Taekataen (Tak-ah-tahn)

The Taekataen

A leaf sways in the wind. Eyes watch from the trees. Shadows move through the canopy. A deadly strike is planned. In an instant, it is over.
The Taekataen are a species of mantids that live in the Coastal Glades of Southern Karrah. They are a reclusive species that are capable of blending in with the environment in such a way that they can easily hide and move about undetected, and have additional specialized sickle-like limbs adapted to striking, cutting and grasping opponents. Their alien, insectoid appearance makes them rather disturbing to those that do not know the Taekataen. They are a highly martial species that utilize their speed to strike true.
They are an ancient people, transposed to Dunia some 30,000 years ago, during the Thinning of the Veils, a chaos particulate wild surge event that had rippling effects across Dunia's entirety. They originated in the Feywilds, and as such, are classified as Feywilders, though they do not have any powers that the Fey are known to have. They are widely distributed across The Last Strands, but in small, isolated communities. There are also quite a few found on the Saghira island chains that sit atop the Hadal Rift. Those that are island-bound are often physically smaller than their mainland counterparts.
Species Features

Subspecies

Bai-Mai - ใบไม้ (Bye-Mye) - Lit. Leaf
The Bai-Mai are masters of stealth amongst the Taekataen, choosing to blend in with whichever vegetation is present. Their overall mottled appearance breaks up their silhouette quite well, allowing for them to hide, but they can enhance their existing camouflage with dead leaves or other materials. They are capable of mimicking dead leaves with disturbing precision and are excellent hunters.
Ploi-Mai - กล้วยไม้ (Ploy-Mye) - Lit. Orchid
The Ploi-Mai Taekataen are the most secretive and the fewest in number, as most of their tropical habitat was destroyed as a result of desertification from the Karithat-Aldawi. Their society is mostly matriarchal like other Taekataen, but never had the ritualistic sacrifice that is present in the Sie-Kiyao culture. They are mostly cultivators in their respective regions, and despite being predatory, they occasionally work with the Zurotzi Koleos. Their appearance is that of colorful flowers, often resembling orchids. They are also the smallest out of the Taekataen.
Sie-Kiyao - สีเขียว (See-Keeyow) - Lit. Green
The Sie-Kiyao are among the most abundant of the Taekataen, with their habitational range stretching all the way from Balahu-Tiwa to Erimipoli. They are also among the most aggressive of the Taekataen species. They tend to stay close to the Last Strands ecoregions, given that their preferred prey also inhabit those regions. They blend in fairly well with the greenery of the remaining rainforest ecosystems and are quite adept at ambushes.
Traditionally, they are often led by the females of the groups, with the males being ritualistically sacrificed and eaten after reproducing with the tribal leader. The Sie-Kiyao are moving away from this practice, however, as their populations have been significantly diminished along with their preferred habitat.

Adaptations

Taekataen are six-limbed, but primarily stand on two legs, with their grasping limbs tucked away and folded up at their sides. These grasping limbs often double as weapons, and are covered in a dense layer of chitin, allowing for melee strikes. Sometimes these limbs are sharpened to function as stabbing implements by the Taekataen themselves. When the Taekataen sheds its exoskeleton once a year, these grasping limbs are no longer sharp or as hard, so they cannot use them as effectively in combat until the chitinous substance hardens.
Their compound eyes are well-adapted to dark conditions, as they previously lived in the undergrowth of the Feywilds, where they have a pseudopupil that appears to follow one's gaze, leading to the appearance of being stared at. The eyes themselves darken when in low light conditions, where the individual components of the compound eye dilate and the pseudopupil becomes less pronounced, allowing for greater amounts of light to be absorbed and processed. The eyes also have stereopsis functionality, allowing for a great degree of depth perception.
Most of the Taekataen have highly flexible necks, allowing them to turn their heads nearly 180 degrees, providing an incredible amount of peripheral awareness. It is almost impossible to ambush a Taekataen.
The Taektataen also have minor flight capabilities, as well, being capable of using their two sets of wings for short periods. Two of the major Taekataen species have highly colorful secondary wings that are often covered up by their primary wings. These wings allow for the Taekataen to make distractions to frighten larger predators as the Taekataen do not have any chemical defense mechanisms.
Taekataen are also capable of regrowing lost limbs when they undergo a new molt.
Thanks to their feywilds origins, they are capable of primitive magic as well. The magic is often determined by the subspecies' affinity for specific types of magic, as the Bai-Mai are capable of illusion magic, stemming from the necessity for evading Feywilds superpredators, whereas the Ploi-Mai utilize more plant-based magic, thanks to their trapping methods.

