Arcane (race)

The arcane were a race of spacefaring merchants, especially interested in dealing in spelljamming equipment.

Description
The arcane looked like tall and slender blue-skinned giants with six long fingers in each hand. They typically dressed in robes.

The entire arcane race had a type of collective telepathy. They became immediately aware if a member of the race was harmed, which made it impossible for an aggressor to conduct business with any other arcane until amends were made.

Combat
Despite their size, the arcane were considerably weak and non-combative. They preferred to avoid confrontations through negotiation. They were usually accompanied by bodyguards, especially when conducting business in dangerous areas. If confrontation did break out, they were capable of defending themselves by using magic items, but the most frequent response would be for them to flee by using their innate invisibility and dimension door abilities, with no regard for their bodyguards.

Society
The arcane were the major (often the only) source of spelljamming helms for most spacefaring races. The only exception were the neogi, who were capable of acquiring their own helms through other means. For that reason, the arcane kept themselves neutral in all situations and did not get involved in any confrontation whatsoever between factions. In fact, it was common for the arcane to supply both sides of a conflict, even at the risk of mutual annihilation, which the arcane viewed as a small loss compared to the magnitude of their business.

The arcane were the only non-beholders that were authorized to freely land and conduct business on the planet H'Catha. They provided the planet's inhabitants with all their ships.

History
There was little known about the origin of the arcane.