Post by Orbak the Monster on Jul 6, 2013 18:30:57 GMT -5
-Roakian-
Strange things happen in the Inner Sea, but few were as strange as the River Kingdom of Roakia. Taken from a bandit warlord by a group of eight wizards, each focusing on a single school of magic. Their large swath of land began to flourish, aided along by this conclave of wizards. It did not take long, however, for these wizards to begin to fight - each imagined their own school to be greater, and began to war with each other. The people of this kingdom were forced to witness this civil war among their leaders, and began to fall to fear and despair. They attempted to hire out adventurers and heroes, but none would come - those that did, failed to succeed. It came down to the final two wizards - an enchanter and a necromancer. Both used their powers on the populace, turning enthralled citizens against risen minions.
It was then that a nearby tribe, witnessing this from the start, had decided they had enough. This tribe gathered their strongest men and women, and gathered the frightened people of Roakia to defeat the two wizards. Thankful to be rescued, the humans of Roakia looked to the tribe for guidance, and offered their own. A new leader emerged for the Roakian people - one that would not soon forget the tribe's influence. The human queen took a husband from the tribe... and soon had a child, a prince. This was a surprise to many, as the tribe that had rescued them had not been human. The tribe whad been of catfolk.
Soon, the Roakian people learned that the lingering magic of the wizard-kings had linked their races together, a bond that both seemed eager to explore. After several decades of inter-marriages and breeding, a new race was born - one that the humans and catfolk of Roakia are proud to call their own.
- Physical Description: As befits their heritage, the Roakian people have some combination of human and catfolk traits. This seems to vary from person to person, from fully catfolk-looking individuals to entirely human members of the species. Regardless, the race grows thick nails on their fingers and toes which are sturdy enough to be used as weaponry. Feline ears are common, as are tails - normally among female members of the race. Some have markings on their flesh similar to stripes or spots, often mistaken for tattoos. Unlucky members of the race possess feline eyes and teeth - combined with pale flesh, the Roakian might be mistaken for a dhampir or vampire. Unattractive members of the species are rare, as are overweight members. The body possesses an extremely quick metabolism, causing them to be hefty eaters - but rarely put on any weight.
Roakians are slightly shorter than humans, standing at around five feet tall, with men and woman varying based on appearance. Gender cues are exaggerated, with fit and able men and hourglass-shaped women. Their eyes are wide and almond-shaped, with large vibrantly colored pupils. Hair length seems to differ from person to person - while some end up with a great mane of golden hair, others make due with black hair which never grows beyond a certain length.
Roakian females often sport piercings, though Roakian males do not. When dealing with strangers, Roakians dress modestly - this surprises many, considering their natural beauty. Among each other or those they are comfortable with, Roakians show a great deal more - with households often staying entirely nude until the need arises for coverings.
Happy Roakians are known to purr. Unhappy ones commonly hiss.
- Society and Relations: Very similiar to the surrounding River Kingdoms, the Roakians live in a feudal state - though one seemed inspired by storybooks than the more realistic kingdoms around them. The king and queen preside over Roakia, and they have an adviser chosen from the nearby noble families. It is always ever someone who can cultivate a sinister role, as the adviser's job is not just to provide advice - it is to take the blame for unpopular edicts. This allows the King and Queen to make choices to aid the kingdom as a large which would normally make the people unhappy (like raising taxes). The people can simply assume that the adviser is behind it. To the country's nobility, this sacrificial role is one of great honor (doubly since it doesn't involve much work). The role of Queen is hereditary, though there are no requirements to be King - indeed, the Queen must choose their King out of who they think is the best for the role. The Queen herself is always taught ethics early in her life, and is more often than not a divine spellcaster.
Females play a more prominent role in the Roakian society, often filling political or military jobs. This has evolved from the need to defend their kingdom from the surrounding ones - most soldiers are overwhelmingly male, which gives the Roakian females an impressive advantage. Likewise, professions are often split based on appearance. Not out of any standard or political movement, but out of strange coincidence. The more bestial-looking Roakians end up in jobs similar to their catfolk ancestors, taking up physical roles. The more human-looking Roakians appear to favor magical roles. There have been subversions, and it remains entirely up to the Roakian in question.
Magic still plays a major role in Roakian society, but not the way it is normally handled. To become (or be) a magic-user in Roakia is to support your fellows. Magic is communal in Roakia, and those who have the magic are supposed to use it in aid of other citizens. Knowledge of spellcraft is wide-spread, and the common people have much less fear of it than in other parts of the Inner Sea. Performers make great use of illusions, farmers, messengers and craftsmen make use of transmutations and conjurations, city-planners and architects make heavy use of divinations, and so on.
This reliance on magic has made them unpopular with their neighbors, who see this reliance as a weakness - or worse, see it as training their common folk to be warmages to use against them. While Roakian diplomats have attempted to ease their fears, few have accepted them. Many Roakians are accused of making deals with demonic patrons for their beauty, and many of the surrounding areas despise the Roakian people. This has caused them to be alone in a sea of enemies, causing the Roakians to prepare for what the believe to be an inevitable war. For their part, the surrounding kingdoms have taken their growing military as proof to their suspicions.
