Arkhandus
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Celestri, Planetouched Humans Of Positive Energy
Celestri
[sblock]Appearance: Celestri stand between 5 and 5-1/2 feet tall, having an average weight of about 100 pounds, with slender, elegant features, and smooth skin of a pale golden hue. Their hair is always a vibrant color like bright purple, crimson, silver, dark gold, deep blue, turquoise, bright green, or stark orange. Celestri eyes are always an engaging sky blue with violet speckles, and have no pupils nor irises. The voices of Celestri are warm, rich, and pleasant. Most Celestri dress in comfortable but semi-formal robes of the Mentari style, but easily adopt local garb when living amongst others, for the sake of at least attempting to respect local customs.
Personality: Celestri are mostly of good alignment, with only a few evil individuals amongst them, by virtue of their outsider heritage from the Positive Energy Plane. They feel a closeness to all things living and growing, and are naturally inclined to preserve and guard life. Some even fight with righteousness and tenacity to ensure the safety of life, though most Celestri abhor violence or at least have a preference for settling matters without bloodshed.
Celestri enjoy speech and friendly debate, discussing matters of scholarly import or just humorous gossip. They are especially fond of storytelling and poetry, admiring individuals with knowledge of great tales or poems. They enjoy song, dance, art, and honest work, but also tend to seek out peace and quiet for meditation and supplication to deities. Celestri tend to be very pious when they take up the worship of a deity, pantheon, spirit, or ideology, and most choose to venerate noble religions and philosophies, shunning evil creatures and distrusting them.
They value honesty, sincerity, conviction, patience, and respect as their most treasured ideals, their path to honor, enlightenment, and ascendance. Celestri are rarely evil in alignment, and they tend more towards law than chaos, believing in the need for some amount of order in life to keep creatures focused and united. Nonetheless, mischevious, playful, or free-spirited Celestri aren't rare.
Background: Descended from the first generation of the Human species, the Mentari, and various extraplanar positive energy creatures which allied with them. Most of the Mentari race was destroyed by the gods long ago and replaced with newer, more refined Humans, but even those were eventually replaced once or twice. However, the Mentari who had bonded with elemental creatures or outsiders were spared, for they were relatively few in number and were changing, becoming less of a threat or nuisance to the gods.
The Mentari tribes who befriended positive energy outsiders eventually left the other Mentari nations and settled in an extensive series of secluded valleys, eventually producing half-outsider offspring from the good relations with those positive energy creatures. Over time, as fewer outsiders joined these Mentari tribes, that part of the race became what it is now, the Celestri, altered Humans with distant positive energy outsider ancestry. Celestri have never been the most numerous of the Mentari descendants, rather more like the least numerous, as the outsiders who befriended them had only chosen the most noble and benevolent Mentari tribes, taking them under their care and helping them achieve a peaceful existence.
After several centuries of this alliance, the outsiders began to grow tired of dealing with other Material Plane creatures, fighting off invaders and constantly bartering with others to provide the Celestri with mortal allies to trade with. The outsiders also found that access to the Positive Energy Plane, their home, to be getting more difficult and infrequent, so most of the outsiders returned there and left the Celestri to rule themselves and maintain their own civilization. After this, the Celestri were forced to deal more with other mortals and started to spread out, exploring more and settling a few colonies outside their homeland.
Now they generally try to stay out of wars, moving whenever trouble comes into their area. They know that evil creatures and greedy men will continue to assault their rich and fertile homeland, so many of them are now nomadic, while others take up a militant philosophy and fight off any who assail their valleys. Their homeland is the valleys of Tenkaido, simply named after its council. The Celestri valleys are ruled by a council of 10 elected tenkai, provincial governers that each rule for a 10-year term, with each tenkai allowed to rule for up to five terms. Tenkai terms are staggered such that every fifth year holds an election for half the council. Each tenkai is served by numerous hatamoto, advisors who each govern a single city, town, or outpost.
