Mycra (Mick-RA)
Thought to be an offshoot of the rare races of winged elves, mycra (both singular and plural) are a race of elf-like creatures who seem more akin to owls and the tales of faeries of old than true elves. Mycra are an old race (they claim their roots extend back until just after the formation of the world) who seemingly want nothing more than to peaceably and unobtrusively wander the far-flung lands in search of knowledge; knowledge in any and all of its known forms. While they are generally stoic and non-violent, if pressed, they can make formidable opponents due to their vast experience in and expertise with, the arcane arts.
Personality: Mycra tend to be quiet and somewhat reclusive, perfectly content to while the hours of the day away pouring over ancient tomes, maps, spell books, or conducting arcane experiments. They are usually silent and taciturn observers, watching those individuals and events around them as if gaining insights from every movement, nuance and happenstance. This attitude of “quiet observance” only adds to their overwhelming similarity to owls, but this does not bother the mycra in the least. They take references to their avian counterparts as a mark of racial pride and achievement. It is said that it is hard indeed to ruffle the feathers of a mycra – they are cool and rational confidence personified.
Physical Description: Mycra are slightly taller and thinner than elves and seem somehow far more frail physically and yet somehow wiser than their distant cousins. Their features are only slightly more rounded and less angular than elves, giving them an otherworldly and ethereal countenance. Mycra have large, luminous eyes which are often a singular color with no distinctive iris or pupil, which further lends to this strange and otherworldly appearance. These strange eyes are said to be a direct influence of their other primary relatives: the owl. Mycra display many other physical characteristics of owls: they have large wings and are capable of near silent flight, they often sport large, beak-like or hook-like noses, their eyebrows are often very pronounced and even tipped with feathers, and their hair is always tipped with small feathery tuffs. Mycra often clothe themselves in large, stylish robes with built in hoods known as otono, which seem to hold some cultural significance to them. These otono are specially crafted to protect their wings when not in flight and yet allow the mycra to unfurl their wings in a moment’s notice should the need arise.
Relations: Whether it is a factor of their cool indifference and observance of all that exists around them, or a primordial truth that they have somehow gained as a race from the eons of eternally seeking higher knowledge is unknown, but it is a well known fact that mycra neither partake of, nor do they understand any form of racism. Mycra see all races (and in truth, all living things) as equals in the great scheme of things and as a direct result of this attitude and their near unflappable-ness, they are able to interact with nearly any race with aplomb and supreme grace. These same reasons, as well as their honed magical skills, minds and their sharp ears and eyes are often what mark them as the best diplomats, advisors, and ambassadors that can be found.
Alignment: Mycra value the individual and the freedom to express one’s thoughts and feelings very highly. In fact, this one reason is perhaps the only thing that has kept the mycran long-running racial feud over religion from erupting into a civil war. As such, most of these gentle and quiet owl-elves learn towards a chaotic and good temperament.
Lands: Mycra do not hold any lands, no do they seem to possess the desire to; as a race of wandering knowledge-seekers, and they seem content to roam the known lands from one day to the next, ever led forward by tales of undiscovered secrets. Occasionally, a small family group will settle in a single area and perhaps even form a small mountain- or tree-top village, but even this is a relatively rare occurrence.
Religion: As a race, mycra are evenly divided on the subject of religion and worshipping a higher power. While all mycra can easily build a rock-solid case for the existence of these higher powers, not all of them can see the wisdom in paying homage to them. These dissenting voices within the mycran race note that it is silly for their race, which could (in their opinion) ascend of their own accord into godhood, to worship an extraneous power which has little to do with their race as a whole. While others state that it is folly not to cast their lots with one of these supreme beings, if for no other reason than peace of mind. If it is any one issue that fragments the whole of the mycran society, it is this one and the debate has raged without ceasing for ages. Strangely, there are no known mycran deities at the current time, but ancient texts hint at their existence long ago. Many believe that it is these fragments of their long past history, lost to the ravages of time, that drive the mycran thirst and hunger for knowledge to this very day.
Language: Many sages feel that at one point, the mycra spoke elven as their native tongue, but the mycra deny this forthright. They feel that it is a mark of distinction and honor as a sentient species that they possess and speak a tongue all their own, thought they voraciously learn others in their pursuit of lost lore. It is similar to elven in that it is a somewhat musical language, but any distinction to any other language ends there; Mycran is a very difficult language for one not of the race to understand or learn, so they speak it only amongst themselves and reserve its written forms for only their most sacred (some say secretive) of texts.
Names: Akin to their language, mycran names mean something to their owners and others of their race, but seem either unintelligible or incomprehensible to others.
Male Names: Stevard, Garni, Limak, Viro, Hundo, Sekvi, Helika
Female Names: Eriko, Rubekol, Kanj, Hirund, Morta, Patrino, and Edzino.
Clan Names: All mycra are given birth names which attach them to their parents and their familial groups; they do this more in order to track their wanderings than anything else. Elder mycra delight in telling tales about how far flung “their progeny” has traveled throughout the land in search of knowledge. These names are generally meaningless to non-mycra, but carry weighty ties to far-flung family groups to those within the race. Names such as Grimpi, Maristo, Menteto, Deviz, Iranto, Alumet, and Urbega are common.
Adventurers: Mycra adventurers are nearly always seeking new knowledge, in any of its various forms. The slightest hint of an ancient, never-before seen (or heard) ballad inscribed upon the cured hide of some ancient beast that was glimpsed in some cavern complex is enough to send them off in a frenzied search. Knowledge in any form: books, scrolls, poems, paintings, songs, architecture – literally anything – excites them. As a result, mycra are well known as wandering sages, mages, wizards, and sorcerers and they are welcomed (or rarely feared and hated) in nearly any land in which they travel for this extensive knowledge.
Racial Traits
• +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom: Mycra, while skilled with their hands, fleet of foot, and supremely graceful and attractive, tend to be somewhat frail and are prone to acting without much forethought, especially if those acts are performed in the pursuit of one of their primary loves, such as knowledge
• Medium Humanoid; as such Mycra receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Mycra possess a base speed of 30 feet. They also possess a fly speed of 60 feet, with an average maneuverability rating.
• Due to their elven forbearers, Mycra enjoy a an immunity to sleep spells and similar effects, as well as a +2 racial saving throw bonus against Enchantment spells or effects.
• Mycra possess Darkvision with a range of 120 feet. Darkvision is black and white, but otherwise is identical to normal vision.
• Mycra enjoy a +6 racial bonus to all Spot and Search checks, provided these checks take place at night or in dark (less than daylight) places. Further, mycra always receive a +8 racial bonus to Listen checks.
• Automatic languages: Mycra. Bonus languages: Common, Elven, and Draconic.
• Weapons: Typically Mycra are proficient with long, elegant slashing weapons such as rapiers, falchions and longswords, much like their elven relatives. However, unlike elves, Mycra disdain the use of drawn bows (such as long and short bows) but instead seem to gravitate to the intricate inner workings of all types of crossbows, with which they are proficient.
• Favored class: Sorcerer. A multiclassed Mycra’s Sorcerer class does not count when determining whether or not they suffer an XP penalty for multiclassing. Mycra are innately magical beings and their souls are tightly bound with the desire for knowledge; therefore they require little training in regards to the arcane arts.
