Anadi
Anadi people are reclusive, sapient spiders who hail from the jungles of The Living Isle. Though they act in many ways like natural-born shapeshifters, their twin forms actually stem from carefully developed magic.
As a communal and peaceful people, anadi ancestors endeavored to establish trade with the neighbors of their homeland. However, these anadi soon learned that most others found their appearance to be extremely objectionable. Wishing to avoid conflict, ancient anadi retreated into isolation until they could find a solution. The answer came when their greatest scholars innovated a fusion of transmutation and illusion magic that allowed them to assume a humanoid form. The technique was developed, perfected, and eventually taught to the overwhelming majority of anadi.
Early efforts with their new approach to diplomacy have yielded much better results, though sporadic contact means that some outsiders whisper false legends about anadi, such as claims that they are humans who transform into monstrous spiders at moonrise. Even contemporary explorers have reported anadi as human-spider hybrids. The anadi people of the current day strive to slowly but surely create a world where they no longer need to hide their true nature.
You Might...
Only reveal your true form to people who have earned your trust. Openly express sympathy for misrepresented and unfairly stigmatized cultures. Provide for those you hold dear and defend them from danger without hesitation.
Others Probably...
Appreciate your willingness to seek nonviolent solutions to complicated problems. Have a strong reaction to seeing your natural form. Assume you have an affinity for druidic magic, given your ability to transform.
Anadi in their true form resemble human-sized spiders with a variety of colorations. Some tones look simple or muted while other remain striking and vibrant, with most patterns inherited from an anadi's parentage. A typical anadi measures five feet in length from their front legs to their rear legs when standing comfortably. All anadi possesses the ability to transform into a human guise. This form can resemble any human ethnicity, but it's usually one that blends in with the region of an anadi's hatching. Anadi reach physical maturity after 13 years, going through multiple phases of molting along the way. A typical anadi lives to be about 80 years old.
Anadi live in a communal society, sharing peaceful lives farming mushrooms or weaving warm blankets. Their culture places great value on cooperation and mutual respect. Due to this cultural upbringing, anadi often have issues facing severe conflict and often come off to other ancestries as very shy. Their history of dealing with arachnophobia in other peoples—which anadi understand is often instinctual and very difficult to control—likewise means that anadi do their best to be accommodating and comforting, even in situations that aren't necessarily fair to them.
The cooperative nature of anadi society and their dislike of violence means many anadi lead peacful lives. Legends say Grandmother Spider, a name the Anandi have given Rontra, rescued anadi people from servitude and brought them to the Isle, becoming their patron deity in the process. Her values of mutual care, interweaves into anadi culture, and even those who don't worship her tell tales of her adventures.
Anadi who answer the call to adventure often do so to learn more about the world at large. Anadi adventurers who want to support their communities often become clerics or druids. Rogue remains a popular choice among those who seek to hide their true form. Anadi who wish to continue their magical traditions tend to become wizards or sorcerers.
Anadi names are given by the members of the web marriage that raised them. Each parent contributes a single syllable, usually the first, from their own name. Older anadi who feel their identity has settled often take on or are given a phrase-title to honor them as well. Anadi who live among human populations rarely take a cover name, but some might adopt one if their given name strongly contrasts the norm in the local culture. Sample Names Altava, Anavachti, Strings-On-The-River Inkeelah, Kerialnamu, Maracha, Leaves-Shelter-Her-Feet Naiala, Orvasa, Reloana, Rivuken, Velachamon
You Might...
Only reveal your true form to people who have earned your trust. Openly express sympathy for misrepresented and unfairly stigmatized cultures. Provide for those you hold dear and defend them from danger without hesitation.
Others Probably...
Appreciate your willingness to seek nonviolent solutions to complicated problems. Have a strong reaction to seeing your natural form. Assume you have an affinity for druidic magic, given your ability to transform.
Physical Description
Anadi in their true form resemble human-sized spiders with a variety of colorations. Some tones look simple or muted while other remain striking and vibrant, with most patterns inherited from an anadi's parentage. A typical anadi measures five feet in length from their front legs to their rear legs when standing comfortably. All anadi possesses the ability to transform into a human guise. This form can resemble any human ethnicity, but it's usually one that blends in with the region of an anadi's hatching. Anadi reach physical maturity after 13 years, going through multiple phases of molting along the way. A typical anadi lives to be about 80 years old.
Society
Anadi live in a communal society, sharing peaceful lives farming mushrooms or weaving warm blankets. Their culture places great value on cooperation and mutual respect. Due to this cultural upbringing, anadi often have issues facing severe conflict and often come off to other ancestries as very shy. Their history of dealing with arachnophobia in other peoples—which anadi understand is often instinctual and very difficult to control—likewise means that anadi do their best to be accommodating and comforting, even in situations that aren't necessarily fair to them.
Beliefs
The cooperative nature of anadi society and their dislike of violence means many anadi lead peacful lives. Legends say Grandmother Spider, a name the Anandi have given Rontra, rescued anadi people from servitude and brought them to the Isle, becoming their patron deity in the process. Her values of mutual care, interweaves into anadi culture, and even those who don't worship her tell tales of her adventures.
Adventurers
Anadi who answer the call to adventure often do so to learn more about the world at large. Anadi adventurers who want to support their communities often become clerics or druids. Rogue remains a popular choice among those who seek to hide their true form. Anadi who wish to continue their magical traditions tend to become wizards or sorcerers.
Names
Anadi names are given by the members of the web marriage that raised them. Each parent contributes a single syllable, usually the first, from their own name. Older anadi who feel their identity has settled often take on or are given a phrase-title to honor them as well. Anadi who live among human populations rarely take a cover name, but some might adopt one if their given name strongly contrasts the norm in the local culture. Sample Names Altava, Anavachti, Strings-On-The-River Inkeelah, Kerialnamu, Maracha, Leaves-Shelter-Her-Feet Naiala, Orvasa, Reloana, Rivuken, Velachamon
Heritages
Adaptive Anadi
Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 103 2.0
You descend from a line of anadi who worked to perfect their transformation magic, allowing them to integrate into a wider variety of cultures. Choose a common, Medium humanoid ancestry. Your human form is replaced with a form that matches this choice. You also gain the Adopted Ancestry feat for your chosen humanoid ancestry.
Polychromatic Anadi
Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 103 2.0
Your body is covered with exceptionally colorful hairs that create vibrant, eye-catching patterns, some of which might even show in your human form. You become trained in Performance (or another skill if you were already trained in Performance), and you gain the Impressive Performance feat.
Snaring Anadi
Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 103 2.0
You were hatched with hooked fangs that give you an edge when hunting in your true form. Your fangs attack gains the grapple and trip traits.
Spindly Anadi
Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 103 2.0
Your limbs are exceptionally long in both forms, allowing you to skitter about with surprising agility. Your Speed increases from 25 to 30 feet.
Venomous Anadi
Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 103 2.0
Your natural form's fangs are capable of injecting foes with venom. You gain the Anadi Venom ability.
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