The Bedool

The Bedool are a turtle-like race of humanoids that make their home on the multitude of tropical islands that dot the Auran Ocean and the ships that ply their trade thereon. Regarded by many as something between terrors of the high seas or larger-than-life materialists, what is beyond dispute is that the ocean belongs to the Bedool. Contrary to their slow, ambling physical disposition, they are often thrill seekers to a fault that place a great emphasis on the accumulation of personal wealth and accolades. This can sometimes manifest itself as a streak of wanderlust that compels the Bedool to seek adventure beyond the salty waters of their home.

Turtles of Infamy

Appearing as bulky turtles that stand upright in humanoid form, the Bedool cut an unusual figure, though it is one that most seafarers have come to fear and respect. With the exception of their shell-like carapace and smooth plastron, they are covered in fine scales that vary greatly in color between the different Bedoolan Bales (family/clan groupings), though most are predominantly some shade of green. Their mouths terminate in broad, rigid beaks, and their jaws are lined with horny ridges rather than teeth. Bedool bloodlines have largely culminated in two distinct physicalities. The first feature prominent, bulky shells that are covered in thick ridges. These Bedool tend to be broader and rougher in appearance, with wide jowls and narrow eyes. The second features smoother, slighter shells and features in general. These Bedool, while slightly smaller in overall stature, tend to have longer limbs and necks with narrower heads and larger eyes. (Former looks more like snapping turtles, latter more like a sea turtles or tortoises)

Seekers of Fortune

Personal achievements and wealth feature prominently in the aspirations of the Bedool. They often adorn themselves and their shells with the most expensive and costly materials they can find to openly display their status and accomplishments to the world. Fortunately, they place as much an emphasis on how their wealth is acquired as the value of that which is acquired. While great value is placed on the spoils of business, conquest, and glory-seeking, as a society the Bedool tend to look down on the act of acquisition of wealth through theft or murder (at least, where other Bedool are concerned—visiting piracy on other vessels seems to have escaped such condemnation). A cunning businessman, a prolific corsair, or a renowned hero are all examples to aspire to. Taking what another has earned through less savory means is viewed as distasteful and lazy at best (again, where the Bedool are concerned). This factors directly into their beliefset—the worship of revered ancestors, or "Volskwoo" as posthumously recognized deities.

Whatever their walk of life or chosen area of expertise, the Bedool are unique in their pronounced capacity for joviality. Even against those whom they ply their piracy, they maintain a thick veneer of merry-making mirth. In short, they are warm even to their chosen enemies, and prone to seemingly endless celebration of life in all its splendor.

Bedoolan Bales

Most of Bedoolan civilization centers around the sprawl of vast families and clans. Any given island or fortress-vessel is practically a city-state unto itself, governed by the whims of the collective whole and overseen, usually, by the wisdom of an elder matriarch or patriarch. While this might seem ripe for a culture built on tribalism, the opposite is the case in practice. The Bedool share a strong belief in the common law of hospitality—a practice that extends even to those with whom they have quarrels. There is a profound kinship that lingers just beneath the current between all Bales with few exceptions. Those few outside elements that have tested those bonds throughout history have found the provoked reaction overwhelming in both solidarity and severity.

Each Bale operates according to their own rules, so the cultural variations between the Bedool as a whole vary greatly. Perhaps one of the few "tenets" of their culture that all Bales share are their love of festivals. Holidays celebrating ancient and local Volskwoo are practically a weekly occurrence, usually involving great banquets with imported foods and spirits from far-flung corners of Aurus.

The Volskwoo

It is a commonly held belief among the Bedool that the actions taken and riches acquired in life carry over into the afterlife. The greater the deeds and hoards in life, the greater the reward on the other side (and the greater the legacy left behind). Hero worship figures greatly into Bedool culture, even going so far as to comprise the divine figures their people pay homage to. All of the greatest leaders, heroes, and tyrants of the past comprise an ever expanding pantheon of divine beings called Volskwoo. These entities are always venerated according to who they were in life; a defender of the downtrodden might be worshiped as a Volskwoo of Courage, while a murderous warlord might be worshiped as a Volskwoo of Tyranny. It is worth noting that such figures are relatively rare, as it requires deeds of epic magnitude to earn such a distinction.

(In the short term, we could come up with a short list of the most prominent Volskwoo from ancient times—at least enough to flesh out some aspects of their society, as well as see to it that someone wishing to play a Cleric has every domain represented in some form. Beyond that, I think it would be cool if players could literally invent their own Volskwoo to pray to. I imagine them as occupying a role similar to Egyptian pharaohs in terms of their "ascension")

Bedool Names

Bedool young are hatched from small clutches of eggs, and extended families grow to such a sprawl that they become communities unto themselves. As such, any given clutch will tend to encompass a series of phonetically similar names.

In large part, the nature of glory-seeking that is inherent to Bedool culture can be attributed to the need to distinguish themselves among an overwhelming number of siblings. Ultimately, any given Bedool will affix a crowning achievement or deed to their given name to further exalt their own identity. This can be something as simple as crafting a work of art, or something as daring as single-handedly defeating an infamous pirate (Gwipdeek Togani-Coin, for example, might be the name of a Bedool trader that negotiated a trade deal with the notoriously insular Togani).

Names: Aloo, Bekoo, Boold, Bwulp, Cwoop, Doldu, Epwoo, Faskwee, Gwipdeek, Haasdu, Ikku, Kalkwoo, Kooswulp, Kurkrek, Lakwek, Leekwee, Maskwek, Molkwoo, Naask, Oodlo, Oswop, Pweesk, Reekloo, Rukloo, Seeskoo, Spweek, Tokk, Ulsk, Uskwis, Wakku, Wakweek, Wiskloo, Yokka

Bedool Traits

Owing to their hard shells and life at sea, Bedool all share the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength increases by 1.

Age

The Bedool are slow to mature, reaching adulthood at around 30 years, but are relatively long lived compared to most of the other races of Aurus, living up to (and occasionally in excess of) 300 years.

Alignment

Favoring chaotic alignments, Bedool place a great deal of value on personal freedom and self determination. Most tend towards good or neutral.

Size

Bedool stand between 5 and 6 feet tall, and average 450 lbs. Their shells account for roughly one-third of their total weight. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your base swimming speed is 30 feet.

Hold Breath

You can hold your breath for up to 1 hour at a time. Part of their considerable threat to other seafaring vessels is how comfortable the Bedool are both in and out of the water.

Natural Armor

Due to your shell and the shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. Your shell provides ample protection, however—choose one of the following:

• Your shell is thick and ridged; it gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn't affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal. You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, you gain a +4 bonus to AC, and you have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in your shell, you are prone, your speed is 0 and can't increase, you have disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, you can't take reactions, and the only action you can take is a bonus action to emerge from your shell.
• Your shell is smooth and slight; it gives you a base AC of 12 (your Dexterity modifier affects this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal. You can deflect incoming attacks with your shell as a reaction. You add 3 to your AC against one attack that would hit you. To do so, you must be able to see the attacker and be capable of at least a limited range of moment (conditions such as restrained would cancel this ability).

Terrors of the Open Sea

You gain proficiency with two of the following: Athletics, Navigator's Tools, or Vehicles (Water). All Bedool are raised on the open sea, and are intimately familiar with how to traverse its waters.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Bedoolish.