Khenra
Last of the Sa'avian Experiments
The Khenra are a powerful group of desert warriors who were originally created by The Sa'Avi through their mysterious experimentations with Spellfire at some point before their final destruction ... But centuries after their disappearance, however, the Khenra remain highly ostracized and feared by the other sophonts of Saleh'Alire, and are considered no better than mere slaves- though few would dare attempt to actually enslave them like they do many of the other Beastly and Flawed Races of the Material Plane.
Geographic Distribution
Khenra enclave cities are found all across the western portions of Tolara's Talaina'Vao region, and into the central areas; they tend to favor climates that are hot and dry, with only mild Cold seasons. As a result, they rarely venture too far north (too cold), or too far south (too humid)- preferring instead to stay close to the desert and plains regions. They can often be found living alongside the Enethian Humans deep within the Chisisi Desert- though not so far as the Gahiji Mountains or Rei Anhur. Some, however, can be found in the Lesser Phorian Plains, and in Rasha-Ui; it's rare to find them as far north as the Greater Phorian Plains- and even rarer, as far south as the Nisaba Pass.Physiology & Appearance
Looking at a Khenra, it's clear that the base inspiration for their progenitors were the Jackals that once roamed Tolara's deserts. How The Sa'Avi came to create the Khenra (and the other Beastly Races), however, is still as of yet unknown. Agile and dexterous creatures by nature, Khenra bodies are long and slender. The overall lithe nature of their bodies, however, is offset by stocky, top heavy features of dense and powerful muscle. Their bodies are covered in a sleek, dense, short hair that ranged from black to dark brown- and sometimes as light as Honey Gold- all with a similar oilslick sheen to it. Faces are pointed and angular, with a long sharp snout and thin eyes; eye colors themselves are limited- ranging mostly from bright Gold to Honey or Amber, and the occasional deep brown.Lifecycle & Lifespan
Pregnancies are both common and numerous among the Khenra, with children being highly prized and often running rampant around their enclaves; each pregnancy produces 1 to 2 children, and gestation lasts approximately 6 months each time.
Common Hair Colors
Common Eye Colors
Common Skin Tones
The Khenra are perhaps most unusual because of their fertility, however; except in incredibly rare cases, nearly all Khenra are born as identical twins. From birth, each of these twin pairs forms an extremely close emotional (and perhaps even spiritual) bond that rivals those of bonds found in any other society.
Should one twin die, though, it causes a tremendous shock to the survivor that most often devastates them; some become suicidal without their sibling around to balance them. Others go berserk, becoming hyper-aggressive and even unhinged ... There are rare Khenra who are born without twins at all, however. Believed to have murdered their sibling in the womb, they display a ruthless aggressiveness that remains untempered by the bonds shared by others- though not nearly as much so when compared to those who have lost their twins through other means after birth.
Should the Twins survive, though, children are typically considered of age at 16 years of age. By 18 they are expected to be fully integrated into their community and its traditions, and even Mate Bonded- and hopefully on their way to producing their first set of twins themselves. If the Fates and Ancestors are kindly, they'll produce many more in their lifetime- which will, sadly, likely be short; while Khenra can live to be approximately 100 years, they rarely actually live that long. Because of their warfaring culture, violent deaths are common- leaving the average age closer to approximately 50 or 60 instead.
Special Abilities
The litheness of Khenran frames allows them to move slightly faster than other races, and duck gracefully in and out of attacks in battle. They naturally excel at cooperating with their siblings due to their Twin Bonds, as well. As a result, Khenra tag-team fighters are not only the norm, but are rightly feared for their lethality; their strong, instinctual connection means many bonded twins move as one- while their combination of lithe agility and powerful top builds provide a power and grace unmatched by most ... Making them absolutely brutal (yet awe inspiring) whirlwinds of death to contend with on the battlefields the Khenra so enjoy. This tag team style of battle often appears as an unorganized and brutal hack and slash to most. Beneath the efficient brutality of it, though, Khenra battle techniques are surprisingly sophisticated, analytical, and tactical in nature. In many cases, Khenra also prefer to take prisoners as opposed to killing everyone- a fate considered far worse than death by some races who are all too familiar with the ways the Khenra treat these prisoners of war.Culture & Society
Two major bonds form the backbone of the entirety of Khenran society: The Twin Bond, and the Mate Bond; the odd nature of twins among the Khenra- as well as their strong bonds and the fact that their severance has strong psychological effects on the survivors- has created a staunch belief that Khenra always belong in pairs. This had resulted in the practice of monogamous, lifelong mate bonding (or, what most cultures would commonly call marriage). Khenra society also follows an incredibly strict hierarchy based on many factors which stem from these two bonds, and results in a Caste Structure into which all Khenra are sorted. The final result of this structure places Mate Bonded pairs with living twins at the top, followed by individuals with living twins who remain unbonded to a mate. Mate bonded pairs with one of more deceased Twins rank in the middle socially- whereas those with deceased twins and no mates rank in the lower castes. Those born without Twins at all, however, exist outside of society on the lowest rung of the hierarchy. This organization is far from being a fixed or immovable thing, however, and is in constant revolution as Khenra die. Still, it's strictly adhered to and