Race - Hengeyokai | GM Binder

## Hengeyokai

Erwin was certain his death was near. The bandits had killed *the rest of the merchants and it was soon enough before they found him. Yet, from the outskirts of the woods, a band of vulpine-like humanoids arrived and scared the bandits off before slinking into the woods once again. Werefoxes? No, no such thing, but he was safe for now thanks to whatever those creatures were.*

A secretive race born from the union of animal spirits from the Feywild and humans, Hengeyokai are masters of both realms. Native to the East of Faerun in Kara-Tur, Hengeyokai have since spread from their home and settled on the fringes of society in other regions of the Forgotten Realms.

### Form of Three

Hengeyokai have multiple forms, some familiar and some exotic. Each Hengeyokai has a human, animal, and hybrid form. In human form, Hengeyokai appear as any other human one would meet, although certain features may be exaggerated depending on the animal spirit they descend from. In animal form, they remained fairly normal, however they were able to understand and speak with other animals of their species and in their dialect of Sylvan, Hegneyokai. Hybrid form is the most peculiar of the three. Appearing as an anthropormorphic humanoid of their animal form, their bodies covered in fur, feathers, or scales. In this hybrid form however, their ability to fly, burrow, or swim as they could in animal form was lost.

### Life of Division

For centuries, the Hengeyokai have fled the area of Wa in Kara-Tur as a whole for many reasons. In Wa, many Hengeyokai worshipped the goddess, Chauntea despite the ban upon her and other worship foreign of gods. Finding their faith suppressed, they made their way to Faerun to worship Chauntea freely.

Later on, Matasuuri Dragonhide would continue to remove the freedoms of Hengeyokai, yet the disparity between Hengeyokai left them much difficulty in working together against it.

Following the Spellplague, even more Hengeyokai fled Kara-Tur to Faerun, now in belief that there they would find peace from the discrimination in Wa.

### Masters of Two Worlds

Hengeyokai prefer to live on the fringes of society and in isolated areas. In, Faerun, many are found along the Golden Way and even in the Dragon Coast near the Sea of Fallen Stars. Hengeyokai typically gather in nomadic bands of 20 or less, with an equal number of males and females. Although, Hengeyokai are weary of strangers, they are welcoming to those who show kindness, some Hengeyokai even devote their time to protecting a settlement or family. Hengeyokai are weary of being mistaken for evil werebeasts in Faerun and make efforts to not be seen as one.

Although most Hengeyokai aren't often adept artisans, their spiritual heritage and honing of body and mind make them powerful druids, rangers, and monks.

### Hengeyokai Names

Hengeyokai names often are derived from the names of humans in whatever area they reside. Though some keep the heritage of names from Kara-Tur.

**Male Names:** Akira, Dai, Faidri, Grarth, Kin, Hiroshi, Rim, Tren, Uhisa, Zeohevh

**Female Names:**  Biav, Eimel, Hana, Kimi, Miwa, Ochi, Telza, Vemzi, Yuki, Zaroy

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### Hengeyokai Traits

Although Hengeyokai range in form, there is a handful of traits that remain similar among them.

**• Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom increases by 1.
    
**• Age.** Hengeyokai enter adulthood by 40 years of life, but are able to live between 150 to 500 years.

**• Alignment.** Hengeyokai are fairly chaotic in nature, with a tendency to lean towards neutrality.

**• Size.** In their human and hybrid forms, Hengeyokai are a similar height to the average human. Your size is medium.

**• Speed.** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

**• Darkvision.** With senses akin to animals, you have superior vision in the darkness compared to others. 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.

**• Fey Ancestry.** You have advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

**• Hengeyokai Senses.** You gain proficiency with one of following skills of your choice: Athletics, Perception, Sleight of Hand, Stealth.

**• Nature's Mask.** Choose one animal: badger, carp (as sea horse), cat, dog (as mastiff), fox (as arctic fox), hare (as weasel), monkey (as baboon), owl, raccoon dog (as weasel), rat, sparrow (as hawk). As an action, you can wild shape into the beast you chose, as per the druid wild shape ability, except the duration is indefinite.

Additionally, you may assume a hybrid form. In your hybrid form you appear as a humanoid version of the animal you chose. In hybrid form, you have natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

**• Languages.** You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

<div class='descriptive'>
 
 ##### Nature's Mask Animals
 - Arctic Fox - RotFM Pg. 288
 - Baboon - MM Pg. 318
 - Badger - MM Pg. 318
 - Hawk - MM Pg. 330
 - Jackal - MM Pg. 331
 - Mastiff - MM Pg. 332
 - Owl - MM Pg. 333
 - Rat - MM Pg. 335
 - Sea Horse - MM Pg. 337
 - Weasel - MM Pg. 340
 
</div>

### Feature: Nature's Myriad Mask
*Prerequisite: Hengeyokai*

You have mastered the ability to shift through forms seamlessly and can even assume alternate forms.

• Increase your wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

• You learn the *Druidcraft* cantrip. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.

• Once per day, you may use your *Nature's Mask* feature to wild shape into any of the beasts listed in the trait.

### Credit
Created by [u/ShadowDcord](https://www.reddit.com/user/ShadowDcord "") / Ritunn (GMBinder)  
Created using [GMBinder](https://www.gmbinder.com "")     
"Hengeyokai" adapted from *Dragon Magazine #404*     
*"Silverchase Fox"* art created by Howard Lyon for Magic the Gathering  
*"Kitsune"* art created by Johann De Venecia.