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Bugbear Culture, Psychology, & Lore

by Vassar Oenbring

“The Hairless bicker and whine with weakling worries. Bugbears smash problems on the skull. We grab victory with our strength. One day we will return to our homes in the North and live as big kings.”

– Mugwill Clampor, Bugbear Berserker

Culture and Psychology

For centuries, Hobgoblins have perpetuated the myth that they created both Bugbears and Goblins through breeding experiments. Bugbears, the story goes, were bred for size and strength, and used primarily as grunt troops and for hard labor. Goblins were used as slaves to perform menial tasks, and to provide entertainment and target practice.

There is little support for either claim. But Hobgoblins continue to spread this propaganda at every opportunity in order to elevate their own status. This story has become so pervasive that travelers often hear it confidently repeated by common folk who inhabit the inns and byways of the Known World.

While it is true that Bugbears have a dark history of slavery and conscription, they have often worked to undermine their masters, deserting or attacking those who did not continuously prove their dominance. Left to their own devices, Bugbears are aggressive, arrogant, and fiercely independent.

When Elves arrived in the Known World during the Age of the Sun they reported “tall, bristly, and aggressive creatures with pronounced incisors who lord over caves and craggy citadels in the high mountains and icy tundra.” It is suspected they referred to Bugbears, whose oral history chronicles the greatness of their former habitations amidst similar environments.

In gravely songs and mournful tales, Bugbears tell of the Dragons, Remorhaz, and Ice Trolls who toppled their settlements and forced them to flee to warmer lands. Nearly all Bugbear stories refer to the former glory of their race and foretell a return to their ancient homes.

The essential unit of Bugbear society is the extended family, known as a claw. Several claws of Bugbears band together to form a clan, in which members share the duties of gathering food, building structures, crafting weapons, and defending the group. Older members assist with raising cubs, while adults spend much of their time hunting and scavenging.

Given a choice, Bugbear clans live far from civilization, ideally in places with caves for shelter and ruins to explore for treasures. Treasure hunting is considered a proper occupation for a Bugbear, and successful dungeon delvers are esteemed equally with powerful warriors and talented hunters. Bugbears’ status is denoted by their weapons and jewelry. They disdain woven clothing, coins, written materials, and other trappings of civilization.

Bugbears are not known for their proficiency in crafting items for trade—they are a self-sufficient species. Bugbears possess excellent hunting skills, and in warmer climates they successfully farm root crops such as potatoes, yams, and carrots. They are adequate builders with wood and stone, and though they prefer to dwell in caves, sturdy Bugbear halls of thick timber, circular stone huts, and even rough stone towers built by Bugbears have been observed.

For Humans, Dwarves, and Halflings who cross into Bugbear territory, combat is not a foregone conclusion—but it is wise to make an immediate offering of food or a stout weapon. Bugbears show animosity toward those who flaunt the accoutrements of civilization. A Human Barbarian, for example, is likely to be met on neutral ground, whereas an Elven Mage with scepter and scrolls, or a Human Paladin bedecked in shiny armor may be met with all-out assault. Bugbears do not brook being talked down to and are sensitive about anything that casts their intelligence in a negative light.

Bugbears kill Hobgoblins wherever they find them. In larger wars, Bugbears are routinely slaughtered by Hobgoblins, who, despite their smaller size, possess formidable skills in tactical combat. So when Bugbears catch smaller groups of Hobgoblins unawares, they rip them limb from limb with maniacal glee. Respectful adventures who suggest genuine alliances with Bugbears against Hobgoblin clans often find themselves on good terms immediately.

Surprisingly, peace pervades the daily life of a Bugbear clan. Theft, intimidation, and abuse among clan members is considered disgraceful and is not tolerated. If two Bugbears are unable to resolve their issues, a shaman may order a Turobilk, or ritual fight, in which the combatants display their proficiency with a variety of weapons. Only in the most extreme cases will a Turobilk result in death.

Special Tactics

Centuries of persecution and enslavement have made Bugbears canny warriors and merciless foes. The use of ambushes, traps, caged beasts, and cunning deceptions are all drilled into Bugbear cubs from a young age. It is shamefully dishonorable in Bugbear society to use such tactics against fellow Bugbears.

In small groups, Bugbears attempt to focus their attacks on whichever foe they consider the most dangerous or the most annoying. Spellcasters are rushed and targeted with ranged weapons while other Bugbears distract and debilitate the fighters. Bugbears often hurl abuse at enemies with fancy armor or magical equipment, and prioritize killing them first.

