Greetings again!
I have been working for the last several years on my own homebrew using Flavor from such sources as Jack Vance's Dying Earth, Ken Hood's Sleeping Imperium, Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, The anime Last Exile, and Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, etc. As any project of this scope it is incomplete but I have come fairly far. I have a full document detailing the rules governing the homebrew, but suffice to say that it is a high powered campaign world and even the basic races are significantly more powerful that a standard campaign.
These worlds in my campaign have existed for millions of years with intelligent species and none of them except the humans resemble any typical fantasy races. I have tried my best to make every race unique, although I have obviously taken inspiration (in some cases, STRONG inspiration) from various sources (I'm sure some of you will spot some of them), In a few cases I have even stolen ideas directly, although for the most part I have tried to change them enough that it is not direct plagerism (is that how it is spelled?) and I have always given credit to my sources of inspiration.
Remember, these races are meant to be balanced against EACH OTHER, not any other standard.
I have decided to include two races per post from now on as this should give people sufficient material to comment on. Please let me know what you think, be it constructive critisism or even just a nod that you like them (or dislike them).
Links to the other races of Ej'aeka
Humans of the Empire
The Aon'daaf and Axud'fia
The Dax'jeut and Duzk'enuh
The Nokwmaa and Nup'tsuu
The Uas'raok and Zuufu'nien
And now, the Eif'veum and the Juga'doiq:
(Please note that ONLY game statistics are Open Game Content and all the flavour text is MY own, PLEASE do not use it without my express permission.
Eif’veum:
The “Eif’veum”, of the Ej’aeka are an ancient and cruel race. They have developed their warfare, torture, and domination of other races into an art form. The Eif’veum rulers are tyrants in the worst sense of the word. While it may seem that they are evil, they are not. The Eif’veum have simply learned that mercy and kindness are weaknesses when displayed openly. Eif’veum society has adapted to this paradigm and thrived for millennia.
History:
The Eif’veum believe that they are the pure descendants of the Originators. Although there is no proof in written histories to back this up, many Eif’veum legends speak of how their race precedes all of the others. While it is certainly possible that the Eif’veum are descendants of the Originators, it matters little whether this s truth or simply another arrogant Eif’veum view. This belief underlies the basic world picture that Eif’veum have. They believe that as the original race of the planets of Ej’aeka, they are obviously superior in every way. All other races were created to be their servants and slaves, and not a single Eif’veum would understand why the other races do not share this view. The actual proven Eif’veum history is incredibly extensive, and the several empires that still exist have incredibly detailed histories stretching back at least a couple of million years. Eif’veum emperors are often direct descendants of lines that extend back several hundred thousand years. While the Eif’veum are arrogant and aloof, they are not stupid by any means and know fully well how to treat diplomatically with other races. While they have many who would wish to be their enemies, more often peace is kept through tenuous alliances.
Physical Appearance:
The Eif’veum are a tall race of incredibly slender humanoids. They are graceful in the extreme and have minds to match their speed. A typical Eif’veum looks so thin that it would almost be grotesque on another race. Both males and females range from 2-2.3 meters in height and weigh around 50-80 Kg. The incredible slenderness, however, accentuates their otherworldly look and most Eif’veum seem blindingly beautiful to other races. Eif’veum skin is a pale shade that is almost a true white. The Eif’veum head looks like a much slenderer human head with long pointed ears that usually extend twenty to thirty centimeters. At a distance their ears can almost be mistaken for antenna. Eif’veum eyes are large are slightly almonds shaped, and unlike human eyes, the iris covers the entire visible surface of the eye, making Eif’veum eyes seem to be a single solid color. Eye color covers all human colors as well as almost every other possible shade in the visible spectrum. Eif’veum usually grow a full head of hair that is almost always worn long and in intricate braids. Most Eif’veum tend to have very dark or black hair, although other shades are occasionally seen as well. Of these other shades, most are in the same shades as normal human hair, but most shades seem to be a bit more vivid than their human counterparts’. Very few Eif’veum grow any facial hair, only about one in ten males will grow any at all, and those that do usually keep clean shaven. Eif’veum speech is a darkly sensuous and beautiful language. When spoken it sounds at once imperious and civil, courteous and at times even friendly.
Possessions:
The Eif’veum treasure themselves above all else. To these long lived creatures, material wealth comes and goes, but physical health and beauty are precious. This does not mean that the Eif’veum do not enjoy living in luxury, on the contrary they seek it out above almost all else. When owning things, however, they do not often become as attached to their possessions. All Eif’veum, even those who live in poor homes or travel, build, buy, and persuade others to allow them the physical comforts that are so integral to an their physical well being. Eif’veum weapons are beautiful pieces of art, each one meant to be the pinnacle of weaponsmithing achievement. Likewise, all Eif’veum armor is intricately detailed and custom fitted to the person wearing it. Eif’veum armor provides maximum range of motion while still providing ample protection.
Living Quarters:
The Eif’veum live in their ancient cities. These cities are usually built around the ruins of a true Originator city. In these ruins the graceful, gravity defying architecture of the Eif’veum has risen. The Eif’veum love above all else their towers and only rarely will any sizable Eif’veum structure not include several elegant towers. In fact, the larger Eif’veum cities look from afar like large mounds covered in towers, with occasional bridges between. The Eif’veum prefer to build out of unknown Originator materials, but have no problem incorporating any other material into their architecture when it is aesthetically pleasing. Colors are used in construction, but only when the contrast is mild and pleasing to the eye. Inside an Eif’veum structure, the living spaces are extravagant and most common Eif’veum live in houses comparable to those of a minor noble or local lord.
