Homebrew Atenari(Mothfolk) Species Details

Wings and Sensations

Rather strange and uncanny, the atenari rest in caves during the day. They will only reveal themselves to intruders if they believe they are in danger. Their sizes vary wildly, ranging from 4 to 6 feet tall, their bodies being pale and lithe.

Their wings have a range of different patterns, most denoting their place in a swarm. The atenari also have antennae that substitute their sense of smell and aid their sight. Another strange feature is the fluff that grows around their necks and wrists to protect them from the cold.

Nocturnal Nomads

Though many atenari enjoy the sky, their clumsy flight doesn't often allow them to stay airborne for very long. When possible, atenari will remain close to the earth, flying only when necessary to reach a destination. Despite an ineptitude in the sky, they are exceptional on the ground, with the ability to cross large distances without fatigue.

In their native lands, the atenari form large tribes to explore the land. As the atenari are a proud people, the only obstacle that will impede their travels is the other people they encounter. Because of their tight-knit groups, many are often suspicious of outsiders, and the few that adventure into the Material Plane are often confused by the diverse settlements they find. When encountering those who have not traveled much in their lifetime, they feel great pity for them. Despite their love for travel, bright light hinders their ability to see. While not a problem in the Feywilds eternal twilight, in the Material Plane, they will hide once the sun rises or use their antennae to gather information on the world around them.

Insect Idiosyncrasies

The peculiar parallels between the atenari and a standard moth are rather uncanny. The similarities transcend their appearance and extend into behaviors and instincts that have become part of their culture. An example of this is their rabid appreciation for shiny objects. They will often get distracted by the lustrous and glimmery. Due to this and their lack of understanding of ownership, some atenari steal. Their amiable nature quickly remedies that, and they are more than happy to pay for the goods that they desire.

Another bizarre quirk is their ability to convey ideas to others of their kind telepathically. Despite being capable of speech, they tend to communicate with each other with this power. When asked about this, many claim it to be a gift from the Fey. When using this gift, their antennae vibrate, leading to others speculating a more scientific answer to this ability.

Their strange speech patterns extend to their vocabulary when speaking orally. An atenari will often click their tongues to indicate emotion when talking. The clicks, known as ticks, mimic facial expressions and vocal tones. An example, instead of a wavering voice when an atenari is afraid, they will create rapid, high-pitched ticks. Instead of expressing anger, they will create low ticks, mimicking growling. Instead of laughter when happy, they will slowly tick to show contentment.

Like most people, their culture developed beyond their speech. The Atenari are a very spiritual group. An example of this is their ascension into adulthood. This event is called a Metamorphosis, where a young atenari, called larva, makes a deep spiritual connection to a place. Once the larva links, they retreat into a chrysalis for a day then acquire their wings and antennae. Atenari believes this connection happens when they are in the area where they died in their previous life.

A large part of their culture consists of the fruits and vegetables eaten. With a vow to protect the land, many atenari are vegetarians by choice. While they can digest even raw meat with no negative impacts, many atenari prefer to eat simple sugars rather than hunting and killing animals.

If you were to ask an atenari what they fear most, a vast majority of them say they have a fear of being trapped. As most atenari are wayfaring people, a common phobia among their kind is forcibly to stay in one place for a prolonged time. When in enclosed spaces, an atenari will become very antsy or aggressive. In their culture, the act of confining someone inside a building or cave is the worst form of torture, and it should be used only as a last resort.

Nearly all atenari believe that ownership is temporary. After all, no one could own the world. No one could hold the sky or the sea. The idea of owning a permanent home baffles them. The thought of being limited to one place puzzles them. Why would someone want to be bound to one location?

Atenari Names

Similar to their way of speech, atenari names are short and abrupt sounding. Most names tend to be monosyllabic and onomatopoeic. Their names are gender-neutral.

An example of few names are: Plash, Skip, Tap, Fwhip, and Jax 

Atenari BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for atenari include the outlander, the hermit, and outcast.

Many atenari travel, it is not uncommon for an atenari to stray from their swarm. If a small group of atenari do settle down, the colonies are hidden and remote. Their lust for exploration makes it so that an atenari can be found in the hottest of deserts and the highest of peaks. The Antenari that live on their own are normally druids and rangers

 

Atenari(Mothfolk) Traits

Atenari (Mothfolk) Traits As a result of their moth-like origins, they share certain traits with them. Darkvision Due to your nocturnal lifestyle, your eyes have become accustomed to the dark. 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. Sunlight Sensitivity Because of your nocturnal schedule, your eyes have adapted to the dark. Your sleep pattern has the consequence of having ill-adjusted eyes to the bright light of the day. It makes it very hard to see anything when in direct sunlight. Whispered Warnings Your kind has found developed a way to sense when in danger. To do this, you can read the mind of the perceived threat. Ability Score Increase Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1. Age Atenari maturity goes beyond age. An atenari reaches maturity after metamorphosis and commonly live to be about 80. Alignment The atenari tend towards more chao