People of Retroggio: Arcanants
Rendjule, the demi-god of nature and creation, was slain on the Material Realm, and where their divine blood struck the land, the first of the Arcanants were formed.
Arcanants have been long-sworn to protect Retroggio, and the oldest among them have watched the fall of ancient tyrants, the rise of modern civilization and its collapse during the Paradox Upheaval, all in one lifetime, spent happily avoiding a walled or paved city. The violent restoration of the Schizmwood is broadly viewed as scales being rebalanced.
Their long lifespans and intense dedication to the balance of nature imparts them with a perspective that feels utterly alien to most other creatures. An Arcanant taking a closer look to involve themselves in the goings-on of more short-lived creatures is incredibly rare, but not unheard of.
Appearance
Angion Arcanants are more shy of common society, with appearances that evoke that of plants; trees, flowers and leaves alike, and their skintones will often have shimmering patterns and lines, like swirling vines, or the bark of a tree. Their hair thusly runs vivid and varied across the color spectrum, in high red ruffles like a carnation or low drifting strands like a willow. Their eyes share this expanded color array, and often have irises that expand in a higher ratio than the sclera.
Arthron Arcanants, as the name implies, resemble humanoids that have the features of bugs and insects. Compound eyes are common, while some have visibly fixated pupils like a mantis, and to their deep chagrin, there are some that are referred to as “Arcane Ants” for their resemblance to the tunneling insects. They have a variety of patterns, vivid stripes, antennae, and varyingly soft or scratchy tufts of fuzz. Both variants of Arcanant have short, pointed ears, that may just be hidden or just protruding from their hair. Sometimes also obscuring their ears are unique features that may form in bug wings and mandibles for Arthrons, or petals and leaf-shapes in an Angion, usually encompassing an area from the temple to the lower jawline. They have the same gender spectrum in identity and dimorphism as most humanoids, including sexual reproduction, with females normally standing much taller than males.
ARCANANT TRAITS
Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
Age. An Arcanant matures at the same rate as a Human, but can live for up to 800 years.
Size. Their height regularly goes just a bit short of 7 feet, with a tendency for males to be shorter. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Hivemind. You can speak telepathically to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. Your telepathic utterances are in a language you know, and the creature understands you only if it knows that language. Your communication doesn’t grant the creature the ability to respond to you telepathically.
ANGION TRAITS
Speech of Beast and Leaf. You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with Beasts, 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.
Retroggio’s Mercy. As an action, you can touch a creature and roll a number of d4s equal to your proficiency bonus. The creature regains a number of hit points equal to the total rolled. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
ARTHRON TRAITS
Spider Climb. You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, at 3rd level, you can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free. You must be barefoot to benefit from this feature.
Arthropod Magic. You know the infestation cantrip. You can cast animal friendship an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only insects or arachnids with it.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this ancestry).
