Pandafolk (5e Race)

Pandafolk

Chian was sitting on his favorite rock close to the village. It was his favorite because he could look all the way over the jungle from there. He opened his eyes wide from surprise when suddenly a butterfly landed on his nose. Trying to sit as still as possible to make sure the butterfly wouldn't fly away, he didn't notice he was slightly leaning to the left. After a second or two he lost his balance, making him tumble all the way down the hill...

Physical Description

A Pandafolk Town Elder, by Emily Poh

Pandafolk are bestial people capable of standing bipedally like a humanoid, allowing them to reach tall heights. Their bodies are covered in a pattern of black and white fur. Their face is usually white with round black ears and black circles around their eyes. Unlike the typical panda, they have fully prehensile paws with an opposing thumb. Portions of their fur can also grow longer to make things like whiskers and beards.

History

The pandafolk are a peaceful race dwelling amongst the bamboo forests on mountains enshrouded by golden mists. They were originally nomadic, travelling as the groves of bamboo rose and fell. However, with the wisdom endowed to them by the dragon spirit, they learned to cultivate their own crop and so settled in fertile valleys. However, they were ill-prepared for the ills which would befall them. Being docile and a bit roly-poly, they were ill-equipped to face predators and other threats which would often come and raze their settlements. The dragon spirit heard their grief and sent five envoys: a turtle, a fox, a yeti, a jaguar, and a serpent. These envoys would draw the divisions of the pandafolk race to train in their own art, scattering the race in five directions. They would live to survive and develop new skills under the guidance of their given patron. When the time was right, they would return to take back the land they deserved.

Society

Pandafolk are herbivores. They thus must live in areas livable for plants on a large scale. They were originally nomads, dependent on the growth of bamboo in predictable cycles and locations. However, this often put them at the mercy of freak weather and deforestation. Thus, with the guidance of the great dragon spirit, they came to learn farming and grew their own bamboo. Their current society is currently split into five clans, each under their respective patron envoy sent by the dragon spirit. They have set up small villages led by elders, where they spend most of their days training their mind and spirit in accordance with the envoy's ways.

Religion

The great dragon spirit is not a real central deity to the pandafolk. They do not follow a religion revolving around gods, but rather around spirits of animals and nature. However, it is simply sometimes translated to "god" in Common, rather than the pandafolk concept for it, for which there is no equivalent. They do frequent exercises meant to channel their chi, which is the energy they believe to run through all of life. Certain pandafolk who are gifted in controlling chi tell of how their race has a great power to attune to their inner energies and even use it to heal. Chi is the essence of all things, and when one dies, it will carry on to be joined in the great chi well that is the afterlife, to be made into new life.

Personality

Pandafolk can be fastidious about their training, but are generally laid-back. They enjoy slow meals where they can forget about hardship and problems, preferring to spend time socializing with others. People usually note them to be a bit food-driven and lazy. However, they can be dedicated to something they have a passion for, and never lose their sense of humor. They value friendship and relationships greatly, and are always willing to help a comrade in need. To some pandafolk, friends are as simple as those willing to break bread with them.

Pandafolk Names

Pandafolk prefer names implying peace and simplicity.

Male: Tomo, Oklen, Po, Chian

Female: Jade, Kimiko, Xue, Ging

Pandafolk Traits

Peaceful, slow people that commune with a spirit beast envoy from a dragon.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Age. Pandafolk reach adulthood around 16 years, living to up to and around 250.
Alignment. Most pandafolk tend towards a lawful alignment, living by the rules given to them from their spirit.
Size. Pandafolk are 7 to 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Steady Gait. Your stride cannot be interrupted or hastened. You are immune to effects that would alter your speed. Spells like haste or slow no longer change your movement speed. But you will still gain the other benefits or detriments of the spells. Feats and class features can still give you extra movement speed.
Dragon Memory. You are a people with a rich history intertwined with dragons, passed often by tradition, making you knowledgeable in the subject. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to dragons, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Chi Pulse. Using your attunement to your chi, you can heal yourself when in a pinch. As a bonus action, you can expend a hit dice to regain hit points. You must finish a short or long rest before using this trait again.
Languages. You speak, read, and write in Common and one language of your choice.

Turtle

The turtle spirit envoy is a steady creature of defense. Pandafolk in his following usually wear actual turtle shells on their back.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Tough Body. When unarmored, your Armor Class is equal to 12 + your Constitution modifier. You may use a shield and still gain this benefit.
Hard Knock. Your steadiness makes it hard to knock you down. You have advantage in saving throws against being knocked prone

Yeti

Yeti, with the power of cold, aids the pandafolk in withstanding the elements.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Frigid Buffer. You are resistant against cold damage.
Snow Cloak. You may attempt to hide when only lightly obscured by falling snow.

Serpent

Serpents are well-versed in toxins and how to neutralize them.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Thick Skin. You are resistant to poison damage and have advantage in saving throws against being poisoned.
Cure. You are proficient with the herbalism kit.

Jaguar

The jaguar is a fast prowler which transfers some of its properties to its pandafolk.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Dasher. Your learned reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
Jungle Stalker. You have advantage in Dexterity (Stealth) checks when in a forest environment.

Fox

The dexterous and tricky fox taught pandafolk the power of wit over might.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Convincing. You are proficient with the Persuasion skill.
Fox Magic. You know one cantrip of your choice from the warlock or sorcerer spell lists. Charisma is your spellcasting modifier for this spell.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
7′ 0''	+1d12	270 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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