Main | Rules | Joining | Roster | Player's Guide | Map | Lore | Tales | Message Board | Chat | Links

Races

The world of Nimrodel contains many sentient races, though only three of them are available to play. Dragons, Kraken of the deep and Behemoths of the air are all extremely intelligent and at times quite talkative beings, but you are not allowed to play them. So sorry. However, Humans are by far the most predominant race in the land of Ourissa, and I would greatly prefer it if most or even all of the characters are Humans. However, some interesting character ideas for Centaur and the Sea Peoples may exist, so these races are choosable as well. The Dry'cha tree herders are not available as player characters, though one may join your party in the right circumstances. Each of the three races has a set of starting statistics, as well as a single unique skill, and a unique class that is based around this skill. Some class skills are redundant for a certain race, and are exchanged for different class skills. These things are all explained below. Humans • Starting Statistics: STR 3 CON 3 AGI 3 INT 3 CHA 3 LUK 1 • Unique Skill: Psychic Affinity. • Unique Class tree: Fighter » Psychic » Oracle » Demigod • Psychic characters do not have to take the Psychic class tree. The most predominant race in Ourissa, these people require little explanation. Some people in Ourissa are born with weak telikinetic abilities that can be strengthened through training. While a Centaur or Sea Peoples Priest with some of this power happens once or twice in a generation, these abilities are much more predominant in Humans, though still rare. Centaur • Starting Statistics: STR 4 CON 4 AGI 3 INT 2 CHA 2 LUK 1 • Unique Skill: Pegasus Wings (must be taken or not taken at character creation) • Unique Class Tree: Tribesman » Pegasus Knight » Pegasus King » Mandate of Heaven • A Pegasus character must take the Pegasus Knight class tree, though they may offclass to get other skills on their way there with permission. • In addition, certain mounted class skills are redundant for the Centaur, and are exchanged for other class skills: • • Riding Proficiency » Intimidate (only takable if a class prereq) • • Combat Mount » Endurance • • Quick Mount » Quickdraw • • Side Swing » Heightened Senses • • Man and Steed » Animalism • • Running Dismount » Fearless • • Avenger » Fearless The warring Centaur tribes live mostly in the highlands west of Ourissa, a land that is barbaric and dangerous. However, some scattered tribes live in the lands around Ayotya, warring with the walled city. The Spirnis tribe lives further inland, and is a member of the seven great tribes of Harakka. Further, a rare Centaur may be a member of other Harakkan tribes, and some expatriated centaur live in Ayotya, though the majority of the Ayotyan population treats these people with extreme racism. Centaur are almost never found in Varans. Most Varanians have never seen one, though they have heard of their existance. They look as one would expect, with a horse body that extends after the four legs into the torso of a man. Centaur are tall, hairy, and extremely strong, and their culture is one of nomadic warfare and rights of strength. It is possible for a human to ride a Centaur like a horse, but the Centaur would only allow this if the rider were mortally injured, or considered a brother. They are usually colored a mottled sienna brown or red, and their skin color matches the hair on their horse body. Rare Centaur may be a darker brown or black, though black Centaur are considered cursed and normally killed at a young age by their parents. They can not and do not attempt to cross breed with Humans. They are considered to be an unintelligent and barbaric race by most civilized people, but they can be quite smart. However, they are not quite as far along as most Humans in terms of metallurgy or science, and tend to trade or steal to obtain higher quality city equipment for their wars. Technologically they are similar to the Harakkan tribes, maybe slightly less accomplished than most. Every now and then, a male, albino white Centaur with wings and a natural affinity for fire magic is born, known as a Pegasus King. When this happens, the existing tribe will split in two, for Centauri law mandates that every Pegasus must lead his own tribe. Naturally some Pegasus are much better rulers than others, and when a Pegasus is killed, his tribe must be absorbed into the killers ranks. This leads to a very unstable and wartorn society amongst Centaur tribes. Pegasus Kings cannot fly, though at a gallop they are known to leap high into the air and glide impressive distances. Centaur universally worship the sun god Ari, who they believe gives the Pegasus Kings their powers. Sea Peoples • Starting Statistics: STR 3 CON 3 AGI 3 INT 4 CHA 2 LUK 1 • Unique Skill: Embodiment (must be taken at character creation) • Unique Class: Fighter » Ritualist » Possessed » Dreamer • Each Sea Peoples character must take one of eight Embodiments at