Tok
Sylvan
Varian
Bodren
Children of the Water
Bodren primarily live in smaller like-minded communities that collectively make up a larger tribe of Bodren people. Rarely do Bodren feel the need to consult or address a social leader and only in times of great need will the larger tribe come together to solve issues. Bodren domiciles are minimal and attempt to influence the natural world around them as little as possible, with some Bodren choosing to only live in natural caves, coverings, and cenotes. The Bodren have a deep respect for the natural world, and while they do not directly view any aspect as a god itself, they draw guidance and lessons from nature and the wild world around them. Many Bodren feel a strong connection to a specific aspect of nature and will personally revere said aspect, be it the fluidity and freedom of a flowing river; the birth and death cycle of a flower field, or the unstoppable and wild nature of the wind.
Although Bodren reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, their understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. Living well over 700 years gives them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Bodren can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Like the branches of a young tree, Bodren are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their hidden homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, Bodren reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.
Syntax
PRONUNCIATION
[BOD•renn]
FORM
n. singular: Bodren
That Bodren is strong.
n. plural: Bodren
There are many Bodren
adj. Bodren
That is a Bodren artifact.
Lifespan
While the Bodren only live about 3/4 the life span of their Primal Sylvan ancestors, they also live more in line with the Tok and Varian people of the world, maturing physically in tandem with their emotional and intellectual maturity, though at a much slower pace.
MAXIMUM
800+ years
LIFE STAGES
Adolescence: 40-50
Adulthood: 100-150
Senior: 400
Twilight: 700+
Common Hobbies
Medicinal Foraging
Gain a Medicinal Bundle (barter good)
Gain a +1 bonus to all Restoration checks until your next Sleep.
Practice Yoga
You may make any one Physical roll with Confidence until your next Sleep.
Take a Long Soak
Recover 2 Fatigue Points.
Attribute Modifiers
+2
-1
-2
+1
0
+1
+1
-1
⚘ Heritage
Regardless of an individual’s Culture, their ancestors likely come from one of the following groups which determines a few of their notable physical characteristics.
RIVERPETAL
The most assimilated Bodren in the Beanut Lands, primarily residing in the Heartlands and the Willidren shelf of the Brittle Bog, as well as those of mixed-Sylvan parentage.
FENWILD
The land-dwelling Bodren who make up the primary populations of the Brittle Bog villages and towns, as well as some of the less social, southern regions of the Nettle Forest.
MOSSCLOUD
Bodren born in the deep, still, cloudy waters of the central Brittle Bog and deeper waters of the Nettle Forest.
SUNCLIFF
The people of the warm and tropical areas, such as the freshwater mangrove swamps and wetlands of the southeastern Brittle Bog and Torgalia.
ROOTREEF
The saltwater Bodren who come from the southeastern Brittle Bay and southern seas.
Once the details for all the Heritage options have been fully written and edited, we will be providing all 10 species’ Heritage information at once.
Cultures – coming soon!
NATIVE
FAMILIAR
FOREIGN
Physicality
Body
Because of their history of prioritizing the mobility and agility it requires to effectively swim, Bodren have evolved to maximize lightweight maneuverability in order to be as aquadynamic as possible.
ROTUND
THICC
BUILT
SOFT
MEDIUM
BRAWNY
THIN
ATHLETIC
SUPER
Skin
Infant Bodren are born with no color at all in their skin, which is partially translucent, showing the network of veins, vessels and organs beneath. It is their earliest decades of life that influence their complexion the most. The common, cool-toned complexions of the Bodren blend naturally with the native, lush environments of the Brittle Bog and Heartlands. Those who do not grow up in a proper environment conducive to aquatic creatures may even struggle to mature past childhood unless properly cared for.
Below is a typical chart for skin tones of Bodren who are raised in appropriate, temperate environments. Other colors are possible, but highly rare and may come with additional narrative challenges.
Mint and Aqua hues (left side) are common in lush and riverland environments.
Cerulean to Violet hues (middle) are common in all Bodren.
Magenta and Coral hues (right) are rarer, most likely in tropical and saltwater environments.
Lighter values (top) are common in cool or land-locked environments.
Darker values (bottom) are common in warm or wetland environments.
Markings
Similar to some seals or sharks, Bodren naturally develop dappled markings upon their skin which most commonly appear in a series of spots or splotches. The markings are typically a similar tone to their base complexion, but slightly shifted in hue or value. Unaltered, these typically manifest in areas of softer skin, such as the temples and ears, around the eyes, neck, palms, wrists, ankles, and groin.
For ages and ages, all of the Sylvan people have cultivated a native ability to alter their bodies. All Bodren have the ability to adjust the color, brightness, coverage, shape, and even visibility of these markings as they see fit.
Hair
Bodren hair is usually dark, in cool tones ranging from greens, teal, blues, and purples, all the way to black.
