Pooka

Pooka are furry shapeshifters that can change into rabbits or hares. A pooka’s humanoid form has long rabbit ears and is covered in fur. Some pooka have a thin, fine fur, while others have a deep shaggy layer of fur.

A pooka’s animal form is always that of a rabbit or hare. The colors of a pooka’s fur depends on their environment and matches the patterns of their animal form. Pooka in cold environments often have white fur, while those in forests have brown fur.

Contents

Scouting Partners

Pooka live in wooded areas and use their shapeshifting abilities to keep track of unfamiliar travelers near their homes. Scouting pooka travel in pairs. One of them, typically the younger pooka, operates in their rabbit form, acting like an innocent animal but spying from a distance. They then report back to their partner, who can make the decision on how to proceed.

Transformation

Most adult pooka remain in their humanoid form, only assuming their rabbit form for special occasions like cultural festivals.

Transforming is like a muscle for the pooka, and it can become more difficult if they don’t use it often. Older pooka try to avoid transforming, as there is a chance they may be unable to turn back.

Quite a few families have an elder that is stuck in their rabbit form. Young pooka, however, transform quite often. As babies, the transformation is involuntary, but young pooka often transform as part of their childhood games.

Confusing Magic

Pooka can naturally influence the minds of other living creatures. Some have the ability to influence other humanoids, while others can forge a special connection with animals.

Pooka never use their magic on other pooka unless fighting, and it’s considered taboo to coerce a creature into doing something it would find hideous, like killing its friends. Pooka usually use their magic to avoid confrontation or to play pranks.

Pooka Names

Example Names: Pooka Chu.

Pooka Traits

Pooka share certain traits as a result of their heritage.

  • Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
  • Age. Although pooka physically mature at the same rate as humans, their life expectancy is longer. Pooka can live up to 200 years.
  • Size. Pooka are generally built like humans. Your size is Medium.
  • Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
  • Change Shape (Major Feature). As an action, you can polymorph into a rabbit (use the stats of an almiraj or cat, but with no attacks or climb speed), or back to your true form, which is humanoid. If you fall unconscious, fall to 0 hit points, or die, you revert back to your true form. While polymorphed, your statistics are replaced by that of the rabbit, but you retain your alignment, personality, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying is not transformed.
  • Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

Pooka Magic

Choose one of the following types of magic you know.

  • Beastmaster Magic (Magic; Major Feature). You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the animal friendship spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the animal messenger once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don’t require material components for these spells. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
  • Beguiling Magic (Magic; Major Feature). You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the suggestion spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don’t require material components for these spells. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Minor Features

Choose two of the following minor features.

  • Animal Friends. You have proficiency in the Animal Handling skill.
  • Combat Training. You have proficiency with two weapons of your choice.
  • Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
  • Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
  • Glowing Eyes. 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.
  • Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
  • Speak with Beasts. You can communicate nonverbally with beasts. You can share simple ideas with the beast, and vice versa.
  • Survivalist. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
  • Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Ancestry Awakened: Copyright 2021, Pirate Gonzalez Games: Author Timothy Gonzalez

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