Homebrew Aquali Species Details

"Between our seas, We shall find prosperous boons of Platinum and Prismarine. Our families will no longer shed blood upon the sands of foreign lands. For we have returned to ourselves. We have been granted an Opportunity to look inwards and Incite Change." 

Eight slender spires rose from the still turquoise waters below like glistening Spires of shell and quartz, their brilliant white stone marbled with shining silver and Shimmering Prismarine. Graceful bridging, swooping from spire to spire, soared through the air above the sea below. Crafted by water Elemental metalsmiths, they were strong enough to hold the weight of an citadel, yet they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Nautalia. The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the Seas and those who wandered them.

— Excerpt from the Books of Tides Volume CLXXVI by Ayaz Milani 

 

Aquali are the people of the seas. The first to set sail and ride its waves, to explore its hidden depths and discover its buried treasures. These folk are Intune with their arcane heritage that connects them to the sea. They are soulfully bound to the plane of water. They are the only ones who truly, Know water. 

Sleek and Cunning

With their hydrodynamic design and fine features, Aquali appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races if you're lucky enough to see one. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds while other subraces can weigh anywhere from 200 to 450 pounds and be well over the 14 feet mark. on Average Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Aquali’s coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of Teal, Pale Blue, and almost bluish/Greenish-white, hair of green or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid Prismarine or silver. Aquali have no facial and little body hair. They favor Lose, baggy and sometimes No clothing in both bright and dull colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

As Observant As The Sand

Aquali can live well over 800 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain Optimistic and Relaxed. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Aquali can be focused and relentless. They are quick to make friends and unfortunately, enemies. and even slower to forget them. They tend to brush off things that don't quite mean any serious threat. Unless you threaten them or their Ocean. 

Like the membrane of a fan coral or the stems of kelp, Aquali are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their Aquatic homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, Aquali reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategically Ambushing and Assaulting the enemy.

The World Beneath The Waves

Most Aquali dwell in small floating villages hidden among rocks or seamounts in the Eternal sea. Aquali dive, hunt game, gather food, and grow aquatic vegetables, their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for outside interaction with other realms and their Ability to hold their breath and breath underwater allows them to spend all their time tending to their tall stakes full of Tideshrooms, Kelp, or Sea Cabbage. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Aquali instead make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which can only be gathered down in the Fissures beneath the Eternal Seas Waves)

Aquali encountered outside their own lands are no more. As they were chased from the Material plane a little of 40 years ago. Now, they have built a large city and call the Plane of water their home. 

Exploration and Adventure

Aqali take up adventuring out of pure curiosity. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. Aquali Children and Adolecents often go on "Voyages" in which they set sail and just explore their home after all, it is called the Eternal sea. Wether or not they manage to find more civilization or even some ruins and fight the creatures that call the plane of water home. This is seen as a rite of passage for young Aquali. Aquali also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so.

AS GENTEL AS A WAVE, AS DANGEROUS AS A RIPTIDE

Although they can be Dangerous when they need to be, Aquali are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their expectations—which is most non-Aquali. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

Dwarves. “Dwarves are Loud blokes. But what they lack in humor, sophistication, and manners, they make up in valor. And I must admit, their best smiths produce art that approaches Aqualian quality.”

Halflings. “Halflings are people of simple pleasures, and that is not a quality to scorn. They’re good folk, they care for each other and tend their gardens, and they have proven themselves tougher than they seem when the need arises.”

Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down and learn to be happy with themselves.”

Names among the Waves

Aquali are considered children until they undergo their first Voyage and return with a boon or bounty of some kind, some time after the 50th birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On Completion of a Voyage, an Aquali is gifted an adult name or can choose to keep their childhood name, although those who knew the Aquali as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each Aquali's adult name is a unique creation that is given to them via a literal Whisper on the waves. Though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every Aquali bears a family name, typically a combination of other Aqualian words. Some Aquali that Traveled among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Aqualian version.

Child Names: Arai, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mirai, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vallai

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Makani, Ku`u Maka, Beiro, Berrian, 'Ailana, Enialis, Erdan,, Galinndan, inoa po, Himo,, Ivellios,, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren,, Riardon,, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren,

Female Adult Names: Ailani, Aolani , Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Koa , Lia, Malie, Makana, Nani, Polunu, Kamea , Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Hali'a 

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Oceanstar), Amastacia (Waverunners), Galanodel (Tidepullers), Holimion (Deepwalkers), Ilphelkiir (Islandhopper), Liadon (Voyagemaker), Meliamne (Founder), Naïlo (Warrior), 

Subrace

Ancient divides among the Aqualian people as well as their location within the realm resulted in three main subraces:  Sami Tele Aquali (Open Ocean), Su'e tai Aquali (Tidal), and Vai Loloto Aquali (Deep water). Choose one of the two subraces presented below or one from another source.

Aquali Traits

The Average Aquali has a variety of natural abilities, the result of a millennium of seafaring and Aquatic refinement.

Heart Of The Sea

As an Aquali, You discovered from a young age that you have the inate ability to manipulate water. 

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 4.

Age

Although Aquali reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Aqualian understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An Aquali typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 50and can live to be 800-900 years old.

Size

Aquali range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Your base swimming speed is 80 feet

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Tidal Sense

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Aquali Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Aquatic Trance

Aquali don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Aqualian. Aqualian is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Aqualian literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Aqualian ballads to their repertoires.