Hanar (Mass Effect Supplement)

Hanar

Physical Description

[Source]

Hanar vaguely resemble certain species of Earth's bioluminescent jellyfish, "standing" at around the same height as most turians, though most of their height comes from their extended tentacles that hover just slightly off the ground. An aquatic species, the hanar can not support themselves in normal gravity, instead relying on contra-gravitic levitation packs that use mass effect fields. Despite being aquatic, hanar have no difficulty breathing in oxygen-based environment. While their numerous appendages allow for greater dexterity than almost any other race is capable of, each tentacle can only lift 3 or 4 ounces. Hanar also possess the ability to secrete natural toxins. While biologically and self-identifiably genderless, many people assign hanar arbitrary gender values.

Hanar communicate using sophisticated patterns of bioluminescence, which requires most species, save for the majority of their drell thralls who have received implants that allow them to perceive such speech, to use a translator, though the same could be said of any species.

History

Thousands of years ago, a prothean ruin was found on their homeworld, Kahje, shaping a religion around the supposed "Enkindlers", whose myths often speak of them as an elder race that uplifted and civilized the hanar by teaching them language. While presumably slingshotting their technology many years into the future, it would still take a great amount of time for the hanar to develop contemporary space travel.

In the 20th century CE, the hanar made contact with the drell on their nearby homeworld of Rakhana. Drell society was quickly collapsing due to overpopulation and warring over scarce resources, so the hanar rescued several hundred thousand drell and brought them to Kahje, where they integrated into hanar society as a client race. Although this relationship is often construed as a form of slavery by outsiders, drell have integrated with every level of hanar society, and most consider it an honor to serve a hanar family in a tradition referred to as the Compact. Many drell become unofficial members of the family, and some even earn the privilege to learn their masters' "soul names".

Society

Hanar speak with extreme politeness and unmatched precision. Most hanar take offense at improper language, and must take special courses to unlearn this tendency if they expect to deal with other species. Hanar never refer to themselves in the first person with someone they know on a face name basis: to do so is considered egotistical. Instead they refer to themselves as "this one," or the impersonal "it". It is only around those who know their soul name that they would ever consider using the first person. Even when flustered or angry, a hanar will still maintain exquisite poise, and will remain formal even with those it wishes dead.

Despite forbidding fighting of all kinds in their culture, thinking it makes people less empathetic to others, most drell servants are trained in and carry out assassinations. The hanar economy is small and isolated, primarily dealing in hanar-exclusive technology and only selling goods on small trading stations on their borders. Despite this, they maintain discreet gray-market trade relationships with the exiled batarians, primarily dealing in alcohol.

Hanar Names

The hanar have two names, a "face name" and a "soul name." The face name is used as a general label for use by strangers and acquaintances. The soul name is kept for use among close friends and relations and tends to be poetic.

Face Names: Anrynder, Delanynder, Ellanpo, Hymydwhyn, Lopyldis, Malvyll, Opold, Sedlyner, Tolystoyl, Wynold, Zymandis

Soul Names: Burns Brightest when the Foam Blooms, Casts Shadow on the Sun Flower, Emancipates the Tide from those that Pull, Heeds only to the Inner Lights, Illuminates the Folly of the Dancers, Regards the Works of the Enkindlers in Despair, Transforms the Stone into Water

Hanar Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores increase by 2.
Age. Hanar usually reach maturity around 40 years and typically live to be 180 years old.
Alignment. Most hanar are lawful due to the religious influence within their society.
Size. Though a hanar's tentacles stand about as tall as humans, their bodies are around 1.5 meters long (4-5'). Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 20 feet. You have a swimming speed of 40 feet.
Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.
Bioluminescence. You can shed dim light in a 30 foot radius.
Fragile. Your hit point maximum is decreased by 1. Every time you gain a level, you gain 1 fewer hit points.
Tentacles. Though hanar have six tentacles, they ultimately act in the same manner as two hands. Your tentacles are a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you may cause the target to become grappled, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Additionally, creatures are poisoned while you are grappling them.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Hanar.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+4d4	40 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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