Apukuan (5e Race)

Work In Progress

Apukuan

Physical Description

By Yanied

Apukuan are humanoids that resemble elves and dryads but have dark skin and vegetative-like green hair taking the form of vines, leaves, grass, and in rare cases flowers. Apukuan have athletic builds and can a variety of heights but tend to be taller than humans on average being between 5 feet to well over 7 feet tall. Their eyes tend to be warm colors such as orange and yellow, although green is also common.

History

It is said that apukuan hail from a magical tree that grew them originally as fruit. These fruits matured into the first apukuan and came to be progenitors for the rest of the race. This legendary tree has been passed down through oral tradition in apukuan history. However, the apukuan no longer know where this tree is or what it looks like. According to the tail end of their legend, the apukuan were severed from connection with their sacred and legendary tree as a result of their hubris from later generations that did not hold the same respect for the tree as older generations. As such, they were expelled from the garden where the tree allegedly grows. Today, apukuan are inhabitants of various jungles, where they never quite feel at home. Perhaps it was a curse from their exile. Many apukuan therefore spend their lives seeking the garden to restore their race's connection with the sacred tree and to return to their true home.

Society

The apukuan lack a set home, as they have long wandered and disseminated throughout the jungles after their alleged exile in their historical legend. They reside in tribes of around twenty members, scattered in different lands. Apukuan tribes are organized with roles between gathering food and rearing young. They tend to make their homes up in the trees, where they make homes of sticks and broad leaves. Transportation through their treetop villages are facilitated through vines and lianas woven into ropes and ladders. Childrearing is communal and involves both male and females. Both male and female apukuan are actually involved in many tasks that are interchangeable between the sexes. For example, female apukuan can also be tree guards.

Apukuan tribes are organized with three chieftain leaders that govern over various aspects of village life. They set estimates for food gathering and ordain if a move is necessary due to natural disasters or other conflict. They are supported by tribe members that are versed in shamanism, though this is often classified as Druidry. These shamans also function as teachers for younger generations, raising the next generation of natural magic users. Apukuan are greatly reverent and observant of nature.

Attitudes and Beliefs

Many apukuan aspire to be the one who will find the legendary garden and reconnect their people with their lost roots. A commonplace belief in this process is that of shamanistic practice to better attune apukuan to the natural world, where they believe the hints lie. As such, apukuan are reverent of nature and often aspire to be shamans. Apukuan believe that those who spurn nature and the symbiotic connections of living things bring ruin, much like how they were cast out from their original garden due to the disrespect their ancestors showed. This attitude is largely insular within the race, however, and apukuan are not very interested in proselytizing their beliefs. To them, those who make the decisions to tarnish nature will suffer the consequences. There is no need to warn them. In this way, apukuan are also somewhat reclusive. They tend to keep their thoughts and ideas to themselves rather than tell others. If they are doing a shamanistic ritual, for example, they probably won't explain what they are doing to anyone watching.

Apukuan Names

Male: Mesa, Adroushan, Alan, Ara, Aran, Ardavan, Artsen, Badouagan, Dzahhig, Gamo, Hairig, Hamparzhoum, Jalal, Jivan, Kasbar, Matsag, Paramaz, Paren, Partogjimaos, Sarhad, Talar, Tevan, Tsakig, Vartan, Vosdanig, Vosgan, Yervant, Zareh

Female: Aida, Amalia, Apel, Arpi, Berjanoush, Dhaodora, Eba, Harut, Hrehhen, Mamre, Nayat, Nazant, Nazeli, Nourista, Nuart, Ovasa, Parantsem, Pourang, Rozin, Sadida, Sharmag, Sinan, Vasbourag, Yester

Apukuan Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1. Age. Apukuan mature after about 18 years, and live to about a century and a half. Alignment. Finding an Evil Apukuan is like finding a leaf in the desert. Apukuan will protect nature usually, by all means, necessary, but are not blind to their actions either. They however think about nature and themselves a bit faster than they do about anyone else, therefore leaning towards Neutral a bit more than Good, though Good isn't uncommon. Size. Apukuan come in a variety of heights but tend to be taller than humans on average being between 5 feet to well over 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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Photosynthesis. You can photosynthesize for nutrition. While in bright sunlight, you do not need to eat. You are considered 'full' after a short rest while in an area of bright sunlight, and every hour after that provides an extra hour without needing food when out of direct sunlight up to a day. Dim sunlight requires a long rest and as such requires it to be twice as long for these effects to occur. Other light sources will only give the benefits of dim sunlight and must be bright non-magical light.

Apukuan weapons training. You have proficiency with the glaive, lance, pike, and spear.

Link to Nature. You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with plants, gaining proficiency in the Nature skill. When touching the plant you wish to communicate to, you will get a general feeling of the state of the area it's in. They can understand the meaning of your words though they do not have the ability to talk back. You have advantage to persuasion checks when you ask for a safe passage or when they are hostile towards you, unless they are under the command of someone else, such as an entangle spell.

Apukuan Magic. You know the Thorn Whip cantrip and you can cast Barkskin and Entangle without the need of material components or spell slots, using your Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for them. You cast these spells a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus.

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Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

Random Height and Weight

Male

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 8''	+3d8	160 lb.	× (1d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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