Bugbear

Bugbears are a race of goblinoids, resembling tall goblins covered with brown, black, or blue-gray fur.

Appearance
Bugbears are covered with brown, black, or blue-gray fur, large ears, and yellow eyes, giving them a more feline appearance than their hobgoblin cousins. They become adults at age 16 and have an average lifespan of 80, reaching around 6 to 8 feet in hight and between 250 and 350 pounds in weight, but their heads are still roughly at human height, becasue of their generally stooped posture.

Personality
Although bugbears of Exandria have a reputation of fiercely individualistic creatures who enjoy combat and brutality, they are also seen as peaceful and solitary kind who relish their rest, gladly watch as other creatures do their work. In contrast with the most goblinoids, bugbears are willing to collaborate with humans and elves.

Abilities
Bugbears have darkvision reaching out to 60 feet and a base walking speed of 30 feet.
 * Long-Limbed: When bugbears make a melee attack on their turn, their reach is 5 feet greater than normal.
 * Powerful Build: Bugbears count as one size larger when determining their carrying capacity and the weight they can push, drag, or lift.
 * Sneaky: Bugbears have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
 * Surprise Attack: Once per combat, if a bugbear surprises a creature and hits it with an attack on the first round of combat, that attack deals an extra 2d6 damage.

History
During the Calamity, the evil god of war and conquest, Bane, the Strife Emperor, revealed himself to the dranassar, a strong, cunning, multitudinous race of humanoids then living in what is now Xhorhas. Many of them, enthralled by Bane's power, followed him willingly, and their capital of Ghor Dranas became the seat of the Betrayer Gods' power. Those who opposed him were bent to his will and were corrupted first. When Bane needed spies or brute force, he turned dranassar slaves into bugbears; for other roles he created the goblins and hobgoblins. As the war raged on, even those loyal to him were corrupted to fill the ranks.

The Curse of Strife
Though Bane was defeated by Melora in one of the final battles of the Calamity and banished beyond the Divine Gate, all three races of goblinkin are still affected by the Curse of Strife, which allows Bane's voice to prey on their minds and compel them to evil. Bugbears are specifically prodded toward isolated brutality (chaotic evil).

The curse can be broken, but it is nearly impossible for a goblinkin to do so on their own. There are several ways it can be done:
 * A goblinkin born within 100 miles of a Luxon beacon does not inherit the curse. Any creature transfigured or reborn into the body of a goblinkin (such as through consecution) is likewise free of the curse.
 * In the Lushgut Forest, the Vinewreathed Enclave is a druidic order of bugbears and goblins who broke free from Bane's influence decades before 835 PD.
 * After being reduced to 0 hit points and returning to consciousness, they can make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 20), with advantage if they were brought back to life. On a success, the goblinkin breaks free from the curse of strife.
 * A goblinkin targeted by remove curse can also make this saving throw, with advantage on the save if the caster is a trusted companion.

Unless the curse is broken early in life, the individual is likely to retain the same attitude toward law and chaos. The bugbears of the Vinewreathed Enclave, free of the curse, can easily work with other defenders of nature.

Society
Many bugbears are solitary, living in forests and mountains, thanks to their thick fur protecting them from frigid cold. On rare occasions, one to three times a year, they gather in large groups to socialize and play games with friends, reunite with family, and find love. This traditions were embraced on the permanent basis by the settled communities, often living with a number of romantic partners under the same roof or unify with goblin families and dwell in their loving and chaotic households.

Kryn Dynasty

 * Bugbears are a common sight in Xhorhas, particularly around Rosohna. Those born within 100 miles of a Luxon beacon are free of the Curse of Strife. Half-elves in Xhorhas sometimes have the yellow eyes and tufted ears of a bugbear.
 * The Many Hosts of Igrathad: One of the seven villages, Kranad, began as a bugbear clan of the same name.
 * The Children of Malice: Network of Lolth-worshipping bugbears, hobgoblins, and drow. The bugbears, along with the hobgoblins, tend to raid the outskirts of the Dynasty.
 * Lords of Strife: A secret cult of bugbears and hobgoblins who still worship Bane.

Menagerie Coast
Vinewreathed Enclave: A druidic order of Melora led by bugbears, but also with goblins, that has broken the Curse of Strife and lives in the Lushgut Forest. They are slowly fostering friendship with the people of Gwardan.

Tal'Dorei
In the criminal underworld of Tal'Dorei's largest cities, bugbears are renowned for their talents as burglars and bounty hunters, and often work for the Clasp or the Myriad. Those who avoid a life of crime tend to live alone in the wilderness as druids.

Known bugbears
See also: Category:Bugbears
 * Gluzzo: A hunter from Asarius.
 * Umadon: A gentle, simple bugbear living in Asarius. In 836 PD, he was seduced by a disguised incubus and succubus who commanded him to commit crimes.
 * Ben: Bodyguard for Maruo at the Overcrow Apothecary.