dictates everything from who one is socially allowed to marry, to who it's acceptable to interact with and how. For instance, those with living twin bonds can only mate bond with others with living twins- and those whose twins have died are only allowed to mate bond with those whose twins are also deceased (though these rules only apply up to the time when the mate bonding occurs due to the nature of Khenra mate bonding). By contrast, those born without twins at all are universally considered untouchables and are neither allowed to interact with others, nor marry. The exception to any inheritance and interaction rules remains the twins and their families; due to the close bonds shared by Twins, the Khenra consider the family unit (an especially their Twins) the most important element of life. Because of this, Twins tend to share a household throughout the entirety of their lifetimes- marrying, birthing, and parenting their families beneath the same roof. If one twin should die at any point, any children they had are adopted by the surviving twin and raised as their own children. Their spouse is also adopted and becomes an adult child of the surviving twin- allowing both the spouse and their children to maintain their social status (and even double any potential inheritance they may receive later).Magic & Religion
Religiously the Khenra worship a set of triplets who, collectively, are known simply as Nabua- or The Fates. Each one of these Fates rules over a different aspect of life: Warfare (Atsi-Aya), Family (Mansal), and General Life (Tuana-Ani). These Fates are petitioned to through prayer and offerings in order to sway their hand in the matters over which they preside. In addition to the Fates, they also give regular offerings to the Hariha Nakhet- or the Blessed Ancestors who fell in battle, in the hope they may have a good death in battle themselves. In regards to magic, life in the desert is harsh and unforgiving. For this reason, the Khenra have no taboos against magic and openly embrace it (something which makes their desert neighbors the Enethi, especially, incredibly uncomfortable and distrusting of them magic centered around the desert, water, and warfare are the most commonly learned- with personal magics being considered more important than those centered around the community.Housing & Architecture
Despite living alongside the Enethi, the Khenra build far more frequently than they do- and decorate far more often. Many of them, too, have large properties with significant portions set aside for the cultivation of hot climate fruit trees. In general they prefer building large but simple open structures made of sandstone, that are well decorated. This is often done through intricate carvings around archways and window frames. And if one were to step into such a structure, they'd find a large, spacious room subdivided by standing metal screens of precious Gold and gems, with an open hearth at its center. When decorated, these Khenran structures are often filled with bright woven fabrics- usually featuring banded geometric patterns in bright shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, and gold- fashioned into floor cushions of various sizes and shapes. Small couches and stools can also be found- though these are rare and usually reserved for those few who manage to live past the median age of 60.Food & Cuisine
Khenran cuisine is eaten with the fingers without utensils, and tends to be more simplistic when compared to the ornateness found in their architecture and decoration; it focuses on hunting and major animal domestication, supplemented by their hot climate fruit orchards. Few ingredients are often used, but the dishes are still rich in flavor- achieved through strong spices and varied cooking methods. This means their cuisine frequently utilizes simple meats such as rabbit, bird, game animals, and domestic stock as staples in foundational means. Legumes (such as beans, peas, and lentils) and Fruits (such as Figs, Dates, Persimmons, Mangos, and Citrus), on the other hand, are often used in side dishes and stuffings. Despite the low complexity of their ingredients, a wide range of spices are used- from Cumin, Curry, and various Peppers (both hot and mild), to Saffron, Tarragon, and Cardamom. Many dishes also use multiple cooking methods- such as slow roasting then broiling- giving rise to a cuisine full of rich dishes with complex flavors.Art & Leisure
Beauty Ideals
The traditional clothing of the Khenra falls somewhere in between the ornateness of their architecture, and the simply richness of their cuisine; for everyday wear they tend to favor light, loosely woven fabrics in subdued colors such as cream, white, or grey. These are often accent by shawls, scarves, belts, and other outer clothing in the more typical warm colors and geometric designs- though they're typically made from the same lose woven materials as their foundation garments. In battle, however, the clothes are different. Here, the Khenra prefer sturdy leather armor worn over thickly woven fabrics which offer solid protection while obscuring their bodies from their enemies. Both in battle and outside of it, one form of physical ornamentation remains constant: The presence of heavy amounts of body paint and jewelry; jewelry itself is typically made from gold with ornate, geometric filigree-like designs, and set with precious stones in favored colors. Typical pieces include bracelets, anklets, and necklaces, but facial piercings are also common- as well as waist chains for unmarried females and males both.Traditions & Taboos
The Khenra, though decidedly advanced compared to some of the other Beast Races, are staunch traditionalists who value their cultural traditions. While they're not isolationists, most emphasize the need to not only conform to their cultural principles and practices, but also protect them from outside influence; regardless of whether or not they choose to join mixed sophontic societies, they maintain a staunch belief that cultural blending or change of any sort is a moral affront, and will do everything in their power to avoid it.
One tradition is valued above all else among the Khenra: Quick, decisive, and all too often brutal warfare.
