Ya’avin

A’AKRA (Achievement Markings)

Level 1	Protection	Magic cannot put you to sleep.
Level 3	Blessing	Choose one: • You have advantage on saves vs. charm • You have advantage on saves vs. poison • You have advantage on saves vs. illusion
Level 7	Benefit	After each long rest, you have a d8 inspiration die to use until the next long rest.
Level 12	Power	Choose an elemental damage type. You are resistant to it.
Level 20	Destiny	Choose a damage type OR a spell school. You are immune to damage of that type, or magic from that spell school.

OAD (Chest Markings)
Choose one:

d20	Animal Marking	Meaning	Trait Gained
1	Bat	The cycle of life and death	You get an additional death save (normally three, you get four)
2	Bear	Healing and strength	When you drink a healing potion or are healed through a healing spell, you may roll the result a second time and enjoy the benefit of the highest roll.
3	Butterfly	Transformation and enlightenment	Choose one: Proficiency in Nature checks OR Religion checks
4	Crow	Balance and fate	Roll a d6 before any initiative roll. If the result is even, gain advantage on the initiative roll. If it is odd, you have disadvantage on your initiative roll.
5	Daircat	Deception and stealth	Choose one: proficiency on Stealth checks OR Deception checks
6	Dog	Trust and loyalty	Once per long rest, you may give a d4 inspiration die to a party member of your choice.
7	Eagle	Leadership and intelligence	Once per long rest, you may choose a party member to get proficiency on an Intelligence save.
8	Falcon	Freedom	Once per long rest, during your movement, you can treat rough terrain as if it were normal terrain.
9	Fox	Observation and cunning	Choose one: proficiency in Insight checks OR Perception checks
10	Hummingbird	Passion	Once per long rest, you may choose a party member to get proficiency on a Charisma save.
11	Lizard	Luck and awareness	Once per long rest, at the beginning of combat after initiative has been set (before a turn is taken), you may move your place in the initiative order up or down up to two positions.
12	Owl	Grace and wisdom	Choose one: You gain proficiency on Stealth checks OR Perception checks
13	Rabbit	Safety and rebirth	Once per long rest, choose a party member. If they fail a death save, you may negate it.
14	Raven	Brotherhood	Once per long rest, you may give all companions within 30′ of you d4 temporary HPs.
15	Snake	Initiation and Luck	Success on a Death Save is 8 or higher (normally ten or higher)
16	Spider	Strategy and mystery	Choose one: Proficiency in Deception checks OR Arcana checks
17	Spiderdragon	Resilience and cunning	Once per long rest, you are immune to the one of the following damage types on a single attack: piercing, slashing or bludgeoning.
18	Stallion	Confidence and power	Proficiency with Athletic checks
19	Turtle	Tenacity and self-reliance	After a long rest, you gain 1d6 temporary HPs. Once used, they cannot be restored until you use this trait again.
20	Wolf	Finding your own way	If there are no friendly, conscious comrades within 100ft, you gain proficiency on all skill checks.

 

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CONCERNING YA’AVIN

Ya’avin are the descendants of a distant, mixed, and unchronicled heritage: the bloodlines of Elves, mixed with the lineage of the distant lands of Han Chi — the stock of the long lost (and sunken) Wyntiri Empire. Unlike other realms, where Elves are often admired for their beauty, grace and serenity, The elves of Narenfel — specifically the Elflawvin — are unwelcome, deeply mistrusted and feared.

It is a sad irony (though largely unknown or overlooked) that Ya’avin are not offshoots of the Elflawin race (as assumed), but are in fact descendants of a different race of elves that was separated from the mainland after the global catastrophes and the fall of the Wyntiri Empires.

Appearance
Ya’avin appearance strongly favors their ancient Elven background making them easily distinguishable in a crowd. Much like the Elflawvin, their skin tone is pallid, and they are slightly taller than most humans (about six foot). Most recognizable is their elongated and pointed ears (the sight of which often inspires the same loathing shared with true Elflawvin).

Occasionally Ya’avin are born with green or russet hair (like that of the Elflawvin in spring and summer) but unlike true Elves, the hair remains constant in color, does not change color with the seasons, and does not fall out during late fall or winter. Adding to their exotic nature, their Han-Chi influence is easily seen in their slightly slanted eyes and angular cheekbones, further differentiating them from the humans of the main continent.

In addition to their natural appearance, Ya’avin culture is defined by its use of heavy and elaborate body and face tattooing, visually setting them apart even further.