- Alignment and Religion: Unsurprisingly, most Roakians are chaotic in alignment, though rarely do they touch on the selfishness of chaotic neutral or chaotic evil. the race seems to have inherited the catfolk's giving nature, and though they don't care about the law - they do care about people. Only the darkest would go out of their way to break the law out of spite, unless it was to oppose a tyrant or other corrupt icon. Those that are lawful are usually spellcasters, finding far more use in structure than their free-spirited kin. The two halves of their society only rarely clash - having enough understanding of the other side to put aside their differences for the greater good. Though evil members of the society exist, they are often self-made outcasts: the Roakians discourage their evil kin by avoiding them, leaving them alone with their thoughts. While this does solve the problem for Roakians, it just means the evil Roakian leaves to cause trouble elsewhere. Desna and Cayden Cailean are commonly worshiped among chaotic Roakians, while lawful ones prefer Iomedae or Irori. Lamashtu's violent hedonism is attractive to evil Roakians.
- Adventurers: Inheriting their ancestor's better qualities, many Roakians take it upon themselves to see the world and bring back tales for their kin and loved ones. Some actually leave to find romance, as many believe that the adventuring life is a romantic one. This mix has caused many adventuring Roakians to be bards. They are quick to take up a cause they believe in, though many have trouble focusing: it's from the Roakians that the term 'side-quest' may have originated from. They have the catfolk's curiosity and the human's adaptability, so the mindset of having a mighty calling in life... and a few on the side... makes perfect sense to them.
- Names: The Roakian people have a sense of humor about their lot in life, and often choose punny or ironic names for their children, often based on their appearance. There are no family names - members of the race choose their 'last name' based on whim, and it's prone to change throughout their lives.
Racial Traits: (10 RP)
- Humanoid Type (Human, Catfolk).
- +2 to one ability score, chosen at level 1.
- Languages: Catfolk. Bonus Languages: Common, Elven, Sylvan, Gnoll.
Feat and Skill Traits: (7 RP)
- Glib: While many assume that the Roakians get their way on appearance alone, the truth is that they're skilled speakers as well. They gain a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Bluff checks.
- Distracting: The race's exaggerated gender cues are often a point of pride to the race, and a boon to them in combat. They gain 'Dodge' as a bonus feat, thanks to their innate ability to use their opponent's distraction to their advantage. The bonus from Dodge increases by 1 against creatures that would be attracted to their gender.
Senses Traits: (1 RP)
- Low-Light Vision: Roakians can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
Offensive Traits: (2 RP)
- Claws: The Roakian's developed nails can be used as emergency weapons. Roakians receive two claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage.
Strange things happen in the Inner Sea, but few were as strange as the River Kingdom of Roakia. Taken from a bandit warlord by a group of eight wizards, each focusing on a single school of magic. Their large swath of land began to flourish, aided along by this conclave of wizards. It did not take long, however, for these wizards to begin to fight - each imagined their own school to be greater, and began to war with each other. The people of this kingdom were forced to witness this civil war among their leaders, and began to fall to fear and despair. They attempted to hire out adventurers and heroes, but none would come - those that did, failed to succeed. It came down to the final two wizards - an enchanter and a necromancer. Both used their powers on the populace, turning enthralled citizens against risen minions.
It was then that a nearby tribe, witnessing this from the start, had decided they had enough. This tribe gathered their strongest men and women, and gathered the frightened people of Roakia to defeat the two wizards. Thankful to be rescued, the humans of Roakia looked to the tribe for guidance, and offered their own. A new leader emerged for the Roakian people - one that would not soon forget the tribe's influence. The human queen took a husband from the tribe... and soon had a child, a prince. This was a surprise to many, as the tribe that had rescued them had not been human. The tribe whad been of catfolk.
Soon, the Roakian people learned that the lingering magic of the wizard-kings had linked their races together, a bond that both seemed eager to explore. After several decades of inter-marriages and breeding, a new race was born - one that the humans and catfolk of Roakia are proud to call their own.
- Physical Description: As befits their heritage, the Roakian people have some combination of human and catfolk traits. This seems to vary from person to person, from fully catfolk-looking individuals to entirely human members of the species. Regardless, the race grows thick nails on their fingers and toes which are sturdy enough to be used as weaponry. Feline ears are common, as are tails - normally among female members of the race. Some have markings on their flesh similar to stripes or spots, often mistaken for tattoos. Unlucky members of the race possess feline eyes and teeth - combined with pale flesh, the Roakian might be mistaken for a dhampir or vampire. Unattractive members of the species are rare, as are overweight members. The body possesses an extremely quick metabolism, causing them to be hefty eaters - but rarely put on any weight.
Roakians are slightly shorter than humans, standing at around five feet tall, with men and woman varying based on appearance. Gender cues are exaggerated, with fit and able men and hourglass-shaped women. Their eyes are wide and almond-shaped, with large vibrantly colored pupils. Hair length seems to differ from person to person - while some end up with a great mane of golden hair, others make due with black hair which never grows beyond a certain length.
