The Nyolci are a maritime people whose distinctive cephalopod features mark them as some of the finest sailors and navigators in the known world. With humanoid bodies crowned by octopus-like heads bearing five dexterous tentacles and a sharp beak, they might seem alien to landlubbers, yet they have integrated seamlessly into coastal societies across every major port and trading hub.
Born from the marriage of sea and civilization, the Nyolci serve as the backbone of maritime commerce and exploration. Their natural affinity for water, combined with their ability to manipulate multiple objects simultaneously with their tentacles, makes them invaluable crew members, ship captains, and harbor masters. Their keen intuition for weather patterns, ocean currents, and the subtle signs that predict storms has saved countless vessels from disaster.
Despite their aquatic origins, the Nyolci have fully embraced life among the various races of the surface world. They can be found in every major port city, often serving as intermediaries between land-based merchants and the mysteries of the deep ocean. Their communities typically cluster around harbors, docks, and shipyards, where their expertise is most valued.
The Nyolci possess an almost supernatural ability to read people and situations, making them excellent negotiators and traders. This intuitive cunning, combined with their reputation for fairness in business dealings, has earned them respect and trust throughout the maritime world.
The making
Five working arms about the head, and a read of moving water older than any chart: that is what Gaea named into the Nyolci when she shaped them from the octopus, one of her animal-children of the Birth of Man (see Beastman). The first gift made them the hands of a ship, rigging and repairing faster than anyone with only two arms. The second made them its pilots, feeling a current or a coming storm before it shows on the surface, which is why the Nyolci became the backbone of half the world's shipping.
Vitals
- Size: Medium
- Height: 5-6 feet
- Weight: 140-220 pounds
- Age: 60-90
Aspects
- Master of wind and wave
- Reads hearts like tide charts
Game mechanics
Tentacle Dexterity
Passive ability. Your five head tentacles can manipulate objects with surprising precision and independence. You can perform up to three separate object interactions per round instead of one. Additionally, you have advantage on any skill check that would benefit from manipulating multiple objects simultaneously, such as operating complex mechanisms, playing multiple instruments, or managing ship rigging.
Oceanic Intuition
Passive ability. Your deep connection to the sea grants you uncanny insight into both natural and social currents. You automatically succeed on navigation checks while at sea or following coastlines. Additionally, you have advantage on skill checks to predict weather, read people's intentions, or sense when someone is lying to you.