Citizens of Tenkaido vote on matters of importance to the community and the local hatamoto delegates such procedures, but the hatamoto has greater voting power and also votes with their fellows on matters that concern an entire region. Like their superiors, hatamoto are elected and serve the same terms, each hatamoto serving one tenkai for 5 years and then serving the next tenkai for 5 years. Tenkai and hatamoto have the authority to overrule civilian decisions, but can be voted out of power by a majority of citizens, hatamoto, or tenkai if they seem to abuse their power. The system is far from perfect, but the Celestri prefer to have some freedom along with order, and like to believe that their elected officials will serve them honestly and rightly.
Various nomadic Celestri communities tend to emulate this form of government, but with different degress of strictness. As for religion, Celestri tend to be quite pious in whatever faith they follow, but most adhere to animism and believe in the divinity of spirits within all things, venerating them for making life possible. Celestri society also recognizes a variety of benevolent, righteous, and nature deities as well, and is fairly tolerant of most other faiths, except those that promote evil, greed, or warfare. Nomadic communities or particular cities may practice a particular religion and exclude others, however.
Classes: Celestri count many Clerics, Druids, Shamans, and Shugenja amongst their ranks, particularly Druids and Shamans. Militant Celestri, though not common, have a fair number of Paladins, Samurai, and Sohei amongst them too, who prove to be amongst the most devout and steadfast of their kind. Sorcerers and Bards are the most numerous arcane spellcasters in Celestri society, though not quite as common as divine magic users, but Wizards and even Wu Jen are not unheard of.
Monks are quite common amongst Celestri, as their people have numerous monasteries and monastic orders, seeing the lifestyle of a Monk to be quite enlightened and respectable. Celestri also find the discipline and piety of monkhood to be quite natural for them, just as they find the bardic study of music, art, and obscure lore to be quite fulfilling and pleasant.
Celestri do not find psionics to be difficult, but have no social inclination or tradition of practicing them, so Psions and Psychic Warriors are not altogether rare but neither are they common by any means. Barbarians, Fighters, Rangers, and Rogues are quite rare though amongst Celestri, who do not favor such martial or selfish lifestyles.
Relations: Celestri try to get along with nearly everyone, but many creatures try to take advantage of their trusting nature or to conquer their lands, which hold practically untouched resources in valuable minerals, trees, spices, and cloth. Celestri lands also contain many rare and exotic creatures that the Celestri have worked to protect and preserve, from unicorns and pegasi to pseudodragons and gem dragons. Celestri generally get along well with most good-aligned creatures, and are often allied with Elves, Halflings, Gnomes, and Aquari. The only creatures Celestri typically hate or fight with are evil creatures and races that are typically evil, so they often do battle with Orcs, Draegi, Gnolls, goblinoids, fiends, and the like.
Miscellaneous Details: Celestri, like Humans, reach adulthood at 15 years of age, then attain middle age at 30 years, old age at 50 years, and venerable age at 65 years. Their maximum age is reached 2d20 years after becoming venerable. An elderly Celestri finds his or her hair turning gray, and flecks of gray begin to spread across their skin, its luster fading, but they show no other outward signs of aging.
The Celestri of Tenkaido name their children with a Mentari given name, but use a family name of the Celestial tongue that denotes which Positive Energy Plane native is their most honored ancestor. As with other Mentari cultures, they place their family name before their given name, usually addressing each other by their family names, as use of just a given name is considered informal and disrespectful, if not close relatives or close friends. Outside of the Tenkaido lands, many Celestri communities and nomads use purely-Mentari names. Most Celestri favor somewhat-short given names in Mentari, since Celestial family names are longer on average.
Some of the common Mentari names given to Celestri men are Rikaro, Ashitora, Siru, Hanagi, Eisu, Taro, Osaki, Rikkon, Coru, Mintaka, Okusho, Asaan, and Izuka. Common female names in the Mentari tongue, amongst Celestri, are Lien, Akari, Panako, Issa, Goma, Mashu, Sihama, Occa, Rimi, Asuka, Tsuki, and Ayako. Celestial family names number in the dozens, but a few include Iradajia, Olurae, Simmariel, Eishallar, Daroshim, and Tianueviar. Some Mentari family names used by Celestri outside Tenkaido include Ebuki, Lasantaru, Akashinore, Zunnashi, Tsumakura, Panari, Ichinomo, Onnokari, and Junatta.[/sblock]
Outsider: Celestri are Outsiders (with the Planetouched subtype) instead of Humanoids, and are thus unaffected by spells and effects that function against Humanoids and not Outsiders, such as Charm Person, but are instead affected by spells and effects that function against Outsiders, such as Protection from Chaos. As Outsiders, Celestri cannot be returned to life by Raise Dead, Reincarnation, or Resurrection, but they may be returned to life by Reclaim Spirit, True Resurrection, True Reincarnation, Wish, or Miracle. Celestri are native Outsiders, meaning that Aurelia is their home plane, and thus while in Aurelia are unaffected by effects that would return them to their home plane. Celestri do not have Darkvision like other Outsiders do. They are mortal and need to eat, drink, breathe, and rest like Humans do, aging at the same rate too.
