Homebrew Zayas Species Details

Description

A race of telepathic Forest beings, generally 6' to 8' tall, who are wise and intuitive but rarely venture out of their sylvan communes. Similar in stature to the Native American Wendigo, and generally small in family group, these physically adept creatures are omnivorous, able to hunt in the dead of night if necessary but more likely to enjoy a plant based diet. Their tri-ocular vision is particularly sharp, lending to the more social of them having insightful tendencies.

Culture

Naming is typically a result of outsider influence mixed with generational reverence. Given their telepathy, given names are not necessary among the communes, but a generational name is chosen as a surname at a certain point in one's lifetime. This surname is determined as a *nymic based on the given name of the wisest of the previous generation. For example, Ilya as the progenitor's name could result in a generational surname of Ilyan or Ilyatin. Subsequently, one's given name is often chosen upon first interaction with an outsider, if this occurs, and is often picked from the various words spoken first to the Zayas. One particular Zayas chose the name Lads when confronted with the phrase "Who is this lad?" upon stumbling out of the forest to meet a group of human adventurers.

Zayas are, as a whole, peace loving creatures. In terms of Alignment, most are either True Neutral or Neutral Good, and unless specifically adventuring they attempt to avoid violence when possible. This often results in conflicts and misunderstandings with the more warlike races they encounter.

Physicality

Anatomically, a Zayas begins life not much differently from a normal rabbit, aside from being born from an egg-like structure as a result of a mitotic process. They are born quadrupedal, looking to most like a true rabbit kit, aside from the three vibrantly colored eyes (This is known as their Kit stage to most outsiders in the know). At about age 6, they begin to gain more physical dexterity and adeptness, able to begin using their forelegs as arms even before their hands fully develop. By age 14, the process by which they begin to metamorphize into their "Wendigo" phase, with lengthening arms and a shift to bipedal stature.

Zayas Traits

Exceptional vision, and inherent understanding of the nature they are so deeply entwined in, but slight issues with socializing as a result of strange anatomy and mannerisms.

Lanky Build

Melee range is increased with basic weaponry to ten feet as a result of Zayas having wingspan enough that, if desired, one could brush the ground with their fingertips without hunching over.

Tri-Ocular Vision

Each eye of a Zayas has a differing arrangement and concentration of rods and cones, as well as reactivity to light. This allows them to rapidly shift focus visually and to react quickly to subtle changes in their environs, resulting from their evolution in the forests (advantage on sight-based Wisdom [Perception] checks). Even in pitch darkness, most are still able to determine colors out to a range of 60 ft., and shades of grey out to 120 ft.

Hermitic Upbringing

Zayas, due in part to their strange anatomy and mostly unblinking eyes, can be off-putting to races unprepared for their idiosyncrasies. (Advantage on Nature checks, Disadvantage on Persuasion checks)

Telepathic Communication

The Zayan thought speech is communicated mainly through ideas and images instinctively, but with further effort on the Zayas' part can be shaped into a particular language. This communication is effective if the intended recipient(s) have an intelligence score of 3 or higher. Zayas therefore are not fluent in any languages by default, but are able to learn them quickly if travelling with a group (Zayan vocal chords are thankfully flexible enough to gain rough conversation abilities in most verbal languages). Range: 1 mile (Zayas to Zayas)/60 ft. (Zayas to other/vice versa)

Ability Score Adjustments

Strength score increase (+2). Wisdom score increased (+2). Intelligence score decreased (-1).