Bouffalor (5e Race)

Bouffalor

“	No, we are NOT yak folk!!	”
—Common bouffalor exclamation

Physical Description

By ktmz27

The bouffalor are a bunch of bovine humanoids closely associated with yak folk at worst and minotaurs at best. They have the minute difference of appearing like anthropomorphic buffalo instead of yak or bulls, though this is a small difference to everyone else. Like a minotaur, they have human bodies from the neck down, with a horned head atop a thick set of broad shoulders. The skin of a buffalo extends down and covers their entire body in a tough, prickled hide. They have normal human hands and feet instead of hooves, and they notably lack a tail. Extra protrusions of hard bone can be found on their head. Bouffalor take great pride in their physique and many of them have toned, muscular bodies.

To best exhibit their muscles and power, most bouffalor wear as little as possible while still being socially acceptable. Many will wear only pants to show off their pectorals and abdominal muscles. Some males wear only loincloths. Females are similar, and will often also walk barefoot. Jewelry and colorful clothes like that which the yakfolk wear are not very popular among most bouffalor save some in the ruling echelons. Even then, these are mere accessories that are frivolous. Some bouffalor will sharpen their teeth with files to give themselves a more frightening appearance.

History

The bouffalor are supposed relatives of other bovine humanoids. They are, however, relatively murky in origin. In contrast to the yikarian yakfolk, born by the Forgotten God, and the minotaurs, created by Baphomet, bouffalor do not claim divine intervention in their creation. It is simply known that they come from river lands and have a culture around water ways. They are known to live in Savannah areas where they pitch their portable homes. For as long as they have existed, they traveled along with the river's highs and lows. In their culture of story telling, they believe they rose out of the river, created by the river spirits using the bones of water buffalo and wildebeests who had died to drowning or crocodile attacks. This is documented on beautifully tanned hides harvested from the bodies of their ancestors upon their death and carried by shamanistic lorekeepers to be passed on through generations.

Society

Within the tracts of land bordering xeric deserts and fertile grasslands run the rivers by which bouffalor reside. They are typically nomadic, migrating up and down the rivers depending on the height and season. During dry seasons, they move upstream. In wet seasons, they move back downstream. Their houses are mobile, yurt-like structures that are easy to take down and reassemble after a move. Bouffalor society is organized into that of a communal clan, with all mothers weaning babies, even those not their own. The idea of a private family is therefore strange to bouffalor. Most bouffalor rotate roles in their clan, ranging from guards to mothers to crafters. Guards are commonly selected from the prime candidates as the result of a monthly competition, and the title renders prestige onto those who hold it. Crafters are a miscellaneous class of bouffalor who work with clay, metal, and even grass, to make clothing and wares. Mothers protect and rear the children, occupying another title of high prestige. The high council of the river shamans and lorekeepers are the positions which do not rotate, and are replaced through a ritual done by the river to convene with the gods. This council manages all affairs of the clan in accordance with the rules imparted to them by the rivers.

Sometimes rogue bouffalor are born particularly scrawny. They do not fit the mold of adhering to laws of strength, and often do not qualify for guards, nor mothers. Often, they are shunted aside to the crafters group. However, this creates a lot of resentment within the crafter class, which is where many bouffalor used to be before they leave their clan seeking a more fulfilling life. In regards to external affairs, bouffalor are hesitant to ever involve themselves with outsiders, save the ones who voluntarily exiled themselves from the clan to go about the world. Outsider affairs to them often are muddled and dirty, which is a state of things bouffalor dislike. They prefer clarity and therefore only deal in straightforward things, like simple exchanges and trade.

Bouffalor Names

Bouffalor names take from similar traditions to that of Zakhara, in particular the tribes living along the coasts. As strength is a very important aspect of their culture, their names are usually imbued with words of power.

Male: Hwaiti, Oktu, Bijou, Gennu

Female: Ambyani, Oroka, Kei, Lizara

Bouffalor Traits

Buff buffalo men
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and one other score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Many bouffalor live decent lifespans with their strict health training. They can live to be as old as 120 years.
Alignment. Bouffalor prefer to keep to themselves as a clan, save for the bare minimum of trade and ferrying or guiding people near the rivers. They are usually neutral or good, but some can have a dislike of outsiders more than usual.
Size. Towering at above 6 feet, bouffalor are big, stocky people. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Water Storage. Despite the fact they always live near rivers, it is not always the case of sustenance, and bouffalor actually have very good liquid retainment systems. You can go an additional day without fulfilling the daily water requirement normal for creatures your size and take no levels of exhaustion. After this day, you take exhaustion as normal if you have not fulfilled your requirement.
River Nomads. You are well versed with the ways of water on land. You have advantage on all checks to inspect rivers for their depth, potability, and currents, as well as checks to steer water vehicles in rivers.
Warrior Way. Your body is not merely for show. You are proficient in Athletics.
Horns. Your horns are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to ld6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Bouffalor Style. Bouffalor are weapon-users as well as horn-rammers. They fuse these to make a seamless battle style unique to their people. Immediately after you hit a creature with your horns, you can use a bonus action to make an additional weapon attack or unarmed strike.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+2d6	200 lb.	× (1d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a bouffalor character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

Bouffalor are a relatively amicable race. They lack negative stigma that other bovine humanoids have. However, they can be thus tempted to evil, just like any other person.

d8	Personality Trait
1	My clan is my compass, and I refer to their laws for everything.
2	I like to have a good chunk of time to preening and grooming every day.
3	I get very petty if things do not go my way.
4	Envy possesses me easily if I see someone with bigger muscles than mine.
5	I generally do not spend a lot and therefore tend to hoard money.
6	I tend to treat the opposite sex better in hopes of starting a family.
7	I deviate from the others and try to use my brain more than my brawn.
8	I tend to speak my mind even when I am not asked.

d6	Ideal
1	Power. I just want to be the strongest! (Any)
2	Survival. This is a world where the weak are devoured, and I try every day not to end up bottom. (Neutral)
3	Brawler. What good is strength without good enemies? Everyone, come at me! (Chaotic)
4	Mediator. My strength can be used to help others because I am so strong. (Good)
5	Hunter. My talents are for the highest coin, and I will exert my strength on anyone I have to. (Evil)
6	Edicts. I exist to uphold the ways of my clan. (Lawful)

d6	Bond
1	The clan is everything to me.
2	I met an outsider once and I was enticed by the outside world to leave my own.
3	My own clan cast me aside for being weak and I hate them.
4	I desire to be strong for the sake of someone else.
5	I have grown out of my clan's narrow ways and I want to change them for the better.
6	There is nothing better in the world than good sparring buddies.

d6	Flaw
1	I overeat a lot and I will finish the food of others.
2	I tend to talk too little and never express myself.
3	I only know how to communicate with fists.
4	Once I start talking about something I know even a peanut about, you can't stop me from rambling for an hour.
5	My coordination is clumsy in everything except battle.
6	Loud noises easily scare me.

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