Celestial Soul: A Celestri cannot use, prepare, cast, manifest, or activate any effect with the Evil descriptor or utilizing negative, unholy, or profane energy. Celestri with a class or feat that allows the channeling of either positive or negative energy must always choose positive energy, othewise they do not gain that channeling ability at all. Celestri also cannot possess, gain, or be affected by any templates, spells, powers, or effects which would grant them the Evil subtype or descriptor. Celestri that belong to any class with a set of spells, powers, or abilities specifically described as being linked to evil or negative, unholy, or profane energy, cannot learn, utilize, or specialize in such effects from the evil or negative energy, unholy energy, or profane energy elements. Celestri cannot acquire the Death, Destruction, Evil, or Grave domains.
Size: Celestri are Medium-size creatures.
Speed: Celestri have a base speed of 30 feet.
-2 Strength, -2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma: Celestri are insightful and intuitive, and tend to be easy-going and kind, so are well liked. However, they are also somewhat weak and frail physically.
Spell Resistance: Celestri have Spell Resistance equal to 3 + their character level. In order for a spellcaster to affect them with a spell, the spellcaster must roll the Celestri’s Spell Resistance or higher on 1d20 + caster level. Spell Resistance is an extraordinary ability.
Accelerated Healing: Due to their inherited link to the Positive Energy Plane, the Celestri heal at a slightly faster rate than most humanoids. Each day, in addition to any other natural healing (regardless), a Celestri naturally heals 1 hit point per character level, generally when they get up in the morning or whenever they sleep (or would normally sleep, if not sleeping). At the same time, they naturally heal 1 extra point of temporary ability damage, if any. Since this is regardless of other natural healing, it does not matter how active the Celestri is, so they receive this extra healing regardless of rest or no rest.
+2 Racial Bonus on Balance, Diplomacy, and Perform Checks: Celestri are somewhat graceful like their celestial ancestors, while their easy-going nature makes others more likely to trust their word. Celestri also have quite a talent for art and music.
Sacred Energy Affinity: Celestri suffer only half the effect from harmful or weakening Good effects and positive, holy, or sacred energy effects, and from all harmful or weakening attacks or effects with the Good descriptor or utilizing positive, holy, or sacred energy. If such an effect does not cause a numerical amount of damage, penalties, and so on, then instead simply reduce the effect's duration upon the Celestri to one-half, rounded up, if applicable. If the effect does neither, then the Celestri simply gains a +3 racial bonus on saving throws against the effect. Furthermore, Celestri add +1 to the DC of saving throws against any Good or positive energy spell, power, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability they use, and Celestri also add +1 to their effective caster level or manifester level for purposes of resolving such effects.
Profane Energy Vulnerability: Celestri suffer double the effect from harmful or weakening Evil effects and negative, unholy, or profane energy effects, and from all harmful or weakening attacks or effects with the Evil descriptor or utilizing negative, unholy, or profane energy, unless they make a successful saving throw (if applicable). If such an effect does not cause a numerical amount of damage, penalties, and so on, then instead simply double the effect's duration upon the Celestri if applicable. If the effect does neither, then the Celestri simply suffers a -3 racial penalty on saving throws against the effect.
Automatic Languages: Celestial and Mentari.
Bonus Languages: Celestri may choose Abyssal, Aquan, Auran, Draconic, Ignan, Infernal, or Terran as bonus languages from a high Intelligence score.
Favored Class: A Celestri chooses either Bard or Monk, at character creation, as their favored class for purposes of multi-classing benefits and penalties.
