Azarketi

The **Azarketis**, also called **gillmen** by others, are amphibious humanoids who live in and around the Coral Archipelago, Voraranu, and the islands of Rogataan. Feeling like they don't fully belong with their human brethren nor with the sea that binds them, many azarketis struggle for a sense of identity and purpose. Though they remain distrusted by the surface dwellers, azarketis celebrate their unique lineage and their descent from powerful beings.

## You Might...

* Ambitiously seek to defy negative perceptions and prejudice laid against you.
* Be reclusive and skeptical of strangers.
* Regard the water as your home, but be intrigued by societies along the shore.

## Others Probably...

* Assume you are an ambassador to the sea and ask for your advice on nautical matters.
* Misunderstand your gentle gestures and mild expressions.
* Treat you with distrust or suspicion and anticipate betrayal from you.

## Physical Description

Azarketis appear as regal, athletic humans. Their soft, hydrophilic skin ranges in tones from pearlescent white to pinkish, greenish, or brown tones reminiscent of coral. Azarketis with hair are somewhat rare; many sport fins or scaled ridges on their heads instead. Their aquatic lineage is obvious thanks to the sets of three gills on either side of their necks, as well as their webbed hands and feet. Azarketis have been known to live longer than humans, although they mature at about the same rate.

## Society

Azarketis lack the center for combined culture that helps other groups maintain a cohesive identity. The vastness of the oceans and waterways spread these swift-swimming people across the seas and beyond. Many azarketis rely only on the small familial groups in their immediate community and prefer smaller populations with comrades they trust and know intimately.

Some azarketis prefer to foster connections with their surface-dwelling brethren. Living in ports, river towns and along the shore allows azarketis a greater scope of opportunities not afforded to exclusively land or sea peoples. Although integrating with land society can be difficult, azarketis manage by forming bonded communities. Members will often have fond familial names for one another, regardless of actual relation.

### Connection to Rakta

Because of the race's origin, Azarketis still have a strange connection to their early ancestor's. Azarketi orignate from humans which were kidnapped and forced to live underwater by alghollthus. Although particularly resistant to enchantment magic, they display a distinct vulnerability to alghollthu enchantment, a legacy of the early control their aberrant masters had over them. In addition, the alghollthu seem to have implanted some form of racial post-hypnotic suggestion in all Azarketis, giving them the theoretical ability to exert control through key words or images. Many still serve their creators, sometimes unwillingly, which makes some distrust Azarketis.

Occasionally, the alghollthu programming in an Azarketi's mind triggers. Most descend into insanity and turn to worshipping the false gods of insanity, but the most self-aware ones realise its true nature and embrace their roles as alghollthu servants known as awakened agents, who gather data on the surface and influence fellow Azarketis to carry out their masters' agenda. Many lead mystery cults of 'the old ones' or 'newly risen ocean spirits', whose members never know the truth about their patron. Some awakened agents are nearly insane, while others view their acts as necessary to secure their people's position as favoured pets even if it means sacrificing the world. Awakened agents are often entrusted with powerful magic by the alghollthus.

## History

The Azarketi are descendants of Rakta's aquatic henchmen the Alghollthu, long ago they were born through ritual in a trial and error process till they were found acceptable--this is where their adaptability comes from purpose built to weed out any impurities. The Azarketi were placed in an underwater society and nursed until they could survive by themselves then the Alghollthu left them alone, some occasionally coming back to set them on the right path.

## On Cyril

The Azarketi's affinity for water and sea navigation makes them very good captains or druids for seafaring, their most common role outside of their own society in the Coral Archipelago.

In Rogataan though once united they have seen the failure of the Pyri and decided to announce their independence losing a great amount of naval power not only due to the loss of the Azarketi forces but also because they get attacked in their own waters to those way more familiar with it. Goblin inventors however have been creating extremely effective defenses against the Azarketi attacks.

## Alignment and Religion

As they are typically outsiders to the domains of surface life, azarketis tend toward deities with an affinity for the ocean or other forms of water, the most popular being Uszara. They are also likely to give reverence to other deities of nature or navigation, such as Nininnamara and Aev.

Azarketis vary wildly in beliefs and values, as evidenced by their broad divergence in allegiance; thus, azarketis can be of any alignment.

## Adventurers

Azarketi typically find themselves in a line of work based off of their region and tradition--many in Voraranu may become druids or rangers while those in the Coral Archipelago become druids or barbarians. The Rogataan Azarketi however are hostile with many of the surrounding creatures and so they become great warriors and have even delved into their ancient ancestry and learned the occult.

## Names

Azarketis often take the names of nautical, weather, or geographical features important to the azarketi's family. Other azarketi groups will choose human names in order to encourage conformity with surface cultures. Some azarketi names have been passed down through so many generations that they still use ancient Azlanti roots or refer to bodies of water that no longer exist.

### Sample Names

Aft, Aliz, Cascade, Delta, Harbor, Ilani, Inkua, Jib, Lagoon, Lobay, Marine, Tidal, Windward, Zarket

## Other Information

### Azarketi Types

Some azarketis live near the ruins of their first civilization or in the deepest trenches of the ocean and lead isolated and mysterious lives. River azarketis settle at the bases of waterfalls, or hidden away in the caves behind them. Small nomadic azarketi groups have taken to land in rainy or marshy locations, though such groups are rare.

### Fighting Spirit

Surface azarketis often keep to the margins of human society, working menial jobs or filling roles that allow them isolation when necessary. Many consequently have a chip on their shoulder and are only too eager to prove themselves in the face of skeptics. Such azarketis often take up the life of a mercenary or adventurer.

### Other Sea Creatures

Azarketis are one of many ancestries to live beneath the water's surface. They have the most contact with locathahs, humanoid fish-folk with an easygoing, friendly demeanor. Azarketis find merfolk territorial neighbors, though their shared private tendencies lead to mostly amicable relations. Together they combat their shared enemies, the monstrous but intelligent sahuagins.