Onalé of the Anguanyé

The Anguanyé
The Anguanyé live in a jungle paradise on the edge of the Outer Veil, where the farthest roots of Ygg finally end. The Outer Veil is shrouded in a mist unlike any normal jungle mist. The edge of the mist is not constant, but rather fluctuates like a leaf in the breeze, permanently capturing anyone it envelops. The jungle returns when the mist recedes, but changed and never in the same configuration as before. The Anguanyé build their villages far from the shifting mists, but its unpredictable nature has captured countless careless hunters.

The Anguanyé are all shape shifters of an unusual variety. They all have at least two forms, one male and one female. Each person in the village assumes a role based on their ability and interest. Gender, obviously, does not factor in. Shifting between genders is natural and second nature to the Anguanyé. Everybody has a preference for one or the other, spending most of his or her time in that form, but that preference fluctuates over time.

Family structures seem complex but it is really simple-the entire village is one extended family. Most Anguanyé assume multiple partners, male and female, through their lifetime. Marriage is not a concept to them, though commitment is. When a female becomes pregnant, shape shifting is impossible until the baby is born or the pregnancy is terminated. The usual method of preventing pregnancy is to assume a male form for several days after intercourse.

The father is obligated to aid the mother, probably living with her until the birth. The parents share in the raising of the child, both acting as both mother and father. Despite the small population, the Anguanyé do not seem to suffer the same degenerative effects of inbreeding as other isolated communities. People do occasionally move to, or take mates from, other villages as well.

Those who can also shape shift into animal forms, such as the jaguar or anaconda, are revered as chieftains and shamans. The magic of the Anguanyé is mostly superstition mixed with folk medicine. Even so, there is some true sorcery in the rituals of the shamans.

The jungle is full of life. There are countless rivers and streams and in most areas, the canopy blocks the Sun. There are many dangerous and deadly animals, from flesh-eating fish to giant spiders, from carnivorous monkeys to great spotted cats, from flightless birds to swarms of crawling insects, from poisonous frogs to snakes that can swallow a man whole. The Anguanyé live off of hunting and foraging the bounty of fruit and plants the jungle provides.

There is no summer and no winter-only the wet and dry seasons. The Anguanyé dress is minimal-perhaps only a loincloth and jewelry. All go barefooted and the skin on their feet is like leather. Tattooing using naturally colored inks found in the jungle is common and since they remain constant between male and female forms, a means of identification. Tattoos are used to represent one's village, one's parents, one's accomplishments, one's artistic sensibilities, and also (of course) oneself.

The Anguanyé rarely encounter outsiders. The only large city in the realm, Sava, serves as a port for visitors from other realms. The Anguanyé primarily import metals, glass, and masonry and export hardwoods, animal pelts, and medicinal plants. The land is mineral poor, the terrain is very inhospitable, and technology does not work in the realm. Electronics go dead. Gunpowder only fizzles and smokes. Mechanical gears corrode and cease. The Anguanyé use Stone Age technology of spear and stone axe, sling and bolas.

Background
Onalé has a slender, athletic build and like all Anguanyé, dark brown skin and long, straight black hair. Onalé ties the hair back with a long, think leather strap decorated with shells. Onalé has several tattoos, but the most prominent is of a jaguar above Onalé's left shoulder blade, and two sets of puncture-like scars on either side of Onalé's neck. Since beginning to travel between Realms, Onalé has abandoned the traditional dress of the Anguanyé and adopts whatever dress is most practical for a particular realm, but avoids wearing shoes except in cold weather.

Onalé can transform into a deep green, anaconda- or python-like snake with muddy-brown spots. For this reason, it was expected that Onalé would become a leader of the village. In addition to hunting and tracking, Onalé was taught medicine and learned how to use the products of the jungle. However, fate was to intervene. As a child, Onalé was mostly female, but as Onalé has gotten older, male is becoming favored. Onalé's additional training provided a type of shielding from romantic involvements and because of that Onalé is somewhat naïve in his area.

Anguanyé teens undergo a rite of passage into adulthood. Typically, these include feats of skill and athletics. The process is concluded with a ritual tattooing. Being a future tribal leader, Onalé's was particularly grueling, including a week-long fasting and a vision quest into the jungle. While there, a jaguar beset Onalé. Leaping on Onalé from a tree, it first pinned Onalé to the ground, but then Onalé transformed into the snake and wrestled with the jaguar. The Sun rose, set, and rose again during their epic structure. Eventually, Onalé was wrapped around the beast, squeezing tightly, but the beast had its dagger-like teeth in Onalé's neck. They remained in this position, neither advancing for a night and a day.

"Let us call a truce, great Jaguar," Onalé said in the lisping voice of the snake. "For surely we shall both die and then we have both lost." The jaguar gave the snake a glance, "And how can I trust you, snake who is both man and woman?" its voice muffled. "Why did you attack me, magnificent beast?" Onalé asked. The jaguar then spoke of The Great Tree Ygg and how it was linked to the jungle and how it held back the Outer Veil. It told Onalé that without Ygg, the world would end. It explained how the Ygg was in danger and even how his people had helped destroy the jungle and the roots of Ygg by clear cutting and over hunting. Without another word, Onalé unwound from the jaguar and it likewise loosened its grip. "Thank you, Great One," Onalé's head was hung in shame, "for sharing your wisdom." With that the jaguar disappeared into the jungle and Onalé returned to the village. Soon thereafter, Onalé left the realm and began traveling Yggwards.

Onalé carries with a short spear that also serves as a walking stick. The spearhead is attached with a wound leather thong and removable when necessary. Onalé fights with spear (or staff) and is a very skilled wrestler. Onalé is completely uncomfortable with firearms and prefers thrown weapons and the sling. Slowly, Onalé is learning about technology and its uses, but avoids using it for the most part.

Attributes
Character creation is based on the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game, scaled down to 50 points per character. 0 points in an attribute is equivalent to top human range.

Psyche: 0
Strength: 15
Endurance: 15
Warfare: 10

Shape Shifting (Gender): 0
Per the natural ability all Anguanyé possess.

Shape Shifting (Snake): 5
The snake is a constrictor without harmful teeth or venom, but with exceptional strength and agility. Though not necessarily fast, the snake is an excellent climber and stealth predator with the ability to find a way into and out of areas that no other large animal can go.

After drinking the sap of Ygg, Onalé gained the following abilities:

Guardian of Ygg: 0
Onalé can recognize other Guardians.

Plant Control: 5
Pass without trace, entangle, etc.