Calendar:
The Eif’veum use the standard Ej’aekian calendar, in fact, they claim to have invented it. In any case, the Eif’veum keep a careful record of each and every dynasty for many years. While no one knows exactly how far back current Eif’veum records go, it is certain that they keep a detailed history of at least the last several hundred thousand years. Eif’veum also have several holidays that are celebrated every year. Each of these is celebrated by having a grand ball or masquerade. These affairs are incredibly extravagant and all Eif’veum are expected to make an appearance at their city’s ball.
Social Skills:
The Eif’veum are an incredibly diplomatic race, every aspect of their daily lives is treated as if all interactions took place in high court. Despite this natural affinity for diplomacy, Eif’veum treat all other races with such disdain that their predisposition toward polite behavior is almost entirely canceled out. The courtroom manners of the Eif’veum extend throughout their lives and even when only among family, their manner is often brusque and businesslike. Only among the closest of friends will an Eif’veum act more “comfortably” and even then they will not do this unless completely alone. The Eif’veum have a strict set of priorities, and things are rarely done that do not have a set precedent. Respect is required by the Eif’veum by all others during every occasion. Those with bad manners are considered barbarians by the Eif’veum and they will have little or nothing to do with them.
Diet:
The Eif’veum eat elaborate meals prepared by their slaves. In fact, having a slave that is an expert cook is a sign of wealth and power. Even poor Eif’veum families eat full banquets of whatever food they can obtain. The Eif’veum eat and drink only the best foods, and their wines are famous throughout the planets of Ej’aeka. All meals for the Eif’veum are banquets, and the only eating experience available in their lands is that of a full feast set at a long table.
Fashion and Dress:
The Eif’veum have a raging sense of fashion and styles go in and out of fashion on a weekly basis. All Eif’veum clothing is made to be as elaborate as possible and even an Eif’veum fresh from traveling would be presentable at the court of any other races monarchs. Extravagant colors, embroidery, and many layers of clothing make up the typical Eif’veum outfit, and all are cut to be both fashionable and flattering to the beholder.
Education:
Eif’veum are taught from a young age all the skills necessary to survive in a court. This is somewhat different for the males and females, but there are broad overlaps in which both learn. Generally the Eif’veum are taken under the wing of an older and more experienced adult and trained in the ways of a court, intrigue, etiquette, diplomacy, etc. The groups are used by the elder teacher to perform tasks for himself, and occasionally two or more groups will conflict, with the winning group bringing much prestige to their teacher. In addition all young Eif’veum are taught the art of dueling and are trained with a light blade of some sort.
Communication:
The Eif’veum language is considered incredibly beautiful and the nuances of the language make it incredibly difficult for a non-native speaker to master. As befits a language born of a culture so steeped in court diplomacy as to make twisting the truth easy, the Eif’veum tongue’s subtleties allow for unimaginable innuendos to take place. The Eif’veum language is also one that is rife with body language, and the way that something is said can have almost as much meaning as what is said. Eif’veum curses are especially descriptive and can often evoke the wrath of a higher dimensional creature.
Professions:
The Eif’veum respect any profession that gives them power. Some of the more “base” professions are looked down upon, and becoming a warrior is not especially respectable. Although this seems to be common, many fighters who gain renown become generals and are respected above almost all others. The use of magic has long been a study that draws the Eif’veum, and those that become Sorcerers and Warlocks are always treated as the highest members of society. In short, any profession is respected as long as it brings power and prestige, and anyone who becomes successful enough, even in trades considered “low”, is thought of quite highly.
Medicine:
The Eif’veum have an obsession with intelligent beings’ anatomy that does not just border on the macabre, it fully realizes its horrible nature and hides away. The Eif’veum have perfected the art of torture, and their natural ability to inflict pain means that they do not even need tools. This has lead to an unusual number and sadists and masochists among the Eif’veum, but also means that there are few races that better understand the internal anatomy of every race. Often, Eif’veum doctors double as professional torturers, and specialize in torturing information out of someone and then treating them until they recover so that they can be tortured again. Because doctors are this common, all Eif’veum have access to some of the best healing known to any of the races.
Social Factors:
The Eif’veum are more concerned with appearances than just about any other species. Any sign of rudeness is considered to be broaching proper etiquette and is looked down upon very highly. Most Eif’veum will simply try to ignore the existence of anyone who is publicly rude. If the offended Eif’veum is in a position of power or superiority then the offending individual may even be punished or tortured. While manners are important, actual honesty and honor is considered a crutch for the weak and is most often ignored completely. Lies, deceit, and intrigue are normal in an Eif’veum city, and those who are ill adjusted will be weeded out and killed. The Eif’veum keep slaves and use them to do almost all mundane tasks. Slaves are seen as property, but very valuable property, and are therefore treated quite well. In fact, the average Eif’veum slave (which can be of any intelligent race) is kept better than many serfs in poorer kingdoms. The Eif’veum hope to rise to positions of power, be it political, magical, or otherwise. Anyone who wholeheartedly quests for this power is respected in whatever they do. Those that wish quiet lives, or wish to seek anything other than power are something of outcasts and are generally looked down upon by the rest of the Eif’veum. The Eif’veum society is based around their empire, and social mobility is possible, although difficult. The highest positions are hereditary and unattainable except through pure power. Those with the means to literally force their superiors to do what they want generally become the new leaders.
Religion:
Many of the Eif’veum worship either elemental powers or a church that teaches that the past emperors have ascended and grant power to those that ask. Those that worship the elementals state that their inborn ability to request aid shows that the Eif’veum have truly been blessed by the elements. This religion teaches that through worship and sacrifice to the elements, another element is born, that of power. The vast majority of Eif’veum follow this outlook and worship the elements. The other major sect is a specialized form of ancestor worship. This teaches that each of the Eif’veum emperors ascend when they die and become part of a greater force. This combined force of past emperors has become something greater than it is possible to imagine, and although it is not understood, it is accepted as the pinnacle of being.