Artistry and Illustration
Of all the races, Ya’avin are known for their artistry, particularly for the unique style of their gold and silver gilded illustrations called Illuminations. Ya’avin mastery in this art form is almost universally acknowledged (though often begrudgingly), and finished manuscripts are highly sought out by collectors, Cahedrists, scribes and Academy Members; indeed they are one of the few reasons that draw other races to seek interaction with the half-elves, or the monasteries where most of this work takes place. Ya’avin are also known to be gifted singers and musicians.

Tattoos
Another distinguishing mark for Ya’avin are their extensive full body and face tattoos. While members of other races individually wear any number of tattoos, to Ya’avin culture is an essential part of identity, passion and rite of passage.

It is traditional to give a child their first tattoo within their first month, a small identification mark signifying their family heritage. The tattooing is usually part of a celebration of welcoming. When a Ya’avin child comes into adolescence around 12 or 13, they tattoo their hands and upper wrists. It is up to the child to choose the color and style of these tattoos, but most involve colorful banding of black, brown, blue, ocre or amethyst, braided lines, or geometric patterns.

As a Ya’avein matures, they add to these marks with a collection of many other common pieces of inking of their personal choosing. Throughout the course of their lives, Ya’avin continue to add to their collection, with tattoos both small and large. Milestone events such as marriage and newborn children are often part of the body canvas, as are fortuitous (or somber) events, achievements of rank, marks of distinction, victories and discoveries and more.

Khomantu Markings
The pride of a Ya’avin’s ink story is in his Khomantu markings, which are added to his chest (the Oad) when he reaches adult status, or to the base of his neck (the A’akra) when he begins his professional career.

While beautiful in their own right, Khomantu Markings are a fusion of inks and divine magics, resulting in a design of lines and colors that are fused into the very life essence of a Ya’avin recipient. Khomantu tattooists are revered in Ya’avin communities, and guard the secrets of their skills.

The Oad (Chest Marking)
The Oad is focuses on a specific animal from which the Ya’avin draws inspiration, power, and guidance. Much thought is given to the type of animal chosen, for it becomes a centerpiece of the Ya’avin’s identity, personality and lineage.

The A’akra (Achievement Marking)
The A’okra is a collection of glyphs and blessed runes that carry magical power, and can provide additional protection and blessings over time. At the start of their career, adventuring Ya’avin visit a Khomantu tattooist to receive the base matrix (referred to as the Nine Peaks) at the base of their neck. As they grow in prowess, they return to the tattooist to add to it.

Ya’avin Communities
Ya’avin face considerable challenges integrating into mainstream society, though no nation actively persecutes them or outlaws their presence. In larger towns, there are communities of Ya’avin families that form small pockets to limit interactions (and altercations) with other races. Small Ya’avin villages exist here and there, usually in someone isolated environments. Many Ya’avin withdraw even further, becoming part of remote monasteries, where they learn the secrets of shey’gun’te while focusing their artistic passions into Illuminations.

Shey’gun’Te (The Way of Heaven’s Fist)
Perhaps the only aspect of Ya’avin society that invites open conversation is the intricate, complex form of martial arts Ya’avin employ called shey’gun’te. The secrets and ritualistic katas of this form of attack are jealously guarded by Ya’avinn masters, and are generally forbidden to be discussed with or passed down to non-Ya’avin disciples.

Ya’avin Names
The Ya’avin language is very different from the other languages in Narenfel, since it relies on a range of vocal inflections to convey specific meanings (represented by the liberal use of apostrophes when the words are written in the common alphabet.)

Ya’avin names are often a mouthful for non-Ya’avvin, especially given the fact that few folk have little interaction with them in the first place, and considerable mistrust in them in general. As a result, outside their communities and monasteries, Ya’avin tend to choose “human sounding” name and nicknames, sometimes loosely based on the sound or meaning of their Ya’avin name, but often just randomly chosen.

Ya’avin Male Names: Atith, Chan’darith, Chiv’an, Dakat’chi, Kep, Kosal, Nim’ith, Nih’mol, Oudomm, Pon’leik, Ponleu, Rath’pol, Sang’hua, Youk
Ya’avin Female Names: Ary, Bor’mei, Cham’pei, Joran’i, Kolti’da, Mach, Mali, Pun’thea, Ra’chany, Raks’mei, Roum’jong, Serey, Srey, Thida