Celestri
[sblock]Appearance: Celestri stand between 5 and 5-1/2 feet tall, having an average weight of about 100 pounds, with slender, elegant features, and smooth skin of a pale golden hue. Their hair is always a vibrant color like bright purple, crimson, silver, dark gold, deep blue, turquoise, bright green, or stark orange. Celestri eyes are always an engaging sky blue with violet speckles, and have no pupils nor irises. The voices of Celestri are warm, rich, and pleasant. Most Celestri dress in comfortable but semi-formal robes of the Mentari style, but easily adopt local garb when living amongst others, for the sake of at least attempting to respect local customs.
Personality: Celestri are mostly of good alignment, with only a few evil individuals amongst them, by virtue of their outsider heritage from the Positive Energy Plane. They feel a closeness to all things living and growing, and are naturally inclined to preserve and guard life. Some even fight with righteousness and tenacity to ensure the safety of life, though most Celestri abhor violence or at least have a preference for settling matters without bloodshed.
Celestri enjoy speech and friendly debate, discussing matters of scholarly import or just humorous gossip. They are especially fond of storytelling and poetry, admiring individuals with knowledge of great tales or poems. They enjoy song, dance, art, and honest work, but also tend to seek out peace and quiet for meditation and supplication to deities. Celestri tend to be very pious when they take up the worship of a deity, pantheon, spirit, or ideology, and most choose to venerate noble religions and philosophies, shunning evil creatures and distrusting them.
They value honesty, sincerity, conviction, patience, and respect as their most treasured ideals, their path to honor, enlightenment, and ascendance. Celestri are rarely evil in alignment, and they tend more towards law than chaos, believing in the need for some amount of order in life to keep creatures focused and united. Nonetheless, mischevious, playful, or free-spirited Celestri aren't rare.
Background: Descended from the first generation of the Human species, the Mentari, and various extraplanar positive energy creatures which allied with them. Most of the Mentari race was destroyed by the gods long ago and replaced with newer, more refined Humans, but even those were eventually replaced once or twice. However, the Mentari who had bonded with elemental creatures or outsiders were spared, for they were relatively few in number and were changing, becoming less of a threat or nuisance to the gods.
The Mentari tribes who befriended positive energy outsiders eventually left the other Mentari nations and settled in an extensive series of secluded valleys, eventually producing half-outsider offspring from the good relations with those positive energy creatures. Over time, as fewer outsiders joined these Mentari tribes, that part of the race became what it is now, the Celestri, altered Humans with distant positive energy outsider ancestry. Celestri have never been the most numerous of the Mentari descendants, rather more like the least numerous, as the outsiders who befriended them had only chosen the most noble and benevolent Mentari tribes, taking them under their care and helping them achieve a peaceful existence.
After several centuries of this alliance, the outsiders began to grow tired of dealing with other Material Plane creatures, fighting off invaders and constantly bartering with others to provide the Celestri with mortal allies to trade with. The outsiders also found that access to the Positive Energy Plane, their home, to be getting more difficult and infrequent, so most of the outsiders returned there and left the Celestri to rule themselves and maintain their own civilization. After this, the Celestri were forced to deal more with other mortals and started to spread out, exploring more and settling a few colonies outside their homeland.
Now they generally try to stay out of wars, moving whenever trouble comes into their area. They know that evil creatures and greedy men will continue to assault their rich and fertile homeland, so many of them are now nomadic, while others take up a militant philosophy and fight off any who assail their valleys. Their homeland is the valleys of Tenkaido, simply named after its council. The Celestri valleys are ruled by a council of 10 elected tenkai, provincial governers that each rule for a 10-year term, with each tenkai allowed to rule for up to five terms. Tenkai terms are staggered such that every fifth year holds an election for half the council. Each tenkai is served by numerous hatamoto, advisors who each govern a single city, town, or outpost.
Citizens of Tenkaido vote on matters of importance to the community and the local hatamoto delegates such procedures, but the hatamoto has greater voting power and also votes with their fellows on matters that concern an entire region. Like their superiors, hatamoto are elected and serve the same terms, each hatamoto serving one tenkai for 5 years and then serving the next tenkai for 5 years. Tenkai and hatamoto have the authority to overrule civilian decisions, but can be voted out of power by a majority of citizens, hatamoto, or tenkai if they seem to abuse their power. The system is far from perfect, but the Celestri prefer to have some freedom along with order, and like to believe that their elected officials will serve them honestly and rightly.