Culture

Taekataen are highly secretive overall, and do not often share their culture with most outside species. The isolation within their habitats also means that there is little outside communication and as such, Common is a secondary language to them, where they speak Khorat-Yai, an insular language only shared with the diminutive Liang-Bua. Most Taekataen are animists and do not adhere to the major gods.
Their music is also similar to the Liang-Bua's music, using a range of bells, percussion instruments, and woodwind instruments.
Taekataen families are matrilineal and are often headed by the Khon-Yai, or grand matron of the family. The Khon-Yai also acts a spiritual leader, conducting ceremonies to commune with the ancestors, guide recently deceased spirits to the afterlife, and organize elaborate displays of storytelling through dance. The Khon-Yai is most often the oldest female of the group, and if they pass on, the next oldest female is made the Khon-Yai. This is largely because the females of the Taekataen species are larger and stronger than the males, needing to be able to nourish their offspring.
When the Taekataen were plentiful in the South of Karrah, before the Karithat-Aldawi and before major hominid settlements cropped up, they would practice ritualistic cannibalism, often eating the head of the oldest patron, who was offered as a sign of subservience from one family to another. The ritual would only ever be conducted after the eldest patron had mated with the Mae-Yai, or middle mother. Its purpose was to signify the giving of life to the mother so that they may pass on strength to their children. This culture of cannibalism has become taboo as the Taekataen population as a whole has diminished significantly, and its practice has all but vanished, aside from a few powerful families.
Taekataen art is often elaborate and each carved relief tells a complex story of the family history, which is often featured in a central column or stone pillar inside their home. They most often use a motif of fire in their art, indicating power and great spirituality, while also being a cultural symbol of rebirth and regrowth.
Taekataen clothing is often colorful and loose, as it is more to indicate status than it is about bodily modesty. The concept of 'modesty' was never truly realized within Taekataen culture. There are frequently shiny or golden threads interwoven in the fabrics, which are largely plant-based textiles. This is generally in stark contrast to the combat-oriented clothing of the Taekataen's Na-Khon guerilla fighters, who were often setting up traps and ambushes to defeat invading forces.
Taekataen society is often fragmented thanks to their insular communities and lifestyle. There was only ever one queen of the Taekataen, a great conqueror of the lands, but she was stabbed to death by a jealous handmaiden, whose lover had chosen the queen over her.

Architecture

Taekataen traditional architecture often involved stilted houses that allowed for greater degrees of natural airflow, with steep roofing and large open windows. This was mostly to aid with cooling off during periods of extreme heat and humidity. During flooding, which often happened during monsoon seasons, the stilted houses survived whereas more traditional housing would be swept away thanks to hydraulic resistances pushing walls in or taking an entire structure with it. This also kept the Taekataen safe from predators below. Other construction methods employed by the Taekataen involved tree-based structures that would envelop the trunk, with tall observation towers leading up through the canopy to spot hostile threats from above.
These houses are often given frequent animal motifs and decorative structures carved from wood. As habitat has been devastated by hominid incursion and ecological collapse, wood is falling out of favor in construction in favor of stone.
Taekataen have not adopted newer construction techniques otherwise, as they often stick to traditional construction.

Technology

Taekataen technological contributions are mostly from antiquity, where lacquered armor and steel reigned supreme over warfare. The Taekataen do know how to make firearms and alloys, but do not utilize them as widely as other species. They did, however, become quite adept at altering existing pieces of technology and techniques to suit their own. They eventually developed limited weapons-manufacturing thanks to collaboration with the highly inventive Liang-Bua, but this came from necessity rather than other motives.
Another contribution that the Taekataen made are actually bio-polymers derived from naturally-occurring materials, which by extension are biodegradable.
Travel was facilitated largely by gliders as the tree canopy and undergrowth was too dense in the Last Strands for them to effectively move with vehicles, so platform-style postings and magecraft gliders are used to traverse between distant Taekataen settlements as their wings cannot support extended flight.
They do not often employ modern equipment, but will do so when necessary.

Unique Vehicles

Khreung-Ran - Folding Sail
Description
The Khreung-Ran is a magecraft glider with four wings that alternate their movement to generate lift and forward propulsion, much like a dragonfly. Its main drive mechanism is a magecraft flywheel and belt, and it is capable of folding up into a very compact form, capable of being carried on one's person. To make the Khreung-Ran flight-capable, they use a resin derived from their moltings to create a high tensile strength, ultra-lightweight lacquer for the paper-thin silk used for the wings, strengthening and hardening the surface to create a viable airfoil. Its maximum flight distance is only limited by the single occupant's ability to stay awake and keep producing power for the magecraft device. The Khreung-Ran's flight is nearly silent thanks to its engineered trailing edge, meant to minimize turbulence. It is also capable of hovering in place for short periods by rotating the axles of the wings. Its coloration is often derived from local flora, lending most gliders a primarily green, translucent sheen. Its main drawback is that it is mechanically complex and is fragile, however.

Unique Weaponry

Daab-Song-Mue - ดาบสองมือ
Description
A two-bladed discipline using the Daab, a cutlass-like sword, where the blades are used together to close distance disadvantages while guarding. The blades can be used to block, parry, and disarm, as well as make thrusting attacks. The Daab Song Mue method always incorporates both blades.
Pun-Khem T-49 Chem-Dart Binary Rifle - ปืนเข็ม
Description
A dart-based acid delivery system designed for stealth purposes. The weapon is integrally suppressed and uses two very long barrels. The length is to ensure gas compression allows for high velocities, but subsonic delivery. It boasts longer range than other dart rifles and is sometimes used to deliver drugs or other sedatives. One combination of ammunition that can be delivered is a chemical dart that can cause an intravenous explosion when both chemicals enter the bloodstream and come into contact with one another. It's a nasty method of assassination.

