Non-Humans of Antara
(None of the images on this page are by me and I claim no credit for any of them. They are used here without permission and are for imaginative reference only.)Aarokan
Aarokans, also known as "Hawk-Lords", hail from the land of Akasa. Akasa is a land of mountainous evergreen forests. Above the forests is beautiful kingdom of floating mountains four thousand miles southeast of Chult. Aarokar-Nasaris is the great sky-city of the hawk-lords. Aarokar-Nasaris is a magnificent city of white marble domes, towering spires of crystal, and elevated walkways made of delicate spun glass.Aarokans are peaceful and contemplative though some outsiders consider them xenophobic. It is true that they do not trust outsiders in their realm and that they tend to view the ground dwellers with disdain and suspicion.
Aarokans consider among their enemies Atlanteans, Storm Giants, and Djinni. Atlantean raiders and prospectors pilot their magical sky ships into Akasanal airspace in search of arcane minerals while storm giants and djinni establish strongholds to capture slaves.
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Ana
The ana were highly technologically advanced. They were adept at the creation of devices powered by arcane energies. As the Ana gained power they began to experiment with the creation of new life forms. Their first creations were the artificial beings known as matons. The matons served as defenders, servants, and laborers for the ana for over one million years. Eventually the matons rebelled and fled their masters.
They also experimented with creating and re-shaping living things. They abducted and experimented on primitive humans and silvans, creating the advanced psychic races known as the vril-ya and the yyth.
In time the ana gained enlightenment and decided to transcend their physical forms to become gods. The Apotheosis, as it is called, occurred ten thousand years ago and resulted in a great cataclysm that reshaped Antara.
The ana were generally humanoid in shape. The typical ana stood seven to ten feet tall and had white porcelain skin. The ana channeled great magical power. These arcane energies manifested themselves as strange physical anomalies. For example, it was not uncommon to encounter an ana with the head of an animal, multiple arms, blue skin, glowing eyes, feathered wings, or other such strange manifestations.
The ana were immortal and ageless. Though hardy and difficult to injure they were not invulnerable nor immune from death.
The ana ruled Antara for 4.5 million years. In time their magical power reached the boundaries of time and space. Ten thousand years ago the ana transcended their physical forms. They became minor gods - ethereal beings of pure energy who derive strength and power from elemental forces or philosophical concepts. Their transcendence caused a great cataclysm that reshaped antara in an event known as "the Apotheosis".
Not all ana shed their physical forms. Some ana remained behind, hidden in remote and decaying fortresses. Other ana still take an active interest in the world despite their transcendence.
For example, it was the transcendental ana that intervened five hundred years ago when the holy asuras of Nedula Madhya attempted their own Apotheosis. The asuras planned on using the energy gathered from the sacrifice of thousands of bound extra-dimensional beings known as shadim to fuel their own Apotheosis. The transcendental ana stepped in and freed the shadim, disrupting the ritual sacrifice. The transcendental ana then punished the unrepentant asuras by cursing them with the physical deformities of the shadim for all eternity.
To this day, many worship the transcendental ana as gods. Indeed, the transcendental ana grant power to those who offer worship and live by a strict code and sometimes intercede on behalf of a mortal in need.
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Asuras
Asuras have distinctly inhuman eye and skin color. They possess horns and long tails.
Asuras were once holy arhats- enlightened beings created by and blessed by the Immortal Ana - the gods of Agartta. They were special, they were perfect. In their hubris, they believed themselves the equals to the ana. So it was that they performed a ritual that would grant them apotheosis - they would become gods themselves. The ritual involved the summoning and binding of extra-dimensional beings from the Ennead Hells of Narak known as shadim. The shadim would serve to fuel the apotheosis.
The Immortal Ana intervened. The ana released the shadim from their bindings. The shadim, freed from their binding and seeking vengeance, razed the Nine Cities of Nedula-Madhya in one night.
In addition, the Immortal Ana curse the surviving asuras of Nedula-Madhya. The asuras were transformed into infernal analogues of the shadim complete with inhuman complexion, antlers and horns, claws, and long reptilian tails. So too would the descendants of the rebel asuras bear the curse of their ancestors for perpetuity.
Most Agarttans know that the ancient asuras were responsible for the doom that destroyed all of Nedula-Madhya in a single night. As a result, they have never been fully welcomed into the new cities that arose in the ruins of the old. To this day, asuras face great discrimination throughout Agartta and we often relegated to ghettos or exiled to wander alone or in small tribes.
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Azi-Zakah
Zakah along with the diminutive hanta, represent the two best-known breeds of humanoid dragons known as azi.Zakah are born into the service of a mighty dragon lord, ruler of a draconic demesne. Zakah are warriors and leaders who faithfully serve their dragon masters. Zakah are served, in turn, by the smaller hanta.