Various nomadic Celestri communities tend to emulate this form of government, but with different degress of strictness. As for religion, Celestri tend to be quite pious in whatever faith they follow, but most adhere to animism and believe in the divinity of spirits within all things, venerating them for making life possible. Celestri society also recognizes a variety of benevolent, righteous, and nature deities as well, and is fairly tolerant of most other faiths, except those that promote evil, greed, or warfare. Nomadic communities or particular cities may practice a particular religion and exclude others, however.
Classes: Celestri count many Clerics, Druids, Shamans, and Shugenja amongst their ranks, particularly Druids and Shamans. Militant Celestri, though not common, have a fair number of Paladins, Samurai, and Sohei amongst them too, who prove to be amongst the most devout and steadfast of their kind. Sorcerers and Bards are the most numerous arcane spellcasters in Celestri society, though not quite as common as divine magic users, but Wizards and even Wu Jen are not unheard of.
Monks are quite common amongst Celestri, as their people have numerous monasteries and monastic orders, seeing the lifestyle of a Monk to be quite enlightened and respectable. Celestri also find the discipline and piety of monkhood to be quite natural for them, just as they find the bardic study of music, art, and obscure lore to be quite fulfilling and pleasant.
Celestri do not find psionics to be difficult, but have no social inclination or tradition of practicing them, so Psions and Psychic Warriors are not altogether rare but neither are they common by any means. Barbarians, Fighters, Rangers, and Rogues are quite rare though amongst Celestri, who do not favor such martial or selfish lifestyles.
Relations: Celestri try to get along with nearly everyone, but many creatures try to take advantage of their trusting nature or to conquer their lands, which hold practically untouched resources in valuable minerals, trees, spices, and cloth. Celestri lands also contain many rare and exotic creatures that the Celestri have worked to protect and preserve, from unicorns and pegasi to pseudodragons and gem dragons. Celestri generally get along well with most good-aligned creatures, and are often allied with Elves, Halflings, Gnomes, and Aquari. The only creatures Celestri typically hate or fight with are evil creatures and races that are typically evil, so they often do battle with Orcs, Draegi, Gnolls, goblinoids, fiends, and the like.
Miscellaneous Details: Celestri, like Humans, reach adulthood at 15 years of age, then attain middle age at 30 years, old age at 50 years, and venerable age at 65 years. Their maximum age is reached 2d20 years after becoming venerable. An elderly Celestri finds his or her hair turning gray, and flecks of gray begin to spread across their skin, its luster fading, but they show no other outward signs of aging.
The Celestri of Tenkaido name their children with a Mentari given name, but use a family name of the Celestial tongue that denotes which Positive Energy Plane native is their most honored ancestor. As with other Mentari cultures, they place their family name before their given name, usually addressing each other by their family names, as use of just a given name is considered informal and disrespectful, if not close relatives or close friends. Outside of the Tenkaido lands, many Celestri communities and nomads use purely-Mentari names. Most Celestri favor somewhat-short given names in Mentari, since Celestial family names are longer on average.
Some of the common Mentari names given to Celestri men are Rikaro, Ashitora, Siru, Hanagi, Eisu, Taro, Osaki, Rikkon, Coru, Mintaka, Okusho, Asaan, and Izuka. Common female names in the Mentari tongue, amongst Celestri, are Lien, Akari, Panako, Issa, Goma, Mashu, Sihama, Occa, Rimi, Asuka, Tsuki, and Ayako. Celestial family names number in the dozens, but a few include Iradajia, Olurae, Simmariel, Eishallar, Daroshim, and Tianueviar. Some Mentari family names used by Celestri outside Tenkaido include Ebuki, Lasantaru, Akashinore, Zunnashi, Tsumakura, Panari, Ichinomo, Onnokari, and Junatta.[/sblock]
Outsider: Celestri are Outsiders (with the Planetouched subtype) instead of Humanoids, and are thus unaffected by spells and effects that function against Humanoids and not Outsiders, such as Charm Person, but are instead affected by spells and effects that function against Outsiders, such as Protection from Chaos. As Outsiders, Celestri cannot be returned to life by Raise Dead, Reincarnation, or Resurrection, but they may be returned to life by Reclaim Spirit, True Resurrection, True Reincarnation, Wish, or Miracle. Celestri are native Outsiders, meaning that Aurelia is their home plane, and thus while in Aurelia are unaffected by effects that would return them to their home plane. Celestri do not have Darkvision like other Outsiders do. They are mortal and need to eat, drink, breathe, and rest like Humans do, aging at the same rate too.
