Homebrew Na'vi Species Details

Description

Na'vi or as they call themselves, The People, are humanoids that protect and revere nature that originate from the realm of the Feywild and typically reside in hunter-gatherer groups in a large variety of biomes from stormy coasts to humid jungles to high mountains ranges and beyond. They have a natural ability to adapt and survive in a variety of environments because of skills gifted to them by their deity, Eywa. Na'vi typically shun the traditions and lifestyles of proper 'civilized' life, preferring to stay in their tight-knit clans in remote locations away from the cities of other humanoids and as a result are rarity among the other humanoids of the Prime Material Plane. Occasionally a Na'vi clan will venture into a remote wilderness in the Prime Material Plane from the Feywild in search of natural resources or to escape violence from other humanoids. 

Na'vi are lithe humanoids with smooth cyan skin accentuated with darker cyan stripes that stand at an average of 9-10 feet tall. They have slender but muscular proportions with an elongated waist, and wide shoulders. Some of their most notable characteristics are their feline features with pronounced canines, sweeping tails that have a tuft of black hair on the tip (which are usually 1/3 the length of their body), flat bifurcated noses, large golden lemur-like eyes and pointed ears that are able to move independent of each other. Their tails can also be moved independently similar to their ears and similar to cats its movement also serves to express emotion. Their skin has the ability to tan to a slightly purplish darker blue color when exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Na'vi are known to be very agile, moving with a grace and explosive strength reminiscent of powerful hunting cats or dancers that belies their size. Their hands and feet have four digits each and their big toes are opposable. They have long black hair that is kept long (down to their lower back) and is always bound in a single braid.

Na'vi have a small amount of sexual dimorphism, with males typically being larger with broader shoulders and more defined musculature than females. Typically there is usually around a 1-foot difference in height between the genders. The average male weighs around 460 pounds while the average female weighs around 370 pounds. They also have a set of bioluminescent markings in the form of pinpoints of light on the skin that follow circulatory pathways and blood vessels and the nervous system. These bioluminescent markings combined with skin stripe patterns help differentiate individuals, as no two Na'vi have the same pattern of markings and stripes. 

Culture

Na'vi live in clans of twenty to several hundred with an egalitarian social structure with two leaders at the head, a chief who is typically male and is performs the traditional leadership tasks (which they call an Olo'eytkan) and a shaman who is typically female (which they call a Tsahík) who is spiritual leader of the clan. Na'vi support the livelihood of their clan by dividing up the different tasks needed to survive into individual roles such as hunter, weaver, etc. Youth are apprenticed into said roles with a mentor by their families and clan leaders and as hunters must go through a dangerous rite of passage to be recognized hunters and warriors within the clan. As for other aspects of culture, the Na'vi consider excess clothing both a waste of material as it takes more than what is needed from nature and impractical as it can be uncomfortable and restrict movement. They also view shoes in the same way and are always barefoot. Because of this, they typically only wear some form of loincloth, a beaded or hide or cloth top with accessories such as jewelry and hair decorations. When it comes to subsistence practices, Na'vi only take what they need from the environment and use every part of the materials they take, making sure to avoid wasting resources. They treat all living things within their domain (with the exception of other non-Navi humanoids) with respect, giving thanks to the animals and plants that they kill in order to feed, shelter and close themselves. They consider all plants and animals to be their brothers and sisters, fellow children of Eywa.

Children of Eywa

Na'vi are the children of an entity known as Eywa, which to the Na'vi is made up of all living organisms from the smallest insect to the largest beast and controls the ecological equilibrium of the natural world. The method in which Eywa created the Na'vi is unknown, however they seek to align themselves with their creator's cause by respecting and protecting nature. Because of the tendency for 'civilized' people's to exploit and use natural resources to the point of destruction, the Na'vi view them with contempt and disgust, considering them ignorant and selfish. As a result, they are willing to fight, even to the death fiercely to protect natural resources and creatures from humanoids and other entities if they attempt to extract more resources than necessary to survive or damage the environment. One of the greatest gifts Eywa gave the Na'vi besides their physical merits is what they call a Tsaheylu or "The Bond" which is a neural queue that resides in their braid of hair which is made up of a bundle of nerve endings that extends out of a hole in the base of their skull from their brain. This neural queue allows the Na'vi to commune with other plants and animals through physical contact with the end of the queue which allows them to see through the eyes and other senses of animals. With plants, the Na'vis queue allows them to upload and download memories to the root network of the surrounding plants which helps preserve a form of racial memory and tradition. 

Na'vi Traits

Children of Eywa

Age

Na'vi age at around the same rate as humans. They reach adulthood at around the age of 18 but have longer lifespans than humans with some living up to 125 years.

Alignment

Na'vi are typically of the neutral good alignment, preferring plants and animals over other humanoids. It is also not uncommon for Na'vi to be of the Lawful Good alignment, arranging themselves as protectors of the natural world and to maintain ecological equilibrium.

Size

Na'vi are considered large as they are 9-10 feet tall.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet. Na'vi are also avid climbers, with their climbing speed being 35 feet.

Languages

You speak Na'vi and Common.

Feral Senses

Na'vi have keen senses like that of an animal as a gift from Eywa and a symbol of their connection to the natural world. You have a keen sense of smell and hearing that is the equivalent to that of a cat or dog. 

Darkvision

You can see in dim light up to 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Gift of Eywa

You have a natural ability to read animal body language and using your Tsaheylu (or Neural Queue) you are able to speak to plants. With this you are also able to control animals and see through their senses. However, your queue must be in physical contact with the base of the animal's skull or the plant you want to commune with. In addition, being raised in nature from birth you also get a +2 to the Animal Handling and Survival Skills. 

Wild Born: Illiterate

Because of how Na'vi are raised and the fact that their culture has no form of the written word, you are illiterate.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and magic cannot put you to sleep.

Way of the Hunter

Thanks to Na'vi hunter skills, you are proficient with long-bows, short-bows, bola's and spears.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, Strength by 1 and your Wisdom score increases by 2. However, your Charisma score decreases by 1. Living in the wild since the day you were born gives you some significant merits over the other city-dwelling races of the Prime Material Plane.