The Primordial Kin
Primordial Kin appear somewhat like their distant cousins, the Mindflayers. Roughly 5' to 6' tall, they are slenderly built, with three toes on their feet, a thumb and two fingers on each hand, and pale bluish gray skin. Pure black eyes stare out of faces similar to humans, with no hair, and four tentacles appear around their mouths. Their blood is a blue colour with a slight glow. No hair grows anywhere on them and their craniums are halfway between that of a human & a Mindflayer.
Each is capable of independent thought, though a group will often band together obsessing over a particular god, building up a slight hivemind between them while still allowing some independence. Highly intelligent, they are an ancient race and are usually found in the service of gods, and powerful creatures existing in the Outer Planes. Many are used as agents of one sort of another. Every time one or more obsesses over a deity, there is a chance it's alignment will change to the deities. Most seem drawn, at least in outlook, to ancient primordial deities, and don't seem to register the outlooks of sentient species on the Material Plane.
Both them and the Mindflayers hate each other enough to attack on sight, and they seem to have immunity to the mental dominations of both the Mindflayers & others. They are regularly led by more powerful individuals called Masters and Elders. Most kin will follow the next in line in their hierarchy, along with any deity they follow. The Kin take up residence in the Far Realms wherever they can grow their settlements, and regularly in the Underdark of Material Plane worlds. These settlements appear to be made of mother-of-pearl & a substance similar to cartilage, looking more grown than built. Though not the strongest materials, they are more flexible than stone, and appear to grow in response to injury / damage, as well as environment factors. Some have ultra-dense or thicker walls. Others appear more airy, and others seem to let light in easier, with beams of light falling from light sources causing fragmentation of the light spectrum across the room.
Each item created by the Kin follow the same pattern, and a few have appeared to have found ways to colour the material further to give it different effects. Either way, the main temples, halls of elders & masters, and other important buildings are always in the centre of the settlement. These are surrounded by living quarters, and beyond that seem to be where the laboratories, spell halls, merchants, visitors / traders, and food / water production is found. They grow strange looking plants that appear as a cross between flowering plants & seaweed that drift lazily as if in a breeze even if there is none. The flowers, and buds, as well as tubers that grow below the soil are ate regularly, and the leaves /stalks are turned into clothing, with the same building material used if needing to build armour. There are animal pens situated nearby these, and usually filled with well-kept livestock. Not all these livestock seem to be the same as what is found in other creatures cultures. The Kin seem to enjoy raising animals, presumably out of curiosity more than anything, but have an aversion for keeping sentient animals in such conditions. They do eat these animals at times, and most of the animal is ate, including skin & bone, with very little waste. They do this rarely, usually only once every two to four weeks.
Their clothes are made from plant fibres, and each kin generally wears loose clothing. The clothing is quite warm, light, and is usually a range of greens can be found on the same material. Baubles are sometimes hung from them, and the odd piece of jewellery is worn too. These are made of many different precious metals and / or gems. Although the kin have an idea of money & wealth, they generally don't flaunt it, beyond wearing of favourite jewellery pieces. Each will have a few coins used as normal, but prefer to barter, either services or goods. This is in part due to the communal nature of the species, and they are willing to trade with outsiders if they have skills or items the kin need or desire. They are still wary of outsiders, and regularly used friendly peoples as go-betweens. Many Dwarves & Duergar act in this capacity, though the latter is not hat trusted, and the Duergar only do so in times of necessity. A few times the kin will travel to the surface if they are interested in checking out what is near them, and if there is any threat or tradeable items to be found nearby.
The kin generally live in clans in a settlement, and it is normal for each settlement to be within a day's journey to two other settlements made up of other clans. Each will aid the others, intermarry, and help to settle problems arising within another community of them. This usually allows for a network of settlements to be built up quick within a region and for information to travel quickly between each settlement. They give birth to live young and twins & triplets are not uncommon. If stuck they can use birthing pools to increase numbers when necessary, though they feel that this is way too primitive to do regularly. Each kin is intersex, and either one can fall pregnant at any one time, or impregnate their partner. They usually bond for life in monogamous partnerships, though a few will take an extra partner if they so desire. This helps increase their progeny. If using the birthing pools, sperm and eggs are released by each kin, and nature takes it's course, with the pool eventually acting as an incubator, with any unfertilised eggs & unused sperm growing into a large organic birthing chamber. The kin themselves are long-lived, reaching adulthood after 30 years old, and can easily reach 500+ years old. They only breed every other year, if nothing happens to their numbers, and not all become pregnant.
When a Kin takes up a role of a Master or Elder, they grow two more tentacles round their mouths. This is seen as a way of identification for their leaders. One story is that they are secretly more mutable than most would think, and there is a potential risk that their strong attachments to each other, and deities, is part of a curse. This curse is hinted at by the legends of the Kin themselves. They believe they are a form of Star Spawn, and they do have a physiology similar to many Star Spawn species, along with them being similar to the Star Gods. These beings are all highly mutable, and many Masters & Elders say that both themselves and these others all came into existence at the birth of the universe, or at least shortly after. This time was marked by the universe and what life was there, being less complex, and given time, they started to evolve into different creatures. Despite having a set pattern, they all still have the genetic ability to evolve further given the right stimulus (especially if the Star Gods take an interest in them). In many of the Kin creation myths, many of the Star Gods are talked about in hushed tones, usually referred to as Elder Devils & Demons, or Elder Evils. They do not have much information themselves about this time, and they estimate that when the universe was born, the effects of it could be felt in the Far Realms, allowing for the Star Gods and their children to take an interest in it, and give birth to new species. They also have myths stating that the same creatures sent avatars of themselves & other Far Realm creatures into the Material Plane to take advantage of it, and establish links with it to feed on the energies of the universe.
