Aartuk are nomadic plant-type creatures and religious fanatics, constantly seeking worthy adversaries. Aartuk view war as the ultimate form of art.
Physical Description[]
Aartuk bodies have the general shape of a star, and are covered with a thick, flexible, thorny bark. At the end of each of its five branches are suction cups, which allow them to hold onto vertical or inverted surfaces. Each cup houses a cluster of small, retractable psuedopods that can be used to handle small objects. The head of an aartuk snakes out of the middle of its body, standing a full six feet tall. The head is oblong, with hole surrounded by three black lumps. These are the sensory organs of the aartuk, which allow it to detect others via smell and vibrations. Aartuk have no “eyes.” Aartuk speak their own language, and Elders may learn other languages as well
Combat[]
Aartuk spit a secretion through the opening of their heads. This secretion hardens upon contact with air, forming a rock-hard pellet. This pellet has a range equal to that of a sling, and the aartuk suffers no penalties or attacks of opportunity for its use in melee combat. Instead of shooting a pellet, an aartuk may choose to shoot forth its gooey tongue to entangle an opponent.
Camouflage[]
Aartuk come in a variety of strains. In all cases, this coloration allows an aartuk to conceal itself in a natural environment. Aartuk travel in captured vessels that are modified to fit their coloration. All aartuk of a single tribe are of the same strain.
Elders[]
When an aartuk reaches adulthood it goes through a “blossoming.” This period last for one year, at which point the aartuk might die. Those who succeed become Elders, and they soon leave with a few followers to begin their own tribe. Once an aartuk becomes an Elder he gains the spell ability of a Cleric, with access to the Domains of Air, Earth, Plant, War, and Water. Elders continue to advance, but do so as Clerics.
Elders have all the abilities of lesser aartuk, except as follows: The attack of an Elder has twice the range of lesser aartuk, and has a special function. Upon impact the pellet produces a spark. While in most areas this only serves to distinguish the Elder from other aartuk, it is very dangerous in the phlogiston. If used in the phlogiston, the spark ignites into a 5d6 fireball, affecting all within 20 ft. The Elder is very reluctant to fight in the phlogiston, for fear of harming other aartuk warriors.
Aartuk require air to survive, and rely upon te Elders to keep the air clean. An Elder can filter stale air sufficient to produce air for 50 medium-sized beings.