Tiixac

Bugbear

The tiixac of the boreal moon Gac are a large and tremendously strong species whose morphology combines traits found in terragenid mammals and insects, granting them the nickname “bugbears” among the human diaspora. Their large, fanged mandibles, multiple ocelli, and eight segmented limbs combine with an endothermic metabolism, complex brain, and external ears to produce a powerful and highly intelligent pack predator.

Biology

Anatomy & Physiology

Tiixac are horizontal bipedal octapods, with four sets of powerful limbs evenly spaced along the torso. The two fore pairs have opposable digits, used to manipulate their environment. Bugbears have an external skeleton composed of chitin, an internal pseudoskeleton of cartilage and collagen, and a partially hydraulic limb musculature. They respire through a pair of spiracle slits just behind their mandibles, and their vascular oxygen carrier is haemocyanin, a copper-based protein that turns bright blue when oxidized.

Perception & Sensory Capabilities

Visual

Tiixac are moderately visual beings, with most of their technology and culture involving crucial optical aspects. Bugbear visual sense is facilitated by a single pair of focal binocular eyes, which are able to pick up motion, definite shape, spatial orientation, and color, as well as an array of six ocelli that allow the tiixac a hemispherical field of vision even in low light conditions.

Olfactory

Bugbears have an extremely keen olfactory sense, facilitated by a pair of feather-like antennae just above their mandibles. These antennae are supplemented by chemosensory pads on the thumbs.

Auditory

Bugbears are primarily dependent on their auditory sense, facilitated by a pair of triangular external ears set behind the eyes and a pair of small sonar melons situated just above the mandibles. Bugbears are sensitive to a broad section of the sonic spectrum, able to detect infrasound through their foot pads, standard hearing range with their ears, and utilizing ultrasound in biosonar.

Tactile

The tiixac tactile sense is reasonably strong, though not evenly distributed. Their epidermis is only moderately sensitive to tactile input, though the effect is far more intense in the pad structures at the ends of the limbs.

Ecology

Geographic Origin & Distribution

The tiixac progressed rapidly to interstellar travel by mimicking and repairing the technology of crashed starships, though most still choose to remain on Gac to live the way their ancestors did. They are a fairly rare sight in known space, as not many leave their homeworld.

Habitat & Survival Factors

The optimal survival range in a variety of factors for an unequipped bugbear is limited to colder environments, as they will rapidly overheat in warmer climates without proper cooling suits. Due to their auditory hypersensitivity, tiixac are also often overwhelmed by noise-intense environments.

Civilization & Culture

Tiixac society is tribal in structure and simplistic in technoculture, complemented by their vibrant and complex storytelling traditions. Bugbear tribes are close-knit groups of a few families with a shared history. These packs hunt, camp, and forage together, defending and caring for each other with a compassion that is characteristic of most sophonts.

Major Organizations

Major Language Groups & Dialects

Culture & Heritage

Common Traditions

Common Taboos

Scientific Name

Arctodarachne sapiens (Gaxigenids)

Average Height

1.6 m (at shoulder)
2.8 m (standing on hindlimbs)

Average Weight

424 kg (1G)

Average Length

2.6 m

Biotype

biochemical multicellular

Biochemical base

carbon

Genetics

CeNA

Solvent

H₂O

Respiration compounds

O₂

Sophont formclass

Mammalian/Insectoid

Physiotype

horizontal bilaterally symmetric octapod (endoskeletal caudal)

Sapience type

hemifocal centric

Homeworld

Gac (moon of Bōmur)

Home system

Polaris

Tech level

12

Tolerances

Gravity limit

2.2 G

Pressure range

0.9 to 3.4 atm

Air mix

32% to 80% O2

Temperature range

-40 to 6 °C

Radiation limit

0.28 J/kg

Interspecies Relations

Hyperlanes Info

Physical Traits

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ABILITY SCORE

STR increases by 3 and CON increases by 2

BASE SPEED

35 feet

SIZE CLASS

Medium

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Apex Predator

You’re a specialized killing machine with proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Extra Limbs

You may take two bonus actions during your turn rather than one, so long as they are different actions coming from different sources.

Natural Weapons

Your teeth and claws act as natural weapons, adding 1d6 piercing and slashing damage to your unarmed attacks.

Natural Armor

You cannot wear armor, but your chitinous exoskeleton protects you. This confers an AC of 13 plus your DEX modifier.

Hypersensory

You are keenly aware of your surroundings through a combination of multiple eyes, keen hearing, infrared heat sense, and echolocation. You gain proficiency in the Perception skill, you cannot be surprised in combat, and attackers do not gain advantage from flanking you. You can see in dim light within 80 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Boreal

You are naturally adapted to frigid climates, and the cold invigorates you. You are resistant to cold damage and your movement increases 10 feet when you are in an environment between 0 and -40 Celsius.

Pack Tactics

You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Cultural Traits

Suggested culture: Bomurax

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ABILITY SCORE

WIS increases by 2
CHA increases by 1

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Inner Peace

You have one additional 1d12 hit die for use when recovering HP.

Draw Blood

Your weapon deals 1d6 additional damage against hostile foes during the first round of combat.

Survivalist

You are proficient in the Survival skill and one of the following skills of your choice: Nature, Perception, or Stealth.