Overview

The Claduhan are a fey-descended mortal race shaped by exile and survival rather than natural evolution. Once sent to the material plane by the Broodmother, their ancestors rebelled and were left to survive in forests and underground tunnels.

Over generations, they evolved small, nimble bodies, exceptional camouflage, and heightened senses to navigate predators and harsh environments. Claduhan live in matriarchal colonies or cooperative packs, valuing family, teamwork, and social harmony. Though mortal and short-lived, they carry the cunning and resilience of their fey ancestry in every movement and decision.

History

Long ago, the Claduhan existed alongside the Eithuhel, having been descendants of the fey. According to legend, it has been said that their ancestors were placed on the material plane by the fabled "Broodmother", who sent her daughters to divide and conquer the land, only for them to rebel in opposition to their mother's twisted views on family.

Abandoned by their mother, the Claduhan were left to the harsh and unfamiliar environment, only having their fellow siblings-in-arms to rely on for survival. They formed families together, and with their families, they formed the first colonies, thriving in the safety of their burrows to hide away from the creatures that lurked on the surface. From here, they evolved to favor shortness to better suit their life underground, as well as developing their superior camouflage for avoiding predators.

Continuing to prosper amongst themselves, the Claduhan were able to migrate in troves around the world, settling in places that many without a keen eye would least expect, making little trinkets go missing for better, personal use.

Physiology

The Claduhan grow between the heights of 91cm and 127cm, weighing around 50 pounds once fully mature. However, female Claduhan are able to reach heights as tall as 157cm and could weigh up to 114 pounds or 90 pounds at the least. Overall, their body types tend to be relatively squat while maintaining a nimble physique. Their ears often take the shape of various leaves depending on a Claduhan's home environment, growing as long as 8 inches with a minimum length of 4 inches.

Claduhan experience sexual dimorphism, where females tend to be physically larger than males. However, this does not mean either is stronger than the other, as both present similar levels of physical strength. It is also said that female Claduhan have brighter colorations than males, but this tends to be too subtle to be fully proven. Their life spans are the shortest of the Wyrdborn, ranging from 40-60 years. The oldest recorded Claduhan dying of natural causes was 60.

Coloration & Camouflage

Both their skin and hair colors vary based on their surroundings, working as a biological camouflage to blend in with nature. These can range from sandy browns to vibrant greens, with skin sometimes marbling with darker-colored markings to match the patterning of their environment. Eye colors tend to follow similar trends, coming in forms of yellows, oranges, browns, greens, and even white. It also isn't rare for sclera to be oddly colored in the same manner, most commonly being black or orange respectively.

Due to the chaotic nature of the Claduhan's fey ancestry, these colorations have the chance to shift based on temperature during adolescence. For example, if a Claduhan was born with green hues but was then raised in a hot and arid biome, they might present themselves with colors that resemble sand or clay.

Arachnidian Features

While the Claduhan are possibly the most humanoid of all fey-descended races on the material plane, they host a handful of arachnidian features leftover from their ancestry, although these tend to be very subtle and are hard to recognize at first glance. Most have small microhairs across their legs and arms that are able to feel air movements and vibrations, making them hypersensitive to their surroundings, including potential threats and environmental hazards.

This tends to make them very antsy, becoming a common occurrence for them to be unable to sit still for long periods of time or to overreact in certain situations. To prevent this in more urban areas, some tend to find ways to cover or remove these hairs, while others try to embrace it at the expense of reputation.

Teeth, Venom & Claws

Sharp teeth are common among all Claduhan, designed to rip through prey in an efficient manner. Fangs are also present along the canines, their length rivaling that of beastfolk. Usually, this creates a slight overbite, making their teeth poke out from their mouth while resting. Along with fangs, some Claduhan are born with the ability to inject venom with their bites, although this tends to be slightly more common in females. The toxins from this venom are not lethal, but can serve to slightly paralyze as to provide an edge in combat.

Claduhan have sharp, curled tarsal claws on their hands and feet that are composed of thick chitin, made to easily hook themselves onto tree trunks and dig into the floor for hunting purposes. This also offers the ability to create small burrows within large trees or soft ground, usually serving as a temporary means of shelter.

Diet

While the Eituhel occupied the canopies, the Claduhan were left with life on the forest floor, scavenging meals whenever they could from leftover kills and vegetables hidden in the dirt. It was here that they were able to become omnivorous, up until they learned to cooperate with each other and create complex hunting groups. From then on, they learned to use their edge in stealth and teamwork to hunt creatures much larger than themselves, growing a preference towards carnivorous diets.

More specifically, Claduhan will usually feast upon whatever they can get their hands on, but tend to stray towards eating meat when available as an option. Rodents, elk, horses, and even predator animals like wolves or bears are common staples, bigger animals often being eaten with a Claduhan's respective group as a bonding activity. They rarely eat fruits, grains, or vegetables in their everyday diets, but can be consumed as filler foods when meat is not available.