Skittermander

Near-ubiquitous inhabitants of the planet Vesk-3, skittermanders led a simple, mostly agrarian lifestyle before the Veskarium annexed their planet. They have a unique outlook: individualistic without being anarchic, and somehow unable (or perhaps unwilling) to grasp the concept of permanent governance. They understand and enjoy teamwork, and naturally follow a qualified leader to undertake large projects such as the building of domiciles, but once that task has been completed, the leader doesn’t continue to hold sway over the others. Coupled with their unusual life cycle, it would seem as if skittermanders would be very difficult to rule. But such is not exactly the case.

Biology

Skittermanders are small 6-armed bipeds, and are mammalian in nature. They developed on Vesk-3, a more varied (if tectonically active) world. Their evolutionary upbringing is as of yet unknown, but there are theories (particularly developed by the Skittermanders) that the skittermanders are one of the last vestiges of the Forerunners species, as ancient skittermander literature describes a sapient race similar to that of the Forerunners living on Vesk-3 at one point. These theories are just speculation however, as no physical evidence linking the two in more than their vicinity has been found.
Despite their mammalian nature, they begin life in something akin to a larval stage. A skittermander whelp looks like a miniature version of an adult, but with more prominent ears and a tiny, secondary mouth on its abdomen. Once born, whelps are left to fend for themselves. They are truly omnivorous, capable of digesting fruits, leaves, raw meat, and seeds. Additionally, a whelp’s secondary mouth allows it to attach itself to large prey and feed at its leisure. Thanks to a numbing mucus secreted by this mouth, less intelligent animals rarely even notice the whelp’s samplings. A swarm of skittermander whelps has been known to bring down a trundling bovine monoux in a matter of minutes. After 6 years, whelps mature into adult skittermanders, begin to walk upright, and lose their secondary mouths, but they maintain their taste for anything remotely edible.

Appearance

The average adult skittermander is 3 feet tall and weighs about 35 pounds. Skittermanders living in tropical climes have short, soft fur, while their arctic cousins grow tough, shaggy hair. Their coloration is rather varied as well, with tones of blue, green, and violet being the most common, but with no obvious correlation to their surroundings. Fashion in Skittermander society has no single through-line that connects it, besides size and number of arm holes fitting Skittermander physiology.

History

When vesk warships appeared in the sky, skittermanders across Vesk-3 were more than happy to get out of the invaders’ way—not out of fear, but more because of their innate desire to help. Skittermanders instinctively recognized the Veskarium’s superior strength and felt they could best aid the empire by simply not being in the same location as its soldiers. In this way, skittermanders believed the vesk could quickly achieve their goals and move on. They didn’t understand the vesk’s aim was to subdue their world. Since vesk’s code of honor forbade them from shooting the cheerfully acquiescent skittermanders in the back, the invaders were confused and infuriated by the situation.
Eventually, in a meeting that the empire notes as the official date that Vesk-3 was conquered, a vesk general plainly told a group of skittermanders that the Veskarium ruled their planet. The skittermanders nodded and got back to their lives. Since then, the empire has ruled Vesk-3, though it hasn’t truly been in control of it. Skittermanders cheerfully accept jobs given to them by vesk, but never truly acknowledge the vesk as being in charge. Some outside the Veskarium believe skittermanders are being deliberately obtuse, reaping all the technological and social benefits the empire offers while still partially maintaining their freedom as a society, but no skittermander has ever confirmed this theory.
Today, skittermanders can be found throughout the Veskarium, often serving in clerical positions that allow them to aid as many people as possible. They have fully embraced technology and enjoy the many sights the galaxy has to offer, traveling to the Pact Worlds and beyond. Those who employ skittermanders quickly learn to give them missions that have open-ended parameters, as a skittermander who feels she has completed a task won’t necessarily report back to a superior for further instructions if she finds someone else who needs her help first. Outsiders often find them cheerfully manic, noting a flair for the ridiculous without any innate malice.

Gameplay

Ability Modifiers: +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Intelligence
Hit Points: 2
Size: Small
Type: Humanoid (Skittermander)
Speed: 30 ft
Languages: Skittermanders begin play speaking Skittermander, Galactic, and one other of thier choice.

Grappler

Skittermanders gain a +2 racial bonus to grapple combat maneuvers.

Hyper

Once per day, a skittermander can take an extra move action.

Low-Light Vision

A skittermander can see in dim light as if it were normal light.

Six-Armed

Skittermanders have six arms, which allows them to wield and hold up to six hands’ worth of weapons and equipment. While their multiple arms increase the number of items they can have at the ready, it doesn’t increase the number of attacks they can make during combat.

Roleplay

You Likely...

• Have an innate desire to help others, even if the help in unneeded (or unwanted).
• Tend to find ways to distract yourself, often to the chagrin of others. 
• Are adept at improvising a solution to a problem, where no other solution seems available.
• Desire companionship, as if there is nobody to help, you feel powerless.

Other Races Probably...

• Find you rather more chaotic than they can handle, even if you are trying to help.
• Suppose you to be intentionally dense, just to keep yourself void of blame.
• Forget you are there, as you seem to fit in anywhere when you aren't accidentally making problems.
• Consider you to be a light in a wild and strange universe.

Scientific Name
Mittere Inciti
Origin/Ancestry
Vesk-3
Lifespan
70 Years
Average Height
3 ft (0.91 m)
Average Weight
35 lbs (15.9 kg)