Awakened

Awakened are normal animals that were granted incredible intelligence through magic. The Awaken spell was invented by a well-meaning druid who sought to equalize animals and humanoids. However, the spell worked too well: the awakened animals were even more intelligent than humanoids! The confused and fearful humanoids pushed the awakened away, and most awakened retreated to live solitary lives in their home forests. The Awaken spell was passed down through the generations, so that new animals are slowly being awakened even today.

Physical Description

Awakened appear almost completely like their original animal forms. The main physical difference between awakened animals and their natural relatives is that awakened animals have opposable thumbs that let them use tools as well as humanoids. Awakened have very sophistical brains compared to normal humanoids. Some awakened can instantly solve complex math puzzles, build incredible technological gadgets, or even channel innate psionic powers. Any type of animal can be awakened: bears, gorillas, raccoons, velociraptors, and cats are common.

Awakened in Society

Most awakened live separately from humanoid society. Awakened rarely build settlements, preferring a natural lifestyle in tune with nature. Awakened sometimes live alongside non-awakened animals, which they might see as relatives who haven’t yet been given the gift of intelligence. The awakened are loosely governed by the druidic conclaves that spread knowledge of the Awaken spell. These druidic conclaves awaken new animals as fast as they can, but the complex Awaken spell can only be cast by the most powerful druids, which greatly limits the rate of growth of the awakened population.

Character Stats

Attributes
+0 Strength, +0 Agility, +1 Intellect, +0 Spirit
Misc Stats
30 feet Speed, +0 Size

Animal. You have the Animal trait.

Keen Senses. You have sharp eyesight and a keen sense of smell. You can see in dim light as if it was bright light. You can sense or track creatures through scent alone.

Mental Powerhouse. Your mind is incredibly sharp and precise. You can complete lengthy mental tasks, such as calculating equations, making plans, or writing essays, 10 times faster than normal.

Natural Lore. You gain a Lore proficiency related to one natural environment that animals like you normally live in (such as Plains Lore or Forest Lore).

Awakened Ancestry. You gain an ancestry feat of your choice.

Ancestry Feats

These feats are available only to awakened characters.

Bestial Mobility

Your natural environment is in the ocean, the treetops, or the skies

The specialization you choose should generally match the species of animal you are. An awakened eagle is a Flier, not a Swimmer. An awakened tiger is a Climber, not a Flier.

Specializations

Climber Flier Swimmer

You can climb at your full Speed. Your Speed increases by 10 feet.

You can fly at your full Speed. While flying, you have disadvantage on Strength rolls and attack rolls.

You can swim at your full Speed. You can breathe water as easily as air.

Camouflage

You are great at blending in with a particular natural terrain feature

Choose a specific natural terrain feature, such as tree bark, snow, dense leaves, a river surface, or so on. You have a +10 bonus to Stealth rolls to hide in or next to your chosen terrain feature

The chosen feature should generally match the species of animal you are. A polar bear is camouflaged in snow, not mud. A leopard is camouflaged in dry grass, not foliage.

Natural Weapon

You have natural claws, teeth, or horns that deal heavy damage

Your unarmed Strikes deal 2d6 base damage. Choose whether this damage is Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing.

Speed Chess

You can instantly revise your plans even as they begin to go wrong
Trigger
After you make an attack, or after an attack targets you

Add your Intellect as a bonus to the triggering attack or to your DC against the triggering attack.

Wild Sprint

You drop down onto all fours to run at high speed

Use the Stride power twice.