Transportation:
The Eif’veum have methods of transportation available to the other races. Airship are commonly used to travel any great distances, while elegant, Eif’veum bred mounts are used for local transport and hunting.
Protection:
As a number of empires that have been around for several millennia, the Eif’veum are somewhat unconcerned with racial protection. They train armies and build strong fortifications to defend themselves, but for the most part, they have a stable existence that does not seem close to changing.
Eif’veum Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Wisdom
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Strength
• - 2 Constitution
• Medium sized creatures
• Eif’veum base speed is 30
• Low-light vision
• At 3rd level an Eif’veum gains the ability to summon a small elemental once per week (as the summon monster III), this increases to a medium elemental at 6th level (as monster summoning V) and a large elemental at 8th level (as monster summoning VI) still at once per week. The Eif’veum is treated as a caster level equal to his total character level.
• Use inflict pain at will (inflict pain causes 2 points of subdual damage to one creature touched. This ability may be used in hand-to-hand combat as a free action. The creature is also subject to wracking pains that cause a –2 morale penalty to any attempts during that round that creature may make to keep information secret or on any combat actions.
• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
• +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy, Torture, Gather Information, and Intimidate checks as well as any skills used to extract information or torture another being.
• Automatic Languages: Eif’veum and Luzian Imperial Common
• Favored Class: Warlock, Cleric, or Sorcerer
Juga’doiq:
The Juga’doiq of Ej’aeka are a race of small, passively xenophobic, multi-limbed creatures that are obsessed with improving their own race both biologically and technologically. They are more technologically advanced than any other species and guard this knowledge jealously. They do interact with the other races, but only in a limited and cold manner.
History:
The Juga’doiq do not have any creation myths. The firm belief of the common Juga’doiq is that they have evolved from certain, now extinct, creatures. While some Juga’doiq do believe in Gods and are members of certain churches, none but the most heretical believe that anything but natural selection has brought them about. They consider their race to have survived for so long because they are the fittest. They can adapt to almost any situation and Juga’doiq culture is based around actively improving oneself and the race. Since the Juga’doiq have first started keeping records, there have been several noticeable changes to the race. These eras are marked and used as the basis for the Juga’doiq calendar. While some of their history has been lost, most records that exist are very detailed and plainly show the evolution of this species.
Physical Appearance:
Juga’doiq stand around 1-1.5 meters tall and weigh around 20-30 kilograms. Juga’doiq barely look humanoid. In fact they look like large crabs or spiders with eight equidistantly spaced legs/arms all around their body. A short torso comes up and ends with an intelligent, monkey-like faces. They look like nothing so much as mammalian crab-monkey centaurs. They have eight identical arms in place of normal arms and legs. All the arms are about a half a meter long and have a ball-and-socket joint that can swivel in almost any direction. All eight arms also have opposable digits with an unusual hand. This connects directly to the back of the hand in yet another ball-and-socket joint. The hands themselves have eight fingers each and look like miniature versions of the Juga’doiq itself. At the tip of each “finger” is a smaller version of the eight “fingered” hand, and at each of those tips lies another, continuing on and given the Juga’doiq incredible tactile and fine manipulation abilities. A Juga’doiq hand then has fully opposable fingers all the way around the hand, which can grip just about anything. Juga’doiq can use any four arms as their primary arms while standing or hanging from the other four.
Possessions:
The Juga’doiq have learned that survival is paramount, and in this quest they have adopted whatever tactics they find most effective. The Juga’doiq species has adopted technology as the fastest and most powerful method of evolving their species. Many Juga’doiq citizens enjoy many technological wonders and some have even gone so far as to begin perfecting the art of implanting mechanical devices in their own bodies. Any wonder of the Originators is prized by all Juga’doiq communities, and is usually analyzed in great depth before being hoarded away by its owner. As a result of this technological expertise of theirs, the Juga’doiq have some of the most functional weaponry of all the races. While others are still struggling with the intricacies of firearms, these are the standard issue for most Juga’doiq militaries, and while the technology is still very expensive, at least it is being produced in minute quantities. Due to their rather unique body shape, Juga’doiq must find special armors to fit them and these are almost universally expensive and custom made. Because of this “defect” the Juga’doiq have put much energy into developing defensive shields and other forms of technology that are effective and still usable.
Living Quarters:
The Juga’doiq shelter themselves in a myriad of ways. Cities built by the Juga’doiq are built mainly from metal and stone and the buildings are for the most part not over two stories tall with rare exceptions. The cities seem to be quite small for the population and indeed they would be if the Juga’doiq did not dig themselves into the ground below their cities. All Juga’doiq buildings extend quite some distance into the ground. While this may seem as if they live underground, they do not enjoy the climate, and all underground dwellings are part of their buildings. Almost no natural caves or dark tunnels are used. This knowledge is almost completely unknown to other races who are rarely allowed into these cities at all. No one knows where the Juga’doiq get as much metal as they do, but it is suspected that much of it is scavenged from ruins of the Originators. There will also be rare settlements of Juga’doiq in other cities, and these are usually much friendlier. They preserve their method of having many basements within each building, but usually allow other races more access to them.
Calendar:
The Juga’doiq use the same standard time measurements as the rest of the world. Their calendar, however, is based on the most noticeable and influential changes that have come to their race. Juga’doiq clocks are among the best in Ej’aeka and are prized around the world for their accuracy.
Social Skills:
The Juga’doiq are a passively xenophobic race. For the most part trust of other species is very limited and on no account will another race be allowed to learn the Juga’doiq’s technological secrets. The Juga’doiq will trade and live among other races, but when dealing with them, most exchanges are cold and emotionless. Very rare individuals will gain the trust of a Juga’doiq group or even community. Even then these “friends” are not allowed to know any Juga’doiq secrets. This distrust goes so far as to affect the Juga’doiq trade policies. While Juga’doiq will trade their technological wonders, they always build a fail safe destruct system so that if the item is tampered with or scientifically observed it will destroy itself. The Juga’doiq are a structured race and have definite hierarchies within various job positions. Respect and compliance is expected towards one’s superiors.
