Bhokwe and Atenáati [Antelope and Deer]

Bhokwe and Atenáati, The Unchallenged Twins

“So we grew together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition,
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem.”
-William Shakespeare,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Playtest Version

This material is still in the process of being playtested. It is fully usable as written, but may be refined or changed in later versions. As always, this content should only be used with GM permission.

The Bhokwe

Bhokwe are tall, thin, humanoids that resemble antelope. Most have horns, either spiral shaped, arched, or straight. They are not hunters as they predominantly eat plants rather than meat, but they are exceptionally skilled with bow and spear, and in battle, their archers can only be matched by the most skillful of elves. Those with a propensity toward magic often have an unusual trait, such as golden colored horns, purple eyes, or pure white fur. Children with these traits are given extensive training in order to master their gifts, but those without them may also learn magic if they are capable.

Champions of the Savanna

Swift of hoof and keen eyed, the Bhokwe are easily able to evade most dangers of the expanses of grassland they dwell in. Their innate skill with ranged weapons ensures that they are able to deftly combat those few dangers that foolishly pursue them anyway. Were they predators, they would be the apex hunters of all they survey, but they are content to only cull the numbers of animals whose population has grown to a point where it endangers the natural balance of the ecosystem. Among them are many druids who commune with the fey creatures of the wilderness and assist them in protecting the cycles of nature.

Otherworldly Origins

The legends of the bhokwe say that the first of their kind simply walked fully-formed out of a heat ripple in the air. Scholars speculate that it may have been a planar gate from another realm, citing the elemental language these antelope folk speak or their easy interaction with fey and other nature spirits, but there is extensive debate about exactly which plane they might have been created from. The bhokwe themselves find the topic to be irrelevant, as they hold that their kind simply did not exist prior to the event, and as such they are beings of this world no matter what power might have created them.

Two People

Curiously, a second group of bhokwe who call themselves atenáati, seem to have appeared and lived in a distant, more temperate region. Despite no record of any major contact between the two groups, and some superficial differences in appearance, their cultures and the legends of their creation are virtually identical. There is one known case of individuals from both groups having children together, confirming that they are the same species despite their independent origins. Where most bhokwe have horns, the atenáati instead have branching antlers. Furthermore atenáati tails tend to be shorter, and they do not have the dark stripes along their sides and backs that are common among bhokwe. There are rumors—though they may be mere speculation—that there are still other populations of bhokwe elsewhere in the world as well.

Bhokwe Names

Bhokwe and Atenáati take a new primary name every thirty years, with the name translating to something related to either an important moment of the past period of their life or an aspiration for the next. They will still respond to their previous names, and in formal situations may list their previous names as well, but they only have one current name at a time.

Feminine Names: Anele, Cebisa, Esihle, Funani, Jabulile, Khanyisile, Liyabona, Mhambi, Nambitha, Nomathamsanqa, Simangele, Thulisile, Yibanathi, Zobuhle

Masculine Names: Abongile, Bhekumbuso, Khanyiso, Khwezi, Lwazi, Mpilo, Nkosi, Sibongiseni, Sindisa, Sivuyile, Thamsanqa, Uluthando, Xabiso, Yomelela

Feminine Atenáati Names: Cuhtahlatah, Iakonie-ien, Kahentinetha, Kaiennenhawi, Katsitsienhawi, Konwakeri, Nikawenna-a, Onerahontsokon, Otsi’tsa, Skawennahawi, Tekonwenaharake, Walela, Wathahi-ne

Masculine Atenáati Names: Akwiraron, Desagondensta, Enoli, Gulkalaski, Kariwase, Ratonhnhaké-ton, Sganyadái-yo, Tekaronhió-ken, Tsio-kwaris, Twah’kohl, Utsidihi, Wahya, Yonaguska

New Species: Bhokwe

Common Personality Traits: Vigilant, confident, quick to action
Common Physical Traits: Very tall, slender, horns (or antlers), incredibly swift, vegetarian
Type: Medium biped fey with a Reach of 1. Your maximum wounds equal your Constitution score.

Attributes: +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution
Base Speed: 50 ft.
Accomplished Marksman: You gain 1 skill point each time you gain a permanent Ranged Combat feat.
Lean Season: You require only 1 common meal per day.
Light Sleeper: Sleeping is never a Terminal Situation for you.
Fend: You gain the Fend trick (see AC, page 140).
Snap Shot: You are considered to be Aiming during the first ranged attack you make each round (see FC, page 228).

Legal Appendix

NOTICE OF OPEN GAME CONTENT
This product includes Open Game Content that may only be used under and in terms of the Open Game License Version 1.0a

DESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY
Product Identity in this document designated in accordance with section 1(e) of the Open Game License, version 1.0a includes but is not limited to: Any and all Malachite Idol logos and identifying marks and trade dress, including all Malachite Idol product and product line names including but not limited to Malachite Idol Presents, all Malachite Idol logos, and all artwork, logos, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses, and poses. Designated Product Identity is not Open Game Content.

DESIGNATION OF OPEN GAME CONTENT
All material in this document following the Playtest Version sidebar and prior to the Legal Appendix that is not otherwise designated as Product Identity is Open Game Content.

LICENSE

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved. 1. Definitions: (a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, nonexclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

Open Game License v1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System Rules Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

END OF LICENSE