Most zakah are well aware of their reputation for short tempers and proud arrogance. Zakah believe they are superior to other races and that it is the destiny of all azi to one day rule all of Antara. Their culture is based on conflict and the strongest and bravest zakah rise to positions of power within the azi hierarchy. They tend to be, unsurprisingly given their background, advocates of war and conquest even against other azi kingdoms!
Not all zakah share this belief. Many individual zakah seek peaceful coexistence with the other races. These moderate zakah tend to become diplomats, traders, or explorers. Zakah that promote a philosophy of moderation are often exiled from the azi kingdoms and become adventurers.
The dragon-lords and their azi armies and servants can be found on every continent across Antara. They tend to inhabit realms associated with the habitat of the color of their scales.
Color
|
Habitat
|
Homeland
|
Damage
Type
|
Breath
Weapon
|
Blue
|
Desert
|
·
Deserts
of central Zazamanc
·
Aranya
desert of Dalu
·
Dragon-lord
city-state of Vadi-Sehir in Dalu
·
Dragon-lord
kingdoms of Mavi-Sehir, Kali-Sehir, and Tarafsiz-Sehir located in the Shamo
desert of central Plaksha
|
Lightning
|
5
by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
|
Red
|
Volcanoes
|
·
Volcanoes
of western Zazamanc
·
Mountains
of Nuuna
·
Mountains
of Polaris
|
Fire
|
15
ft. cone (Dex. save)
|
Green
|
Forests
|
·
Dragon-lord
kingdom of Orman in Antumnos
·
Forests
of Nuuna
·
Forests
of Akasa
·
Jungles
of Bres
·
Jungles
of Zazamanc
·
Jungles
of southern Atlantis
|
Poison
|
15
ft. cone (Con. save)
|
White
|
Arctic
|
·
Ice
Mountains of Polaris
|
Cold
|
15
ft. cone (Con. save)
|
Bronze
|
Islands
|
·
Islands
of Horai
·
Islands
of eastern Agartta
|
Lightning
|
5
by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
|
Silver
|
Arctic
Mountains
|
·
Ice
Mountains of Polaris
|
Cold
|
15
ft. cone (Con. save)
|
Brass
|
Plains
|
·
Plains
of Kza in Mu
|
Fire
|
5
by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
|
Copper
|
Sky-mountains
|
·
Sky-Mountains
of Akasa
|
Acid
|
5
by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
|
Gold
|
Forests
|
·
Celestial
Empire of Xan
·
Forests
of Antumnos
·
Islands
of Horai
|
Fire
|
15
ft. cone (Dex. save)
|
Black
|
Swamps
|
·
Swamps
of Aranos in southern Plaksha
|
Acid
|
5
by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
|
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B’alam
The b'alam are lithe graceful humanoid jaguars from the jungles of northern Bres west of Chult. The b'alam are primitive nomads that live in small tribes of no more than ten individuals. Tribes remain isolated except during mating season.
B’alam are master hunters and their diet consists almost exclusively of meat from fresh game.
There is a moment in the lives of most young B'alam where they are overwhelmed by a feeling of profound curiosity and the compulsion to explore. This is an evolutionary trait meant to encourage the establishment of new hunting grounds. Many such B'alam form family-like bonds with groups of travelers and explorers that can help them fulfill these compulsions.
Other Kimpurusha
B’alam are but one species in a family of humanoid felines found throughout Antara. The collective term for any member of this family is a “Kimpurusha” - the descendants of the feline race that ruled all of Antara during the Age of Lions and Serpents over fifty million years ago.Waesa
Waesa are humanoid cougars from the forests of Nuuna and Uttara.Odum
Odum are humanoid lions from the plains and jungles of Zazamanc.B’aghra
B’aghra are humanoid tigers from Agartta, Plaksha, Horai, and Mu.
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Bantami (aka “Hill Folk”)
The people of eastern Agartta known to humans as Halflings or Hill Folk, refer to themselves as Bantami. The Bantami are diminutive humans with disproportionately large heads and hands for their size. They are gentle primitive people who live a rustic existence in small rural villages clinging to remote hillsides away from civilization.Bantami are generally hirsute and stout, possessing excessively hairy arms, hands, legs, and feet. The hair on their head ranges from stiff and bristly to long shaggy curls. Their eyebrows and sideburns are especially prominent.
The Bantami originated in the rural hills of Avallonis but have migrated to many remote corners of the world of Antara.
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Demijin
The demijin are the offspring of a jin, usually disguised as a human male, and a human female. Demijin are born human and raised among humans. Once they mature they begin to manifest elemental traits inherited from the jin parent.. They are eventually discovered and exiled from their homelands. Most demijin are therefore wanderers, exiles, and nomads.
