Lab experiments gone wrong, or exactly right. Rapidly evolved animals due to irradiated landscapes. Animalistic mixes of humanoid and beast, these are the Stray. There does not seem to be an end to the diversity of the Strays, and any number of animals, or even mixes of animals, have been reported amongst their ranks. These feral survivors follow their instincts and use their natural abilities to get an edge.
Stray characters have access to a wide variety of abilities that enhance specific combat styles mostly focusing on unarmed attacks. Stray characters also have special abilities when using teamwork perks.
Stray characters start the game with 100 XP to spend on perks. Stray can purchase General perks and stray perks.
Any stray costuming (see below) that you are wearing counts as armor for armor coverage until it qualifies as wearing light armor. You may choose to count as unarmored while benefiting from this ability.
Stray characters are required to wear animalistic costuming features indicating the fact that they are an animal human hybrid. When choosing stray costuming, you need to aim for more realistic costuming, as opposed to cartoonish or toy costuming elements. You are not prevented from wearing such items, but to count as armor for the species power, they will need to fit the thematic goals of the species. You should be able to tell at a glance that your character is a stray. At a minimum, strays will need some sort of readily visible facial or head feature that stands out, like a pair of antlers, scale patches, visible fangs, ear prosthetics or items similar in impact; or one large feature such as a human sized turtle shell or pair of wings.