Monkeyfolk - vanara

Monkeyfolk are inquisitive and mischievous monkey-like humanoids with short, soft fur, expressive eyes, and long, prehensile tails. Their handlike feet and agile builds serve them well in the jungle realms where most Monkeyfolk live.

Monkeyfolk were born of the monkey gods ambitious folly ages ago, to spread and applaud his mischief and to serve as blessed seekers of fortune who would draw their creator's eye to the cruelly hoarded treasure of mortal lords and immortal fiends. Such is the history of Monkeyfolk and their long survival against their many foes, from within the deep jungle lands, the mountains, and the Impossible Lands.

SUB-ETHNICITIES
Bandaagee
Lahkgyan
Ragdyan
Wajaghand

Monkeyfolk are humanoids with simian features, including a long, prehensile tail and handlike feet. They're rarely much taller than 5 feet, but they usually look smaller because of their slight, nimble builds. Monkeyfolk are covered with a thin layer of soft fur over their entire bodies. This fur can be tan, brown, or golden and rarely has spots or stripes. The hair on a Monkeyfolks head grows thicker and more luxurious; it's easy to arrange into elaborate hairstyles, and many Monkeyfolk like to do so. This hair is nearly always of the same color as the Monkeyfolk body fur, with the exception of rare “whitecape” Monkeyfolk with manes of fine, pale hair, who might be born into any Monkeyfolk family. Monkeyfolk have large, expressive eyes and mouths with blunt teeth and pointed incisors. Monkeyfolk are adults at 13 years old and usually live about 60 years.

Monkeyfolk are a varied folk who seek balance and comfort in their lives. Many are devout without being fanatics, tricksters without being malicious, daring without being foolish, and curious without being obsessive. Although aware of their deep ancestral connection to the monkey god, many Monkeyfolk feel a powerful desire to live beyond the grace of their god and his weight in their history, pursuing their own paths to enlightenment.

Although created by the monkey god, Monkeyfolk feel themselves apart from him in a way some find uncomfortable. The Monkey god is the eternal trickster with supreme recklessness yet unchanging in his immortal permanence. Though most Monkeyfolk cherish their god's mischief and feats of folly on religious holidays, they also know he shall never fade from this world or find himself reincarnated into forms other than that from which the Monkeyfolk were shaped. Yet, Monkeyfolk aren't so immutable. A Monkeyfolk must reflect on their own impermanent nature and consider its effect on their soul and their soul's quest for enlightenment. For all the mischief and daring monkey god might enjoy without consequence, Monkeyfolk know recklessness and harmful tricks can impede their personal pursuit of enlightenment. The drive toward mischief and spontaneity instilled within them by their creator is hard for many Monkeyfolk to overcome and can create a lifetime of internal turmoil. This source of conflict has colored their development as a people who seek balance and virtue.

Monkeyfolk look to the legends of heroic Monkeyfolk of the past for lessons on how to live their lives.

Monkeyfolk are tricksters who love pranks, but they temper this tendency toward mischief with good intentions and a love of their community—however they personally define that community. They're rarely agitators or troublemakers simply for the sake of causing chaos; they do so to encourage humility among the inflexible or humorless. Most Monkeyfolk are mindful of the virtues necessary to elevate their immortal souls and try to act accordingly. Monkeyfolk are thus most likely to be neutral good.