Armand

STANDING WITH A STRONG, WIDE STANCE THE

short, solidly built humanoid flexed its thick, plated skin. The thoroughly intoxicated dwarf, spewing a slurred mix of common and dwarven curses, threw himself against the creature, intent on sending it sprawling but found himself sitting firmly on his rear. The creature looked down at him with a soft expression, no ill intent present. It slowly reached out for the dwarf, offering its hand as assistance.

"You must tell me more about your people, my friend, and I will get you a drink." it said softly. The dwarf's eyes narrowed but he took the offered hand and the two returned to the bar.

Wandering the deserts and grasslands of the world, armands are a nomadic people who don't believe in individual ownership but the sharing of all possessions among the tribe. Of infinitely greater value to the armands are experiences. Those armands who have traveled, adventured, and returned to the tribe are deemed wise ones whose advice carries the most weight. Combat is not relished among the armands as they see it as depriving the armand or its foe of the pleasures of life.

Nomadic Tribes

Armands live in transitory tribes who rarely build permanent dwellings. They live in large communal tents or take advantage of ready shelter, such as caves or abandoned structures. Tribes generally consist of several small, closely knit family groups who come together to share resources and experiences.

The armand tribal population is in a constant state of flux as adventuring members come and go. The thirst for adventure and stories to share with the tribe drive them across the deserts and plains. Tribes will avoid larger centers of population and enclosed areas such as forets and mountians, preferring more open ground to wander.

Transitory Life

Armands generally scorn wealth and possessions because of their transitory nature. True wealth comes in the form of life's experiences and tales. Many young adult armands leave their families and tribes, striking out into the world in search of their own experiences and stories to bring back. Even those who return from adventure rarely stay for long, their thirst for experiences driving them back out into the world.

Pacifist Nature

Armands prefer to avoid combat whenever possible. They enjoy living and treasuring new experiences and will rarely start a conflict. Armands believe that combat too often causes an untimely end and deprives either the armand or its foe the experiences of life. Diplomacy and a friendly nature ensure that most armands can remove themselves from dangerous circumstances.

That is not to say that an armand is incapable in combat. Armand's solid build and firm stance make them difficult enemies to face. When faced with a deadly foe, armands are more than willing to make a stand.

Civil Relations Armands try to get along with everyone, preferring to establish friendships in order to expand their knowledge and experiences. Dwarves. "How they can live under all that rock is an interesting subject, however, their history and tales rival most races. A dwarven friend will lead you on many a grand adventure!" Humans. "Those within large walls tend to be uninteresting and tied too closely to material wealth. Those in the wilds, in the farms, and across the lands can be a treasure trove of experiences." Halflings. "Halflings share our zeal for life. Never will you weave more beautiful tales than those experienced at the side of a halfling!"

Stout Frame

While diminutive, armands are very hardy creatures. Standing 3 feet tall and between 140 and 150 pounds on average, they are often underestimated in a confrontation. While armands will use their small size to extract themselves from most confrontations, their stout build allows them surprising durability when combat cannot be avoided.

Armand's skin is covered with subtle but thickly plated scales that are often confused on first glance with fur. The scales cover their entire bodies with the exception of their slightly rat-like heads whose oversized ears are often decorated with many piercings. Their coloration varies from the pale tan, almost golden tone of the desert tribes, to subtle green hues of the prairie nomads.