Kig-Yar (5e Halo Setting)

Kig-Yar

Physical Description

An anatomical T-pose of a Ruutian Kig-Yar Source

The kig-yar are a diverse species of avian-like aliens. Possessing reptilian skin, digitigrade legs fit for fast movement, and a keen set of senses, they are often used as snipers, scouts, and shock troops for hire within Covenant space. Their slouched posture also lends well to the use of a shield, allowing them to take up a defensive back-line role; even amongst other, far stronger species.

History

Kig-Yar society was once wholly divided into clans that sailed across the seas as pirates, raiding the encampments and settlements of rival clans that dotted the scattered archipelagos around Ruuht. When the overwhelming Covenant military juggernaut arrived on the kig-yar home world of Eayn, however, the pirates and militia joined forces in an attempt to fend off the alien intruders.

At first, the Covenant arrived on the kig-yar home world with small contingent fleets. These fleets were directly attacked by ruthless kig-yar pirates and mercenaries, leading to a long naval war on the seas. Despite the sheer strength and numbers of the Covenant, the kig-yar used Eayn's seas to their advantage, where it was difficult for the larger Covenant ships to maneuver through Ruuht's abnormally rocky shores and dense surrounding archipelagos compared to the kig-yar's smaller vessels.

The war between the Covenant and kig-yar forces culminated in sieges of redoubts on the islands surrounding the Ruuhtian mainland. Eventually, realizing the unlikelihood of them winning the war and the opportunity to profit from the expansion of trade, they accepted Letters of Marque: commissions from the Ministry of Tranquility to engage in the services of the Covenant, though often this was merely used as an excuse to continue their plundering lifestyle. The kig-yar would spend much of their time preying on the ships of the Covenant's enemies, such as humanity.

Kig-Yar Names

Kig-Yar names are unisex and monosyllabic, though shipmasters and shipmistresses typically bear the suffix Chur'R-. While many kig-yar still feel some attachment to their clan name, long-standing sangheili law forbids these names from being used while in service of the Covenant.

Names: Bok, Chur, Jak, Reth, Sav, Fel, Yeg, Zhar

Kig-Yar Traits

An avian race native to Eayn.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Kig-Yar can mature in as little as 8 years and rarely live more than 50.
Alignment. Almost all kig-yar gravitate naturally towards privateering and mercenary work, willingly cooperating in large groups while ignoring the law to better serve their own ends. For this reason, kig-yar societies are often described by humans as an 'ordered-chaos'; each citizen sustained by each other's mutual greed, and most kig-yar gravitate to chaotic alignments.
Size. Kig-Yar may stand up to 6 and a half feet tall though often slouch to below 5 and a half feet during regular activity. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Defensible Figure. While you are benefiting from half cover, you gain the benefits of three-quarters cover.
Subtle. You can take the Hide action as a bonus action.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Kig-Yar.
Subrace. You can choose between Ruutian, Ibie'shan, and T'vaoan as your subrace

Ruutian

Ruutian kig-yar, by far the most common of their kind, have a very avian appearance. They diverged from the Ibie'shan sub-species thanks to different selection pressures present on the supercontinent of Ruuht. These pressures forced them to evolve from their more reptilian ancestors, to their more avian appearance.

Keen. You can take the Search action as a bonus action.
Large Eyes. You have advantage on saving throws against being blinded.

Ibie'shan

Due to long periods of isolation from their Ruutian cousins, the Ibie'shan kig-yar have diverged in evolutionary terms from the majority of their species, to deal with different selection pressures. Ibie'sh, their home continent, is an isolated volcanic island on Eayn, whose conditions favour those Kig-Yar with more reptilian than avian traits. It is believed that these are actually characteristics that Ibie'shans retain from their ancestors, while the other sub-species of Kig-Yar have lost them.

Fleet. You can take the Disengage action as a bonus action.
Volcanic Heritage. You have advantage on saving throws against the effects of Extreme Heat. Additionally, you can see when vision is lightly obscured by ash, smoke or dust within 60 feet as if it were unobscured, and when heavily obscured as if it were lightly obscured instead.

T'vaoan

T'vaoan are of the same species as the more common, lightly-built Ruuhtian Kig-Yar, but they are much faster, stronger, can jump higher and are more agile. In addition, they sport manes of feathers rather than quills. They serve as Covenant shock troopers.

Aggressive. You can take the Dash action as a bonus action.
Skirmisher Shock Tactics. During the first round of combat your walking speed is increased by 10 feet and you have advantage on your first attack roll.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 9''	+3d4	182 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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