Diet:
The Juga’doiq eat only the most efficient of food. They have devices that produce incredibly nutritious food in very small quantities. The Juga’doiq do not eat for pleasure, they eat for necessity. All their food has a pleasant flavor although not anything that would be especially desired. Their meals consist of very small amounts of food and water as all the food produced by them is incredibly compact for its nutritional value. When among other species the Juga’doiq can eat anything that the standard races can eat.
Fashion and Dress:
The Juga’doiq wear very functional clothing. Mostly it is used for protection from workplace dirt, and as a place to hold equipment. Most Juga’doiq clothing is covered in pockets of all sizes and allows maximum motion for all eight opposable limbs. Colors are often muted, but occasionally an individual will use some bright colors to add to their appearance.
Education:
All Juga’doiq are taught basic mechanical and mathematical skills. The sexes are not segregated in any way. These skills are considered absolutely necessary for all Juga’doiq and none are allowed to skip this. In addition, Juga’doiq almost always specialize in some form of technological crafting skill.
Communication:
The Juga’doiq language has been carefully refined into a very efficient language. They have terms for almost every mechanical or technological function, even some that they no longer understand. When heard their language sounds very curt with many clicks and whistles inserted. This makes it very difficult to learn the Juga’doiq language and non-native speakers are quite rare. As a side effect of having so many limbs, the Juga’doiq use quite a bit of body language in their speaking, but most of this makes sense even to non-Juga’doiq. The Juga’doiq are also one of the few races that have long distance communication devices. This means that most Juga’doiq communities are in touch with each other, or at least can contact each other in case of emergencies.
Professions:
The Juga’doiq do not care about one’s profession. As long as there is something to contribute to the community, the Juga’doiq do not care what it is. The most respected professions have something to do with inventing new technology, especially implantable technology. The next most respected professions are those that deal with creating objects used by the inventers. Those who do not contribute or who try to live without working their share are shunned and occasionally exiled.
Medicine:
The Juga’doiq have very advanced medicine and surgery. As a by-product of their cybernetic enhancements they have become very familiar with the anatomy of their own species (and peripherally other species as well). There are those Juga’doiq who devote their lives to medicine and they are usually quite good at what they do. Most non-fatal injuries are treatable if the injured individual is recovered in time. The Juga’doiq reproduce in a very strange manner. After having sexual relations with another of their species (it does not matter whether male or female) the Juga’doiq will have a single hand become less and less mobile over a month until it pops off and becomes a very young and very small infant Juga’doiq. The Juga’doiq keep their population almost completely stable. Juga’doiq communities breed carefully and select only those who would make good genetic matches to have children. These children are raised by the community and most Juga’doiq do not have any special relationship with their birth parents.
Social Factors:
The Juga’doiq are very careful to keep to themselves. When talking with other races, social matters are ignored and it is considered perfectly acceptable to be cold and rude to other races. When conducting business the Juga’doiq are careful and shrewd. When living in other cultures the Juga’doiq often find jobs working in the local Bureaucracies, a job that allows them to be as rude as they like. Among their own kind, however, Juga’doiq are almost universally helpful and honest. It has been drilled into every Juga’doiq child’s mind that their species is the most important and advanced in the worlds and they treat each other accordingly. Birth rank is considered completely unimportant to the Juga’doiq and capability is the main factor in social advancement.
Religion:
The Juga’doiq do not believe that any of the Gods created them. In fact, their traditions lead them to be mostly atheists. Because all species need something to look up to, however, there are churches devoted to various Gods and Goddesses. These churches are looked at as one of the few frivolous privileges allowed to all Juga’doiq regardless of what their social function is. Most major Juga’doiq churches are devoted to the worship of technology and self-improvement. Juga’doiq death rituals are very simple and consist of simply saying a final farewell to the deceased and then recycling the body into fertilizer for growing more food.
Transportation:
The Juga’doiq are not built for long travels on foot, and as such have developed numerous methods of transportation. Due to their mastery of technology, they have more vehicles at their disposal than any of the other races. These include the standard airships, but also include such things as large ground transports and mechanical ships.
Protection:
The Juga’doiq have very advanced defensive capabilities. Their weaponry is of a magnitude above all the other races, and their technology has allowed them to create certain robots with very limited skills. One of the areas that these robots excel in, however, is combat and very few of the other Ej’aekian races are willing to enter combat with a small army of unliving machines.
Juga’doiq Racial Traits:
• +2 dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• - 2 Strength
• - 2 Charisma
• Small: As small sized creatures, Juga’doiq gain a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on Attack Rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but they must use smaller weapons than Humans use, and their lifting and carrying limits are three quarters of those of medium-size characters.
• Speed is 30, Climb 30
• Juga’doiq gain a +2 bonus on all jump rolls and the distance is not limited by their height.
• Juga’doiq gain a +2 bonus to ANY roll requiring fine manipulation, Craft skills, Picking Locks, anything.
• The Juga’doiq gain a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Mathematics), Knowledge (Physics), and a Craft skill of their choice. They also gain 1 free rank in each of these skills at first level
• Juga’doiq gain the feat Multidexterity for free, and are eligible to buy the Multi-weapon Fighting feat if they wish.
• Juga’doiq hands can hold things with many of their fingers bent back, making their hands incredibly useful. This means that the Juga’doiq can hold something in his hand and still use that hand for other actions. No more than two items may be held in a single hand and no more than one object per hand can be used per round.
