Lawtili

The **Lawtili** are a race of isolated river peoples in the coldest fringes of Kent’s Ladle, Nevenka, Zaspa, and a few in the Craglands. Many societies find the Lawtili terrifying, though they are relatively peaceful, if not isolationists. They are bald, grey skinned, and have luminous icy blue eyes. They do not have lips and a jagged row of teeth is visible. They are capable of releasing a howl that is bone chilling and hollow towards the direction of intruders. They prefer cold climates and cold rivers and have thick shells on their back that protrude like square wings to each side.

### Society

Lawtili society is made up of small clusters of nomadic village societies around cold rivers. The Lawtili have been contacted many times by other races, but due to experiences with far less understanding individuals they have isolated themselves from the majority of the civilized world.

There are two major functions of a Lawtili society, as the people subsist on a hunter gatherer system rather than sustained agriculture due to the cold parts of the world they inhabit. There are the Inlanders, who stray away from the rivers and forage food and hunt mammals, and the Riverfolk, who harvest as much of a bounty as they can from the rivers, riverbanks, and even the coast of the sea. This distinction is merely a professional one, and there are no differences physically or mentally between an Inlander Lawtili or Riverfolk Lawtili; however, a Lawtili village may favour Inlanders over Riverfolk depending on the location of their village.

Though uncommon, the Lawtili are willing to take in visitors or help people in need. Their appearance has caused many societies to paint the Lawtili as monsters that will take errant children in the night; however, the Lawtili are mostly a peaceful society. Their most aggressive members often boast about killing a large catch during a hunt rather than people or children.

Though most would hesitate to call it a martial art, the Lawtili have mastered weaponizing their boating tools, especially their oars. The oar has turned into both a useful tool for travel and a very strong weapon, and the Lawtili that are skilled craftsmen often use their prowess to create an oar that functions as a great tool, puncturing device, and bludgeoning device.

It is unknown as to how or why the Lawtili are in the northernmost fringes of the planet and the southern arctic continent of Zaspa, but the northern Lawtili are relatively consistent culturally whilst the Zaspian Lawtili are slightly more aggressive, as necessitated by the violent denizens of such a place.

### Alignment & Religion

The Lawtili are an isolated people, and their physical characteristics are extremely off-putting to many human societies. Because of this, it has become an easily formed prejudice that Lawtili are monsters like that of the goblin or orc that must be destroyed. This is especially true of adventurers who do not know any better, slaughtering what they believe to be child-swiping monsters when, in fact, they are killing families of innocent people.

These awful experiences have created generational trauma in the small communities of Lawtili around the world, forcing them to isolate. This in turn has made it harder to combat the stigma around them.

In reality, Lawtili are rarely Evil. Most tend towards a more Neutral or Good alignment, and this is most often reflected in their religious beliefs. The Lawtili commonly worship Panigho at the head of their pantheon, as he is the God Beast of Rivers and Drought. Though drought can be devastating in most societies, the arctic tundras that Lawtili frequent benefit from the removal of excess moisture in the ground around rivers, as it deposits what little sediment is available from the riverbeds to sustain a location for a tribe, as lichen grows and animals use it as a food source. Furthermore, the rivers themselves are central to a Lawtili society's survival. This reliance on rivers in such a harsh landscape has created two core values regarding survival: Consistent treatment of damaged or harsh lands will lead to success both in the realms of nature and survival; Neglecting the sensitive needs of the land leads to the collapse of both Lawtili society and nature itself.

Essentially, the Lawtili have formed a religion around tending to the environment around them for the sake of not only the tribe, but the creatures that live in these harsh conditions to begin with. Lawtili society has fostered a caring and loving nature for others, and believe themselves to be guardians of the coldest reaches. Thusly, a Lawtili is raised to be fundamentally Good. Whether this cultural practice can survive in larger societies like that of a human city is unknown.

### Physical Characteristics

The Lawtili are terrifying to most non-Lawtili societies, as they do not fit the norm physically that creatures like humans, gnomes, dwarfs, or elves do. They lack a set of outer lips; thus, their large, jagged fangs are immediately visible. Further, they have flat noses and small nostrils, which adds to their unsettling appearance.

Though one would expect the Lawtili to be carnivorous due to their fangs, they are actually omnivorous. Behind the row of jagged teeth which easily puncture fish scales, the Lawtili have inner lips that help them communicate with consonants, and behind those lips are small molars used for chewing vegetables and fruit.

The Lawtili have irises, but the difference in hues is practically imperceptible without close examination. All Lawtili have bright icy-blue eyes that seem to glow during a snowstorm, though how this property manifests itself is unknown. This has made many travelers assume Lawtili villages in the distance are places infested with Will-o-Wisps.

Lawtili cannot grow hair but have grey skin as thick as parchment. They tend to wear thick furs to protect them from the cold.

The Lawtili are not unaware of how other societies are afraid of them and will often let out a howl that is both hollow and extremely loud when faced with encroaching forces, adventurers or otherwise, to scare them off. This howl can carry over 300 feet on its own, and the echo it produces can travel long distances. This is further strengthened by multiple Lawtili howling at once. This ability is due to the powerful lungs that Lawtili are naturally gifted with, and their ability to shape their inner lips and fangs in such a way that produces a bone-chilling sound.

