D&D 5e Character Sheet — Varkul “Nightmaw” Serrane

Concept: A wandering outcast who fights like a living ambush—bare hands, ripping claws, and a curse he uses as a weapon.
Race: Shifter (Longtooth)
Class: Barbarian 8 (Path of the Beast)
Background: Haunted One
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (leans protective of the innocent)
Proficiency Bonus: +3
Speed: 40 ft (Fast Movement)
Languages: Common, one of your choice (e.g., Goblin)

Ability Scores

• STR 18 (+4)
• DEX 14 (+2)
• CON 16 (+3)
• INT 10 (+0)
• WIS 12 (+1)
• CHA 8 (−1)

Combat Stats

• HP: 85
• AC: 15 (Unarmored Defense: 10 + DEX + CON)
• Initiative: +2 (advantage from Feral Instinct)
• Saving Throws: STR +7, CON +6
• Passive Perception: 14 (if proficient in Perception)

Skills (suggested)

• Athletics +7
• Perception +4
• Survival +4
• Intimidation +2 (or Stealth +5 if you prefer stalker over brute)

Features

Barbarian Core

• Rage (4/day): Bonus action; 1 minute. Resistance to bludgeoning/piercing/slashing, +2 damage to STR melee attacks, advantage on STR checks/saves.
• Reckless Attack: First attack each turn can be made with advantage; attacks against you have advantage until your next turn.
• Danger Sense: Advantage on DEX saves vs effects you can see.
• Extra Attack: 2 attacks with the Attack action.
• Fast Movement: +10 ft speed while not wearing heavy armor.
• Feral Instinct (Lv 7): Advantage on initiative; act normally when surprised if you rage first.

Path of the Beast

• Form of the Beast (Lv 3): When you rage, manifest Bite or Claws or Tail (choose each rage).
• Bestial Soul (Lv 6): Natural weapons count as magical; adapt movement (climb/swim/jump—choose after rest per rules).
• ASI (Lv 4 & 8): Suggested +2 STR, +2 STR (or STR + CON split depending on taste).

Shifter (Longtooth)

• Shifting (1/short rest): Bonus action; 1 minute. Gain temp HP (per race rules) and Fanged Bite as a bonus action attack each turn.

Attacks

To-hit assumes STR +4 and proficiency +3. Rage damage included where relevant.

In Beast-Rage (recommended “miniature mode”)

• Claws (Form of the Beast): Melee Weapon Attack +7 to hit, reach 5 ft
  Hit: 1d6 + 4 slashing (+2 more while raging)
  Special: Once per turn, if you attack with claws as part of the Attack action, you can make one additional claw attack (effectively 3 claw hits/turn at level 8).
• Bite (Form of the Beast): Melee Weapon Attack +7 to hit
  Hit: 1d8 + 4 piercing (+2 rage). Once per turn when you deal damage, you can heal a small amount if below half HP (per subclass rules).
• Longtooth Bonus Bite (while Shifted): Bonus action attack +7 to hit
  Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing (+2 rage)

Suggested “Nova” turn (when fully unleashed)

1. Bonus action Rage (or Shift if not already)
2. Attack action: Claw, Claw, plus extra Claw (subclass)
3. If Shifted and Rage already up: bonus action Longtooth Bite

Equipment (flavor-forward)

• Trophy cord with bone tokens (from hunts you regret)
• Traveler’s clothes, bedroll, whetstone (for utility blades), 2 handaxes (rarely used)
• A torn cloak kept only as a reminder of “before”
• Trinket: a cracked holy symbol you can’t throw away

Personality

Traits: Speaks in short sentences; constantly scans exits and rooftops.
Ideal: Control. “If I master the beast, it cannot master me.”
Bond: A village, mentor, or child survivor who once showed you mercy.
Flaw: The smell of blood or fear can push you toward brutality; you overcorrect by isolating yourself.

Backstory (ready to drop into a campaign)

Varkul was once a border-tracker hired to keep trade roads safe. One winter raid ended with a bite, fever, and weeks of missing time. He woke alone in a ravine, mouth full of iron and memories full of screaming. The local priest called it a curse. The mercenaries called it proof.

He fled into the wild, learning to aim his rage like a spear—only drawing on it when the weak would otherwise be torn apart. The “Nightmaw” legend spread: a black-furred monster that kills monsters. Varkul does not correct the story. Fear keeps people away, and distance keeps them safe.

Campaign hooks

• A string of mauled bodies matches Varkul’s “signature”—and he swears it wasn’t him.
• A cult seeks to “perfect” lycanthropy and wants Varkul as either specimen or champion.
• Someone he once spared has become a hunter, convinced mercy was a mistake.