• Automatic Languages: Juga’doiq
• Favored Class: Psionic or Rogue
I have been working for the last several years on my own homebrew using Flavor from such sources as Jack Vance's Dying Earth, Ken Hood's Sleeping Imperium, Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, The anime Last Exile, and Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, etc. As any project of this scope it is incomplete but I have come fairly far. I have a full document detailing the rules governing the homebrew, but suffice to say that it is a high powered campaign world and even the basic races are significantly more powerful that a standard campaign.
These worlds in my campaign have existed for millions of years with intelligent species and none of them except the humans resemble any typical fantasy races. I have tried my best to make every race unique, although I have obviously taken inspiration (in some cases, STRONG inspiration) from various sources (I'm sure some of you will spot some of them), In a few cases I have even stolen ideas directly, although for the most part I have tried to change them enough that it is not direct plagerism (is that how it is spelled?) and I have always given credit to my sources of inspiration.
Remember, these races are meant to be balanced against EACH OTHER, not any other standard.
I have decided to include two races per post from now on as this should give people sufficient material to comment on. Please let me know what you think, be it constructive critisism or even just a nod that you like them (or dislike them).
Links to the other races of Ej'aeka
Humans of the Empire
The Aon'daaf and Axud'fia
The Dax'jeut and Duzk'enuh
The Nokwmaa and Nup'tsuu
The Uas'raok and Zuufu'nien
And now, the Eif'veum and the Juga'doiq:
(Please note that ONLY game statistics are Open Game Content and all the flavour text is MY own, PLEASE do not use it without my express permission.
Eif’veum:
The “Eif’veum”, of the Ej’aeka are an ancient and cruel race. They have developed their warfare, torture, and domination of other races into an art form. The Eif’veum rulers are tyrants in the worst sense of the word. While it may seem that they are evil, they are not. The Eif’veum have simply learned that mercy and kindness are weaknesses when displayed openly. Eif’veum society has adapted to this paradigm and thrived for millennia.
History:
The Eif’veum believe that they are the pure descendants of the Originators. Although there is no proof in written histories to back this up, many Eif’veum legends speak of how their race precedes all of the others. While it is certainly possible that the Eif’veum are descendants of the Originators, it matters little whether this s truth or simply another arrogant Eif’veum view. This belief underlies the basic world picture that Eif’veum have. They believe that as the original race of the planets of Ej’aeka, they are obviously superior in every way. All other races were created to be their servants and slaves, and not a single Eif’veum would understand why the other races do not share this view. The actual proven Eif’veum history is incredibly extensive, and the several empires that still exist have incredibly detailed histories stretching back at least a couple of million years. Eif’veum emperors are often direct descendants of lines that extend back several hundred thousand years. While the Eif’veum are arrogant and aloof, they are not stupid by any means and know fully well how to treat diplomatically with other races. While they have many who would wish to be their enemies, more often peace is kept through tenuous alliances.
Physical Appearance:
The Eif’veum are a tall race of incredibly slender humanoids. They are graceful in the extreme and have minds to match their speed. A typical Eif’veum looks so thin that it would almost be grotesque on another race. Both males and females range from 2-2.3 meters in height and weigh around 50-80 Kg. The incredible slenderness, however, accentuates their otherworldly look and most Eif’veum seem blindingly beautiful to other races. Eif’veum skin is a pale shade that is almost a true white. The Eif’veum head looks like a much slenderer human head with long pointed ears that usually extend twenty to thirty centimeters. At a distance their ears can almost be mistaken for antenna. Eif’veum eyes are large are slightly almonds shaped, and unlike human eyes, the iris covers the entire visible surface of the eye, making Eif’veum eyes seem to be a single solid color. Eye color covers all human colors as well as almost every other possible shade in the visible spectrum. Eif’veum usually grow a full head of hair that is almost always worn long and in intricate braids. Most Eif’veum tend to have very dark or black hair, although other shades are occasionally seen as well. Of these other shades, most are in the same shades as normal human hair, but most shades seem to be a bit more vivid than their human counterparts’. Very few Eif’veum grow any facial hair, only about one in ten males will grow any at all, and those that do usually keep clean shaven. Eif’veum speech is a darkly sensuous and beautiful language. When spoken it sounds at once imperious and civil, courteous and at times even friendly.
Possessions:
The Eif’veum treasure themselves above all else. To these long lived creatures, material wealth comes and goes, but physical health and beauty are precious. This does not mean that the Eif’veum do not enjoy living in luxury, on the contrary they seek it out above almost all else. When owning things, however, they do not often become as attached to their possessions. All Eif’veum, even those who live in poor homes or travel, build, buy, and persuade others to allow them the physical comforts that are so integral to an their physical well being. Eif’veum weapons are beautiful pieces of art, each one meant to be the pinnacle of weaponsmithing achievement. Likewise, all Eif’veum armor is intricately detailed and custom fitted to the person wearing it. Eif’veum armor provides maximum range of motion while still providing ample protection.
Living Quarters:
The Eif’veum live in their ancient cities. These cities are usually built around the ruins of a true Originator city. In these ruins the graceful, gravity defying architecture of the Eif’veum has risen. The Eif’veum love above all else their towers and only rarely will any sizable Eif’veum structure not include several elegant towers. In fact, the larger Eif’veum cities look from afar like large mounds covered in towers, with occasional bridges between. The Eif’veum prefer to build out of unknown Originator materials, but have no problem incorporating any other material into their architecture when it is aesthetically pleasing. Colors are used in construction, but only when the contrast is mild and pleasing to the eye. Inside an Eif’veum structure, the living spaces are extravagant and most common Eif’veum live in houses comparable to those of a minor noble or local lord.