character creation. Each gives certain advantages and disadvantages. Further, those taking the Embodiment of the Possessed must take the Possessed class tree, though they may offclass to get other skills on their way there with permission. Sea Peoples with another Embodiment may become Possessed with an exceptional character story. • Further, certain class skills are redundant for the Sea Peoples, and are exchanged for other class skills. All Sea Peoples characters are automatically given a free Swimming Proficiency: • • Swimming Proficiency (weapon skill) » Expert Swimmer • • Expert Swimmer » Intimidation • • Home at Sea » Water Resistance The Sea Peoples are a name for a group of eight races of sentient underwater species who make up many great nations that live under the waves of Nimrodel. They are an intelligent and industrious people, and though Humans rarely if ever see the glory of their civilization, it is known that the Sea Peoples are very intelligent and accomplished. They can breathe both water and air, and though they greatly prefer the water, some are known to live in human port cities and crew human ships. They are rarely found very far inland. Physically their appearances vary, though they are for the most part humanoid, except with a grotesque and fishlike face, sometimes with tentacles and a beak for a mouth or rows of surrealy sharp fangs, and possibly differing numbers of fingers and toes, perhaps webbed. They can be all different colors, and will usually wear thick hooded robes in human society to hide their appearance and their smell. Humans will tolerate them, but their stench and their customs are often seen as unpleasant. The eight Sea Peoples races do not interbreed. The longer they are out of the water the more they tend to smell, and one who lives in a human city will generally live at the port, and their house will be under the wharf, only coming to the surface to conduct business. The Sea Peoples are natural born traders, and deal with everyone equally in trade, shunning war whenever possible. Their politics are incredibly Byzantian and difficult to understand, and literally hundreds of different trading guilds manipulate each other daily, though this somehow rarely ends up involving human society or leading to war. They take goods from one continent to the next on a species of domesticated manta rays that grow as big as whales. Their cities are guarded from underwater beasts and monsters by the Manta Knights, who ride the aquatic beasts like a human would ride a flying drake. They are also accomplished sorcerers, and use their magic to keep perishable goods dry even under the waves. Their magic can enable humans or centaur to survive underwater and visit their cities, though this gift is rarely granted for longer than a few hour visit, and normally quite expensive. Their religion is perhaps the most interesting of all. The Possessed, a squidlike member of the eight Sea Peoples races, are all cursed with a telepathic link to the Kraken, a species of great and impossibly evil underwater dragon. It is well known that the Kraken are as sadistic and power hungry as any despot, however, the Kraken gift the Possessed with magical power, and this power is used in worship of the evil Kraken to accomplish things needed by society. The other races feel they are using the Possessed, but the Possessed feel they are using the others, and no one knows which side is getting the better end of the deal. Sea Peoples Embodiments Embodiment of the Possessed: The rarest of the eight Sea Peoples races, the Possesseds skin is a leathery dark purple, with four long, many jointed fingers and toes on each arm and leg. Their heads form a squid-like hood, with two huge glowing eyes spaced far apart, and no nose. Their mouth is a grotesque mix of writhing tentacles and a beak, and their speech is often garbled and chittery, and their laughter terrifying. All Possessed have visions and hear voices from the Kraken, who bid them to do their evil works. They are all indoctrinated into the cult at a young age, and do its bidding. Very, very few break away from the cult, and these will be driven insane over the years by the Krakens anger. A Possessed who says they are not doing the work of the cult is normally incorrect, though their true purpose may be unclear, even to themselves. A man who stares into the eyes of a Possessed will temporarily be able to hear the Krakens voices, and even a few seconds of this can be enough to terrify a man or beast into retreat, or torture a captive into submission. Embodiment of the Shark: These are the born warriors of the Sea Peoples, and most of the manta knights are made up from their ranks. Their skin coloring is gray, and they are taller than most, with a wide and flat face and mouth made up of rows upon rows of sharp teeth. Their grins are known to be especially frightening. While on land their physical abilities are similar to that of a normal humans, they are especially proficient in combat at sea, swimming