo’nari are not concerned with anything but their own survival. While they may help in larger causes, it is typically for selfish reasons. They are generally of a chaotic alignment.
• Feast of Death. You can spend an action feasting on a recently fallen (1 day or less) corpse, you can recover hit points equal to 1d8 + your Constitution modifier. While feasting, you may not use any reactions. You must finish a long rest before you can use this feature again.
• Laser Burst. Your laser eyes create a bright flash that blinds foes around you. As an action, you create a 15-foot cone in the direction you are looking. Each creature within the area must make a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of their next turn. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

Energy Wo’nari

Energy Wo’nari are an outlier within the species, having features that turn the typical Wo’nari life on its head. Occasionally, due to heritage or a surge of Corruption energy, they have been infused with the same cell-charging energy as a Laser Pup. Because of this they live much longer than other Wo’nari and do not have to mature at the same rate. Their lives are considered carefree by other Wo’nari, making staying within a clan difficult due to the jealously of their “blessing”. Energy Wo’nari feel they have the same drive and determination as the others of their species but lack the internal countdown that drives the others. This also takes a toll on their health and appearance. They are perpetually stuck with a puppy like appearance and consume nearly double the food most Wo’nari eat. Their fur coloring ranges nearly the entire spectrum but will never dull with age, even on their last days. Their fur markings are difficult to maintain, being overtaken by rapid regrowth.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
• Alignment. Good natured and excitable, they seek out any thrills life has to offer. They are fiercely loyal to allies but their chaotic tendencies can easily endanger those same allies.
• Slowed Age. Like the Laser Pup breeds they descend from, Energy Wo’nari age much slower than their counterparts. You are immune to aging effects and spells and your average lifespan in 240 years.
• Laser Bork. Your energy is concentrated in your mouth, rather than your eyes. As an action, you bark a 15-foot cone of energy. Each creature within the area must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw, taking 1d6 radiant damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier. Because of the unique origin of your energy, you can burn your own internal reserves to power up this blast. You can choose to expend any number of your hit dice, increasing the damage of the blast by 1d6 for each hit dice you use.