Calendar:
The Eif’veum use the standard Ej’aekian calendar, in fact, they claim to have invented it. In any case, the Eif’veum keep a careful record of each and every dynasty for many years. While no one knows exactly how far back current Eif’veum records go, it is certain that they keep a detailed history of at least the last several hundred thousand years. Eif’veum also have several holidays that are celebrated every year. Each of these is celebrated by having a grand ball or masquerade. These affairs are incredibly extravagant and all Eif’veum are expected to make an appearance at their city’s ball.
Social Skills:
The Eif’veum are an incredibly diplomatic race, every aspect of their daily lives is treated as if all interactions took place in high court. Despite this natural affinity for diplomacy, Eif’veum treat all other races with such disdain that their predisposition toward polite behavior is almost entirely canceled out. The courtroom manners of the Eif’veum extend throughout their lives and even when only among family, their manner is often brusque and businesslike. Only among the closest of friends will an Eif’veum act more “comfortably” and even then they will not do this unless completely alone. The Eif’veum have a strict set of priorities, and things are rarely done that do not have a set precedent. Respect is required by the Eif’veum by all others during every occasion. Those with bad manners are considered barbarians by the Eif’veum and they will have little or nothing to do with them.
Diet:
The Eif’veum eat elaborate meals prepared by their slaves. In fact, having a slave that is an expert cook is a sign of wealth and power. Even poor Eif’veum families eat full banquets of whatever food they can obtain. The Eif’veum eat and drink only the best foods, and their wines are famous throughout the planets of Ej’aeka. All meals for the Eif’veum are banquets, and the only eating experience available in their lands is that of a full feast set at a long table.
Fashion and Dress:
The Eif’veum have a raging sense of fashion and styles go in and out of fashion on a weekly basis. All Eif’veum clothing is made to be as elaborate as possible and even an Eif’veum fresh from traveling would be presentable at the court of any other races monarchs. Extravagant colors, embroidery, and many layers of clothing make up the typical Eif’veum outfit, and all are cut to be both fashionable and flattering to the beholder.
Education:
Eif’veum are taught from a young age all the skills necessary to survive in a court. This is somewhat different for the males and females, but there are broad overlaps in which both learn. Generally the Eif’veum are taken under the wing of an older and more experienced adult and trained in the ways of a court, intrigue, etiquette, diplomacy, etc. The groups are used by the elder teacher to perform tasks for himself, and occasionally two or more groups will conflict, with the winning group bringing much prestige to their teacher. In addition all young Eif’veum are taught the art of dueling and are trained with a light blade of some sort.
Communication:
The Eif’veum language is considered incredibly beautiful and the nuances of the language make it incredibly difficult for a non-native speaker to master. As befits a language born of a culture so steeped in court diplomacy as to make twisting the truth easy, the Eif’veum tongue’s subtleties allow for unimaginable innuendos to take place. The Eif’veum language is also one that is rife with body language, and the way that something is said can have almost as much meaning as what is said. Eif’veum curses are especially descriptive and can often evoke the wrath of a higher dimensional creature.
Professions:
The Eif’veum respect any profession that gives them power. Some of the more “base” professions are looked down upon, and becoming a warrior is not especially respectable. Although this seems to be common, many fighters who gain renown become generals and are respected above almost all others. The use of magic has long been a study that draws the Eif’veum, and those that become Sorcerers and Warlocks are always treated as the highest members of society. In short, any profession is respected as long as it brings power and prestige, and anyone who becomes successful enough, even in trades considered “low”, is thought of quite highly.
Medicine:
The Eif’veum have an obsession with intelligent beings’ anatomy that does not just border on the macabre, it fully realizes its horrible nature and hides away. The Eif’veum have perfected the art of torture, and their natural ability to inflict pain means that they do not even need tools. This has lead to an unusual number and sadists and masochists among the Eif’veum, but also means that there are few races that better understand the internal anatomy of every race. Often, Eif’veum doctors double as professional torturers, and specialize in torturing information out of someone and then treating them until they recover so that they can be tortured again. Because doctors are this common, all Eif’veum have access to some of the best healing known to any of the races.
Social Factors:
The Eif’veum are more concerned with appearances than just about any other species. Any sign of rudeness is considered to be broaching proper etiquette and is looked down upon very highly. Most Eif’veum will simply try to ignore the existence of anyone who is publicly rude. If the offended Eif’veum is in a position of power or superiority then the offending individual may even be punished or tortured. While manners are important, actual honesty and honor is considered a crutch for the weak and is most often ignored completely. Lies, deceit, and intrigue are normal in an Eif’veum city, and those who are ill adjusted will be weeded out and killed. The Eif’veum keep slaves and use them to do almost all mundane tasks. Slaves are seen as property, but very valuable property, and are therefore treated quite well. In fact, the average Eif’veum slave (which can be of any intelligent race) is kept better than many serfs in poorer kingdoms. The Eif’veum hope to rise to positions of power, be it political, magical, or otherwise. Anyone who wholeheartedly quests for this power is respected in whatever they do. Those that wish quiet lives, or wish to seek anything other than power are something of outcasts and are generally looked down upon by the rest of the Eif’veum. The Eif’veum society is based around their empire, and social mobility is possible, although difficult. The highest positions are hereditary and unattainable except through pure power. Those with the means to literally force their superiors to do what they want generally become the new leaders.
Religion:
Many of the Eif’veum worship either elemental powers or a church that teaches that the past emperors have ascended and grant power to those that ask. Those that worship the elementals state that their inborn ability to request aid shows that the Eif’veum have truly been blessed by the elements. This religion teaches that through worship and sacrifice to the elements, another element is born, that of power. The vast majority of Eif’veum follow this outlook and worship the elements. The other major sect is a specialized form of ancestor worship. This teaches that each of the Eif’veum emperors ascend when they die and become part of a greater force. This combined force of past emperors has become something greater than it is possible to imagine, and although it is not understood, it is accepted as the pinnacle of being.
