Azarketi
The aquatic humanoids of the Sea share a somber and burdened history. Most refer to these aquatic peoples as gillmen, though they typically refer to themselves as azarketi, an ancient word that translates roughly to “people of the seas.” These proud humans are descendents of Shalimyr's daughters having children with humans. Feeling like they don't fully belong with their human brethren nor with the sea that binds them, many azarketis struggle for a sense of identity and purpose. Though they remain distrusted by the surface dwellers, azarketis celebrate their unique lineage and their divine lineag, and aquatic culture.
You Might... Ambitiously seek to defy negative perceptions and prejudice laid against you. Be reclusive and skeptical of strangers. Regard the water as your home, but be intrigued by societies along the shore.
Others Probably... Assume you are an ambassador to the sea and ask for your advice on nautical matters. Misunderstand your gentle gestures and mild expressions. Treat you with distrust or suspicion and anticipate betrayal from you.
Azarketis appear as regal, athletic humans. Their soft, hydrophilic skin ranges in tones from pearlescent white to pinkish, greenish, or brown tones reminiscent of coral. Azarketis with hair are somewhat rare; many sport fins or scaled ridges on their heads instead. They often have violet eyes. Their aquatic lineage is obvious thanks to the sets of three gills on either side of their necks, as well as their webbed hands and feet. Azarketis have been known to live longer than humans, although they mature at about the same rate.
As they are typically outsiders to the domains of surface life, azarketis tend toward deities with an affinity for the ocean or other forms of water, the most popular being Shalimyr. They are also likely to give reverence to other deities of nature or navigation, such as Darmon. Some azarketis are tempted toward the call of the deep and serve their old alghollthu masters as gods. These individuals are enticed by eldritch entities such as the mysterious veiled masters—powerful beings of the deep ocean responsible for both uplifting and destroying the Azlanti people. Azarketis vary wildly in beliefs and values, as evidenced by their broad divergence in allegiance.
With their affinity to water, nautical navigation skills, and athletic capabilities, azarketis make ideal rangers. Azarketis' versatility both on land and in water make them particularly formidable fighters, while their direct connection to the sea leads many others to become druids. As many azarketis have a connection to alghollthus' occult magic, it's not uncommon for azarketis to be sorcerers, though studious individuals sometimes become bards or wizards instead.
Names
Azarketis often take the names of nautical, weather, or geographical features important to the azarketi's family. Other azarketi groups will choose human names in order to encourage conformity with surface cultures. Some azarketi names have been passed down through so many generations that they still use ancient Azlanti roots or refer to bodies of water that no longer exist. Sample Names Aft, Aliz, Cascade, Delta, Harbor, Ilani, Inkua, Jib, Lagoon, Lobay, Marine, Tidal, Windward, Zarket
You Might... Ambitiously seek to defy negative perceptions and prejudice laid against you. Be reclusive and skeptical of strangers. Regard the water as your home, but be intrigued by societies along the shore.
Others Probably... Assume you are an ambassador to the sea and ask for your advice on nautical matters. Misunderstand your gentle gestures and mild expressions. Treat you with distrust or suspicion and anticipate betrayal from you.
Physical Description
Azarketis appear as regal, athletic humans. Their soft, hydrophilic skin ranges in tones from pearlescent white to pinkish, greenish, or brown tones reminiscent of coral. Azarketis with hair are somewhat rare; many sport fins or scaled ridges on their heads instead. They often have violet eyes. Their aquatic lineage is obvious thanks to the sets of three gills on either side of their necks, as well as their webbed hands and feet. Azarketis have been known to live longer than humans, although they mature at about the same rate.
Society
Azarketis lack the center for combined culture that helps other groups maintain a cohesive identity. The vastness of the oceans and waterways spread these swift-swimming people across the Sea. Many azarketis rely only on the small familial groups in their immediate community and prefer smaller populations with comrades they trust and know intimately. Some azarketis prefer to foster connections with their surface-dwelling brethren. Living in ports, river towns and along the shore allows azarketis a greater scope of opportunities not afforded to exclusively land or sea peoples. Although integrating with land society can be difficult, azarketis manage by forming bonded communities. Members will often have fond familial names for one another, regardless of actual relation. If they have the means, some azarketis dress in attire reflecting their regal heritage. More commonly, azarketis do their best to remain inconspicuous when they emerge from the water. Many will wear shemaghs or other head wrappings, which both hide their gills and provide a few extra comfortable hours out of water if soaked before donning.Beliefs
As they are typically outsiders to the domains of surface life, azarketis tend toward deities with an affinity for the ocean or other forms of water, the most popular being Shalimyr. They are also likely to give reverence to other deities of nature or navigation, such as Darmon. Some azarketis are tempted toward the call of the deep and serve their old alghollthu masters as gods. These individuals are enticed by eldritch entities such as the mysterious veiled masters—powerful beings of the deep ocean responsible for both uplifting and destroying the Azlanti people. Azarketis vary wildly in beliefs and values, as evidenced by their broad divergence in allegiance.
