Apukuan (5e Race)

Apukuan[edit]

“	The world is one, connected through all. Those who seek short-term profit for themselves will only cost the future a heftier fee.	”
—Verfe, apukuan shaman of the pine needle tribe

Forest Dwellers[edit]

By Yanied

Apukuan are humanoids that resemble elves and dryads, but have tanned 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. While apukuan have pointed ears like an elf, their face is more simian, with a slightly flattened nose. Their limbs are also lanky, and their feet are somewhat prehensile like that of a simian. Similar to how dryads are like plants, apukuan are able to draw sustenance from the world around them without always eating, so long as they have sunlight and water.

History[edit]

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 of Wandering Shamans[edit]

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. Because much of the work within a tribe is cross-utilized, apukuan are able to quickly take over roles by others if someone is injured or there is a labor shortage.

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, and see themselves as living in harmony with it. They are therefore able to live alongside other races of similar thought, like firbolgs. Different tribes of apukuan are scattered about the world's forests and name themselves after local plant life. So, fore example, a tribe within a coniferous forest could be named after a pine tree variety.

Searchers for the Original Garden[edit]

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[edit]

Apukuan names are singular and carry the blessing of a shaman. When a child is born in a generation, they are collectively blessed by the shaman. The shaman is also in charge of naming the children, and will often give names of auspicious foretellings.

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[edit]

Nature-reverent peoples with slight simian, elf, and dryad features
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Apukuan mature after about 18 years, and live to about a century and a half.
Alignment. Finding a truly evil apukuan is like finding a leaf in the desert. Apukuan will protect nature usually, by all means necessary, but are not blind to the consequences of their own 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.

Naturally Attuned. You are proficient in the Nature skill.

Channel Nature. Apukuan have attained a state of asceticism that allows them to forgo conventional food, similar to how a plant in nature will make its own food, as well as sleep. Instead, you can rest in bright, nonmagical sunlight, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day and absorb nutrients from the natural world around you. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep and you do not need to fulfill your food requirement for the day. However, you still need to drink water.

Apukuan Weapons Training. You are proficient with the glaive, lance, pike, and spear.

Commune With Nature. You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with plants and vegetation. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.

Nature's Shaman. You know the thorn whip cantrip and can cast it without material components. You can also cast barkskin and entangle with this trait at the spell's lowest level. Once you cast either spell, you can't cast it again with this trait until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting modifier for all these spells.

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

Random Height and Weight[edit]

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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