Transportation:
The Eif’veum have methods of transportation available to the other races. Airship are commonly used to travel any great distances, while elegant, Eif’veum bred mounts are used for local transport and hunting.
Protection:
As a number of empires that have been around for several millennia, the Eif’veum are somewhat unconcerned with racial protection. They train armies and build strong fortifications to defend themselves, but for the most part, they have a stable existence that does not seem close to changing.
Eif’veum Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Wisdom
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Strength
• - 2 Constitution
• Medium sized creatures
• Eif’veum base speed is 30
• Low-light vision
• At 3rd level an Eif’veum gains the ability to summon a small elemental once per week (as the summon monster III), this increases to a medium elemental at 6th level (as monster summoning V) and a large elemental at 8th level (as monster summoning VI) still at once per week. The Eif’veum is treated as a caster level equal to his total character level.
• Use inflict pain at will (inflict pain causes 2 points of subdual damage to one creature touched. This ability may be used in hand-to-hand combat as a free action. The creature is also subject to wracking pains that cause a –2 morale penalty to any attempts during that round that creature may make to keep information secret or on any combat actions.
• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
• +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy, Torture, Gather Information, and Intimidate checks as well as any skills used to extract information or torture another being.
• Automatic Languages: Eif’veum and Luzian Imperial Common
• Favored Class: Warlock, Cleric, or Sorcerer
Juga’doiq:
The Juga’doiq of Ej’aeka are a race of small, passively xenophobic, multi-limbed creatures that are obsessed with improving their own race both biologically and technologically. They are more technologically advanced than any other species and guard this knowledge jealously. They do interact with the other races, but only in a limited and cold manner.
History:
The Juga’doiq do not have any creation myths. The firm belief of the common Juga’doiq is that they have evolved from certain, now extinct, creatures. While some Juga’doiq do believe in Gods and are members of certain churches, none but the most heretical believe that anything but natural selection has brought them about. They consider their race to have survived for so long because they are the fittest. They can adapt to almost any situation and Juga’doiq culture is based around actively improving oneself and the race. Since the Juga’doiq have first started keeping records, there have been several noticeable changes to the race. These eras are marked and used as the basis for the Juga’doiq calendar. While some of their history has been lost, most records that exist are very detailed and plainly show the evolution of this species.
Physical Appearance:
Juga’doiq stand around 1-1.5 meters tall and weigh around 20-30 kilograms. Juga’doiq barely look humanoid. In fact they look like large crabs or spiders with eight equidistantly spaced legs/arms all around their body. A short torso comes up and ends with an intelligent, monkey-like faces. They look like nothing so much as mammalian crab-monkey centaurs. They have eight identical arms in place of normal arms and legs. All the arms are about a half a meter long and have a ball-and-socket joint that can swivel in almost any direction. All eight arms also have opposable digits with an unusual hand. This connects directly to the back of the hand in yet another ball-and-socket joint. The hands themselves have eight fingers each and look like miniature versions of the Juga’doiq itself. At the tip of each “finger” is a smaller version of the eight “fingered” hand, and at each of those tips lies another, continuing on and given the Juga’doiq incredible tactile and fine manipulation abilities. A Juga’doiq hand then has fully opposable fingers all the way around the hand, which can grip just about anything. Juga’doiq can use any four arms as their primary arms while standing or hanging from the other four.
Possessions:
The Juga’doiq have learned that survival is paramount, and in this quest they have adopted whatever tactics they find most effective. The Juga’doiq species has adopted technology as the fastest and most powerful method of evolving their species. Many Juga’doiq citizens enjoy many technological wonders and some have even gone so far as to begin perfecting the art of implanting mechanical devices in their own bodies. Any wonder of the Originators is prized by all Juga’doiq communities, and is usually analyzed in great depth before being hoarded away by its owner. As a result of this technological expertise of theirs, the Juga’doiq have some of the most functional weaponry of all the races. While others are still struggling with the intricacies of firearms, these are the standard issue for most Juga’doiq militaries, and while the technology is still very expensive, at least it is being produced in minute quantities. Due to their rather unique body shape, Juga’doiq must find special armors to fit them and these are almost universally expensive and custom made. Because of this “defect” the Juga’doiq have put much energy into developing defensive shields and other forms of technology that are effective and still usable.
Living Quarters:
The Juga’doiq shelter themselves in a myriad of ways. Cities built by the Juga’doiq are built mainly from metal and stone and the buildings are for the most part not over two stories tall with rare exceptions. The cities seem to be quite small for the population and indeed they would be if the Juga’doiq did not dig themselves into the ground below their cities. All Juga’doiq buildings extend quite some distance into the ground. While this may seem as if they live underground, they do not enjoy the climate, and all underground dwellings are part of their buildings. Almost no natural caves or dark tunnels are used. This knowledge is almost completely unknown to other races who are rarely allowed into these cities at all. No one knows where the Juga’doiq get as much metal as they do, but it is suspected that much of it is scavenged from ruins of the Originators. There will also be rare settlements of Juga’doiq in other cities, and these are usually much friendlier. They preserve their method of having many basements within each building, but usually allow other races more access to them.
Calendar:
The Juga’doiq use the same standard time measurements as the rest of the world. Their calendar, however, is based on the most noticeable and influential changes that have come to their race. Juga’doiq clocks are among the best in Ej’aeka and are prized around the world for their accuracy.
Social Skills:
The Juga’doiq are a passively xenophobic race. For the most part trust of other species is very limited and on no account will another race be allowed to learn the Juga’doiq’s technological secrets. The Juga’doiq will trade and live among other races, but when dealing with them, most exchanges are cold and emotionless. Very rare individuals will gain the trust of a Juga’doiq group or even community. Even then these “friends” are not allowed to know any Juga’doiq secrets. This distrust goes so far as to affect the Juga’doiq trade policies. While Juga’doiq will trade their technological wonders, they always build a fail safe destruct system so that if the item is tampered with or scientifically observed it will destroy itself. The Juga’doiq are a structured race and have definite hierarchies within various job positions. Respect and compliance is expected towards one’s superiors.