The Kin estimate their society as being over 13 billion years old. The exact reason they are found in the Material Plane is little understood by many, even amongst their own species. It seems they enjoy the wonders of the Material Plane, and the weaker pull of the ancient gods of the Far Realms.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Primordial Kin appear somewhat like their distant cousins, the Mindflayers. Roughly 5' to 6' tall, they are slenderly built, with three toes on their feet, a thumb and two fingers on each hand, and pale bluish gray skin. Pure black eyes stare out of faces similar to humans, with no hair, and four tentacles appear around their mouths. Their blood is a blue colour with a slight glow. No hair grows anywhere on them and their craniums are halfway between that of a human & a Mindflayer.
Genetics and Reproduction
Primordial Kin give birth to live young and twins & triplets are not uncommon. If stuck they can use birthing pools to increase numbers when necessary, though they feel that this is way too primitive to do regularly. Each kin is intersex, and either one can fall pregnant at any one time, or impregnate their partner. They usually bond for life in monogamous partnerships, though a few will take an extra partner if they so desire. This helps increase their progeny. If using the birthing pools, sperm and eggs are released by each kin, and nature takes it's course, with the pool eventually acting as an incubator, with any unfertilised eggs & unused sperm growing into a large organic birthing chamber. The kin themselves are long-lived, reaching adulthood after 30 years old, and can easily reach 500+ years old. They only breed every other year, if nothing happens to their numbers, and not all become pregnant.
Growth Rate & Stages
They are young until they reach the age of 30 years old, and as an adult live to 500+ years old.
Ecology and Habitats
The Kin prefer to live in the Underdark on the Material Plane, tucked away from many other species. Also, they prefer the Far Realms where they originated from. They have a series of settlement under the surface of many worlds, that they use for study, and growth of their species. In part they prefer warm wet environments, and have a dislike of cold dry regions. They generally interact very little with other beings outside their immediate surroundings.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Kin are omnivorous, but rarely eat meat. They only eat it every two to four weeks.
Biological Cycle
They age very slowly and after a growth spurt when young they grow to a medium height. As they age their skin (gray colour) goes more and more wrinkly & with a slight bluish tinge.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Cranium slightly larger than human, and slightly smaller than a Mindflayer. Four tentacles around mouth. Black eyes, small mouth & nose. N No visible earlobes. Masters and Elders grow two additional tentacles from mouth.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Worldwide
Average Intelligence
Highly intelligent species.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
They have hearing and eyesight that are comparable to a Dwarf. They are highly magical and can use this for communication with others. The tentacles they have around their mouths, along with their small noses & tongues, gives them a good sense of smell & taste.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
They speak three major languages: Primordial, Deep Speech, and Undercommon. They are well-versed in all dialects of these.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Any Kin with six tentacles are always elevated to Master or Elder. They become the leaders of the clans and are respected by all others.
Common Taboos
They hate the Mindflayers who they view as a minor offshoot of themselves, and needing to be wiped out. If any contact is made between the two, it results in all out war, and the Kin always feel dirty & violated afterwards.
History
They appear as a form of Star Spawn, being created around, or shortly after the Big Bang. This seems to indicate that they have been in existence for well over 13 billion years.
Common Myths and Legends
They believe a curse is hinted at by the legends of the Kin themselves. They believe they are a form of Star Spawn, and they do have a physiology similar to many Star Spawn species, along with them being similar to the Star Gods. These beings are all highly mutable, and many Masters & Elders say that both themselves and these others all came into existence at the birth of the universe, or at least shortly after. This time was marked by the universe and what life was there, being less complex, and given time, they started to evolve into different creatures. Despite having a set pattern, they all still have the genetic ability to evolve further given the right stimulus (especially if the Star Gods take an interest in them). In many of the Kin creation myths, many of the Star Gods are talked about in hushed tones, usually referred to as Elder Devils & Demons, or Elder Evils. They do not have much information themselves about this time, and they estimate that when the universe was born, the effects of it could be felt in the Far Realms, allowing for the Star Gods and their children to take an interest in it, and give birth to new species. They also have myths stating that the same creatures sent avatars of themselves & other Far Realm creatures into the Material Plane to take advantage of it, and establish links with it to feed on the energies of the universe.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Kin keep themselves to themselves where necessary, and only would interact with the Dwarves on worlds. They trade regularly with them, finding the Dwarves both fascinating and exceptionally honourable people.
Origin/Ancestry
Primordial
Lifespan
500+ years
Average Height
5ft to 6ft
Average Weight
85-95 lb
Average Physique
Slender build, little fat.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Grey, getting slight bluish tinge with age.
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