Chalkydri

##### [Thri-Kreen Reskin]

The **chalkydri** are a people of mysterious primordial descent with one of the most striking and wild appearances throughout Kara-Tur. Their varying intense visages, coupled with the nomadic lifestyle of their kind, has resulted in all sorts of terrifying and reverent tales about them, reigning superstition and mistrust. Due to these, the chalkydri are perhaps one of the most misunderstood and unknown people by the standards of other races, and very few can claim to have ever met a chalkydri, let alone two that look the same.

Being nomads, chalkydri often live in isolated groups, known as “Thunders”, and each group has vastly different appearances from one another. The number of wing or tail-like depictions each individual chalkydri has can vary from Thunder to Thunder, and even within each Thunder there are several variations. Due to their sunburnt appearance, chalkydri have fostered a unique relationship to the sun, with some viewing it to be their greatest enemy, responsible for scarring their bodies forever. Others see this burnt appearance to be a sign that the sun has blessed their bodies, and have a more reverent view on it. Regardless, the chalkydri sing their songs about the sun, in both a negative and positive light, as they undoubtedly believe that they have some connection to it.

Aside from their chequered relationship with the sun, chalkydri also have an innate fascination and love for the elements. Depending on their region of birth, different chalkydri hold different elements as their favourite, often seeking to embody and develop this connection further. Usually, the stronger the chalkydri, the greater display of elemental adeptness they tend to possess. For example, frost could coat the wings of one chalkydri, while flames or arcs of lightning could be seen from another. Each Thunder holds their own elements in great pride, and hold unique ceremonies and traditions to honour their respective affinities.

A prominent cause for the rampant rumours and misunderstandings of the chalkydri is their unique methods of communication. They speak primordial and its dialects perfectly fine, even to an artistic degree, but due to their physical limitations other languages are only able to be transmitted via their chimeric calls telepathy, often making others uncomfortable or confused, and causing friction throughout negotiations or idle conversation where the primordial language doesn't suffice. In spite of this, many chalkydri look to break this genetic barrier, seeking out magical means to be better understood, recognising that communication is a necessary step to be able to learn or adopt from other cultures, and be better able to share their own culture which they hold great pride for. One race they do often interact with, however, are the sixiang, due to their shared language and similar connection to the elements. Often times, sixiang connected to the same element as a thunder are welcomed in as honoured guests, and are able to experience the chalkydri culture first-hand.

## Chameleon Carapace Feature Reflavour: Colourful Camoflauge

While you aren’t wearing armor, your hide gives you a base Armor Class of 13 + your Dexterity modifier. As an action, you can change the color of your feathers, hairs, fur, or hide to match the color and texture of your surroundings, giving you advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in those surroundings. You can revert to your original colors as a free action.

## Thri-Kreen Telepathy Feature Reflavour: Chimeric Call

Without the assistance of magic, you can’t speak the non-primordial languages you know. Instead you use telepathy to convey your thoughts. You have the magical ability to transmit your thoughts mentally to willing creatures within 120 feet of yourself. A contacted creature doesn’t need to share a language with you to understand your thoughts, but it must be able to understand at least one language. Your telepathic link to a creature is broken if you and the creature move more than 120 feet apart, if either of you is incapacitated, or if either of you mentally breaks the contact (no action required).

## Appearance

Chalkydri are multi-coloured monstrous amalgamations of various animalistic traits, spanning any number of two to twelve wing or tail-like depictions. Their hides are dense, and their forms often appear charred beneath sunlight. Two of these wing or tail-like depictions are often treated as the secondary arms for a chalkydri. Chalkydri eyelids are designed to simulate either blackened ash or a majestic decoration, and do not hinder the perception of the chalkydri while they are conscious.

## Age

The estimated lifespan of each chalkydri is calculated by the amount of wing or tail-like depictions they have accumulated by the maturity age of 16 loosely multiplied by 40 years. Some chalkydri bring form to more of these appendages by the experienced age of 32 from further growing their spirit, expanding the life energy capable of being contained within their vessels.