A Lawtili's most divergent physical characteristic is their wings. Lawtili begin to grow tendrils on their back not long after they are born, and by the time they are 12, their tendrils have grown large and thick pads on the end. These tendrils have very malleable muscle structure and can extend long below their feet. The odd shape of these pads can form a small boat-like structure, and the Lawtili use these pads to carry themselves down cold rivers. It is a coming-of-age ceremony to be able to row oneself down the water of a river with a Lawtili Oar. The pads are resistant to common ailments like frostbite, do not contain many nerve endings, and are quite thick. These wings can still be prone to infection if damaged without proper care and treatment.

Though Lawtili can be considered adults by 12 or 13 if they pick up on their innate abilities quickly enough, they aren't truly physically "adults" until they are 14 and aren't fully developed till they are 25. They have slightly exceptional lifespans and can live to be 160 years old.

### Standard Racial Traits

**Ability Score Modifiers:** +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Lawtili are hardy and have become extremely intuitive through years of difficult living but are often viewed as blunt and aloof.

**Type:** Lawtili are Humanoids with the Lawtili sub-type

**Medium:** Lawtili are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

**Normal Speed:** Lawtili have a base speed of 30 feet.

**Low-light Vision:** Members of this race can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light. (+1 RP)

**Snow Sight:** When it is snowing, there is a snowstorm, or any other cold related weather occurrence that isn't mist, a Lawtili's vision is not impaired and that character gains Darkvision for as long as the weather persists. (+1 RP)

**Natural Armor:** Lawtili have a hard shell on its back that is very thick, acting as a secondary shield. Members of this race gain a +1 natural armor bonus to their Armor Class. (+2 RP)

**Bite:** Lawtili have extremely sharp first row of teeth that act as a barrier to their lips and another set of teeth. Though these are often used to puncture hard shells and scales of food, they can also be used as a weapon. Members of this race gain a natural bite attack, dealing damage equivalent to that of a creature two size categories lower than normal for their size (1d3 for Medium). The bite is a primary attack, or a secondary attack if the creature is wielding manufactured weapons. (+1 RP)

**Terrifying Howl:** Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: Once per hour as a standard action, a member of this race can emit a boneshaking howl. Any creature not of its subtype (if humanoid) or type (if another race type) must make a successful Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the user’s character level + the user’s Charisma modifier) or become shaken for 1d4 rounds. A target that successfully saves cannot be affected by the user’s terrifying howl for 24 hours. Creatures that are already shaken become frightened for 1d4 rounds instead. This is a sonic, mind-affecting effect. (+2 RP)

**Your Back Will Carry You:** A Lawtili’s back shell is attached to prehensile appendages, allowing for limited movement. Due to the nature of this shell and a lack of nerve endings, a Lawtili can sit on its own shell and use it as a small buoyant raft. Lawtili do not need to make skill checks to remain buoyant in rough water. (+1 RP)

**Lawtili Weapon Familiarity:** Lawtili are proficient with snag nets, pickaxes, pilum, and Lawtili Combat Oars (+2 RP)

**Languages:** Lawtili speak Common and Lawtili. Lawtili with high intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Elven, Gnomish, Dzuk, Giant, Gnoll, Hoarish, and Vistik.

### Character Creation and Adventurers

Lawtili societies tend to revile adventurers, as adventurers are the cause of many of their plights. Even so, a Lawtili can be born with a wanderlust and wish to leave their small village in search of something amazing. Lawtili families often try to eliminate this wanderlust by showcasing the dangers of the wider world or showing firsthand how other societies have mistreated them. For the rare few who are still dedicated to adventuring, the village will allow them to leave to start a life of adventuring with basic supplies but cannot allow them to return unless they return from the sea, as is tradition.

Lawtili raised in Lawtili societies tend to fulfill the basic needs of their hunter-gatherer intensive society, and many will become fighters or rangers. Lawtili also value stealth and tend to train some Lawtili with the tools and weapons of a rogue. Those who are more religiously involved with Lawtili society tend to become Shamans, and those who are committed to inter-Lawtili politics sometimes become druids.

Lawtili are just as likely as any other race to produce children with an affinity for the arcane, although very few Lawtili communities are willing to train Wizards; therefore, only those with an extremely innate talent like sorcerers or an arcane prodigy will ever make it far with magical talents. Witches are feared in Lawtili society, and it is extremely rare for any lawtili witch to survive, much less thrive, when their abilities are discovered.

The only person that a lawtili will encourage a life of adventure on is an Oracle, as they are considered gifts from the Gods that are meant to venture out into the world. Lawtili society considers an oracle a conduit of the Gods, usually Panigho, and it is very common for Oracles who do not find a grand life of adventure to create new tribes of lawtili from their pool of followers.

The almost non-existant number of lawtili in human, elven, or other non-lawtili civilizations tend to be forced to cloister themselves. These few end up becoming clerics and monks, though if an individual is especially unwanted, they may be pushed to the more martial aspect of religion and become paladins or inquisitors.

**Male Names:** Alelek, Dular, Gurgyn, Keli, Tygyn, Urletu

**Female Names:** Anka, Iv, Omru, Pichak, Ti'ina, Vinvate

#### Table: Random Starting Ages

Ages

1 This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers.

2 This category includes bards, cavaliers, fighters, gunslingers, paladins, rangers, summoners, and witches.

3 This category includes alchemists, clerics, druids, inquisitors, magi, monks, and wizards.

#### Table: Random Height and Weight

Height Weight Table by Sex
 Male
 Female

### Trivia

The name "Lawtili" is taken from a Chukchi warrior named Lawtiliwadlin, whom has sparse records regarding his existence. This name was used as some of Lawtili society, religion, and certain practices were loosely based off of the Chukchi people. The back-shell of a Lawtili is loosely based on the traditional armour worn by Chukchi people.