Mwili Wavizi ~ Novel Class

Class Details

The Mwili Wavizi, known colloquially as "Flesh Thieves," form a critical pillar in Sayarii society. Operating on the frontier of wilderness and civilization, they pursue magical creatures to harvest their valuable components. Without innate magical ability themselves, the Mwili Wavizi rely on deep expertise, cunning strategy, and unmatched survival skills. Their practices sustain the economic and cultural life of Sayarii, feeding the demand for magical resources and supporting thaumaturgic research and production.

The Hunters of Thaumaturgy

The Mwili Wavizi are integral to the thaumaturgic economy of Sayarii. Magic does not manifest naturally within humans here; instead, it must be painstakingly extracted from magical creatures. Mwili Wavizi hunt these beings—each one a puzzle of flesh, fury, and forgotten power—ensuring a continuous supply of essential magical materials. They work closely with Thaumaturges to identify, harvest, and preserve the most potent parts of these rare and dangerous creatures. The results are distilled into Manyoya feathers, alchemical components, and thaumaturgic tools—used to craft enchanted gear and unleash precise, stored magical effects. Sayarii’s continued progress is built on the backs of these hunters, who offer their lives for the chance at survival, glory, and reward.

Masters of Preservation

Mastering the delicate art of preservation, Mwili Wavizi are experts at quickly and effectively harvesting the valuable parts of magical creatures before decay robs them of their potency. Their knowledge of anatomy and preservation techniques is unmatched, drawn from experience and instinct in equal measure. A wrongly sliced organ or a poorly timed extraction can render a prize worthless—or worse, trigger a lingering magical reaction. Proper preservation not only maximizes the magical potency of harvested materials but also drastically enhances their market value, driving Sayarii’s thriving economy and magical research forward. A skilled Mwili Wavizi can make more from one preserved beast than a merchant sees in a season.

Pack Hunters

To become Mwili Wavizi is to choose danger. The beasts they stalk are powerful, cunning, and often ancient—some speak, some fly, some blink between worlds. This is a profession with a body count. And yet, for those willing to face the abyss, the rewards are staggering. A single successful expedition might fund years of comfort, though few choose that path. Most return again and again, chasing not just coin but renown. They operate in small crews, or join larger hunting caravans bound for remote regions, always seeking the next rare kill. Trophies—teeth, scales, claws, feathers—are not only worn for pride, but as warding sigils, trophies of survival. Each one tells a tale of blood, grit, and survival against the impossible.

Adaptable Trackers

Mwili Wavizi are forged by the wilds. Sayarii is not gentle—it is a world of blistering sun, vast deserts, impenetrable jungles, and treacherous coastlines. City-states cling to their territory like barnacles, separated by expanses of lawless, monster-ridden terrain. In this crucible, the Mwili Wavizi thrive. They adjust to every terrain, weather every trial, and learn the patterns of creatures that most people believe are myth. A good hunter reads the desert by the wind, the jungle by the silence, and the ocean by the shape of the clouds. Their survival depends on it. Against the horrors of the unknown, the Mwili Wavizi are mortal men and women armed only with cunning, steel, and sand-blasted resolve. Their lives are short, dangerous, and often violent—but for many, it is the only life worth living.

Blood on the Wind

Creating a Mwili Wavizi

The air was sharp with brine and blood.

A shriek echoed through the canyon as the creature surged from the carcass of its mate—chitin cracking, feathers thrashing, a blink of iridescent scale and sand-muddied claw. Liko dove too late. The trap snapped wide. Luko took the hit. A scream. Silence. Then the thunder of steel boots and breathless curses as the crew surged forward.

The fight was fast. All good hunts are. A snap of lightning cracked the haze—an arc of trapped energy discharged through one of the beast's curved spines. Flesh scorched. The smell of it joined the brine and blood. And when it was done—when the blood mist settled and the high keening in the air faded to the sound of the wind—they stood silent. One less crewmate. One more trophy.

By the time they reached the edge of the city-state, the flesh was salted, the feathers bound, and the scent of gold had already begun to pull at the merchants. None asked what it had cost.

To become Mwili Wavizi is to accept that some returns are made without celebration—and some returns, not at all.

This section will guide you in shaping your own Mwili Wavizi—what they hunt, why they endure, and what they hope to carry home.

