Tych (5e Race)

Tychi

“	There are stories about their strange appearances, like beasts of the wood, yet not. Are they really related to the dead goddess of fate herself? Who can truly say, I suppose...	”
—Barron Manneister, pub owner of the Hairy Hog

Physical Description

By Yanied

The tychi, singular tych, are roughly humanoids, but are monstrous like goblinoids and other twisted humanoid sorts. Their bodies are like that of an anthropomorphic leopard, with the spotted print pelt and fur covering their bodies. They usually are taller than humans and around the same weight, but their gait and posture is often bent a bit. Their heads are like that of a cheetah, with much larger eyes, but they lack much of a neck, having a thick trunk that barely shows their shoulders below the girth from their heads. The torso and abdomen of the tychi is rather short and sort of bulbous, though some tychi are leaner than others. This body can become quite dense with muscle, showing off lithe body shape in tychi who are well-toned. However, tychi do not retain fat very well anyway, so they never end up looking too egg shaped. Their legs are very long, extending from the sides of their narrow hips. These end in wide feet that resemble that of webbing, though covered in fur and tipped with claws. Tychi also have long arms, but they are proportionally shorter than their legs and often reach only the knees. Their fingers and toes are also pretty long. Like human hands, their fingers are nimble and dexterous. They also have a long, clubbed tail that comes out from the base of their body, between their legs, which is spiked similarly to their back

An interesting quality of the tychi is their spiked back. Tychi have a back that rounds out a bit and is peppered with spotted designs that differ from the leopard print on the rest of their body. They are known to grow sharp spines out of these patches on their body. These spines are like that of a porcupine, but larger. Each spine is controlled by a nerve-muscular structure under the pelt that allows tychi to shoot the spines out like weapons from their bodies. This same structure is present in tychi legs, giving them the ability to sprint quickly for short bursts.

Tychi fur is considered clothing in their culture. It is more convenient than clothes that get in the way or need to be changed, in their eyes. Their strange anatomy and spines also get in the way of most normal clothing unless it is extremely freeform, like a sash. Adornments are considered separate from clothing for tychi, and often mark something of status. Bracelets, anklets, and headdresses are worn by tychi elite, including warriors. Tychi prefer jewelry that is made of gold than that of other metals. Gold is a color they also like on their sashes and wrap-around clothes. These styles are minimal, yet still regal, with tychis having fashion like togas and open-top monk habits.

History

Tychi are strange creatures believed to come about following the fall of Tyche, the original goddess of luck. However, this is a very distant theory, based solely on their name. It is highly probable that there is no real connection between the tychi and Tyche. The name of the tychi is rooted in indigenous origins, within the forests where the tychi are said to originate. Their name refers to the pattern of their fur combined with their spiny backs. As for their specific origin, tychi claim to have descended from a fey lineage, perhaps similar to the displacer beasts and kamadan. However, they possess a higher degree of humanity compared to the monstrosities.

Society

The tychi live in tribes centered within dense jungles and forests. They organize into family units under a patriarch, ruled like a small clan. Males who have multiple wives will usually consolidate their different families into one single clan within a tribe. Strong and affluent males with many wives will therefore have the larger clans, while scrawny runts usually have nuclear units. While the clans are patriarchal, the tribe leadership is open to females, though actual participation can be rare and disproportionate to actual membership. Tychi are a society of adept hunters. While they originally hunted with their spines and feline agility, they also employ the use of traps using ropes to net about trees, as well as poison to coat on their spines to increase their deadliness.

Spiritualism

Tychi are not known to have a set god. They prefer to keep their lives and beliefs very similar, such that living day by day is spiritual in its own way. To the tychi, their huntsman style living has become this sort of belief. As hunters, tychi are resourceful and resort to as little additional tools as possible. They believe in the skill of the hunter being the deciding factor between predator and prey. Those who are weak, even if they are clan patriarchs, are unfit hunters. In those situations, even females can rise to the occasion and share or usurp power from a patriarch if her skills are proven better.

Tych Names

At birth, a tych is given a three-letter name. Upon reaching the age of twelve, at which time they are considered an adult, the tych will choose a life-long partner with which they will complete a ritual akin to marriage, which binds them for life. At this time, they take new names, exchanging words on the beneficial properties of their life partner. Despite the emphasis in sexual roles between males and females, the names are not gendered.

Birth Name: Sha, Jak, Kio, Fer, Lai

Adult Name: Shekah (loyal, faithful), Deken (strong, brave), Oruo (witty, pretty), Relia (dependable, patient)

Tych Traits

Leopard-like beings with spikes
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1, and either your Strength or Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Tychi mature at 12 and usually live to be about 60 years old at most.
Alignment. Most tychi are neutral. They are hardcore survivalists. But their desire for a spiritual and practical life is sort of lawful.
Size. Tychi are generally around 6 feet tall.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 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.
Spike Tail. Your spiked, club-like tail is a natural weapon you can make unarmed strikes with. On a hit, it deals piercing or bludgeoning damage (you choose) equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
Jungle Survivalist. You are proficient in the Survival and Nature skills.
Spine Shooter. As an action, you can expel your spines out in a burst on enemies. All creatures within 5 feet of you must make a Dexterity saving throw. They take 3d6 piercing damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The range from you increases to 10 feet at 6th level, 15 feet at 11th level, and 20 feet at 16th level. After you use your spine shooter, you can't use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Sprinter's Tarsii. Your legs allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your tum in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the tum. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+1d4	170 lb.	× (1d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a tych character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

While having a very dedicated style of living a minimalist fashion, the tychi are not morally black and white by any means. They believe often in the power and role of the strong to both lead but sometimes also in the purpose of the weak to be fodder. This sort of mindset is not unique to them and mirrors that of human society possibly.

d8	Personality Trait
1	When I get nervous, I start to sweat uncontrollably and speak rapidly.
2	I like to make vague statements first and be asked to elaborate later so I don't have to explain.
3	I don't like roundabout answers. They make me angry.
4	I spend almost excessive amounts of time training my body in a day.
5	I look down on those who can't keep up with my physical prowess.
6	I believe in keeping myself clean and so I preen daily.
7	I hate acting prissy and I prefer to embrace the inner beast.
8	I am tenacious and will do anything to get my way.

d6	Ideal
1	Roots. My ancestry defined a specific way of life for me ingrained in tradition, which I strive to uphold. (Lawful)
2	Survival. Our purpose on this terra is to survive, using whoever and whatever means we must. (Chaotic)
3	Ritual. I seek the most spiritually pure way of life that is synonymous with breathing. (Neutral)
4	Oppression. The weak will be crushed and fed to the strong, who I will remain among. (Evil)
5	Improvement. I won't get stronger by sitting around. I seek power to better myself. (Neutral)
6	Return. I yearn for the simpler times and want to return to a bygone time. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I seek companions to aid me in my climb to the top.
2	I was told that I would die a young death by my tribe members, which led to me traveling.
3	My home was destroyed by hunters after our pelts, and so I hold a grudge.
4	I don't spare a look at unfortunate souls. That sort of thing called pity has no place in me.
5	I have a weak spot for young children. They are exceptions to survival.
6	No one has ever seen me cry.

d6	Flaw
1	I can be so cold that it is dubious I have feelings.
2	I am ignorant of problems that are not my own.
3	I take things in stride rather than try to fix them when I should.
4	I have a meticulous schedule that I throw a hissy fit over if it doesn't go as planned.
5	I leap before I think.
6	I will kill anything to preserve myself.

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