Homebrew Yiktz Species Details

Skinny and flat-furred, his coating a smoky gray and his eyes a brilliant emerald green that hid behind his goggles, this Yiktz stood half as tall as a Dwarf and had to climb up on a podium to reach the customer’s gaze. Like most habitations in Surian, that particular tenement had been built for humans, and smaller residents coped with the resulting awkwardness as best they could.

But at least the relative largeness of the structure gave the Yiktz room to pack in all his intricate bite-sized gear. The front room was his workshop, and it  contained a bewildering miscellany of tools: hammers, chisels, saws, lockpicks, tinted lenses, jeweler’s loupes, and jars of powdered and shredded ingredients for tinkering. A mechanical gray cat, the artificer’s companion, lay curled atop a pile of blueprints. It opened its eyes, gave the man a disdainful yellow stare, then appeared to go back to sleep.

 

What is a Yiktz?

The Yiktz are a small and intelligent rodent-like race that resemble rats slightly. When the Oilonian Inflation occurred, the Yiktz were brutally driven out by the other races, most notably the Dwarves because they occupied the same niches. Most were forced into the Underdark, and there some developed a fierce hatred for those who forced them out of their home, while some (who were not as harshly treated) developed ways of diplomacy. However, both of them discovered the new technology that could be produced with the grenndol oil, and grew a love for it. The Yiktz who were slaughtered sought after the technology in dreams of retaking what was theirs, whereas those who experienced diplomacy wished to share the advancements to improve relations. For this reason, Yiktz are always the most determined to obtain grenndol oil. The two major factions of Yiktz are the Zanlian Dominion, and Vvirtzakt Clan (the Zanlian Dominion is diplomatic, while the Vvirtzakt Clan is a militocracy).

The general Yiktz

A Yiktz’ subtleness of its existence comes through every inch of his or her tiny body. Yiktz average slightly over 2 feet tall and weigh 20 to 35 pounds. Their gray or brown faces are usually adorned with large goggles (as most who interact with people are of the Zanlian Dominion), and their bright eyes shine with excitement. Their short fur has a tendency to stick out in certain places, as if to spite their subtle nature.

A Yiktz’ personality is like a subscript, keeping consistency with his or her appearance. A male Yiktz’ whiskers, in contrast to his matted hair, is their source of expression and they often make them into braids or other unique forms. They are also considerably larger than that of females (at least double the length and density). 

The Yiktz residency

While they enjoy rocky mountains and dark caves, Yiktz are also partial to city areas and temperate coasts. Although this liking was mostly forced upon them as those Yiktz clans who resided in the high mountains were thrusted out most brutally by the freshly arrived Dwarves. 

After the Yiktz were forcibly removed from their native lands during the Oilonian Inflation (some more brutal than others), many of them found a safe haven in and around the Dzerkate Bay, where one of the only Yiktz clans to not be relocated resided: Clan Zaktlant which would go on to be known as The Zanlian Dominion.

Yiktz Names

Yiktz tend to have a liking for possessing many names, and most have half a dozen or so. A Yiktz’ receives one name from the mother and father while they choose several others themselves, and various nicknames from just about everyone else might or might not stick over time. Yiktz names are typically clever jokes thought up by the Yiktz who have them (in the Yitzik language of course) or simple words that the Yitkz particularly likes. Also they always add their clan name to whatever they call themselves. When dealing with humans and others who are “stuffy” about names, a Yiktz uses no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname, choosing the one in each category that’s the most fun to say. For example a Yiktz who isn’t using their full name vocabulary might call themself: Zikky Bunty Dirg of Clan Turkisk. The “Clan” part of their name can vary from one Yiktz to another; one could say ...of Clan xxx, while another might say ... ilk Udinkt xxx (ilk Udinkt roughly translates to “of Clan...”, from Yiktzik to Common), and another could simply say ... xxx as their clan name.

Father Names: Ztik, Nikert, Huzt, Kalkt, Nzeb, Vlirt

Mother Names: Ubt, Wzkl, Kinme, Ertint, Ztlerpt, Kazer

Chosen Name: Kant, Zlapy, Rurtger, Nizkalip, Foz, Gazin

Clan Names: Overclans- Dtlatin, Tinz, Utttin. Underclans- Akint, Untiz-Nix, Rutzlt

Nicknames: Kak, Zlop-dop, Fertinak, Zingboz, Dstikni, Fikler

 

 

Yiktzik Adventurers

While their nature as subtle and unnoticeable creatures shines through in most, some Yiktz have their brilliance, curiosity, or courage overpower that. Being naturally curious and intelligent makes many of them into Artificers or Wizards, and their innate subtlety makes excellent Rogues. Courage is not often thought of when thinking of Yiktz but a certain few possess it and go on to be outstanding Fighters and Bloodhunters. Cleric and Paladin Yiktz are not common but they aren’t rare either as the vast majority of the race follow the way of The Brillant Crafter (mostly from the Zanlian Dominion). Warlocks usually are made of the other god worshiped by Yiktz, The Great Ravenous Hunger. Yiktz who are born as Sorcerers often find themselves in the midst of a tug of war between factions who desire their power as Yiktz Sorcerers are extremely rare in comparison to other races of Oilon. Ranger, Druid, and Barbarian Yiktz often come from the same background: Yiktz of a distant clan in the wilderness, or those who abandoned their clans all together. Monk Yiktz are rare but exist mostly in a secluded monastery deep in the Kaligary Mountains. However, of all the classes you shall never find a Bard Yiktz as it is shunned by bothering their culture and nature; the only way to form a Yiktz into a Bard for it to be raised of non-Yiktz origin. 

Subrace

Choose one of the subraces below or one from another source.

Yiktz Traits

Your Yiktz character has certain characteristics in common with all other Yiktz.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Yiktz mature by age 4, and most are expected to settle down into an adult life by around age 9. They typically parish around age 30.

Alignment

Yiktz are most often subtly neutral. Those who tend toward law are sages, engineers, researchers, scholars, or inventors. Those who tend toward chaos are minstrels, tricksters, wanderers, or those of the Underclans. Yiktz vary greatly in personality between the regions they are found in, those found around the Zanlian Dominion are usually good-hearted, whereas those around the Vvirtzakt Clan are the embodiment of chaos. Take this generalization with a grain of salt as no two Yiktz are the same.

Size

Yiktz are typically between 2 ½ and 3 feet tall and average about 35 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life underground, 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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, and Yiktzik. The Yitzik language is spoken universally between Yiktz, however, the script between different clans is almost indecipherable to a Yiktz of a different clan; thus certain hand gestures are often a necessity.

Burrowing Speed

You have a base burrowing speed of 10 feet.

Natural Dowser

All Yiktz have a desire for grenndol oil and possess a keen nose for its discovery. Once a week, a Yiktz can spend 1 hour of it’s time attempting to locate the nearest source of grenndol oil, whether it be loose or still in a grenndol. It must beat a Wisdom (perception) DC = to the amount of miles the oil is from the location of the Yiktz. If success, you know the distance in miles how far North, South, East, or West. If you fail, you only know the direction it is in. (This feature most likely only applies if in the “Oilon” setting).