Trox

• Mediate conflicts between others, providing a steady, calming presence.
• Reinvent yourself every few years while searching for an exoskeleton that fits.
• Be intimidated by bright, open spaces.

• Find your fearsome exterior intimidating.
• Come to you for sage advice.
• Struggle to read your insectile expressions and body language.

The common agreement is that troxes began life as giant, eight-legged beetles, though they've transformed dramatically over their long history. Their current forms, that of powerful bipeds who stand as tall as 12 feet, developed in response to direct intervention from a divine messenger, believed to be the mortal incarnation of Hylax herself. Their uppermost limbs have grown into powerful arms, but the four arms on the lower half of their torsos have fallen into disuse. These arms are much smaller than their primary limbs and hold only a fraction of the strength.

Troxes have a pair of relatively small, lightly colored eyes that are extremely well adapted to underground life, granting them the ability to see in even the darkest conditions. They also have large, powerful, swordlike mandibles on either side of their mouths and a pair of hooked horns that grow from their midsections. These features, combined with their towering size, large, muscular tails, and thick chitinous plates give troxes a truly intimidating countenance to those unfamiliar with Nchak's gentle giants.

Troxes lay small clusters of eggs, and trox nymphs grow rapidly, reaching physical maturity at age six. This transformation requires them to molt their exoskeletons numerous times during the first few years, and their bodies require enormous amounts of protein to keep up with their growth. Young troxes are predominantly carnivorous to meet this need, but upon reaching adulthood, they tend to shift to a largely vegetarian diet.

Adult troxes shed and replace their exoskeletons once every few years under most circumstances. The taxing process of growing a new exoskeleton leaves troxes vulnerable and sluggish for several weeks. This time of growth affords them the chance to customize their exoskeleton, as the freshly formed exoskeleton readily accepts dyes and can be subtly shaped to alter both aesthetics and function. Troxes regularly experiment with colors, molds, and incised tattoos during this process, knowing that the entire exoskeleton can be replaced if they dislike the results.

A trox's exoskeleton covers their head, forearms, thighs, and back, forming a protective shield over a large portion of their body and locking together tightly when they curl up. Only tiny sections of their bodies surrounding their joints are completely uncovered to allow for greater ease of movement. The more vulnerable parts of their bodies, like their upper arms, fingers, and underbelly, are protected by thinner, more flexible plates. The overall bulk of the exoskeleton limits troxes' agility and can impede their movement in tight places.

Trox society consists of numerous large, overlapping clans that often function as extended family units, sharing the responsibility for raising nymphs. Membership in these groups is ever-changing. An individual trox might form familial bonds through biological relatives, friendship, geographic convenience, or role in the community dozens of times over the course of their lives. Despite the informal nature of these familial bonds, troxes guard their connections with fierce loyalty.

The cornerstone of trox society is finding a balance between supporting individuality and the community, guided by the teachings of Hylax. Many troxes find instinctive comfort in their ever-changing family groups and often work to support and protect the community, even to their personal detriment. They're always willing to spend time and energy supporting other members of their clan, or new friends or neighbors. At the same time, troxes work hard to encourage a sense of individuality in their young and discourage a complete disregard for one's desires. Nymphs are encouraged to discover and pursue their own passions during the early stages of their lives. When a young trox has found an area of interest, be it art, athletics, academics, or any other skill or hobby, they're encouraged to work with clan elders to pursue these interests and find ways to use these passions for their personal betterment as well as to also benefit the greater community.

Trox elders serve in semiformal advisory roles in trox society, sharing expertise with younger generations and mentoring nymphs. Elder troxes, however, typically retire many years before their expected deaths, ceding their mentor roles to the next generation and taking up a path called the Leaving. In the case of elder troxes, this term describes a transfer of power and responsibility within the community, but it also describes the community ritually blessing a trox who's either leaving home to travel into the stars or making a great change to their life to redefine themselves with a new role in society.

Trox society is largely based on reciprocity rather than a formalized economy, wherein goods and services are freely given, with the giver knowing that kindness will be returned in the future. Credits and commerce from the outside have become an increasingly prominent part of trox economics, but within and between trox clans, gift giving is a cornerstone. Even troxes who leave Nchak to take on roles in the Stewards, or to combat the Swarm, are expected to send money back to their clans at home, and most troxes fulfill this expectation enthusiastically, viewing it as their duty as a member of their community. Even if these journeying troxes never return, individual members of the family work to find ways to return this kindness, either directly to the gift giver or to their memory.

Troxes are given a single name at birth by their extended family. Upon taking up the Leaving, many choose another name that they feel better reflects their newly chosen path. Occasionally, troxes grant one another honorifics for great feats and acts of service. In these cases, the honorific is included after the name or, in rare cases, used in lieu of a name.

Troxes are a peaceful people whose society has been shaped by their relationship with the mortal incarnation of Hylax, the Forever Queen. Trox culture values forming tight bonds with others and finding ways to use their talents, abilities, and interests to benefit the larger group. These groups are dynamically formed, at first by caregivers sharing efforts to raise small cohorts of nymphs, and later by travel, individual interests, or the will of Hylax. Troxes freely shift their loyalties and affections from group to group but are quick to form genuine bonds with new incarnations of their clans and families.

Trox families heavily emphasize building an understanding of themselves through their formative years so the individual identity is never subsumed by the needs of the group. As they shed and regrow their exoskeleton, each trox is invited to reinvent themself, literally reshaping their body, reforming their physical appearance, and reevaluating their individual role in society. During adulthood, the molting process often begins when an individual trox feels the need for a change rather than for practical exoskeletal maintenance. A trox with a new exoskeleton is likely to adopt a new home, clan, or vocation, and sometimes even a new name, as part of their personal reinvention.
Popular Edicts build strong bonds with others, reflect on your own desires
Popular Anathema abandon your clan or allies, allow your individuality to be subsumed by the group, seek violence without attempting a peaceful solution

Bunesah, Cojat, Fyrvet, Hasibah, Kemad, Merash, Navaeh, Pavaleh, Renicot, Teboreh, Ubiat, Vaenist

10

Large

Strength, Constitution, Free

Dexterity

Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent on your home world).

You can see in darkness and dim light just as well as you can see in bright light, though your vision in darkness is in black and white.

Your four vestigial arms can be used to hold, draw, or stow items of light Bulk, but not to make attacks, wield weapons, or use items.