Marleek

Aware, Perceptive, and Bonded

When the various races of the Embodied Gods became too much for the Guardians to track on their own, they made the marleek to watch for them. They were designed to be sharp in all senses, with fast bodies to relay the message. It is believed that they helped spur the rebellions. When first seeing the mortals resist divine orders, they shared them among their kin, and then among their bond-kin. When the A'Yap fought the first guardians, the marleek stood bravely beside them, and told the other races that now was the time.

— Accumulated Lore of The Ages by Sinsorious Shakadai

Known for their keen senses, the marleek are said to have nothing escape their senses. While this is a slight exaggeration, there is truth to this. Their large eyes see in all shade of light and can pick up even the faintest hints of them, their ears can shift and pinpoint sounds from miles, their nose is comparable to many predators, and even their horns are specially attuned to magical fields.
From their origin, the marleek have always followed the footsteps of other races. They are tight-night with their own communities, but prefer to work alongside others over dominating them. Enjoying robust social lives, most have dozens of intimate friends and hold hundreds still as good companions. When new cycles begin, they have always been witnessed standing the vanguard of groups, seeking to expand their communities and contact lost tribes.
Their kinship with others allows them to build strong bonds fairly quickly. Though individuality exists, they find the most comfort in being part of groups. Marleek groups themselves are common, but many hold multiple such commitments, and may be a part of multiple large organizations, when feasible. Many even moonlight with other organizations, a possibility due to their unique anatomy.
Marleek, as a scout race, were designed to be ever watchful. Along with extraordinary perception capabilities, they have other natural abilities that aid them. Their bodies are energy efficient, able to long long periods without sleep. Most only sleep every second or third day, doing so for only slightly longer than human. When awake, they move relatively little. Fidgeting and Nervous Ticks simply don't exist within their race. Even their skin and fur can shift it's shade, though not it's color.
Many young marleek's experience a strong wanderlust that is at odds with their communal desires. When other parties are not available, often they bunch in small groups and set out together, eager to forge new friendships and see the world. Not particularly interest in the material aspects as many races, their goals are often more about bonding with new people in new places. Between their social desires and need to explore, there are few places in the world untouched by marleeks.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Narrow and tall, many marleek look somewhat fragile in their thin form. They are built with a sleek form that leaves them few natural body curves, male and female alike, and arms nearly the length of their legs. From their back, the spine ends in a short tail that trails to the back of their knees. The tail is strong but slender, used for balance but unable to support them. Their hand and feet are generally humanoid, though longer than the other races. The toes in particular are strong and thick, resembling a dragronborns toes in shape, though they only move digitgrade when running.
While humanoid in shape, their heads have a natural smoothness that appears almost mask like to many. A small chin and mouth will suddenly expand out to a wide cheeks and upper skull; resembling an upside down teardrop, if more angular. Their noses are little more than a raised bump with long nostril slits, naturally wet to sense the air but only vaguely darker than the surrounding skin. Large eyes shaped oddly far apart give them a massive range of view. Almond shape, they are somewhat elven in shape but are often fully black, with only hints of blue or green, if any color at all. On the tops of their head are a pair of long ears, similar to fox or cat ears pulled long, and two large horns sprouting straight up and forming a gentle curve toward one another.
Their bodies can appear nude from the front but are actually covered with a soft, fine fur across their entirety. Along their heads and backs, the fur is thicker and obvious from a distance. Starting between their horns and moving backward, the fur covers all parts of their back, including the back of the arms and legs. Skin hues tend to be darker shades of brown, but may be lighter with red tints. Their fur is similar in color, often with natural highlights. The shade of their skin and fur can brighten or darken, depending on mood and location.