Roakian females often sport piercings, though Roakian males do not. When dealing with strangers, Roakians dress modestly - this surprises many, considering their natural beauty. Among each other or those they are comfortable with, Roakians show a great deal more - with households often staying entirely nude until the need arises for coverings.
Happy Roakians are known to purr. Unhappy ones commonly hiss.
- Society and Relations: Very similiar to the surrounding River Kingdoms, the Roakians live in a feudal state - though one seemed inspired by storybooks than the more realistic kingdoms around them. The king and queen preside over Roakia, and they have an adviser chosen from the nearby noble families. It is always ever someone who can cultivate a sinister role, as the adviser's job is not just to provide advice - it is to take the blame for unpopular edicts. This allows the King and Queen to make choices to aid the kingdom as a large which would normally make the people unhappy (like raising taxes). The people can simply assume that the adviser is behind it. To the country's nobility, this sacrificial role is one of great honor (doubly since it doesn't involve much work). The role of Queen is hereditary, though there are no requirements to be King - indeed, the Queen must choose their King out of who they think is the best for the role. The Queen herself is always taught ethics early in her life, and is more often than not a divine spellcaster.
Females play a more prominent role in the Roakian society, often filling political or military jobs. This has evolved from the need to defend their kingdom from the surrounding ones - most soldiers are overwhelmingly male, which gives the Roakian females an impressive advantage. Likewise, professions are often split based on appearance. Not out of any standard or political movement, but out of strange coincidence. The more bestial-looking Roakians end up in jobs similar to their catfolk ancestors, taking up physical roles. The more human-looking Roakians appear to favor magical roles. There have been subversions, and it remains entirely up to the Roakian in question.
Magic still plays a major role in Roakian society, but not the way it is normally handled. To become (or be) a magic-user in Roakia is to support your fellows. Magic is communal in Roakia, and those who have the magic are supposed to use it in aid of other citizens. Knowledge of spellcraft is wide-spread, and the common people have much less fear of it than in other parts of the Inner Sea. Performers make great use of illusions, farmers, messengers and craftsmen make use of transmutations and conjurations, city-planners and architects make heavy use of divinations, and so on.
This reliance on magic has made them unpopular with their neighbors, who see this reliance as a weakness - or worse, see it as training their common folk to be warmages to use against them. While Roakian diplomats have attempted to ease their fears, few have accepted them. Many Roakians are accused of making deals with demonic patrons for their beauty, and many of the surrounding areas despise the Roakian people. This has caused them to be alone in a sea of enemies, causing the Roakians to prepare for what the believe to be an inevitable war. For their part, the surrounding kingdoms have taken their growing military as proof to their suspicions.
- Alignment and Religion: Unsurprisingly, most Roakians are chaotic in alignment, though rarely do they touch on the selfishness of chaotic neutral or chaotic evil. the race seems to have inherited the catfolk's giving nature, and though they don't care about the law - they do care about people. Only the darkest would go out of their way to break the law out of spite, unless it was to oppose a tyrant or other corrupt icon. Those that are lawful are usually spellcasters, finding far more use in structure than their free-spirited kin. The two halves of their society only rarely clash - having enough understanding of the other side to put aside their differences for the greater good. Though evil members of the society exist, they are often self-made outcasts: the Roakians discourage their evil kin by avoiding them, leaving them alone with their thoughts. While this does solve the problem for Roakians, it just means the evil Roakian leaves to cause trouble elsewhere. Desna and Cayden Cailean are commonly worshiped among chaotic Roakians, while lawful ones prefer Iomedae or Irori. Lamashtu's violent hedonism is attractive to evil Roakians.
- Adventurers: Inheriting their ancestor's better qualities, many Roakians take it upon themselves to see the world and bring back tales for their kin and loved ones. Some actually leave to find romance, as many believe that the adventuring life is a romantic one. This mix has caused many adventuring Roakians to be bards. They are quick to take up a cause they believe in, though many have trouble focusing: it's from the Roakians that the term 'side-quest' may have originated from. They have the catfolk's curiosity and the human's adaptability, so the mindset of having a mighty calling in life... and a few on the side... makes perfect sense to them.
- Names: The Roakian people have a sense of humor about their lot in life, and often choose punny or ironic names for their children, often based on their appearance. There are no family names - members of the race choose their 'last name' based on whim, and it's prone to change throughout their lives.
Racial Traits: (10 RP)
- Humanoid Type (Human, Catfolk).
- +2 to one ability score, chosen at level 1.
- Languages: Catfolk. Bonus Languages: Common, Elven, Sylvan, Gnoll.
Feat and Skill Traits: (7 RP)
- Glib: While many assume that the Roakians get their way on appearance alone, the truth is that they're skilled speakers as well. They gain a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Bluff checks.
- Distracting: The race's exaggerated gender cues are often a point of pride to the race, and a boon to them in combat. They gain 'Dodge' as a bonus feat, thanks to their innate ability to use their opponent's distraction to their advantage. The bonus from Dodge increases by 1 against creatures that would be attracted to their gender.
Senses Traits: (1 RP)
- Low-Light Vision: Roakians can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
Offensive Traits: (2 RP)
- Claws: The Roakian's developed nails can be used as emergency weapons. Roakians receive two claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage.
