Kayal

Also known as fetchlings, kayals are descendants of an ancient Edrasian race called Shadar Kai that were trapped on the shadow plane of Mourn millennia ago. The ambient essence of shadow has long since permeated their forms, making them their own unique species. Their time spent without direct access to light has left them bleached of color. Dark, pale, or gray of skin tone, with white or pitch-black hair and yellow eyes, kayals have tall, lithe bodies that seem to blend in and out of darkness effortlessly. Some kayals are said to be able to command the shadows themselves, manipulating their appearance or using them as a conduit to travel across space and even between the planes.
Kayals have spent hundreds of centuries dealing with creatures native to Mourn, which requires a certain amount of moral ambiguity. As a result, they have made deals and agreements with creatures that most other species would consider dangerous or evil. For kayals, these agreements were a matter of simple survival—the pragmatic decision is always the right one, even if it involves shaking hands with those others might consider to be monsters.
Kayals on the Material Plane tend to conceal their appearances with hooded cloaks or masks, even though they are not sensitive to bright light. These kayals hide themselves either out of fear of prejudice from those who had bad dealings with their ancestors or because they are embarking on nefarious deeds and don’t wish to be recognized by local authorities.
Most kayal on the Material Plane form majority-kayal communities or forging solitary paths. Both planar groups tend to be insular; many kayal cultures preserve memories of their early, perilous days confronting Mourn's hostile or beguiling denizens. Their predilection for forming tight communal bonds and adapting to local customs has spread to become part of broader kayal culture, reinforced by two major kayal groups—the Estlaris and Sharedars—who live in the shadow of more powerful entities.
A culture of survival passed down through generations means many kayal prefer to maintain a cautious worldview and adapt to prevailing circumstances. As a result, many trend toward a neutral outlook on life. Some choose to join with local powers for personal or communal advancement, or to tear systems down from the inside. Others attempt to shatter what they see as fetters that bind them and their communities.

Origin/Ancestry

Heir of Edras

Lifespan

200+2d100 years

Average Height

5-6 ft.

Average Weight

130-180 lbs.