Yuke

Yukes are mysterious, scholarly figures devoted to unraveling the mysteries of the world. Residing in the settlement of Shella built over the northern Jegon Lake, these peaceful and inquisitive beings are adept spell casters and alchemists, boasting a wide variety of magical attacks without the use of Magicite. This proficiency gave them an advantage against the invasive Lilties of yesteryear, allowing them to bypass the latter's impressive armor and attack from beyond their melee range. This caused a stalemate that exhausted the Liltian Mine of Cathuriges, ending their ambitions of conquest and eventually their occupation of the other Tribes.

## Appearance and Physiology

The Yukes stand as the tallest Tribe, commonly as tall as 8ft. All Yukes are completely covered by strange mixtures of armor, cloth, and fur. They typically wear sallets that hide their faces, small wing ornaments attached to their clothing or armor, and striped fur gloves and stockings.

They are highly secretive about their physiology, likely so as not to invite further attempts at eradication. It's been speculated by Liltian strategists that they are incorporeal spirits that possess their bizarre artificial husks, and that their appearances are consistent enough to suggest certain components are necessary to anchor them to such vessels, but peace treaties had been signed before these hypotheses could be properly tested. It's yet possible that even the Yukes themselves, studious as they are, don't fully understand their own bodies, just as the more clearly organic tribes aren't completely aware of their anatomies' complexities.

There are, however, a number of facts that spark idle debate. They are able to eat the same foods as the other tribes, and are susceptible to most of the same medicines and poisons, but their preferred nutrition comes from a strange, unnamed liquid. And while the other tribes are able to interbreed (with very limited success), there are no records of Yukes ever attempting this. Indeed, while children and families of Yukes exist, no one else has witnessed a Yuke's birth.

Regardless of these anecdotes, their thaumaturgical advancements and generally friendly disposition have earned them enough respect that they're rarely confronted on these subjects.

## Features and Traits

### Replaceable Parts

Yukes gain the Mending cantrip for use on their own bodies. During a short rest, Yukes may replace any destroyed or broken limbs or body parts with armor in their inventory. Doing so heals the equivalent of 1 hit die for the Yuke.

## History and Culture

The Yukes are best known as magical artificers and scientists. Once the Lilties ended their occupation of the other tribes and maintained the security of the main roads, through a mixture of engineering and arcane botany the Yukes developed Veo Lu Sluice, turning the Jegon Creek into a great river that nourished the plains of Fum, allowing a Clavat settlement to cultivate vast farmland and provide most of the world with food. This Sluice is a symbol of peace and cooperation between the tribes.

Their research is not limited to the tedium of mathematics and data collection, however. The Yukes have a rich history of art, literature, and philosophy. With the recent (tentative) reintegration of the Selkies into the settlements of other tribes, the study of ancient Selkic folklore has become widely popular as a source of clues to hidden or forgotten knowledge. Some Selkies have taken up permanent residence in Shella as both scholars and language tutors.

With the exception of their own secret physiology, they are very forthcoming with their research findings. It's not uncommon to hear a Yuke's speculation on this magical property or that historical event. One such professor is Shella's Caravanner, Amidatty.