Arkanos (5e Race)

Arkanos

“	I don’t like the smell of fish. I don’t like the smell of these legged fish either. But I do wonder what they taste like?	”
—Dohra arcked, Arkanos adventurer

Physical Description

By Yanied

Arkanos are humanoids with piscine features. They are tall, with a thick and broad build. Their dark blue or green skin is covered in rust-like spots of other colors. They have a short snout with long upper and lower fangs that can grow and protrude out from their maws. A fleshy tendril-like growth sprouts from their head, acting as a source of light. They have bulky arms and legs with spiked fins and claws. Their feet, however, are webbed. An arkanos' eyes are said to be black like an abyss, with only the iris being colored.

History

The arkanos are distant cousins to the valados, the volcano wanderers, having split off from a common ancestor. The arkanos were a large nomadic tribe of valados that migrated to the coastal environment and slowly evolved and adapted to their new ecosystem. They were particularly well-versed in deeper waters, eventually diving and living as far as dead zones. Over centuries they changed completely into a more seafaring race that dominated delta systems and coasts, causing problems for cities performing overseas trade or fishing activities. The arkanos are a race cultured by their need to hunt and devour, even causing some of them to turn into the occasional cannibal. The arkanos are not mindless beasts however, and they still respect other humanoid races and cultures. They just think that theirs is the most ideal. Arkanos have even been utilized by other civilized cultures for means of gathering and scouting, as well as mercenary work. However, they are hardly called on for real battle despite their natural combat skills.

Society

The arkanos live in small tribes that never stay in the one place for more than a month. However, no matter where they move, it is usually bound to a body of water. The arkanos are a nomadic race that live by keeping to their own and sustaining themselves by hunting. Though they look vicious, they almost never attack others for resources. The arkanos live by a code of honor and mutual respect. They highly disvalue those in their community who perform acts of thievery or disrespect other tribe members by stealing their kill in a hunt. If an arkanos tribe was to have a visitor from any race and culture, they usually welcome said visitor. However, they are not naive beings and so do harbor suspicions. They are known to invade the private spaces of others by asking them a million questions or forcing traditions and codes of their tribe onto them.

Arkanos Names

Arkanos recycle names, using a small set of common aliases between tribes. It can get confusing in a larger group, as many may end up with the same name.

Male: Dohra, Aoni, Lorrick, Divir, Ghast

Female: Soji, Illia, Rell, Shanan, Vix

Arkanos Traits

Humanoid anglerfish creatures
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. The age of expected maturity is 8 while the life expectancy reaches around 70 years for an arkanos.
Alignment. Most arkanos tend to be lawful and are rarely chaotic.
Size. Arkanos are a tall race that stand from 7 feet to 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Angler Light. The fleshy sprout that protrudes from your forehead can be used as a source of light when you activate it. As a bonus action, you can cast bright light in a 30-foot radius around you and dim light for an additional 30 feet. You may end this effect by expending another bonus action.
Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.
Chomp. Your mouth, full of sharp, long needles of teeth, can deal serious damage as an unarmed strike. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Seaside Hunter. The arkanos are greatly proficient with the use of the net, as they are born and bred by the ways of water, and grow up on fish most of their lives. You are proficient with nets.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Aquan.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
7′ 0''	+1d10	115 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

For personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws look to the nomad background

3.00

(one vote)

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