When fighting as conscripts, Bugbears attack with savage yet orderly enthusiasm. Often Bugbear units form a Gumbak, a traditional fighting formation composed of 3 lines. The first line is armed with melee weapons, the second with reach weapons, usually longspears, and the third with ranged weapons, most often boulders and javelins, that can be lobbed over the heads of their allies.

Qualities

Brutish. With outsiders, Bugbears can be crude, mean-spirited, and spiteful. They take delight in tormenting those who flaunt the trappings of high society, and will go out of their way to destroy pieces of art, deface writings, and burn down modern buildings. They slaughter those who put on airs or speak to them in a demeaning tone.

Thick-Headed. Creative problem-solving and enlightened self-interest are not common Bugbear traits. All Persuasion or Diplomacy checks made with Bugbears are made at Disadvantage. Bugbears tend to decide upon a course of action and stick to it unless compelled to change.

Subordinate. Creatures of Large size or greater have Advantage on Intimidation checks against Bugbears, who tend to cravenly blubber and simper when faced with stronger foes.

Braggarts. Boasting and exaggerated story-telling comprise most of a Bugbear’s cultural expression. Bugbears roll Insight checks at Disadvantage when talking with creatures who expresses interest in their boastful tales.

Weaponry

Melee 1. Morning Stars (2d8+2 piercing). These heavy clubs embedded with sharp spikes or stones are built by young Bugbears as part of their initiation into adulthood.

Melee 2. Spears. (2d6+2 piercing, Reach 10). Often used to hunt large game, Bugbear spears are equally effective in melee combat.

Ranged 1. Boulders. (2d8+2 bludgeoning, range 30/60). If practical, Bugbears attack with their boulders from above, which grants an extra 1d6 damage for every 20 feet of vertical height.

Ranged 2. Ballista (3d10 piercing, range 120/480). These heavy weapons are often used with a bipod to support their great weight.

Special Units

Shock Troops. Bugbears are at their best rushing into melee combat, and Bugbear Shock Troops are formidable indeed. They are often sopped to the gills with peernrahckt, a Bugbear drink brewed from bugleberries and the stamens of the poisonous Blue Stinger flower. Shock Troops in the throws of peernrahckt are often profusely sweating, and bare their teeth uncontrollably. They receive +2 to hit, +2 to damage, and Advantage on all Saves vs. Fear, Sleep, Confusion, Charm, and other mind-altering effects.

Battle Callers. These rare Bugbears dye their fur brilliant colors and sing the great epic poems of Bugbear history. All Bugbears within 100 feet of a Battle Caller who can hear the poems gain +2 to attack and damage.

Bugbear Hero. The greatest Bugbear warriors are hulking creatures festooned with jewelry looted from their countless victims. Heroes have maximum hit points, +2 AC, and grant Pack Tactics to other Bugbears that are attacking the same foe as the Hero.

Spearbears. Trained from birth with the spear, these Bugbears are able to wield and hurl longspears as if they were one-handed weapons.

Special Abilities

Bull Rush. A Bugbear may charge up to twice its movement in a straight line and attack when using the Dash action. If the attack hits, the Bugbear may use a bonus action to attempt to shove its opponent prone with an opposed STR check.

Brute Strike. Once per combat, a Bugbear may unleash the beast within, roaring in fury and lashing out with two melee attacks made with Advantage. All attacks against the Bugbear are made at Advantage until its next turn.

Beastly Vitality. Once per combat, when a Bugbear is struck by a critical melee hit, they may Save DC 16 CON. If successful, the critical hit is treated as a non-critical hit for purposes of determining damage.

Swinish Intimidation. Once per combat as a bonus action, a group of 5 or more Bugbears may attempt to intimidate PCs 4th level or lower. PCs Save DC 14 WIS or suffer -2 damage on their next melee attack.

Movement

Run. Good. Bugbears move well over varied terrain and have excellent stamina.

Climb. Good. Bugbears enjoy scaling cliffs and are at home in the mountains. They distain the use of pitons or climbing claws, but will use hooks, hooks, and ladders when they must.

Swim. Average. Bugbears are competent swimmers and unafraid of water. They ford rivers and creeks as a matter of course.

Burrow. Poor. Bugbears use tools to dig foundation trenches and expand the tunnels in their caes.

Fly. n/a

Grudges

Bugbears have the typical grudges against members of the Allied Races. They enslave Kobolds, Goblins, and Troglodytes whenever they can. They have contentious relations with Hobgoblins, who are physically weaker but much more intelligent. Bugbears tend to fear Trolls, idolize Giants, and variously align with, or have pitched battles against Ogres.

The great Bugbear epics prominently feature White Dragons and Remorhaz as the beings that drove Bugbears from their great frozen cities. While Bugbears cower before these mighty creatures, they will plot to destroy them if at all possible.

Bugbears