Homebrew Arkani Species Details

“It was believed that lost spirits were roving about everywhere in the invisible air, waiting for children to find them if they searched long and patiently enough…said that the spirits took the forms of creatures the children were familiar with, and the spirits sung the songs of these creatures so that the children could memorize it and call upon the spirit guardians later in life”                                                                                                                                                                                         

“The idea of a full dress for preparation for a battle comes not from a belief that it will add to the fighting ability. The preparation is for death, in case that should be the result of the conflict. Every Arkani wants to look his best when he goes to meet the Great Spirits, so the dressing up is done whether in imminent danger is an oncoming battle or a sickness or injury at times of peace.”

— Tiften Meddlewood, The people of the wood.

Arkani are a free people, in mind, body and spirit; a people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of untamed beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in the forgotten jungles, glistening with morning dew, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Arkani love nature and ritual, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world. Because of this loving nature, polygamy is not uncommon within their tribes. 

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Arkani appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races, masked only by the markings of ritual and tradition. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just under 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, but differ when it comes to weight.

Arkani’ coloration encompasses a range from medium to olive, but more commonly light brown skin tones. They tend to have long dark brown or black hair, usually decorated with aspects from the environment, often something to compliment their green or brown eyes. Arkani tend to have no facial and little body hair. They favor minimal clothing, only dressing for ritualistic events and celebrations, or battle and death. In terms of jewelry, they will often done that of something that was personally crafted for them, a mark of the ones that love them, or something that was attained through trade. Foreign apparel, especially jewelry, are a way to announce wealth and capability to other members in their tribe.

A Timeless Perspective

Arkani have been known to live longer than humans on average, 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 aloof and unfazed by petty coincidence. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Arkani can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Like the branches of a young tree, Arkani 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 woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, Arkani reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with spear, bow, and strategy.

Hidden Woodland Realms

Most Arkani dwell in small forest villages hidden among the trees due to the threat of capture and enslavement. Arkani hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables, and their skill and traditions allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Arkani make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (a material they have no interest in harvesting).

Arkani encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling minstrels, artists, traders, sages, or more commonly, slaves. Human nobles compete for the services of Arkani instructors to teach bowman-ship or to teach ancient myth and lore to their children or entertain their guest parties. Sages are more than happy to provide any service to a noble, so that they may advocate for the tribes and their recent loss of land.

Exploration and Adventure

Arkani take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they tend to live longer lives, they can enjoy decades of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Arkani also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater or more useful skills for their tribes, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

PROUD BUT GRACIOUS

Although they can be proud, Arkani are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their high expectations—which is most non-arkani. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

Faelynx. “Faelynx are often known for their sticky paws, but what they lack in morals and manners,  they make up in ability and usefulness. Some of the best traders ever met, was a Faelynx, for they possessed or had the ability to possess whatever you need to find.

Ravanakin. “Ravanakin are people of unbound determination,  despite the disadvantages given to them in appearance and character, their united goal drives them to accomplish what they set out for. Despite the taking of our lands, it would seem they have an eye for the beauty it offers as well.

Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their battle lust drives them to inevitable death—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 discover patience, peace, and kinship.”

Arkani Names

Male Names: Aku, Annowan, Ashkii, Taka, Tenju, Maoki,

Female Names: Adrie,

Spiritual Divide

Spiritual divide occurred years ago among the Arkani people; resulting in the separation of tribes. The Six known tribes are separated by spiritual animal followed; crow, stag, boar,  wolf, lynx, and bear; members baring the mark of the spirit that chose them.The elders have spoken for many years that the separation of peoples were solely based on their different walks and approach to life, however, others speculate that it was elders themselves whom lost their way and used the faith in the spirits for their personal gain. Whatever the reason, it has been lost and forgotten, and the Akrani people continued to live separately, in hopes to show honor and dedication towards their spirit. It was only recently that the tribes started to set aside most of their differences and began to work together in terms of migration, protection, and tradition; traditions such as hosting a yearly rites of passage for their youth, otherwise known as the Mark Of The Wild. Just as the young Arkani journey into the wild, hoping to find the call of the spirits so that they may be led home, the Arkani as a whole must journey once more, calling upon their spirits for guidance in these dark days.

MARK OF THE WILD

A tradition passed onto many of their youth, young Arkani are marked (tattooed) as a coming of age, once they have proved they are worthy of their tribes spirit animal. The mark resembles that of the animal or the trait the animal represents. Typically, these marks have been earned through hard work and burdening various responsibilities for the tribe, until approval of their elder and their guardian is earned. Just recently, however, tradition has been revisited, turning this vision quest into a yearly event hosted by all of the five tribes. The young are set loose into the dangers of the wood, in search of the spirits call, returning either in life or death.

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Crow Mark: Seekers of the call will often return with various things from the crow: a feather, an egg, remains, or a chick.

Traits - Mystical, change, creativity, spiritual strength, intelligence, higher perspective. 

Stag Mark: Seekers of the call will often return with antlers, droppings in the fashion of decorated war paint, remains, or a fawn.

Traits - Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs. 

Boar Mark: Seekers of the call will often return after having bathed in a boars wallow, acquiring a tusk, or a piglet.

Traits - prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, balanced complacency and activity, fearless.

Wolf Mark: Seekers of the call will often return with droppings, hair shed, teeth, a bite from a wolf, or a pup.

Traits - Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, spirit, appetite for freedom, can be a loner. 

Lynx Mark: Seekers of the call return with hairballs, teeth, yellow spotted shrooms from the lynx den, or a kitten.

Traits - Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, guide, aware, intuitive, unconventional. 

Bear Mark: Seekers of the call return with droppings, claws, teeth, or a cub.

Traits - Instinctive, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength. 

Arkani Traits

Your Arkani character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of years living in the wild.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Your Strength score decreases by 1.

Arkani Weapon Training

You have proficiency with the dagger, spear, shortbow, and longbow. 

Mark of the Wild

Through rite of passage, young Arkani wonder into the dangers of the wood, seeking out the call of the spirits. Once the call from the creature is heard, a kinship is formed.

Crow Mark: Traits - Mystical, change, creativity, spiritual strength, intelligence, higher perspective. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling of crows. Tame on DC 14.

Stag Mark: Traits - Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling of deer. Tame on DC 16.

Boar Mark: Traits - prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, balanced complacency and activity, fearless. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling. Tame on DC 18.

Wolf Mark: Traits - Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, spirit, appetite for freedom, can be a loner. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling. Tame on DC 18.

Lynx Mark: Traits - Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, guide, aware, intuitive, unconventional. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling. Tame on DC 20.

Bear Mark: Traits - Instinctive, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength. Advantage on tracking, and animal handling. Tame on DC 22.

Mask of the wild

You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage. 

Fleet of Foot

Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet, 25 feet in dense foliage terrain.  

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

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 30 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 black. 

Age

Although Arkani reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans and other common races, Arkani appear to retain their youthfulness much longer than the others. There have been many claims that several Arkani Elders have out lived some of the oldest humans.

Size

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

Alignment

Arkani love freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, considering the captivity their people are often subjugated to, and they are more often good than not.

Languages

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