Species Name: Ursoi, Polar Bear
Ursoi are a race of bears that have evolved into an intelligent, social species. They live and work together in a tribe, use tools and sometimes weapons, and hunt cooperatively for food.
Type: Humanoid Ursine
Physical Traits: The typical ursoi looks a great deal like a bear – up to nine feet tall when standing on its rear legs, with thick shaggy fur and four paws. The front paws have longer, better articulated “fingers” than the typical bear, to better use tools and weapons.
Height: 8-9' feet
Weight: 300lbs
Abilities: Ursoi are immensely strong, and use that strength in wearing heavy iron armour and using immense iron hammers. They are capable of great charge attacks, can and can rend flesh with ease. They fight to defend their territory and to contest against each other. they have keen scent, can swim well, and can even lurk and walk unencumbered in deep snow.
Mobility: Legs
Sensory Organs: Visual
Communication: Vocal
Reproduction: Sexual
INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 4D6, DEX: 3D6 +2, CON: 4D6, CHA: 3D6, MR: 3D6, HPs: CON +D20, AC 6
Orbit/Climate: See Earth
Feeding Habits: Omnivore. They hunt seal, walrus, and fish.
Lifespan: 90 years
Technology: 2
Culture: Standard. Diversified mix of kind and evil people. Ursoi wear jewelry, leather belts, and even, on special occasions, ceremonial clothing. Combat: While an ursoi can use weapons, there are few weapons more effective than this creature’s own fangs and claws. It attacks three times per turn, but it cannot split its attacks against multiple opponents. If both claw attacks hit an opponent in a turn, on the next turn the ursoi may (50% chance) opt for a hug attack. This requires another attack roll, and it is the only attack the ursoi can make that turn. If it succeeds, the victim suffers 2D4 points of crushing damage each successive turn. In addition, the ursoi can bite a hugged victim with a +4 bonus to the attack roll. An ursoi will not release a hugged victim until the ursoi has fewer than 10 hit points left, or the victim dies. A hugged creature may not attack or throw spells. An ursoi can hug only those creatures smaller than itself. The ursoi are fearless fighters and do not back down from a challenge. However, they are also smart enough to flee when things start going badly for them. Though their morale is high, they do not fight to the death against impossible odds.
Ursoi are known to live only in the remote caves on the outer edges of the south pole. They prefer colder climates, staying in arctic or temperate forest regions. They have developed a tribal society, with a chieftain, a tribal shaman (some sages who have studied the ursoi say that the shamans will soon develop spellcasting ability), and several sub-chieftains. Their primary occupation is hunting – while ursoi are omnivorous, they greatly prefer fresh meat to leaves and berries.
Ursoi are intelligent and have a highly-developed sense of personal honor. Under the right circumstances, a person could persuade an ursoi to serve as a bodyguard, sentry, or other sort of fighter. One example might be if a person were to save an ursoi’s life and demand a payment on the “debt of honor”. The period of service would have to be for a short, specified time (no more than a year), and the ursoi would have to be treated with honor and respect (no suicide missions).
Government: Tribal
Population: 220,000