The offspring of air-jin possess blue skin and the ability to defy gravity. Sea-jin have green skin and can breathe underwater. Fire-jin have red skin, are resistant to heat, and can produce small flames. Earth-jin have rust-colored skin and can move easily over rough terrain.
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Elioud
The elioud, known to men as "Otherworlders", are mysterious alien beings from a parallel universe called Aeon. Aeon is a realm of pure thought and energy, metaphor and imagination, emotion and meaning, a creative force and the source of light and life force in our world. In their native state, elioud are beings of pure spirit, ethereal, composed of luminous energy and vitality, lacking physical form or spatial boundary.
When they cross over into our world, elioud must assume a physical form. When they do so, many of their material attributes are expressed as metaphors of their meaning. Their skin and eyes are usually the color and complexion of pale marble. Their hair manifests in vibrant colors unnatural to humans: blue, green, purple, pink, gold, etc. As they interact with and are exposed to the races of our world, their skin color slowly changes to match those around them.
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Gnomes
The gnomes are diminutive relatives to the silvans who colonized our world from Aeon many centuries ago. Unlike their silvan cousins, the gnomes did not shy away from humans. Instead, the gnomes joined human culture, integrating into their cities and societies. Gnomes possess an innate love and appreciation of gems and machinery and many gnomes have become wealthy and powerful bankers or inventors.
The most powerful kingdom of the gnomes is the mountainous land known as Xurish located on a large island northwest of Plaksha. The "Gnomes of Xurish" is the name of the powerful banking cartel that controls much of the world's economy and politics from its headquarters in Ys.
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Golyat
Goshi
Goshi are large muscular humanoids with the heads of water buffalo. They are native to the jungles of Zazamanc, southwest Plaksha, and Aranos. Goshi are renowned architects and engineers who have designed have built great cities, bridges, walls, and monuments. They are also employed, sometimes exploited or enslaved, to work as builders and workers.
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Azi-Hanta
Occasionally a azi-hanta wants more. They seek freedom and respect, or perhaps they simply seek the wealth and fame unavailable to them in their own society. These azi-hanta abandon their homes and seek their fortunes among humans.
Azi-hanta that live among humans are no longer slaves but neither are they welcome. On their best days they are ignored or tolerated. On their worst days they are hated or feared. Most "free" Azi-hanta live a precarious existence on the edges of human society. There they find kindred spirits like themselves who do not loathe them for your origin. They may even make friends with like-minded azi-zakah who have themselves become renegades.
Color
|
Habitat
|
Homeland
|
Damage
Type
|
Blue
|
Desert
|
·
Deserts
of central Zazamanc
·
Aranya
desert of Dalu
·
Dragon-lord
city-state of Vadi-Sehir in Dalu
·
Dragon-lord
kingdoms of Mavi-Sehir, Kali-Sehir, and Tarafsiz-Sehir located in the Shamo
desert of central Plaksha
|
Lightning
|
Red
|
Volcanoes
|
·
Volcanoes
of western Zazamanc
·
Mountains
of Nuuna
·
Mountains
of Polaris
|
Fire
|
Green
|
Forests
|
·
Dragon-lord
kingdom of Orman in Antumnos
·
Forests
of Nuuna
·
Forests
of Akasa
·
Jungles
of Bres
·
Jungles
of Zazamanc
·
Jungles
of southern Atlantis
|
Poison
|
White
|
Arctic
|
·
Ice
Mountains of Polaris
|
Cold
|
Bronze
|
Islands
|
·
Islands
of Horai
·
Islands
of eastern Agartta
|
Lightning
|
Silver
|
Arctic
Mountains
|
·
Ice
Mountains of Polaris
|
Cold
|
Brass
|
Plains
|
·
Plains
of Kza in Mu
|
Fire
|
Copper
|
Sky-mountains
|
·
Sky-Mountains
of Akasa
|
Acid
|
Gold
|
Forests
|
·
Celestial
Empire of Xan
·
Forests
of Antumnos
·
Islands
of Horai
|
Fire
|
Black
|
Swamps
|
·
Swamps
of Aranos in southern Plaksha
|
Acid
|
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Maor
Maor spend much of their childhood alone in the forest. Maor are are quiet and solitary creatures, rarely congregating with other maor and preferring the company of animals, plants, and fey creatures such as dryads, nymphs, and pixies.
Maor live within the hollow voids created by specially shaped giant trees deep in the forest, essentially a wooden cave formed inside a massive living tree. There they spend their time in quiet contemplation, meditation, and communion with the forests.
