Mard

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Mardik mature faster than any other sapient race, reaching their adult height around the age of ten. The downside is that they continue to age with equal rapidity and rarely live much past fifty.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Mardik originate from the plains of central Harenik, where many of them still live in their traditional nomadic tribes. Since the Fourth Age, many of them have migrated westwards to settle in Borea or the eastern parts of Dysia.

Average Intelligence

Mardik are stereotyped as being unintelligent, and particularly as being uneducated and lacking in culture. In reality, this is true to a certain extent but only as a consequence of their shorter childhoods, which afford less time for education.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

Mardik have the greatest sexual dimorphism of any sapient species, rivalled only by the afisi. This has led to a matching disparity in the cultural roles expected of men and women: male mardik, being larger and stronger, are typically the fighters and hunters, while the women stay behind in their den and look after their children. However, these are far from set in stone, and many individual mardik buck the trend to take on a role other than the one suggested by their gender.

Common Dress Code

Traditional men's clothing makes heavy use of fur, animal teeth, and other trophies.

Common Taboos

Fire.

Genetic Descendants

• Half-Mard
• Lich

Scientific Name

Homo sapiens verendus

Lifespan

40 years

Related Ethnicities

• Lusnian

Orc

Ability Score Increase +2 Str, +1 Con

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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Darkvision. Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Aggressive. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed towards an enemy of your choice that you can see or hear.

Menacing. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages. Common, Orc