Houndfolk (3.5e Race)

Houndfolk

Possessed with a immesurable energy and enthusiasm as well as a forthright sense of honor and justice, houndfolk are loyal companions with canine roots.

Personality

Houndfolk are the eternal optimists and are always underfoot. They are always happy, and to see a sad houndfolk is heartbreaking. However, this is simply a facade, and in reality houndfolk are a good and true people who dislike breaking the rules. They dislike and distrust arcane magic, which seems to them strange and unnatural, but clerics are always welcome and numerous in their society, since the work of the gods is something they understand.

Houndfolk have a rigid social structure composed of clans. Each clan is broken up into smaller groups, which each have a chief. Each chief answers to a war chief, which rules the entire clan, and each war chief answers to a noble, who rules a particular region of habitat (a noble might rule a particular forest, for example). Each noble answers to the king who rules the entire habitat. There are four kings, one ruling all the forests clans, one ruling all the desert and plain clans, one ruling all the mountain clans, and one ruling all the lake region clans. Political regions have no meaning in houndfolk society, and many people have no idea such a society even exists.

Physical Description

Houndfolk look like humanoid canines. All have a coat of silky fur, and all have dog-like ears, a long muzzle, humanoid-like, furless hands, and long feet. They always walk on tiptoe, lending them a slight hunch, and they usually average 4 1/2 feet tall and about 80-110 pounds in weight. They usually have brown or blue eyes. Some, depending on the habitat, have long tails, and fur length and color varies according to habitat.

Houndfolk that live in the forest have long fur that is typically brown or reddish. Tails are usually amputated at birth because in the forest, tails only get in the way. They live on the ground in small underground huts that blend into the forest. They have an especially congenial relationship with gnomes, who share their habitat and find them "great fun".

Houndfolk that live in the plains or desert have short fur that is sand- colored- or- light- brown. They have long, skinny tails and are nomadic, always moving around in tents.

Houndfolk that live in the mountains have long, thick, coarse fur that is either gray or in a black- and- white pattern. They excel at tracking and are usually more serious than other types of houndfolk.

Houndfolk that live in lake regions have thick, short, waterproof fur. They have partially webbed toes and fingers and are expert swimmers, with a +2 bonus to Swim checks. Their fur can be yellow, brown, or black, much like Labradors.

Relations

Houndfolk regard elves as too haughty to deal with and half-orcs with not a little suspicion, but get on well with most other races. They get on especially well with gnomes, as their playful nature is similar to a houndfolk's. In general they hate catfolk, regarding them as sneaky thieves, but a few unusual friendships have sprung up. Some races find houndfolks' constant optimism and tireless energy a bit annoying.

Alignment

Houndfolk tend toward lawful good, because of their loyalty, honesty, and fairness.

Lands

Houndfolk feel comfortable in any environment, though they are most comfortable in forests, plains, mountains (including highlands), and lake regions. (Areas by fresh water.)

Religion

Houndfolk tend to worship Pelor or Heironeous, and pay homage to a dog-god by the name of Hunde.

Language

Houndfolk speak Canine, a language composed as much of barks, whines, and howls as it is of body language. Houndfolk can speak with any creature that is remotely canine, and also speak Canine when among themselves. (Though it is considered rude to speak Canine in front of non-houndfolk.)

Names

Houndfolk have a "pup-name" until their coming-of-age ceremony. Sometimes names are based on the first animal a houndfolk killed.

Racial Traits

• +2 Charisma, +2 Wisdom,+2 strength typically Houndfolk are friendly and have infectious optimism. houndfolk are fast learners and tend not to make the same mistake twice and seem to be apprehensive of the arcane or occult. Houndfolk also have a genetic predisposition to lean muscular bodies .
• Houndfolk have low light vision 120 ft
• Houndfolk gain a plus 3 on all spot and listen checks and gain a + 4 track by scent synergy bonus to survival checks
• Medium: A houndfolk gains no special bonuses for being a Medium creature.
• Houndfolk base land speed is 30 feet.
• Houndfolk automatically succeed on any Handle Animal check that deals with domestic dogs. They have a +10 racial bonus dealing with wild canines (such as wolves), and a +6 bonus on checks when dealing with magical or intelligent canines (such as blink dogs).
• Natural Weapon: Houndfolk have a primary bite attack that deals 1d6 damage.
• Carnivore: A houndfolk is a carnivore and must have meat in any form at least once a day or suffer 1d4 points of Constitution damage. They can eat and digest plants, and often do, but cannot subsist primarily on vegetation.
• Automatic Languages: Canine and Common. Bonus Languages: Feline, Goblinoid, Gnomish. Houndfolk like to learn the language of their friends (gnomes) and of their enemies (catfolk and goblins).
• Favored Class: Monk.
• Level Adjustment: +2.

Vital Statistics

Table: Houndfolk Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
14 years	-1	+0	+1

Table: Houndfolk Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
30 years	40 years	50 years	+1d10 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Houndfolk Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 2"	+2d4	70 lb.	× 1 lb.
Female	4' 0"	+2d4	65 lb.	× 1 lb.

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