REM
What is a REM?
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A REM is a soft, fluffy creature with a curious appearance. Just like human people, they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors, and have an even wider range of personalities. They have a feral appearance, with thick, soft fur covering their entire bodies, as well as having the ability to bound around on all fours (though they prefer to walk bipedally). With a rich, diverse culture, the REM are a very industrious race, and can be expected to be relatively, civil, peaceful, and are not likely to attack without provocation.
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REM Traits
Ability Score Increase. Either your Wisdom or Charisma increase by 1
Age. The REM have an unknown lifespan, and don’t appear to age past senior adult, which seems to be reached at around 900 years. They reach young adulthood at around 5 years of age, at which point aging begins to slow almost to a halt.
Alignment. REM have a functional, industrious society, despite their lack of any widely recognised law, or law enforcement. This is due to their natural inclination towards a Neutral Good alignment, though exceptions to the rule are not unheard of, especially in subterranean variants of the race.
Size. REM vary widely in their stature, and can be anywhere between 3 feet and 5.5 feet tall. Your size is small or medium accordingly.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30. You have a bounding (all fours) speed of 40. Two handed weapons and objects that are 10 pounds + your strength modifier with proficiency cannot be held in your hands while you are bounding.
Darkvision. Having eyes unlike any other creature, you have superior vision in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Negotiator. Your society has a bartering based economy, and the art of the deal is baked into your DNA. You have proficiency in either Insight or Persuasion.
From the Tree. Regardless if you are from the treetops or fron the root systems below, you feel at home in the foliage. You have advantage when making ability checks to climb trees, and navigating branches does not slow your base speed.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Remmish. Remmish is an odd and unique language consisting of whistles, chirps and clicks reminiscent of singing birds and wind instruments. Because of this, REM sometimes struggle with mastering the spoken word of other languages, instead, excelling at reading and writing forign texts.
REM names. A REM will receive its name when it is removed from its catalyst, and will cherish that name for the rest of its life. They do not have last or family names due to their individualistic nature, but view their given name as a treasured gift from their parents. Since the REM language consists of whistles, chirps and clicks, they will often ‘translate’ their name into the nearest word or sound in common tongue to simplify interactions with non-REM individuals. If there is not a direct translation, they will usually pick a word or sound with the same number of syllables. The REM consider this translation as simply another version of their name, and not as a second name, even if the translation has an entirely different meaning, so as not to dishonor their given name.
Common REM Names
TooWoo, Twill, Moth, Canvas, Kulil, Ocean, Ink, Grit, Tigg, Quiet, Mayfly, Blush, Ree, Gless, Whim, (any color, such as Red, Blue, Teal, etc), Motley, Resh, Circle, Tiks, Chirp.
REM appearance
REM Subraces
Loft REM
Loft REM. As a Loft REM, you are from the branches of the Haven Tree, generally enjoying the luxury of safety and civilization, even if you yourself are not particularly well-off. The REM of the Trees branches are accustomed to an overall comfortable lifestyle, largely focusing on the arts, academia, and cultural refinement. Within the cities of the Trees branches, there are many private, prestigious colleges, guilds, and small organizations.
Though most Loft REM strive for some level of refinement, haughtiness is not pervasive within the culture, and is generally frowned upon. Instead, curiosity is held in high regard, and understanding other peoples is championed as a desirable goal.
Loft REM tend to show a more slight physical build the higher up in the Tree they originate, and most sport bright colors and patterns to their fur, as well as developing a bit for sluff than their subterranean counterparts. They are very fashionable as a general rule, adorning themselves in fine fabrics and jewelry. Bone welding in Loft REM culture is largely aesthetic over functional.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity increases by 2.
Weapon Training. You have proficiency with one weapon of your choice.
Feather Fall. You can cast Feather Fall at will once per short rest without expending a spell slot. The level at which you are able to cast it is determined by your character level.
Higher Education. You are proficient in either Arcana, History, Medicine, Religion, or can speak, read and write one additional language of your choice.
Subterranean REM
Subterranean REM. The forest floor of Haven is a dangerous place, and it’s partially because of you. Only the strong and clever survive down here. As a Subterranean REM, otherwise known as a ‘Buried REM’, you are built sturdier than your counterparts in the branches of the Great Tree, with larger forearms and claws to cut through packed dirt and roots. Under the expansive trunk of the Haven Tree, there exists a massive cavern. This is where the largest population of Buried REM resides, building their home right into the stone and dirt walls. This hollow is large enough that it contains an entire city, lit by magic crystals and bioluminescence. Dark passage ways lead away and further down, with even more structure and civilization beyond.
