Vidrae- D&D 3.5e Race

Vidrae are a race of deer-like humanoids that live in forested areas and plains. Their coat is a fine texture that can be thin or thick depending on the climate or season. Their fur is always a light brown tone with a white stomach, a fluffy tail with a white underside, and a black button nose. They have blue, brown, green and black eyes. They also have white, light brown, and black markings all over the place. Their head looks like human's with very prominent deer features like a muzzle, ears near the top of their head, and antlers on males. Fawns have white spots along their backs and rumps that fade out when they reach adulthood.

 The hair that rests atop their head is always thicker than their fur, and can be naturally black, white, blonde, and brown. It also tends to stretch down the neck similar to a horse's mane. Ones that live near humans tend to dye their hair more often. They have hooved feet and their hands resemble human hands but with a hard black keratin covering the fingers at the tips, allowing them to grip things, but maintain excellent traction. Females tend to have a flat-chest that rarely ever gets over a low B cup. They have stronger built legs that are made for running through the forests, men tend to be a bit more bulky though while females are slender. At 17 they lose their spots and enter a pre-adult stage and at 20 they become adults. Males usually have a full rack of atleast 6 points.

Save for a good fourth of the population of Vidrae, they mostly live in a tribal system that is centered around gathering food and strength that lacks a defined caste system. They usually live in medium tribes of 10-20 people in the tribe. Being gatherers everyone tends to gather food. Everyone helps take care of the tribe in battle as well, trying to protect the young. Men usually tend to fight close combat while women shoot from a far. The tribe members all take command from a chief, usually the male who proves him self strong enough through a series of challenges and then in a battle with the previous chief. Chiefs usually are male, but on occasion there are matriarchies. Doctors, preists, and other figures of authority are assigned by the chief.

Usually after 15 years a child starts training. The training is very light at the start, but once they turn 17, when they lose their spots, it gets more like modern day bootcamp, with a strict training regimen. Those who don't succeed at training are considered weak and not allowed to leave the village and must tend to the farms if male or the younglings if female. The chiefs usually expect a trainee to be able to fend for themselves in the wild and be able enough to fight. When they turn 20 they earn the right to fight amongst the other adults. Though they are not war heavy, they do prefer to stay prepared for anything. If those who are made to stay in the village run away they are usually made servants to the chief or chiefess.
Children are usually married to their mates at this age as well. In tribes they are always monogamous and the children usually get to pick their mate, but in very traditional tribes the children are betrothed to the mate who the parents feel are best suited for them. Usually both families chip in money for the wedding, which is quite similar to a human one, but in traditional tribes it is the groom's family that pays for the wedding in an act of 'chivalry'. In some tribes there is Polygamy and some chiefs and chiefesses even have harems. These tribes are seen as savages by most traditional tribes.

The other fourth of Vidrae population lives in places where different races are abundant and tend to stray away from tradition and they tend to stick towards the liberal arts.

Racial Traits:
+2 Dex, +2 Cha, -2 Str: Vidrae are very skilled socially, with lithe forms and quick reflexes, but, even with the slightly bulkier males, they tend to be physically weak.
Medium: As Medium creatures, Vidrae have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base Land Speed: 35 ft.
+1 Racial bonus in Jump, and Move Silently checks: Vidrae are agile, surefooted, and athletic.
+2 Racial bonus in Listen checks: Vidrae have very keen hearing.
+1 Racial bonus in Spot and Search checks: Vidrae tend to be really observant in details.
Low-light Vision: A Vidrae can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Automatic Languages: Vidran, Common. Bonus Languages: Elven, Draconic, Dwarf, Gnome. Vidrae tend to learn many languages, being skilled linguists.

Favored Classes: Bard