Species Features

Ability Score Increase (May be moved to backgrounds)
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and you have the choice of increasing one of the following by 1: Strength, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.
Age
Taekataen go through a nymph stage and reach adulthood later than Humans. Thanks to their feywilds origins, they can live anywhere from 150 to 600 years.
Size
Taekataen are between 6 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 125 and 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed equal to your movement and can hang on ceilings.
Darkvision
As a Taekataen, your ancestry is that of nocturnal ambush predators. 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.
Naturally Camouflaged
As a Taekataen, you blend in well with lush environments. When in a rainforest, grassland, or otherwise forested region, you have advantage on Stealth checks.
While in initiative, you double your Proficiency Bonus to Stealth checks in these regions if you have not moved more than half your movement speed in a turn.
Limited Flight
While not wearing Heavy or Superheavy armor, as a Taekataen you can fly a distance of 45 feet at a time, a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Short Rest as a Free Action. This is considered part of your movement. At the end of the 45 feet, you must land. Once you have used this Limited Flight, you must wait until the start of your next turn before you can use it again.
This limited flight allows you to automatically succeed checks to board other vehicles.
If you are falling, you can use their reaction to slow your descent with your wings and prevent falling damage. You can also glide, moving 15 feet for every 5 feet you fall, regardless of worn armor type.
When you reach 5th level, you can fly a distance of 60 feet at a time.
Adept Grappler
After successfully making a melee attack, the Taekataen can, as a Bonus Action, make a grapple attempt with their scythe-like forelimbs. While an enemy is grappled, they can stab with their forelimbs twice as a Bonus Action, dealing 1d6 + Strength or Dexterity modifier (whichever is higher) in Piercing damage for each successful attack. These attacks ignore the grappled opponent's armor grade.
Uncanny Articulation
As a Taekataen, your head can turn 180 degrees, allowing you to look behind yourself. You have advantage on Perception checks versus ambushes and cannot be surprised.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write common and one other language of your choice.

Subspecies Features

Bai-Mai: Frightener Pattern
As a Bai-Mai, your wings have the ability to create a frightening pattern which makes you appear much larger and more threatening than you otherwise would be.
Make an intimidation check as a Bonus Action with advantage by extending your wings to create a threatening appearance. Hostile targets within 45 feet that can see you must make a Wisdom saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + Your Proficiency Bonus + Your Charisma or Spellcasting Modifier, or be Frightened until the end of your next turn.
Frightened targets will have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks and cannot willingly move closer to the source of their fear.
This ability can be used a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per long rest.
Bai-Mai: Illusory Spellcraft
At 1st level, you know the Minor Illusion cantrip, at 3rd level, you can cast Disguise Self twice per Long Rest, and at 5th level, you can cast Pass Without Trace once per Long Rest. You use your Wisdom modifier for these spells, otherwise, if you can cast spells, you use your Spellcasting modifier. Casting these spells does not raise your volatility as they are innate magic.
Ploi-Mai: Brilliant Dance
As a Ploi-Mai Taekataen, you can dazzle your opponents with your colorful and vibrant appearance as a Bonus Action, mesmerizing them in the process. Targets within 45 feet of you must make a Charisma saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + Your Proficiency Bonus + Your Charisma modifier or Spellcasting Modifier (whichever is higher) or be Charmed until the end of your next turn.
You have Advantage on grapple checks against Charmed targets affected by this ability. This ability can be performed a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest.
Ploi-Mai: Plant Magic
At 1st level, you know the Lashing Vines cantrip, at 3rd level, you can cast Entangle twice per Long Rest, and at 5th level, you can cast Spike Growth once per Long Rest. You use your Charisma modifier for these spells, otherwise, if you can cast spells, you use your Spellcasting modifier. Casting these spells does not raise your volatility as they are innate magic.
Sie-Kiyao: Leaping Blades
As a Sie-Kiyao Taekataen, you can leap at a hostile target within 30 feet without spending your movement as a Bonus Action, by using your wings.
If you make a successful melee attack after performing this leap, you can make a free follow up attack with your bladed arms, once per turn, dealing Piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (whichever is higher) and apply the Hemhorraging effect, dealing an additional 1d4 Bleed damage if the target fails a Constitution saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your attack's Ability Modifier. The attack will always ignore armor.
You can perform this maneuver once per turn a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest.
The number of free attacks you may make with the Leaping Blades maneuver improves to 2 once you reach 5th level, and again to 3 at 10th level. Extra attacks from Leaping Blades have additional chances to apply the Hemorrhaging effect.
Sie-Kiyao: Martial Excellence
As a Sie-Kiyao Taekataen, you are proficient with all Martial Melee Weapons.
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