faster and more gracefully than the other races. However, their numbers amongst the Sea Peoples are small, and their aggressive personalities are frowned upon in underwater society. They are delegated to the duties of defending city borders from monsters of the deep in large part. These Sea Peoples are given a permanent +1 Str and -1 Int, making their natural statistics closer to those of the Centaur. Further, their swimming ability is naturally better than that of other races. Embodiment of the Seahorse: The Seahorse are the most fishlike of the sea people, almost looking like a six foot high creature of the same stature. Rather than legs their body drops into a many ridged tail that has an excellent range of motion, and can slither along the ground like a snake. They have two arms and a great fin that protrudes from their back, and their face is elongated and ends in an anteater like snout. They are the largest of the eight races save for the Sunfish, and it is actually possible for a human to ride one while they swim under the waves, though it is somewhat uncomfortable for both parties. These peoples are normally the stablemasters for the Manta Rays, and their repor with animals both above and below ground is normally much better than that of other sentient races. Embodiment of the Salmon: This is the most pleasant and most land dwelling of the eight races. These Sea Peoples are more or less human, except with bright orange scales for skin, no hair and very noticable gills at their necks. Small spines protrude from where their hair would be, and their ears and nose are sunken and featureless. They are easier on the eyes than the Eel people or the Possessed, but do not have those peoples special abilities. These Sea Peoples are given a permanent +1 Charisma, bringing their Cha score back up to that of a standard humans. Embodiment of the Sunfish: Masters of trade, these people make up the beaurocratic elite of the eight races in large degree. They are large and fat, with rounded bodies and a deep, jovial laugh. Their skin is a scaly deep blue, and their eyes are tiny, nestled within their overly large bodies. While their size and clumsiness makes them inefficient fighters, their intelligence and gifts for math and haggling make them excellent traders. These Sea Peoples are given a permanent +1 Constitution and -1 Agility. In addition, those with the Haggle skill are always able to shave an additional 10% off a haggled price, subject to the normal minimums. Embodiment of the Eel: A peculiar race, these Sea Peoples do not have legs, rather two arms and a body made up of a long, snakelike tail. Their skin is leathery and a light brown, and their faces are whiskered and long, their necks thick. A whiskery hair marks the back of their heads, and their mouths are square and full of sharp teeth. Eel people are poisonous, and capable of releasing a powerful toxin in their bite. They will sometimes apply this poison to their weapons before a battle by sucking on them, though this process is time consuming and must be done in advance. This poison will cause the bodies of those afflicted to swell and pus up very quickly, restricting movement and causing discomfort and pain. The swelling disperses after a few hours, but will persist if the afflicted does not rest through the night. Eel people are completely immune to their own toxin. Other Sea Peoples do not have a high opinion of the Eels, though they are more respected than the Sharks or the Possessed. As the saying goes, it is alright to share a meal with them, just don't eat anything they've touched. Embodiment of the Rainbowfish: The Rainbowfish are a beautiful race, though they consider themselves superior to other Sea Peoples, and especially superior to other sentient races, and this egotism can counteract their harmonious looks. They are a variety of colors, some many colors at once, and they will have many fins that protrude from the back of their head like hair, translucent and vibrant colors. Rainbowfish make excellent mages, and their ability at controlling and resisting the effects of magic is slightly improved in comparison to other sentient races, though they do not have as natural an affinity for it as other magical races such as the Dry'cha. Embodiment of the Pufferfish: While not poisonous like their fishlike counterparts, these Sea Peoples are still covered in a thick sheen of shiny, silver spines. The spines cover their entire body save their face, and tend to move away from their extremities, though every one of their spines flow in a slightly different way. If it wasn't for their spines, they would look similar to the Salmon people, and some say the two are related. While their spines are normally harmless, they can 'puff' their spines out at will, causing them to stand out at about a 45 degree angle. The spines are sharp and extremely hard, and this gives them natural armor equivalent to Chainmail. Naturally, it is hard for them to puff their spines out if they are wearing other armor.