Anathema

Anathema are a chimeric cursed race. A simple, happy, and well off human nation on Xirriel discovered a way into the void and decided to expand their territory into it. The native ethereals did not take kind to this and decided to retaliate. The humans were cursed into half beasts and expelled from the void. Durring all the panic to fix themselves, the ethereal beings came to their nation and razed it to the ground. Before returning to the void they also cursed the land to become an eternal forest that would just grow back if attempted to be removed. After many years of trying to remove their curse and several generations of chimeric children, they decided to accept what they have become. Although they have accepted it, other beings around them have not. Being looked down on, abused by, and outcasted by the other races, they decided to seek shelter in their cursed forest and never venture out beyond it. Over time, their race became so isolated that they eventually no longer understood the other races at all or how to interact with them if they ever encountered one. The people became more and more like animals respective to their traits and started to become friends with normal animals and living in harmony with them. Eventually the outside races became nothing but fairy tales that were always questioned if or not they truly existed. This lead to some few Anathema to leave their home and venture beyond the forest to explore the outside world.

## Appearance

Anathema differ from each other drastically due to the amount of possible animal traits one could be born with. Despite all the animals, one can be broken down into one of three different groups. The 3 groups are the Avian, Aquatic, and Land. There is a strong chance that parents of the same group will produce a child of that group but sometimes that does not happen. If parents of different groups have a child, there is a 50% chance of it being the third group or one of their groups. Despite all the differences, one thing all Anathema have in common is their keen eyes.

## Age & Size

The average size of an Anathema is 5ft. but can range anywhere from 4ft. to 6ft. Their average lifespan is around 350 years, but some have lived upwards of nearly 400. One is considered an adult around the age of 35.

## Traits

* **Ability Score Increase:** *Your Dexterity score increases by 2.*
* **Alignment:** *Anathema are curious and mischievous beings that lean towards chaotic alignments.*
* **Speed:** *Your base walking speed is 30ft.*
* **Darkvision:** *Thanks to your beast-like eyes, you have a greater vision in dark & dim light conditions. You can see up to 120ft. of dark light as dim light & 60ft. of dim light as bright light.*
* **Animal Instincts:** *You have proficiency in Perception.*
* **Languages:** *You can speak, read, & write Common & Sylvan.*
* **Group Trait:** *You gain extra traits depending on which group of Anathema you belong in.*

## Land Group

* **Ability Score Increase:** *Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1.*
* **Strider:** *Your base walking speed becomes 35ft.*
* **Natural Weapon:** *You have retractable claws that can be used as a weapon that has a base damage of (1d4).*

## Avian Group

* **Ability Score Increase:** *Increase your Wisdom or Charisma score by 1.*
* **Wings:** *You have a flying speed of 10ft., but you are not able to hover.*
* **Feathers:** *You are able to shed sharp serrated feathers to be used as weapons. Your feather is in essence the same as a dagger and deals a base damage of (1d4) and can be used as a melee or ranged weapon. You can create (2) feathers as a bonus action and can do so an amount of times equal to your Dexterity modifier plus your Constitution modifier per short or long rest.*

## Aquatic Group

* **Ability Score Increase:** *Increase one of your ability scores by 1, excluding Dexterity.*
* **Gills:** *You are able to breathe underwater.*
* **Fins:** *Your base swimming speed is equal to your base walking speed.*

## Class Restrictions

Due to isolating themselves from the outside world, and only being able to learn from other Anathema, they have developed their own styles of fighting & are the same class. This does not prevent an Anathema from learning how to become any other class. If an Anathema is born & grows up in the forest, they will only be able to become 1 specific class & their archetype in that class is determined by their group. Those born outside may learn whichever archetype they want.