Celestial Soul: A Celestri cannot use, prepare, cast, manifest, or activate any effect with the Evil descriptor or utilizing negative, unholy, or profane energy. Celestri with a class or feat that allows the channeling of either positive or negative energy must always choose positive energy, othewise they do not gain that channeling ability at all. Celestri also cannot possess, gain, or be affected by any templates, spells, powers, or effects which would grant them the Evil subtype or descriptor. Celestri that belong to any class with a set of spells, powers, or abilities specifically described as being linked to evil or negative, unholy, or profane energy, cannot learn, utilize, or specialize in such effects from the evil or negative energy, unholy energy, or profane energy elements. Celestri cannot acquire the Death, Destruction, Evil, or Grave domains.
Size: Celestri are Medium-size creatures.
Speed: Celestri have a base speed of 30 feet.
-2 Strength, -2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma: Celestri are insightful and intuitive, and tend to be easy-going and kind, so are well liked. However, they are also somewhat weak and frail physically.
Spell Resistance: Celestri have Spell Resistance equal to 3 + their character level. In order for a spellcaster to affect them with a spell, the spellcaster must roll the Celestri’s Spell Resistance or higher on 1d20 + caster level. Spell Resistance is an extraordinary ability.
Accelerated Healing: Due to their inherited link to the Positive Energy Plane, the Celestri heal at a slightly faster rate than most humanoids. Each day, in addition to any other natural healing (regardless), a Celestri naturally heals 1 hit point per character level, generally when they get up in the morning or whenever they sleep (or would normally sleep, if not sleeping). At the same time, they naturally heal 1 extra point of temporary ability damage, if any. Since this is regardless of other natural healing, it does not matter how active the Celestri is, so they receive this extra healing regardless of rest or no rest.
+2 Racial Bonus on Balance, Diplomacy, and Perform Checks: Celestri are somewhat graceful like their celestial ancestors, while their easy-going nature makes others more likely to trust their word. Celestri also have quite a talent for art and music.
Sacred Energy Affinity: Celestri suffer only half the effect from harmful or weakening Good effects and positive, holy, or sacred energy effects, and from all harmful or weakening attacks or effects with the Good descriptor or utilizing positive, holy, or sacred energy. If such an effect does not cause a numerical amount of damage, penalties, and so on, then instead simply reduce the effect's duration upon the Celestri to one-half, rounded up, if applicable. If the effect does neither, then the Celestri simply gains a +3 racial bonus on saving throws against the effect. Furthermore, Celestri add +1 to the DC of saving throws against any Good or positive energy spell, power, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability they use, and Celestri also add +1 to their effective caster level or manifester level for purposes of resolving such effects.
Profane Energy Vulnerability: Celestri suffer double the effect from harmful or weakening Evil effects and negative, unholy, or profane energy effects, and from all harmful or weakening attacks or effects with the Evil descriptor or utilizing negative, unholy, or profane energy, unless they make a successful saving throw (if applicable). If such an effect does not cause a numerical amount of damage, penalties, and so on, then instead simply double the effect's duration upon the Celestri if applicable. If the effect does neither, then the Celestri simply suffers a -3 racial penalty on saving throws against the effect.
Automatic Languages: Celestial and Mentari.
Bonus Languages: Celestri may choose Abyssal, Aquan, Auran, Draconic, Ignan, Infernal, or Terran as bonus languages from a high Intelligence score.
Favored Class: A Celestri chooses either Bard or Monk, at character creation, as their favored class for purposes of multi-classing benefits and penalties.
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