Diet:
The Juga’doiq eat only the most efficient of food. They have devices that produce incredibly nutritious food in very small quantities. The Juga’doiq do not eat for pleasure, they eat for necessity. All their food has a pleasant flavor although not anything that would be especially desired. Their meals consist of very small amounts of food and water as all the food produced by them is incredibly compact for its nutritional value. When among other species the Juga’doiq can eat anything that the standard races can eat.
Fashion and Dress:
The Juga’doiq wear very functional clothing. Mostly it is used for protection from workplace dirt, and as a place to hold equipment. Most Juga’doiq clothing is covered in pockets of all sizes and allows maximum motion for all eight opposable limbs. Colors are often muted, but occasionally an individual will use some bright colors to add to their appearance.
Education:
All Juga’doiq are taught basic mechanical and mathematical skills. The sexes are not segregated in any way. These skills are considered absolutely necessary for all Juga’doiq and none are allowed to skip this. In addition, Juga’doiq almost always specialize in some form of technological crafting skill.
Communication:
The Juga’doiq language has been carefully refined into a very efficient language. They have terms for almost every mechanical or technological function, even some that they no longer understand. When heard their language sounds very curt with many clicks and whistles inserted. This makes it very difficult to learn the Juga’doiq language and non-native speakers are quite rare. As a side effect of having so many limbs, the Juga’doiq use quite a bit of body language in their speaking, but most of this makes sense even to non-Juga’doiq. The Juga’doiq are also one of the few races that have long distance communication devices. This means that most Juga’doiq communities are in touch with each other, or at least can contact each other in case of emergencies.
Professions:
The Juga’doiq do not care about one’s profession. As long as there is something to contribute to the community, the Juga’doiq do not care what it is. The most respected professions have something to do with inventing new technology, especially implantable technology. The next most respected professions are those that deal with creating objects used by the inventers. Those who do not contribute or who try to live without working their share are shunned and occasionally exiled.
Medicine:
The Juga’doiq have very advanced medicine and surgery. As a by-product of their cybernetic enhancements they have become very familiar with the anatomy of their own species (and peripherally other species as well). There are those Juga’doiq who devote their lives to medicine and they are usually quite good at what they do. Most non-fatal injuries are treatable if the injured individual is recovered in time. The Juga’doiq reproduce in a very strange manner. After having sexual relations with another of their species (it does not matter whether male or female) the Juga’doiq will have a single hand become less and less mobile over a month until it pops off and becomes a very young and very small infant Juga’doiq. The Juga’doiq keep their population almost completely stable. Juga’doiq communities breed carefully and select only those who would make good genetic matches to have children. These children are raised by the community and most Juga’doiq do not have any special relationship with their birth parents.
Social Factors:
The Juga’doiq are very careful to keep to themselves. When talking with other races, social matters are ignored and it is considered perfectly acceptable to be cold and rude to other races. When conducting business the Juga’doiq are careful and shrewd. When living in other cultures the Juga’doiq often find jobs working in the local Bureaucracies, a job that allows them to be as rude as they like. Among their own kind, however, Juga’doiq are almost universally helpful and honest. It has been drilled into every Juga’doiq child’s mind that their species is the most important and advanced in the worlds and they treat each other accordingly. Birth rank is considered completely unimportant to the Juga’doiq and capability is the main factor in social advancement.
Religion:
The Juga’doiq do not believe that any of the Gods created them. In fact, their traditions lead them to be mostly atheists. Because all species need something to look up to, however, there are churches devoted to various Gods and Goddesses. These churches are looked at as one of the few frivolous privileges allowed to all Juga’doiq regardless of what their social function is. Most major Juga’doiq churches are devoted to the worship of technology and self-improvement. Juga’doiq death rituals are very simple and consist of simply saying a final farewell to the deceased and then recycling the body into fertilizer for growing more food.
Transportation:
The Juga’doiq are not built for long travels on foot, and as such have developed numerous methods of transportation. Due to their mastery of technology, they have more vehicles at their disposal than any of the other races. These include the standard airships, but also include such things as large ground transports and mechanical ships.
Protection:
The Juga’doiq have very advanced defensive capabilities. Their weaponry is of a magnitude above all the other races, and their technology has allowed them to create certain robots with very limited skills. One of the areas that these robots excel in, however, is combat and very few of the other Ej’aekian races are willing to enter combat with a small army of unliving machines.
Juga’doiq Racial Traits:
• +2 dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• - 2 Strength
• - 2 Charisma
• Small: As small sized creatures, Juga’doiq gain a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on Attack Rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but they must use smaller weapons than Humans use, and their lifting and carrying limits are three quarters of those of medium-size characters.
• Speed is 30, Climb 30
• Juga’doiq gain a +2 bonus on all jump rolls and the distance is not limited by their height.
• Juga’doiq gain a +2 bonus to ANY roll requiring fine manipulation, Craft skills, Picking Locks, anything.
• The Juga’doiq gain a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Mathematics), Knowledge (Physics), and a Craft skill of their choice. They also gain 1 free rank in each of these skills at first level
• Juga’doiq gain the feat Multidexterity for free, and are eligible to buy the Multi-weapon Fighting feat if they wish.
• Juga’doiq hands can hold things with many of their fingers bent back, making their hands incredibly useful. This means that the Juga’doiq can hold something in his hand and still use that hand for other actions. No more than two items may be held in a single hand and no more than one object per hand can be used per round.
• Automatic Languages: Juga’doiq
• Favored Class: Psionic or Rogue
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