The Buried REM are hard working and industrious, placing more value on utility than aesthetic, though not disregarding the importance of beauty entirely.
Buried REM are physically hardier than Loft REM, and tend towards a larger build, though this is not always the case. They typically have more muted colors to their fur with the occasional splash of color, and tend to hear heavy fabrics, leather, and metal as day to day attire.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength increases by 2, and your Constitution increases by 1.
Nimble. Your base walking speed is not affected by rocky difficult terrain, and you have advantage when scaling stone.
Weapon Training. You are proficient with one melee weapon of your choice.
Street Smart. You’re familiar with danger and know how to navigate a difficult situation. You are proficient in two of the following:Survival, Deception, Intimidation, Nature, Stealth.
Superior Darkvision. Accustomed to the dark caverns below the tree, and densely shaded forest floor, You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Colors appear as normal.
​​​​​REM Intelligence
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Though less humanoid in appearance than other races, REMs are highly intelligent. They have the ability to design and use technology, communicate with other species outside of their own, build complex structures, and so on. They are highly sentient and complex. REMs do not have a standardized education system for the youth, and it is considered each individual's responsibility to be knowledgeable and well rounded. With this being the case, there are many private libraries and places of study, often provided by older REM.
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REM Behavior
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Usually friendly, and eager to interact with others. REMs enjoy mimicking sounds, melodies, and speech intonations with their soft whistling voices. They tend to be protective and doting over favored individuals.
REM seem to have an intuitive knowledge of how to navigate to realities outside of Haven. They are usually excited to share this knowledge, even though they typically aren’t very good at articulating the concept.​
Though not as social as humans tend to be, they recognize the benefits of a community and use this to their advantage. They have a functioning economy, and an expansive culture, including fashion, arts, food, entertainment, etc.
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Differences between the sexes
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Male and female REMs are similar in appearance, but not identical. Though not always a rule, females are typically smaller in stature, with a slightly shorter and broader snout than males. Females will usually have larger cheeks due to the area being more dense in muscle mass, causing females to have a more powerful bite. Males will usually have a slimmer waist, and are more likely to have thicker fur running down the back of the shoulder and spine. Males also tend to have broader chests and shoulders, with a more rigid posture.
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The Birds and the Bees
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Though there are male and female REM, they do not reproduce sexually. REMs mix male and female DNA by tearing off a piece of two individuals PomPoms and placing them together to create what is called a Sprig. A Sprig consists of three parts: A piece of female pompom, a piece of male pompom, and a container known as a catalyst. The catalyst is meant to hold the Sprig together as it forms into a stable unit. REMs often use seed pods from the Haven tree as a catalyst, however any sturdy and non toxic material can be used, so long as it can conduct an appropriate amount of heat to the growing REM inside. Metal boxes are a popular alternative to seed pods. While the developing REM is within the catalyst, the entire unit is considered by the REM to be a living entity. This is because while the PomPoms inside are stabilizing, they bond themselves to the the inner layer of the catalyst, effectively creating a living shell.
Once the Sprig is stable, and can hold its own shape, it pulls itself away from the catalyst, and is removed. It is removed by cracking or tearing the catalyst open with a powerful and precise bite from the mother.
A fully formed Sprig is completely helpless, and is kept under the watchful care of both parents. The Sprig is not considered a REMling until its back legs have fully grown and it is able to take its first steps.
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Professions
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REMs are very industrious, and like to make themselves useful, usually learning and specializing in a specific profession or lifestyle. There are a variety of different skills that a REM could learn, and here are a few of them:
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MareSmith: Creates what is needed to maintain the tree, as well as many other commissioned things. Creates the tools needed to capture, and hold captive MareBeasts, such Dires and Ominous.
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Way Keep: Guards the Haven Tree and the dimensional ley lines that lead in and out of Haven. General protectors of Haven, along with the other residents. These are the closest thing REM have to a police force, though there is not an organized authority that coordinates this.
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Tender: A doctor. Treats wounds and ailments. Good Tenders are well taken care of in their communities, as it’s beneficial to have a Tender nearby, should a REM ever need one. Tenders are paid even when no care is provided, in order to keep them close and friendly.
Collector: Gathers materials from Haven and other dimensions to sell or give to MareSmiths. There are subsections of collector, such as miner, reaper, weaver, etc.
Dabble: A REM that does not master a profession, and tends to leave Haven often, but not permanently.
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Other Professions: There are a plethora of occupations that overlap with professions which are recognizable to humans, and other sapient species, such as:
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Professor
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Chef
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Street vendor
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Clock maker
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Banker
And many more. If it's a job that exists in a city you know of, there's a decent chance there is an equivalent profession somewhere in Haven.