Homebrew Cyddan (Rexustean Half-Orcs) Species Details

(This is an altered variant to the standard Half-Orc race, which can be used instead of this one should the player so choose. In the Rexustea setting, Half-Orcs take the place of regular orcs. The regular Orc stat block is, instead, something else entirely.)

"The Aetervic people we have spoken to thus far warned us of peoples that lied further Westward, stating that there were ruthless barbarians to their West, vicious hunters who would hunt us the same as they would deer. They appear to have been severely misinformed. My unit was set upon by wolves, and as they circled in around us, there was a sudden cry from the brush. Fierce hunters poured fourth from the undergrowth, and slaughtered the wolves swiftly, at speed which shocked even the wolves, they hardly had time to react before arrows and blades sprouted from each one. The hunters fixed their fierce metallic eyes upon us, staring curiously for a moment that left us frozen and silenced in fear. Then, they grinned. We met a race of hunters that day, yes, but they were surprisingly a hospitable people, who greeted us after our run in with the wolves by presenting us with freshly baked honey-roasted boar, mead, and music. They even lavished jeweled gifts upon our fittest looking scouts. They are almost entirely composed of striking, fierce features, but despite appearances, they are kind and pure souls whose language sounds almost as if they sung every word. I would suggest a further diplomatic mission for an alliance with these people, they have not given us any reason to believe they mean anything other than fair wishes, even to outsiders."

— Letter sent by Maetyld Seyrvard, Tavrikcirian Scout circa 174 CY

Cyddans are native to the land of Iadreth, the descendants of a slender, psionically gifted people from the peaks of the Barakzân mountains, who- after countless generations spent in the emerald valleys of the region they called Cyé Dán, bordering the Orak River- became proud hunters and lost their connection to psionics. They are a people of intense hospitality, known for treating hunters or trackers from other lands to their delicious fare. As the avid hunters and trackers they are, many grow bored after learning hundreds of miles of Cyddan territory like the back of their hand and depart to new lands. Those who do often become well-storied adventurers, achieving fame for their mighty deeds.

Enduring And Proud

Cyddans exhibit an enumeration of fierce characteristics, though these don't necessarily denote their personality. Green of skin and sharp of teeth and tusk, with piercing bronze, silver, or- rarely- gold eyes, a tall, muscular frame, and thick heads of wavy, flame-red hair, the appearance of a Cyddan may intimidate many at first. This fear is often misplaced, as any who take the time to get to know one would tell you. They are commonly a very pleasant and hospitable disposition, being the first to welcome newcomers to their lands- if said newcomers stick around long enough to actually hear their greetings, that is.

Cyddans are proud hunters with a unique and expansively complex subculture of jewelry. To chronicle their deeds, they typically inlay the long tusks jutting from their lower jaws with ornate inlays of precious metals, or circlets of the same metals studded with gems in specific orders, worn around the base of the tusk. Different inlaid symbols and different metals and gems or minerals mean different things, and they are commonly bragging of their exploits in difficult hunts, such as a circlet of gold with a tourmaline inlay standing for proof of singlehandedly hunting a lion. If two Cyddans ever come to harsh words, they'll commonly both bare their teeth to show off the proof of their exploits, and if one is significantly less decorated than the other, that one will typically step down.

This culture of jewelry and decoration also extends to the hair, which is typically bound in ornate braids, decorated with circlets of fine metal which are carved with further regalia of their deeds and societal positioning. Their hairstyles are very intricate and hard to match, and the secrets of Cyddan braids are the one and nearly only thing they won't share proudly with outsiders.

They are known continent-wide for their pride in their ability to hunt, and regard scars as tokens of a life lived well and true to the wilds they so prize. Any Cyddan has at least one scar, and all are things of great pride. Cyddans are prone to recounting their past exploits and the tale of the injury, should anyone show interest in a scar, and they are skilled muses as well as hunters, who have been known to write songs with musical accompaniment about their greatest hunts. 

Intensity In All Things

Cyddans live extremely intensely in all manners, most of all emotion. The rare throes of anger make them burn and cinder, as though a great wildfire burned in their core. Sadness is like a blizzard, freezing them into a cold and distant statue of a person. But joy, joy is a wonderful thing to behold, a contagious, all-ensnaring whirlwind of dance, song, and the bright flash of teeth in an ear-to-ear smile shown proudly to the world. They are extremely hard to anger or drive to melancholy- they much prefer the brightness of joy or the unrelenting path of determination- but if you do somehow manage it it's in your best interest to get out of the way, and quickly. A Cyddan determined to fight is a Cyddan willing to kill, and they most certainly will fight tooth, nail, and tusk for the desired outcome.

The will of a Cyddan is an impressive thing, and in the event that a bow or a spear isn't practical, it isn't that uncommon for one to chase their prey for miles with nothing but a dagger or shortsword, waiting for it to collapse or stumble for long enough that they can catch up to it. This determination is something they carry into everything they do and every aspect of life. They are relentless, and will often not give up until they're dead. If a Cyddan promises you something, they'll do it, sometimes regardless of the expense.

Cyddan Names

Cyddan names follow these conventions: a given name followed by the name of the parent who they feel taught them the most, which they bear with pride as their last name. Their last names begin with the prefix "Ní" for women or "Ó" for men. Their names are spoken in a lilting, soft, flowing, and throaty manner, with an almost musical sound to it.

Cyddan Male Name Examples: Dùghall, Camrán, Suibhne, Lachánn, Guirmean, Eòghann, Beathan, Ros, Nilidh, Sèitheach, Fionntan, Síonn, Corc, Finnlágh, Rodachán

Cyddan Female Name Examples: Saraidh, Méabh, Sibéal, Curstaidh, Aithne, Éibhlín, Bláthnaid, Muírne, Ciannait, Luíseach, Bríghid, Innis, Cailín, Athól, Sinéad

Cyddan (Rexustean Half-Orcs) Traits

Your upbringing and exploits as a Cyddan have bestowed you with the following.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score OR your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Cyddans mature a little slower than Eastermen, reaching adulthood around age 22. They age noticeably slower and often live more than 120 years, though never much more than 140.

Size

Cyddans are taller and somewhat bulkier than the Eastermen. On average, they weigh in at around 6'4 to 6'6 and around 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your many years spent hunting day or night, 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.

Menacing

Your tall frame, sharp and decorated tusks, and fierce, piercing eyes cause many to give you a wide berth if you look upset. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Refusal To Fail

Few can impede or stop the force of a determined Cyddan- including the grasping claws of death itself. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can choose to drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Hunter's Eyes

After felling enough animals, you begin to learn that there is a certain trend in the placement of vital organs amongst all creatures. When you score a critical hit with a Melee (If you chose Strength as your ASI) or Ranged (If you chose Dexterity as your ASI) weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Cyddan (The replacement for Orcish). Cyddan is a lilting, musical language with soft, throaty sounds. It has its own script, constructed from looping symbols that flow into each other like a river of words.