All Khenra share a deep love of combat- devoting themselves to honing their physical strength and resilience, as well as their weapons training, with a particular intensity and zeal unmatched by any other Sophont. This is especially reflected in the traditional Khenra coming of age ceremonies, which come in two forms depending on whether or not the children maintain a twin bond:
Those born without twins are denied any form of coming of age ceremony by their culture, and are forever considered children- one reason of many behind why they are not socially permitted to marry or join in battle.
Assem Biti
When a Khenra child with a living twin turns 11, they are removed from their household and taken to small camps on the outskirts of their communities. They stay in these camps until their 16th year learning the various traditional skills, practices, and fighting styles of their culture; their final night in the camp is marked with a celebration of singing, dancing, and feasting where the young Khenra are finally allowed to mark themselves with traditional body paints of their culture- marking themselves as fully legal adults who are finally eligible for marriage, parenthood, and even battle.
Assem Bifa
Khenra children without a living twin are taken to similar camps when they turn 11, and also remain there until their 16th year. They, too, spend their time learning the various traditional skills and practices of their culture. Unlike twin pairs, however, they're not allowed to learn their cultural fighting styles. Their final night in the camp is marked with a celebration of singing, dancing, and feasting as well, but these celebrations carry a much more somber undertone; during the marking ceremony, those with deceased twins are only allowed to mark half their body- a recognition of the twin who perished, as well as their incomplete standing and limited rights in Khenra society.
▼ Playing A Khenra in Saleh'Alire ▼
Khenra follow strict traditions in all areas of society- including their naming conventions, and the differences between male and female names; with light modification, Babalonian, Modern Egyptian, Ancient Egyptian, and Moorish names are all consistent with the world's naming conventions- or you may come up with your own. Professions.
Because of their cultural emphasis on Warfare, Orcs often make highly skilled Fighters, Rogues, and other Martial Types. Their willingness to accept magic, and to travel outside of their Enclaves, too, means some occasionally make powerful Wizards- especially when there's no Twin to hold them back; when picking a class for your Khenra, consider how their culture would have impacted their class choice as an adventurer. Leaving the Fold.
Every Khenra has a Twin- and every Khenra is expected to make the Mate Bond. These two things for the entire backbone of Khenran belief, ritual, society, and even social hierarchy. Their unwillingness, too, to mingle too closely with outsiders also has many effects ... Consider what would make your Khenra walk leave the enclave (and potentially their Twin- or their Spouse and family) behind to join the wider world. And how will they react to outsiders once finally immersed in it.
Ability Score Increase
Dexterity +2, Strength +1 Size. Medium
Speed. 35 ft Languages. Common, Khenran. Khenra Weapons Training. You have proficiency with the Scimitar, Spear, Javelin, and Khopesh (a type of hand scythe favored by the Khenra). Darkvision. 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. Bond of Twins. If there is another Khenra in your group and that Khenra is your twin, once per day you may activate your Twin Bond. While active, as long as you are within sight of your Twin, your movement speeds increase by 10 feet and you each gain temporary hitpoints equal to half your levels combined, rounded down. This ability lasts for one hour. Earthshaker. You know the Mold Earth Cantrip. Additionally, at 5th level you can cast Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp at 2nd level once per long rest. Strength or Dexterity (your choice) is your spellcasting ability.
Names.
Dexterity +2, Strength +1 Size. Medium
Speed. 35 ft Languages. Common, Khenran. Khenra Weapons Training. You have proficiency with the Scimitar, Spear, Javelin, and Khopesh (a type of hand scythe favored by the Khenra). Darkvision. 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. Bond of Twins. If there is another Khenra in your group and that Khenra is your twin, once per day you may activate your Twin Bond. While active, as long as you are within sight of your Twin, your movement speeds increase by 10 feet and you each gain temporary hitpoints equal to half your levels combined, rounded down. This ability lasts for one hour. Earthshaker. You know the Mold Earth Cantrip. Additionally, at 5th level you can cast Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp at 2nd level once per long rest. Strength or Dexterity (your choice) is your spellcasting ability.
Khenra follow strict traditions in all areas of society- including their naming conventions, and the differences between male and female names; with light modification, Babalonian, Modern Egyptian, Ancient Egyptian, and Moorish names are all consistent with the world's naming conventions- or you may come up with your own. Professions.
Because of their cultural emphasis on Warfare, Orcs often make highly skilled Fighters, Rogues, and other Martial Types. Their willingness to accept magic, and to travel outside of their Enclaves, too, means some occasionally make powerful Wizards- especially when there's no Twin to hold them back; when picking a class for your Khenra, consider how their culture would have impacted their class choice as an adventurer. Leaving the Fold.
Every Khenra has a Twin- and every Khenra is expected to make the Mate Bond. These two things for the entire backbone of Khenran belief, ritual, society, and even social hierarchy. Their unwillingness, too, to mingle too closely with outsiders also has many effects ... Consider what would make your Khenra walk leave the enclave (and potentially their Twin- or their Spouse and family) behind to join the wider world. And how will they react to outsiders once finally immersed in it.
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