To a maor, all the forests of Antara comprise a single living entity with complex interrelated natural systems similar to the complex systems of a living being but on a much larger scale. Most maor have an innate understanding of these natural systems and are able to sense imbalances within the system. When a young maor comes of age they take an oath to protect the natural world, to ensure its continued health, and to restore the system to its natural state when it is disturbed.
Maor are not zealots. They take little notice of the felling of a few trees or the hunting of game as long as the overall biological system of the biome is not affected. Indeed, maor often act as sages, teaching other races to live in harmony with the forest. However, any action that threatens that harmony will cause the maor to organize and lead resistance against the source of the disruption.
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Maton
Matons are magically animated sentient mechanical beings from the machine kingdom of Makina. They were originally created thousands of years ago by Atlantean artificers where they once served as workers, servants, and warriors. Matons eventually rebelled against their creators and formed their own robotic society.
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Orlok
Orloks are cave-dwelling sub-humans that can be found throughout Antara. They are tall and muscular with long arms, a thick neck, and a stooped posture. They have thick brows and simian noses. They possess pronounced under-bites that produce lower incisors that grow into long tusks. An orlock's skin and hair color correspond to their environment of origin.
Homeland
|
Skin Color
|
Antumnos
|
Green
|
Agartta
|
Red
|
Nuuna
|
Grey
|
Plaksha
|
Purple
|
Polaris and Boreas
|
White
|
Deep Underground
|
Translucent
|
Orloks live in primitive tribes and clans. A tribe shares a common cave system and is ruled by a hereditary clan elder and shaman. Orloks possess little more than stone age clubs, flint axes, and primitive bows. Most orlok tribes are xenophobic and predatory. Many tribes hunt and capture other intelligent races for food and skins. As a result few orlok are welcomed or trusted by more civilized societies.
Orloks who express signs of intelligence or empathy for other intelligent beings are often exiled from their tribes. These exiled orloks often act as guides and interpreters for merchants and explorers.
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Reptan
Most reptans consider themselves one with the natural world. They live close to the land. They abhor mechanization and civilization. Reptans consider metal and concrete to be evil materials. As a result, reptans have learned to make ingenious use of natural materials such as bone, wood, sinew, and stone.
Other races find reptans cold and inscrutable. Most reptans consider outsiders frivolous and inconsistent. Reptans are difficult to befriend. However, reptans occasionally form strong bonds with outsiders with whom they share life and death experiences. A reptan that becomes a blood-brother or blood-sister to an outsider will sever all former familial and clan ties in order to form a new clan with their blood-siblings.
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Silvans
Silvans are sometimes called “Forest Elves” or "Green Men" by humans.They are reclusive and mysterious creatures. They speak little, even among themselves. They wear no clothing while in their native environment but will dress when living or dealing with outsiders.
The other descendants of the elioud are known by their preferred climate and terrain. For example, the orosans live among the mountains and possess grey stone-like skin, the eremosans haunt the deserts with dry sandy skin, and the pelagans dwell in the ocean with blue-green dolphin-like skin.
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Tero
The race that humans call Dwarves, known as the Tero in their own language, are short, twisted, ugly albino creatures of the earth with heavy brows, short wide noses, long arms, thick leathery skin, bushy wiry hair and long braided beards. They were created, along with their degenerate cousins the dero, by the mysterious vyth as a race of slaves. They rebelled against their creators and fled to the caverns deep within the mountains of Polaris. There they built great subterranean cities and have colonized other mountains in other lands. They are renowned for their skills in engineering and excavation and have been known to turn entire mountainsides into ornate cities of living rock.Therans
In times of stress, Therans are capable of manifesting even more bestial characteristics, growing claws, fangs, snouts, thick and fur. Some are even capable of elongating their arms, legs, hands, and finger.
Therans typically live in primitive nomadic tribes or small villages at the edge of human civilizations.
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Vyth
The mysterious vyth are slender humanoid beings with large round heads and large almond-shaped dark eyes. Their grey skin is smooth like that of a dolphin. Their nose is little more than tiny barely visible slits and their mouths are thin with no lips. Their delicate limbs terminate in long and graceful fingers and toes.
The vyth are descendants of elioud who took physical form on Antara during the age of the Ana. Unlike their cousins the silvans, who sought a life of peaceful balance with nature, the vyth retreated from the sun deep beneath the surface.
The vyth are a technologically advanced race that live deep beneath the surface of Antara in large complexes. Their complexes are connected to the surface and to each other via long subterranean tubes. They often send expeditions to the surface to capture subjects for experimentation and to serve as slaves in their underground empire.
The vyth are reclusive, secretive, and inscrutable. They are feared and mistrusted by most civilized races of Antara save the Atlanteans with whom they maintain an alliance and trade of both technology and slaves.
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