Lumen (5e Race)

Lumen

“	The moon shines brightly for you tonight, young pup. We are blessed so long as its cycles persist.	”
—Lumen prayer

Moon-Touched

By Yanied

Lumen are humanoid wolves. They have the fur, paws, snout, ears, and the usual like lupines. However, unlike regular lycanthropes, their fur shimmers like silver in the daylight. At night, their fur gleams with sparkles like that of fresh snow. Others say it is as if someone plucked stars from the heavens and dotted the lupine body with it. Regardless, their fur is unusually lustrous and luminous. Sometimes this luminescence can take the form of markings along the body and fur like tattoos. A little detail also separating them from the usual werewolf is their inability to be hurt by silver, as well as their claws, which gleam like metal.

History

Lumen are said to be lycanthropes coming from the reaches of the lunar plane. They are sometimes dubbed the "Original Ones", due to their coming from the moon, and some say the disease of lycanthropy descended from their plane. Within their home are lupine creatures like them, but their usually civil manner and luxurious and glowing fur sets them apart from the usual werewolf. People were greatly enthralled by their beauty. Many wanted their pelts. Others revered them as some kind of wolf deity from the heavens bearing stars on their bodies.

Lumen were often able to beguile those who would try to trap them for their fur, weaseling their way out with sweet words or vague warnings. Hunters called them silver-tongued foxes in wolf's clothing. They were an elusive species for a long time, as their kind was hunted mercilessly for their prized pelts, to the point of the endangerment of the species. Eventually, some lumen managed to weave their way into the politics of some large cities. Seizing key spots in government, they were able to put their kind under protection, framing themselves as beautiful and peaceful creatures that are hunted wrongly. Some believe them to be telling the truth, others believing they speak naught but sweet lies in order to spread a hidden agenda. Of what, we know not.

Society

Lumen societies are difficult to locate, as individual members are elusive. They are said to live in complex forest homes dangled in dense trees and bridged by planks. They have an unnatural climbing ability most canids, even humanoid ones, would lack. These locations of their residences are hard to find without a guide. They are all said to lie within a tear inside the lunar fabric, which leads back to the plane from which they originate. But as most people have never seen a lumen village, much less been allowed to stay in one for an extended amount of time, the exact whereabouts of their homes are in high speculation.

Within their little villages, lumen attend small schools headed by single teachers. They sharpen their minds with their fellow peers and rehearse scenarios of encounters with hunters. These often turn into a roast session about how stupid their pursuers are. While lumen do have deadly claws and fangs with which to defend themselves, these are considered commonplace and brutish. Lumen pride themselves on their superior agility and intellect to outwit and outmaneuver predators and other possible adversaries, which would take them for no more than a filthy beast with a pricey coat.

Lumen Names

Lumen will often give themselves a nickname of something that they like. Their parents sometimes name them something that tides them over the years, but many eventually rename themselves to distinguish their individuality.

Male: Bone, Moon, Elm, Warren

Female: Star, Hawthorn, Violet, Eddy

Lumen Traits

A gleaming lycanthrope from the lunar plane
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age. Lumen mature faster than humans. They reach adulthood at 15 and can live up to around 230 years old.
Alignment. Lumen usually grow up with werewolves and even around ordinary wolves. Lumen are usually thereby chaotic and rarely lawful.
Size. Lumen vary widely in height and build, from barely 4 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. You're naturally quick on your feet compared to other creatures, and have a base walking speed of 30 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Silvertongue. Like a leprechaun, lumen are known to be able to tell lies and persuade people who would otherwise hunt them. You are proficient in either the Persuasion or Deception skill.
Natural Weapons. What you were born with is not your preferred weapon, but it is yours to use nonetheless. Your claws and fanged maw are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. They deal slashing or piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Climbing Canid. You have an uncanny ability to scale surfaces other lupine creatures might not be able to. You have a climbing speed of 30 feet.
Starlight. Your starry pelt gleams differently depending on night and day. You emit bright light up to 15 feet and dim light for an additional 15 feet when you would otherwise be in darkness.
Wolven Kin. Lupine beasts have an extraordinary affinity with your people. You can communicate simple ideas with wolves. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return.
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**
4′ 6''	+2d10	240 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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