Adventurers
With their affinity to water, nautical navigation skills, and athletic capabilities, azarketis make ideal rangers. Azarketis' versatility both on land and in water make them particularly formidable fighters, while their direct connection to the sea leads many others to become druids. As many azarketis have a connection to alghollthus' occult magic, it's not uncommon for azarketis to be sorcerers, though studious individuals sometimes become bards or wizards instead.
Names
Azarketis often take the names of nautical, weather, or geographical features important to the azarketi's family. Other azarketi groups will choose human names in order to encourage conformity with surface cultures. Some azarketi names have been passed down through so many generations that they still use ancient Azlanti roots or refer to bodies of water that no longer exist. Sample Names Aft, Aliz, Cascade, Delta, Harbor, Ilani, Inkua, Jib, Lagoon, Lobay, Marine, Tidal, Windward, Zarket
Heritages
Ancient Scale Azarketi
Source Absalom, City of Lost Omens pg. 393, Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement pg. 3Your lineage stems from azarketis who remain dedicated to their deep-sea roots. Divorced from land society, you're a foreigner to any world above a thousand fathoms deep. You gain darkvision. Your body is dotted with phosphorescent spots that emit a guiding light and help you communicate. The spots—located primarily on your face, arms, and hands—illuminate a 10-foot radius around you with dim light. You can activate, deactivate, or change the arrangement of lights as an action, which has the concentration trait.
Benthic Azarketi
Source Absalom, City of Lost Omens pg. 393, Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement pg. 3
Your heritage traces to azarketis living deep beneath the sea, and you can handle the chilling depths more easily than most. You gain resistance to cold equal to half your level, and you don't treat environmental cold as one degree more severe when you are wet. You adapt to pressure changes from being deep underwater automatically without ill effect.
Inured Azarketi
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 13 2.0
Your ancestors had to survive in polluted water that made every breath noxious. You gain poison resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1). Furthermore, you can survive outside of water for 72 hours before you begin to suffocate.
Mistbreath Azarketi
Source Absalom, City of Lost Omens pg. 393, Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement pg. 3
You descend from azarketis who migrated to land environments that could support their need for water. Over time, your people adapted to life on land culturally and physically, even resulting in azarketis born with human hair like their Azlanti ancestors. You no longer need to be immersed in water every 24 hours to maintain your skin and can instead mist or wipe your skin with water to live comfortably. Your land Speed is 25 feet, but your swim Speed is only 15 feet.
Murkeyed Azarketi
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 13 2.0
You live in murky waters and have grown accustomed to life in a low-visibility environment. You need only a successful DC 3 flat check when targeting a concealed creature and a successful DC 9 flat check when targeting a hidden creature.
River Azarketi
Source Absalom, City of Lost Omens pg. 393, Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement pg. 3
You come from azarketis who abandoned the oceans for the fresh water of inland life. The varied geography of rivers required you to develop advanced physical skills to swim against rapids, leap through cascading waters, and deftly navigate shallow and narrow channels. When you succeed at an Athletics check to Swim, you get a critical success instead.
Spined Azarketi
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 13 2.0Your fins conceal launchable toxic spines. You have a spine ranged unarmed attack with the unarmed trait that deals 1d4 poison damage, has a range increment of 10 feet, and is in the dart weapon group.
Tactile Azarketi
Source Ancestry Guide pg. 13 2.0
Your skin can detect the slightest changes in ocean currents. You gain imprecise wavesense with a range of 30 feet, allowing you to sense motion in the water around you. You also gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Survival checks to Sense Direction in aquatic environments.
Thalassic Azarketi
Source Absalom, City of Lost Omens pg. 394, Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement pg. 4
You trace your lineage from azarketis who lived their lives among the great oceans and seas of the world. You know how to use the currents and the primal magic of water to guide your attacks. You gain the Underwater Marauder skill feat, and your piercing ranged attacks don't have their range increments halved when fighting underwater targets.
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