The World of Abadonya

The Beast in the Blood

Beastborn bloodlines are most common in Frostmarch, where old stories tell of families touched generations ago by powerful shapechangers, ancient wilderness magic, or inherited curses that never fully disappeared.

A Beastborn may be born into a family that has shown no sign of the blood for generations. The first indication often comes during adolescence, when instinct, fear, anger, or stress triggers a partial transformation.

Their inherited transformation is part of their nature rather than a complete loss of self. A Beastborn remains the same person while changed, even when claws, fangs, hide, or other animalistic traits emerge.

When the Beast Shows

In ordinary form, Beastborn usually resemble the humanoid people among whom they were raised. Many can pass through settlements without attracting attention.

Bestial form reveals the hidden lineage. Teeth sharpen, nails become claws, facial features grow more animalistic, and the skin may thicken, darken, sprout fur, or take on other traits reflecting the Beastborn's bloodline.

The transformation does not make a Beastborn a full animal. The body remains humanoid in overall shape, combining mortal features with those of the inherited beast.

Among Frostmarch communities familiar with Beastborn, the first controlled transformation is often treated as an important rite of passage.

Those Who Know the Truth

Beastborn rarely form large nations of their own. Most live among humans, half-orcs, orcs, dwarves, and other Frostmarch peoples.

Small circles of Beastborn sometimes gather in secret for hunting, training, or simply the freedom to transform without alarming neighbors. Trusted companions may be called a pack regardless of blood relation.

Some Frostmarch settlements accept Beastborn openly, especially where their tracking, hunting, and wilderness skills are valued. Others remain suspicious of any visible shapechanging.

Because of this, many Beastborn learn early to decide carefully who should know what they are.

When the Blood Wakes

The first transformation commonly occurs during adolescence. It may happen deliberately or during a moment of fear, anger, danger, or intense instinct.

Families familiar with Beastborn heritage teach control as early as possible. Those without that knowledge may initially believe something terrible has happened.

Among established Frostmarch packs, learning to enter and leave bestial form deliberately is often considered the moment a young Beastborn becomes responsible for the power in their blood.

Neither Beast Nor Curse

Many Beastborn feel a strong connection to wilderness, migration, hunting, animal behavior, and the rhythms of the natural world.

In Abadonya, Trentula is a natural patron for Beastborn who see their heritage as a bond with nature. Others follow deities tied to strength, protection, travel, magic, or the values of the communities that raised them.

Beastborn may follow any alignment or deity. Their bloodline grants instinct and ability, not predetermined morality.

Standard Pathfinder 1e Racial Traits

Ability Score Modifiers: Beastborn gain +2 Wisdom and –2 Intelligence. While in bestial form, they also gain a +2 racial bonus to one physical ability score chosen when they assume that form: Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution.

Type: Beastborn are humanoids with the shapechanger subtype.

Size: Beastborn are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to size.

Base Speed: Beastborn have a base speed of 30 feet.

Languages: Beastborn begin play speaking Common. Beastborn with high Intelligence scores can choose any bonus language except secret languages such as Druidic.

Animal-Minded: Beastborn gain a +2 racial bonus on Handle Animal and wild empathy checks.

Change Shape (Su): As a standard action, a Beastborn can assume bestial form. In bestial form, the Beastborn gains a +2 racial bonus to Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution and chooses one bestial feature:

• Two claw attacks, each dealing 1d4 points of damage.
• Darkvision 60 feet.
• A +1 racial bonus to natural armor.

These benefits last until the Beastborn returns to humanoid form as a swift action. The Beastborn must return to humanoid form before assuming bestial form again to select different benefits.

Spell-Like Ability: A Beastborn with Wisdom 11 or higher can use speak with animals once per day. Caster level equals character level.

Low-Light Vision: Beastborn can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Race Points: 10 RP.

These are the Pathfinder 1e racial mechanics used for Beastborn characters in Abadonya.

Bestial Heritages

Some Beastborn bloodlines express a stronger connection to a particular animal lineage. These heritage options replace parts of the standard Beastborn racial package according to their published Pathfinder 1e rules.

Bloodmarked: Bat-aspected lineage.

Coldborn: Bear-aspected lineage.

Ragebred: Boar-aspected lineage.

Scaleheart: Crocodile-aspected lineage.

Aerieborn: Raptor-aspected lineage.

Nightskulk: Rat-aspected lineage.

Seascarred: Shark-aspected lineage.

Fanglord: Tiger-aspected lineage.

Witchwolf: Wolf-aspected lineage.

These heritage options use the normal Pathfinder 1e replacement rules for Beastborn characters.

Alternate Racial Trait

Beast Talker: A Beastborn with this trait can use Change Shape only once per day for 1 minute per level, but can use speak with animals at will. This alters Change Shape and the standard spell-like ability.

This option uses the normal Pathfinder 1e alternate racial trait replacement rules.

Bloodlines Beneath the Long Winter

Frostmarch is the principal homeland of the Beastborn. Isolated communities, broad hunting territories, deep forests, long nights, and generations of contact with dangerous wilderness have allowed old shapechanger bloodlines to survive.

Bear-aspected and wolf-aspected lineages are especially common in the northern interior, though other bloodlines appear unpredictably.

Most Frostmarch Beastborn do not consider themselves separate from the communities that raised them. Their heritage is usually one part of identity rather than an entire culture.

Those Who Travel Easily

Beastborn make natural adventurers. Their adaptability, animal instincts, and comfort in dangerous wilderness encourage them to travel far beyond home.

Rangers, druids, barbarians, hunters, rogues, oracles, shamans, and other classes tied to wilderness or instinct are common, though Beastborn can pursue any class.

A Frostmarch Beastborn may leave home to understand a hidden bloodline, master an unexpected transformation, protect family from suspicion, hunt a dangerous shapechanger, or simply follow companions who have become a second pack.

Return to the Races of Abadonya index to browse other ancestries.