Vanara

Vanaras are inquisitive and mischievous monkey-like humanoids with short, soft fur, expressive eyes, and long, prehensile tails. Their handlike feet and agile builds serve them well in the jungle realms where most vanaras live.

Feo decided to make a race of humanoid monkeys in a hope to create the perfect race, unfortunately for Feo Nininnamara saw problems with this pointing out that he may as well have been cheating in the grand game of evolution and that these were in fact not naturally perfect beings but artificially and that they must have flaws in order to truly be considered the greatest as overcoming a fault is merit in itself--truth is she just liked monkeys and wanted to add a dash of trickery in them because she thought it'd be funny.

If you want to play a character who embodies the struggle between self-betterment and self-expression, you should play a vanara.

## You Might...

* Find it difficult to avoid pursuing a mystery or exploring a hidden area.
* Thoughtfully consider the consequences of your pranks or actions.
* Enjoy sharing the knowledge of things you've discovered with your friends.

## Others Probably...

* Assume you have an animalistic demeanor and habits.
* Take a dismissive or hostile view of your pranks.
* Covet your easy grace and unquenchable curiosity.

## Physical Description

Vanaras are humanoids with simian features, including a long, prehensile tail and handlike feet. They're rarely much taller than 5 feet, but they usually look smaller because of their slight, nimble builds. Vanaras are covered with a thin layer of soft fur over their entire bodies. This fur can be tan, brown, or golden and rarely has spots or stripes. The hair on a vanara's head grows thicker and more luxurious; it's easy to arrange into elaborate hairstyles, and many vanaras like to do so. This hair is nearly always of the same color as the vanara's body fur, with the exception of rare “whitecape” vanaras with manes of fine, pale hair, who might be born into any vanara family. Vanaras have large, expressive eyes and mouths with blunt teeth and pointed incisors. Vanaras are adults at 13 years old and usually live about 60 years.

## Society

Vanaras are a varied folk who seek balance and comfort in their lives. Many are devout without being fanatics, tricksters without being malicious, daring without being foolish, and curious without being obsessive. Although aware of their creation process, many vanaras feel a powerful desire to live beyond the process of their creation and instead find meaning in their original purpose, pursuing their own paths to enlightenment. Vanara who live in great societies or secluded monasteries feel this need the most strongly, as they want to pursue virtue and self-knowledge to be fulfilled when their souls are next reborn into the world.

Although created by Feo and in part Nininnamara, vanaras feel themselves apart from them in a way some find uncomfortable. Though most vanaras cherish Nininnamara's mischief and feats of folly on religious holidays, they also know she shall never fade from this world or find herself reincarnated into forms other than that from which the vanaras were shaped. Yet, vanaras aren't so immutable. A vanara must reflect on their own impermanent nature and consider its effect on their soul and their soul's quest for enlightenment. For all the mischief and daring Nininnamara might enjoy without consequence, vanaras know recklessness can impede their personal pursuit of enlightenment. The drive toward mischief and spontaneity instilled within them by Feo is hard for many vanaras to overcome and can create a lifetime of internal turmoil. This source of conflict has colored their development as a people who seek balance and virtue.

## Alignment and Religion

Vanaras are tricksters who love pranks, but they temper this tendency toward mischief with good intentions and a love of their community—however they personally define that community. They're rarely agitators or troublemakers simply for the sake of causing chaos; they do so to encourage humility among the inflexible or humorless. Most vanaras are mindful of the virtues necessary to elevate their immortal souls and try to act accordingly. Vanaras are thus most likely to be neutral good.

Most vanaras live in Voraranu. Many Vanara enjoy giving small prayers or acts in Nininnamara's favor but they rarely worship her as it's seen too destructive of one's self, instead, devout vanaras nearly always venerate Feo above all others. Priests of Feo lead most vanara villages. Even vanaras who aren't religious might call upon Feo to help them make wise decisions in times of danger or for guidance when an unlucky prank has caused them trouble they're unsure how to escape. Vanaras interested in developing self-control might worship Feo, and regions with local vanara hero-gods or avatars might engender faithful sects of worshippers on a small scale. Some vanaras revere Rezz'bazarath, but almost never openly, as this deity encapsulates vanras greatest self-conflict and it is seen as taboo to come to terms with it let alone embrace it fully. The Wheel is also a deity of interest to the Vanara considering their focus on reincarnation though it take a great amount of knowledge to even recognize the Wheel as worshipable rather then just studyable and most are more likely to worship Boodskapper.

## Adventurers

Vanara society, and its complex relationship with their inner self, produces many adventurers who journey in search of greater insight into their nature of being and into other means that might provide them peace and enlightenment. Nearly all children are raised on the many embellished tales of their ancestors, vanara folk heroes, and their progenitor deity, and they emulate those stories as soon as they can. Thus, many vanaras have a background that evokes a colorful life prior to adventuring, such as criminal, entertainer, gambler, sailor, or scout.

Vanaras found afield are often champions, rangers, or rogues, but vanaras of every class view themselves as aligning with their beliefs, often with a special focus on their relationship with gods. Vanaras who rely upon magic often find themselves serving as witches under the patronage of distant karmic entities or ancient spiritual allies to the gods, or oracles with unusual curses and mysteries.

## Names

Newborn vanaras aren't given names other than descriptors of their infant personalities or habits, like “Grip-Hand” or “Wailer.” When they learn to speak, vanaras are given another name based on important historical or mythological figures, or they're given the name of a specific ancestor they resemble in appearance or attitude (or whom their community hopes they'll grow to resemble). The chosen name usually contains consonants or vowels the young vanara frequently uses, as vanaras don't see a lot of use in giving someone a name they can't easily pronounce.

### Sample Names

Ashpaka, Chichipi, Haangeno, Hasa, Huanu, Kana, Nammem, Roprutu, Thathona, Unulu, Vivatu