Variations Of Form and Gender

Between men and women, the Marleek are mammalian and have the expected sexual aspects of their biology, but they have far fewer differences between the two than other races tend to have. Both genders are lithe, but females have thinner and shorter tails. Female horns also tend to be smaller, though their ears can be slightly larger than the male counterparts. If the Marleek is wearing garb that covers their body, the average non-Marleek may have trouble guessing a Marleeks physical sex.
Color shades, while often shades of brown, have been seen in more red and blonde hues in the past. The eyes too, can have brighter colors, but these colors only affect the iris, giving a strange black-color-black gradient to the onlookers.
Some Marleek have been seen to have thicker fingers and toes, its has been observed that these Marleek tend to walk digitgrade, with reports that some have even fallen onto their thicker fingers and run like a quadruped. These are exceedingly rare however.
The horns, while generally pointing skyward with a smooth and gentle curve as to make an oval shape between, have seen a wide variety in shape. Generally they keep this same generalized shape, but many will have horns more forward facing, or with a more sharp angle. Some mutations have resulted in horns with a split at the tip or even a few with uneven horns. This shape does not vary is widely as a Tiefling's horns may, but can display a wide variation.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Of the traditional senses, marleeks are considered the best. Their eyes can see well even on a new moon, and can pick up a wider range of colors and lights than most species. A thin membrane can be closed to protect their eyes in brighter light, preventing them from being blinded. This lid can also be used to filter distracting spectrums.
Their ears can hear normal ranges, but can easily pinpoint noises with their ability to twist and turn them. The sensitivity is greater, allowing a further field of hearing than most mortals. It isn't uncommon for a marleek to keep their ears back and down to dull their hearing in crowded areas, or even to wear a hat covering their ears.
Smell is amplified, but not overly exceptional. They can pick up differing scents in a room but are not generally able to track with them. Their noses are sensitive enough to guess a general direction with a decent accuracy, but it is not a reliable method.
On their heads, the horns are packed with nerves that can sense changes in magical energy. Largely used to sense runes and enchantments, it can give them a sense of incoming magical fields or even if a source of magical power is draining.

Playing in a Setting

Physically, they excel at ranged or fast combat styles. Their lighter builds make them less adapt at physical combat than many other races. Socially, they will fill any slot they can, as long as they can be with others. Many chose classes that can support the group. They are nearly always lookouts for their groups.
D&D 5e

Marleek

Ability Score Increase +2 Wis, +1 Dex

Size Medium

Speed 40ft.

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Greater Darkvision: You can see up to 60ft. in dim light as if it were bright light. You can see in darkness as if it were dim light.
Keen Senses: You are proficient in the Perception Skill.
Ever Aware: You have +5 to your Passive Perception.
Aura Awareness: You can use Detect Magic as a standard action twice a day. Recover one of these uses on a long rest.
Scout Ancestry: You only need to sleep every other day. On days you do not require sleep, you must still perform 8 hours for a long rest, but only need to meditate for 1 hour of this, remaining aware but not performing any activities. You can perform light activity, such as guard duty, for the remaining 7 hours.

Languages. Regional and one of your choice.

Pathfinder

Ability Scores: +2 to Dexterity and Wisdom, -2 to Constitution
Alignment: Any. Seldom Chaotic.
Size: Medium
Type:Humanoid with Marleek Subtype
Speed: 40ft.
Language:Common
Additional Languages: Dwarvish, Elven, Gnome, Draconic, and Undercommon
Racial Traits:

Feat and Skill Traits

Skilled: Marleek gain a +4 to Perception checks.

Movement Racial Trait

Fast Movement: Marleek are light footed and move incredibly fast, gaining a +10 to their base speed (already included above).

Magical Racial Traits

Spell-Like Ability (Sp) Marleek can use Greater Detect Magic 2/day (caster level equal to half the marleek's level).

Fate

Must have "Notice" as a +2 Skill or higher.
Physique may not go above a +2.
Take one of the Aspects below as a Bonus Aspect, they can be lightly modified:

• Unable not to be aware of everything
• Magical fields tickle my senses
• Frail form but light on my feet
• I need to be around others
• Friends are life, my life for friends
• Hyperalert and hypersensitive

Origin/Ancestry

Created by the Guardians

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

6' - 8'

Average Weight

120 lbs - 180 lbs.

Cycles Available
Any After Divinity

Locations Available
Any unless stated otherwise

Restrictions:
None