Kani

Basic Information

Anatomy

Physiotypical bipedal homonid

Genetics and Reproduction

Kani reproduce sexually.  Gestation period is one year.  Females are fertile from late adolescence through mature adulthood.  Generally bear single offspring, with multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets, etc.) being increasingly rare based on the number.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infancy 0-3; Early Childhood 4-10; Middle Childhood 11-17; Late Childhood 18-25; Adolescence 26-75; Early Adulthood 76-150; Mature Adulthood 150-400; Old Age 400+;

Dietary Needs and Habits

Omnivore

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Slanted eyes and pointed ears, degree of slant and point vary.  Ears are somewhat expressive of emotional state.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The Kani emphasize the Cinneadh over the individual, so Kani names are clan-name first.  The prefix "sio'" is used to signify "child of".  Personal names are mono or disyllabic and derived from the clan name of an ancestor, so a Kani of clan Gruach whose personal name is based on an ancestor from clan Droigheann might be named Sio'Gruach Droigh or Sio'Gruach Gheann.

Major Organizations

Kani live in extended clan groups known as Cinneadh.  Cinneadh names are often based on the names of trees, animals, or other natural features prevalent in their territory, but there is no formal structure around how a new Cinneadh choses its name.  For a Cinneadh to be recognized by the Kani as a whole, it and its members must be presented before the Lorax of Kevir Weald, and its territory delineated.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The Kani maintain an oral historical tradition, with life stories maintained by naihm gulach or "story knots", being braids of knotted hair dyed and knotted in specific patterns to act as memory prompts for the tale. When an individual dies, those naihm gulach deemed most important by the Cinneadh are transcribed into story sticks that are kept by the Cinneadh. As time passes the details of those stories fade into myth, a process the Kani deem to be a proper part of the world. The idea of history being kept forever is anathema to the Kani.

Common Taboos

The Kani have a strict taboo on the old overly dominating society.  Therefore all Kani die at age 500.  The Kani have the ability to peaceably choose to stop living, and they do not consider such a choice at the end of a life to be suicide, rather a proper surrender of burdens.

History

The Kani have resided in the Teranwood of northern Crol since time immemorial.  In the distant past, there was a social schism within the Kani that led to the departure of the Ilkani, but the Kani maintain that they keep no record of that time, preferring to live in the Saoghalatha, or the "world that is".

Common Myths and Legends

The Kani hold that the spirits of those Kani who die inhabit major natural features of the world, including the trees of the Teranwood, and Kevir Weald itself.  When a Kani uses magic they are calling on those spirits to aid and protect them.

Genesys Game Stats for Starting Kani Characters

Characteristics

Brawn: 2 Agility: 3 Intellect: 2 Cunning: 2 Willpower: 2 Presence: 1
Starting Skill: Survival +1
Wound Threshold: 11 + Brawn Strain Threshold: 9 + Willpower Starting XP: 95

Special Abilities

• Environmental Adaptation (Forest) - Remove one black die from any skill checks made when in wooded environments.  If there are no black dice to remove, the player may add a blue die instead.

Lifespan

500 years maximum. Kani do not undergo the more normal age-decrepitude cycle experienced by most living things. When a Kani is tired of living they simply stop, see taboos.

Average Height

5 ' - 6' 6" tall

Average Weight

110 - 250 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Skin color ranges from a nearly blue-black to a moderate brown.  
Eye color (in increasing rarity): brown, hazel, green. grey, blue
Hair color:  Common colors are black and brown, with certain rare individuals being blond.  Kani often choose to dye braids of hair specific colors in memory of events, the dyed braids acting as story-reminders.

Species-Specific Talents

Tier One

Nature Speaker (RANKED) - Kani with this talent have a greater level of attunement with nature, and can communicate with other living things.  Living things that communicate with Kani in this manner seem to have a greater degree of sentience and awareness than normal, and pass that awareness down.  The first rank of this talent allows the Kani to speak with naturally social animals such as wolves and rabbits.  The second rank allows speech with solitary animals like bears and snakes.  The third and final rank allows speech with trees.

Tier Two

Commune with Nature - The Kani have the ability to get an understanding of what has happened in a natural environment in the recent past, including the movements of people and animals.  The player may spend two strain to add up to 2 blue dice, remove two black dice, or any combination thereof to any survival check made in a natural environment.

Tier Three

Commune with Nature (Improved) - The improved version of Commune with Nature allows the player to spend an additional two strain to upgrade a die on a survival check made in a natural environment.