The Axolittian (OD&D Class)

23 Apr, 2026

As I’ve been working on more entries for the Antarctic Jam, I wrote an entry about a salamander wizard and further developed the idea as a faction to incorporate into my additional hexes. Now I’ve expanded the idea even more for the salamander tribes to act as my area’s version of “halflings”, somewhat in a similar spirit to Idraluna’s Mothmen.

From interviews conducted with various tribes of the Northern Shrublands and Eastern Cordillera, after the “Great Abandonment of the Builders,” but before men staked new homes on the reed-choked margins of the Psouthern Shrublands, the Axolittians possessed an empire of sorts.

The Axolittians are a semi-aquatic, colony-organizing lineage associated with the Psouthern Shrublands, exhibiting traits consistent with amphibious vertebrates adapted to marsh and canal ecologies. Morphological evidence (fragmentary) suggests soft-bodied forms with high moisture dependence, branchial or pseudo-branchial respiration, and dermal permeability suited to stagnant, nutrient-rich waters.

Their presence was marked by extensive hydraulic modification of the environment: canal networks, controlled water basins, and semi-permanent canal-village complexes constructed from reed, silt, and mineral composites. These structures indicate a high degree of environmental engineering despite otherwise biologically conservative physiology.

The species maintained a diversified aquatic-agricultural economy. Cultivation systems included: pearl production, likely through managed mollusk populations within enclosed basins, silk harvesting from swamp-adapted arachnids, suggesting interspecies domestication or controlled symbiosis, and large-scale grub farming, providing a dense and renewable protein source suited to humid, low-oxygen environments.

Behavioral reconstruction indicates a distributed feudal structure, with localized fiefs organized around water control nodes. Coordination between these nodes implies communication adapted to aquatic or semi-submerged conditions. Possibly vibrational, chemical, or low-frequency acoustic signaling transmitted through water channels?

Environmental dependency appears absolute. As hydrological stability declined, whether through climate shift, siltation, or external disruption, Axolittian infrastructure degraded rapidly. Without continuous maintenance, canal systems collapsed into marsh, and cultivated zones reverted to unmanaged wetland.

Residual sites persist as submerged ruins and silted canal grids, often rich in pearl remnants, chitinous silk traces, and fossilized larval pits. These locations remain biologically active, frequently colonized by descendant or opportunistic species exploiting the abandoned waterworks.¹

Axolittians can be played as either an Armsman or a Chromatic Magus. They roll saves vs magic as a character four levels higher and are lethally precise when firing projectiles. They move twice as fast when swimming in water. They receive a +2 AC bonus when in combat with large opponents and can hear and listen behind doors on a d6 roll of 1-2. Fire and heat attacks do double damage to them.

If playing as an Armsman, they cannot advance past level 4 (Fen Warrior) and can only wear leather armor.

If playing as a Chromatic Magus, they can only be a Green Magus and advance in experience as normal.