Deep within the Winter Wastes and among the hidden hollows and ice caverns, the sub species of humans called the Atins survive in the coldest and harshest environment on Calera.
Indifferent to the outside world and residing in a region that remains cut off and isolated, Atins are almost completely ignored by other humans. Deeply conservative and traditional the Atins greatly enjoy this isolation and are happy to remain disconnected from modern events.
Atins are a semi nomadic people, traveling between settlements deep within the hollows in the winter, to their hunting grounds on the surface during the summer months. Unlike true nomads, the Atins build permanent settlements deep within the hollows of the Winter Wastes, these villages and settlements are only inhabited during the winter and are split between a number of purposes. Most are living spaces or simple sites for industries like pottery or bone carving, while a rare few are used only for large gatherings or religious purposes. The Atins see each settlement as a legacy, left by their ancestors for them to maintain and pass onto their children and have a deep connection to every place created by Atins in the past. Many of these places are many thousands of years old, with some of the most ancient first built 30-50 thousands years ago. Constantly and carefully repaired and rebuilt, every building is a reflection or the work someone else created in the past and anything new is deeply suspicious to an Atin.
Almost all Atins follow their own very traditional tribal structure, a headman leads the tribe as a whole, while the headwoman leads the spiritual and religious aspects of Atin life. The head man and woman are often a pair but sometimes they were chosen by the previous head man or woman for their ability alone. In exceptional circumstances the roles are reversed but Atins view such role reversal as unnatural and they never last for long. A single tribe often consists of 50 to 100 people, extended families are common but interbreeding is unheard of and Atins often travel between tribes to find partners. Atins bond with only a single partner during their considerable lifespan and never find another partner once theirs has passed away. Combined with a very lengthy pregnancy and short breeding season once a year, Atins are not a very numerous people. Thankfully, Atins never fight amongst themselves, disputes are very rare and usually solved by the head man or women who have absolute control over the tribe. During the summer months Atins will leave their winter homes to venture out onto the ice plains and tundras of the wastelands above to track and kill massive beasts like the Loras and Mamoc in great ritualistic hunts. While smaller species like the Caribou, Aurochs and Morns are hunted for food and resources in far less complicated hunting expeditions. Atins eat meat almost exclusively, and have become very good at storing meat from the beasts they hunt by smoking, salting and freezing almost all parts of the animal. Fruits and vegetables are often only eaten during the winter when meats are harder to come by.
Religion among the Atins follows only the worship of respected ancestors, those that came before are considered heroes and people of legend. As such, religion and worship is wide ranging between parents, grandparents, great grandparents, previous head men and women etc. A few notable ancestors that are of particular importance to a tribe might be a figure that accomplished a legendary deed such as slaying a Razorclaw or building a settlement. Atins also view things that have been crafted or created by ancestors to be superior in nature to anything new. Each tribe and even family contains many relics and artifacts like spears or other hunting weapons, clothing or tools that have lasted for many thousands of years. Religion is also the conduit in which the Atins connect with magic and magic users like seers and shamans are seen as living embodiments of the ancestors themselves and are treated with absolute respect. Though this belief is not entirely accurate the Atins have believed the same thing ever since they became a sentient, sapient species and refuse to listen to any evidence that contradicts their viewpoint. The seers and shamans and other such individuals within a tribe also maintain many important magical charms and effects, one of the more critalc charms a tribe might matina keeps their particular hollow lit from above and prevents it from collapsing.
Atins are brawny and dark skinned, with thick arms and barrel like chests. Most notably Atins tend to be almost completely covered in thick soft black or brown hair to help keep them insulated from the cold. Male Atins keep long beards, trimmed and twisted into shapes while the women often have elaborate braided hairstyles. Atins hair also whitens with age and while atins stay active and healthy throughout their lifespan, their hair can be a good indicator of how old any individual might be. Some of the most ancient Atins over 200 years of age turn almost completely white. Eye colour tends to to range between black, grey, brown and very rarely green. Weathered by the harsh environment in which they live, with males and female hunters often covered in scars from dangerous hunts, they are a tough, and resilient people. In takes a great deal to kill an Atin outright, and they often recover fully from massive injuries. Atins tend to dress in very rugged and practicable clothing, they favour durability and the ability to resist the cold and therefore wear hides, leathers and furs. Such clothes however are not simple pieces and the Atins are a people that value well crafted garments. Furs and leathers are often shaped and sewn into trousers and shirts and jackets with fur lined hoods. Atins speak a completely unique languages called Atish that has loud barking shouts and soft vowels depending on the subject matter, in addition males tend to be much louder and use harsher consonants while females speak much more delicately and softly.
Playing as Atins
Atins are a tall people, larger and much stronger than modern humans. This is reflected in their template below but what truly sets an Atin apart from others is their appearance and views on the world around them. Atins are incredibly slow to adapt to any change in the environment and events that happen outside the normal flow of daily life are shocking and unusual. Despite this traditional attitude, a few atins are eager to prove themselves, slaying a great beast or finding a lost relic of the past is a huge motivator for a few more adventurous individuals. It is extremely uncommon for an Atin to leave the Winter Wastes and travel south but when they do they are met with curiosity and suspicion in equal measure. Most modern humans like the Karholds or the Jaros are aware of the Atins but see them as barbarians or relics of the past, easier to manipulate and take advantage of. They are often surprised to discover that once an Atin understands the languages of others, they are sharp witted and knowledgeable about a whole host of subjects, especially regarding the Winter Wastes that they call home.Atin
Ability Score Increase Str +2, Con + 2
Size Medium
Speed 30ft
Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, 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.
Hunting Experts. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Investigation, Perception, or Stealth. And with one of the following weapons: Pike, Spear, Battleaxe or Net.
Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.
Strong Build. You are significantly stronger than most races your size. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write in Atish.
