Kalilith
"As I approached, they crawled across the ancient temple like blue-black spiders- lifting stones with thick, fraying ropes and scraping at the moldering statues with small tools. When they spoke, long, demonic tongues slithered out of their mouths... As I was wrapped in my horror, a man stepped out from the shadows of the jungle-
-And the sight which met my eyes was that of a tall, slender man, bare to the chest and serene. His face was oval, yet every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, his ruby eyes large and lustrous and his head surmounted by a mass of coal black, ever billowing hair. His skin was the color of the sea at midnight, against which his ruby eyes shone with a strangely enthralling glow-
So entranced was I, that a flurry of heart beats passed before I realized, to my renewed horror, that the man before me had four arms, like the creatures on the walls of the monument, and when he smiled, he bared a pair of sharp, too-white fangs.
"Welcome to the Temple of Kor," he said, in a voice like satin. "Have you come seeking refuge?"
~The Journals of Nalsalim Jovaire
In the most sweltering jungles – among forgotten temples overgrown with trees and vines— dwell the mysterious kalilith. Only the most intrepid of explorers claim to have seen the strange people, and only from a distance. Kalilith live among the strangler figs and golden apple trees of the deepest and oldest rainforests. They are a reserved, kind people, though cracked and crumbling scrolls speak at great length of their terrible wrath when provoked. With four arms, they climb and work, tending to their temple homes and the breathing heart of the jungle itself. Their origins are a mystery, but they are quick to claim that each must atone for the sin of their existence.
Born from Darkness
Kalilith history claims their people were once human. Long ago, creatures from the abyss twisted them into demonic solders, and the stains of their creation are still in evidence. Most notably, kalilith have four arms, one set stacked upon the other. Their canines are sharp and they have long, often forked tongues. Their skin tones cover a spectrum of pale-blue to nearly black and the sclera and pupils of their eyes smolder in green, red, or orange. Their hair is usually black or very dark.
Their demonic origins are a source of great shame, and kalilith fight against their tempestuous emotions with structured mantras and a devotion to high ideals. They are prone to wearing bright, pleasing colors and golden jewelery to offset their more intimidating features.
A Hand to Give, Respect, Repair, and Protect
Despite their demonic origins, kalilith prefer dwelling in temples that venerate good-aligned deities. Fearing that anything made by their hands might carry the same evil as their own creation, kalilith seek out ruins and desecrated places in the hopes that their labor might restore their former glory.
They avoid hunting and cutting down the rain forests, even going so far as to let trees overgrow their homes and shrines. The only crafts they take pride in, is the shaping of gold. Metal can be reshaped and reformed, and gold is too soft to be a weapon, so it is considered safe from a kalilith's darker impulses. Kalilith jewelry is rare among the planes and highly sought after by collectors. While they prize art, stonecraft, and fine textiles, they only pursue such talents enough to mend or repair the work of others.
Above all else, kalilith wish to make the planes a better place. Every kalilith is born with a need to make amends for the curse of their heritage. Each uses what strengths they are given to protect the world from evil. Those who learn spellcasting generally do so in the hope that it will allow them to end conflict and suffering.
Twice-Born Guardians
Kalilith believe they are twice born. Their first lives were as warrior-slaves to demon masters. Kalilith children are then born out of the agony of the Abyss to amend their past wickedness on the material planes. As a people, the race is new to the material plane and is not found on many worlds, so adventurers are rare. Where they do exist, a kalilith may venture from her jungle homeland to right a great wrong or protect the civilized world from minions of the Abyss. It is also possible that an individual, worried his isolation has intensified negative emotions, might seek to atone by serving or protecting other peoples.
As adventurers, kalilith are often monks, clerics, paladins, and fighters. Other spellcasters are possible, but a kalilith barbarian or rogue is all but non-existent. Kalilith avoid strong, chaotic emotions like a barbarian's Rage, and roguish duplicity is morally questionable at the best of times. They see both as giving in to the stains of their heritage
Kalilith Names
Kalilith view themselves as aspects of one, great whole- the Navasanti. Navasanti was the first free kalilith and this oneness is a deification of the second-birth she granted to her people. In their villages, there is little need for individual names. They refer to others with general description, such as, “our cousin with the elbow scar,” or, "my lover with red eyes."
Receiving a personal name is considered an honor. They are unique creations that reference the virtue or deed which granted the honor by describing the infinite parts of Navasanti's body most closely associated with it:
- Face. Awareness of one’s place in the world.
- Eyes. Perception of the needs of others.
- Mouth. Communication that increases understanding.
- Heart. Healing of injuries of body and mind.
- Arms. Strength and duty to righteousness.
- Hands. Fixing what was broken in the world.
- Fingers. Empathy for the experiences of others.
- Legs. Walking the world with purpose.
- Spirit. Freedom from the Stains of Hell
Kalilith names take the form of a phrase and can apply to any gender. Most kalilith adventurers use nicknames derived from or inspired by the name they earned. The following list of kalilith names includes nicknames in parenthesis.
Kalilith names: Her-Third-Eye-Green-With-Judgement (Emerald), Her-Legs-That-Race-Towards-Dawn (Dawnrunner), Her-Smallest-Finger-Holding-Fast (Holding), Her-Leftmost-Heart-Granting-Succor (Leftheart), Her-Arm-That-Casts-The-Spear (Caster), Her-Lips-That-Call-In-Triumph (Calli)
Kalilith Traits
The following racial traits are common to all kalilith.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma scores each increase by 1
Age. Kalilith mature more slowly than humans, and they're considered young until they reach the age of of 60. On average, they live nearly 300 years.
Alignment. Most kalilith strive to be lawful, believing a well-ordered life is the only way to prevent their darker nature from surfacing. Unfortunately, many struggle to rise above a pragmatic neutrality. They do all tend towards good, with a deep-seated belief in their role as guardians against evil.
Size. Kalilith are slightly larger than humans, ranging from just under 6 to almost 7 feet tall. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. you have a base climbing speed of 20 feet.
Polychiral. As a kalilith, your four arms do not grant you additional actions, but you have two additional free hands for holding weapons, objects, or casting spells.
At 1st level, You are able to wield up to four light weapon at a time and, as long as at least two of your hands are free, you can perform the somatic component of a spell. In addition, you are able to wield a versatile weapon with two hands, and carry a shield, light weapon, or object in your remaining hands.
By 3rd level, you have advantage on grapple checks.
Once you reach 5th level, you gain the ability to move your climbing speed upside down along ceilings as long as at least two hands are free to climb.
Many Hands Make Light Work. When you take the Help, Dodge, or Use Object action, you can use a bonus action to take the Use Object action.
Abyssal Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance to poison damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.
- Interior Artist: Chain & Jane