Their hair commonly grows straight and shiny due to its natural, water-resistant oils. However, more land-bound Bodren have begun to develop wavy and textured hair over time, and it is not rare to see one with one of these other types.
Eyes
Bodren eye colors are commonly light, bright and saturated, and shine vividly in the light. The occasional Bodren may have a deeper eye color, but these are few and far between.
A Bodren’s eyes are typically large, and commonly have a pointed look, especially accentuated on the outer corners. While they do not have a second pair of aquatic lenses, their eyes do seem to be have a naturally-waterproof clear outer membrane.
Ears
Bodren ears typically resemble the fins of a fish, with three or four main spines connected by a webbed membrane.
Some amphibious Bodren have adopted more rounded, frog-foot shaped spines, while other saltwater Bodren have even adopted more decorative fins akin to other fish and aquatic creatures. Most of these ear styles still function to assist with aquatic movement, however.
Webbing
Bodren who spend a great deal of time in the water will naturally develop webbed fingers and toes. Native Merdren, who live primarily aquatic lifestyles, may even develop small flaps of webbing under their arms as well.
Sylvan Aurogenesis
In addition to traditional two-parent procreation, the people of the Sylvan species supergroup (Faekin, Bodren, and Fangren) have a unique connection with the Auric nature of magic in the world. This has given their people the ability to produce offspring through the use of naturally Auric objects. To perform this ritual, known as Aurogenesis, requires at least one Sylvan parent and an appropriate Auric resource with high enough magic to complete the ritual.
For Bodren, the most accepted resources come from legendary-level magical creatures, such as fish scales, pearls, and shells, as well as magical coral and aquatic plants.
Traditional Reproduction
Bodren can procreate through traditional 2-partner reproduction with any Sylvan species. If the child is Bodren, they will inherit the Heritage of their Bodren parent, but may exhibit some traits of the other species, if it is a possibility.
Bodren + Bodren: a child will always be Bodren, taking their mother’s heritage
Bodren + Faekin: a child will always be Bodren
Bodren + Fangren: a child will be the same species as their mother
Features
Fluid and Mobile
Evolved for aquatic motion, the Bodren are unsurpassed creatures of the wetlands.
✿ SPECIES FEATURE
STATS
You can Swim naturally
Swim Speed = Your Base Speed ×2
SKILLS
Athletics: ❱ training Athletics: +2 to skill checks related to aquatic movement
OTHER
You can hold your breath ×4 longer than normal.
ATTRIBUTES
+2
Serenely Mindful
A connection to the world around them is intrinsic to a Bodren’s mental health. Thanks to this historical training, they can form nature around them, as well as recover their magical energies more consistently.
✿ SPECIES FEATURE
STATS
Mana Points: Any time you gain Mana Points, gain an additional +2
SKILLS
Focus: ❱ training
MAGIC
Sylvan Magic: ❱ training
Sylvan Magic: ★ Native Specialization Bonus, grants you enhanced use of Sylvan Magic spells
OTHER
You can attempt to communicate with Timid, Passive, or Neutral creatures with the following creature characteristics:
Wetlands
Riverlands
Auric
Floral
ATTRIBUTES
+1
+1
Vibrantly Colorful
Not only do the Bodren strike a unique form when compared to other species of the world, but they have actively made their cultures and presence an important part of the world’s civilizations.
✿ SPECIES FEATURE
SKILLS
Wellness: +2 (passive)
Presence: +2 to skill checks
ACTIVATED ABILITIES
Dappleshift
You may make a unique 
HRT Roll [≥9] to alter the color or shape of the markings on your skin. The change takes at least 3 hours. Drastically altering the coverage of the markings, as well as creating intricate details may increase the Difficulty or time required to complete the change.
This ability has no effect on your skin’s physical makeup, and does not change the texture or base complexion of your skin, only the markings.
ATTRIBUTES
+1
-1
Natively Vulnerable
Aquatic bodies are not suited for extreme environments, so the Bodren’s ability to resist the natural elements of the world becomes more difficult. While they are not more susceptible to these elements, resistance is more difficult to obtain. Because of this, they are naturally more risk-averse.
✿ SPECIES PENALTY
PENALTIES
You do not gain benefits from ❱ training your Elemental Damage Resistances:
Acrid Resistance stunted 
Charged Resistance stunted
Frigid Resistance stunted
Torrid Resistance stunted
If you reach ❱❱❱ Mastery training in any one Elemental Damage Resistance, you may ignore this effect, and retroactively gain all the benefits from any Elemental Resistances you have ❱ trained.
ATTRIBUTES
-2
-1
Medium Person
On average, the Bodren stand about the same size and weight as a real life human of the same body type.
✿ SIZE FEATURE
No modifiers
The Beanut Lands 