Equipment

Mwili Wavizi rely on specialized tools of their trade—equipment designed not only for survival, but for making a statement. These are not standard issue items; they are deeply personal, often crafted by the hunter themselves or inherited through bloody legacy.

Harpoons

Among their most iconic tools are heavy-duty harpoons—either mounted into ballista-like launchers or fired from hand-held launchers powered by crank, spring, or black powder. These are not standard combat weapons; they are armed before battle and rarely reloaded mid-fight. Intended for taking down large beasts, harpoons deliver massive puncture wounds and come affixed with rope or chain to prevent prey from escaping.

• Damage: 3d10 piercing (on hit)
• Range: 30/90 ft. (disadvantage beyond 30 ft.)
• Special: Requires 2 actions to load. On a hit, the harpoon deals damage and embeds in the target. The target must immediately succeed on a contested Strength (Athletics) check against the Mwili Wavizi’s Strength (Athletics) or become Harpooned.
• Variants: Can be customized for use with chymical payloads, Thaumaturgic preparations, or tripline harpoons for ensnaring limbs.

While Harpooned:

• The target is tethered and cannot move more than 30 ft. from the hunter (or the tether’s length) unless the tether is severed.
• At the end of each of its turns, the creature may attempt another contested Strength (Athletics) check to break free.
• On a successful escape, the barbed harpoon tears free, dealing an additional 2d6 piercing damage.
• Alternatively, another creature can sever the rope or chain with a slashing weapon (AC 15, 10 HP), ending the effect without triggering damage.

As Mwili Wavizi grow in skill and reputation, their harpoon techniques evolve:

• Level 5: Tethered targets have disadvantage on contested checks to escape.
• Level 11: Escape attempts trigger both the tear damage and leave the target prone on a failed check.
• Level 17: Targets must succeed on two consecutive contested checks to escape.

These harpoons are prized by the Mwili Wavizi for their power, utility, and terrifying psychological impact. Even a miss sends a message: you are being hunted.

Nets of the Wild

No serious Mwili Wavizi ventures into the field without a net. Whether used to entangle a beast mid-charge, restrain a downed quarry, or hoist a carcass onto a sled or sand-skiff, nets are an essential tool in the hunter’s arsenal. Unlike the standard adventurer’s net, those used by the Mwili Wavizi come in a variety of sizes and materials—tailored to suit the terrain, target, and tactic.

• Standard Capture Net: Reinforced rope, 5 ft. radius. Follows standard D&D net mechanics (restrains on hit, DC 10 Strength check to escape).

• Weighted Throw Net: 10 ft. radius. Thrown as an action, this net imposes disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws when attempting to escape if used in open terrain.

• Collapsible Net Trap: A rigged version triggered by proximity. Requires a successful Trap check to set (see Discipline: Trapper). Effective for securing dens, choke points, or canyon paths.

• Heavy Hauling Net: Made from braided hide and bone pins. Used to haul larger bodies and limbs across sand or snow. Not a combat tool, but essential for long expeditions.

Many Wavizi decorate their nets with painted glyphs or carved sigils, believed to offer luck or still the wrath of the creature being taken. Some Thaumaturges even claim that nets which carry the blood of fallen quarry are more effective, though no one has proven it.

Mwavizi Masks

Just as crucial as the harpoon is the mask. Every Mwili Wavizi crafts or commissions their own—a deeply personal creation that serves as both armor and identity. Constructed from metal, bone, wood, leather, glass, and cloth, these masks are rugged tools as well as cultural symbols. Many Sayarii children grow up crafting makeshift masks from cloth, bark, or bone chips—playing Mwili Wavizi in the alleys and corridors of their cities. To don a Mwavizi mask is to embody courage, adventure, and wild defiance. Among the Mwili Wavizi, the mask is far more than just play—it’s a badge of honor, a mark of survival, and a link to one’s hunting lineage. Each mask grants a +1 bonus to Armor Class, stacking with light or medium armor. Designed for the harsh terrain of Sayarii, they shield the face from sun, wind, and abrasive sand, and often incorporate smoked lenses or built-in goggles. Their craftsmanship is as varied as the hunters themselves—some grotesque and fearsome, others elegant and sleek; some painted in vivid dyes or monster blood, others adorned with feathers, bones, or relics from past kills. A Mwili Wavizi is rarely seen without their mask. To remove it in public is either a sign of deep trust or a declaration of vulnerability few would risk.