Sphinxari

The Sphinxari are a feline race from the desolate deserts of Carthus on Naphus. With natural agility and heightened senses, they are well-suited to their harsh homeland. Descended from tribal desert wanderers, the Sphinxari are adept hunters, survivalists, and spiritualists, possessing a deep reverence for the desert they call home. Many of them still adhere to the ancient ways of the Path of the Eternal Sand, a faith that guides them in a world where life and survival are hard-earned treasures.

Sphinxari Traits

Sphinxari share the following traits, reflecting their unique physiology and culture.

Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age: Sphinxari reach maturity around the age of 15 and typically live to be around 70 years old, though some rare individuals who follow strict spiritual practices may live longer.

Alignment: Though individuals vary, Sphinxari tend toward neutrality, embodying the balance of life and death, survival and loss, inherent to the desert. Many are practical and pragmatic, focused on survival, while others are fiercely loyal to their tribes or chosen causes.

Size: Sphinxari stand between 5 and 6 feet tall, with slender, agile builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Natural Hunters

Sphinxari possess heightened senses that make them exceptional hunters, trackers, and scouts. Their keen vision, even in dim conditions, allows them to detect movement and subtle shifts in their environment, and their retractable claws give them advantages in climbing and stealth.

Darkvision: Accustomed to hunting in the cooler desert nights, 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.

Feline Agility: Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.

Survivor’s Instincts: Living in the desert has honed your awareness of natural resources and dangers. You have proficiency in the Perception skill and one of your choice: Stealth or Survival.

Claws: Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, also called Namuwah (na-MOO-watt). It sounds similar to Arabic on Earth and is a language rich with symbols, sounds, and expressions drawn from the desert’s rhythms. Some words are only spoken under specific conditions, while others are conveyed through subtle changes in vocal tone, a practice inherited from the ancient tribes of Carthus. You also learn one additional language of your choice.

Sphinxari Names

Sphinxari names often reflect aspects of the desert, with sounds that carry in the wind. Names may be poetic or descriptive, referencing the stars, the sand, or revered animals. Sphinxari names are typically given at birth and often change after major life events or rites of passage, marking significant stages in one’s life.

Male Names: Akhar, Karith, Sha’tael, Zauric, Nir’azeth, Tal’nar

Female Names: Miri’sha, Zhara, Ahlith, Suna, Kaela, Lira’nar

Surnames: Instead of family names, Sphinxari are often known by titles earned through deeds, such as “Windwalker,” “Sandstrider,” or “Seeker of Sha’nar.” These titles are sacred and may change throughout life, a mark of both status and identity.