Greetings!
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 caes 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.
I am going to post my version of the human race, which has several genetically different "castes". I would appreciate feedback and ideas. Remember, these races are meant to be balanced against EACH OTHER, not any other standard.
When I begin posting my other 10 races, Would you all prefer them to be in this thread or a seperate thread for each race. I was thinking of doing a seperate thread for each, as nobody seems to comment when they are all in one thread. BUT, I don't want to be rude, or step on any toes by posting 11 threads with all these races at once. I think I will stagger their "release" a bit. Please let me know your thoughts on this as well.
Links to the other races of Ej'aeka
The Aon'daaf and Axud'fia
The Dax'jeut and Duzk'enuh
The Eif'veum and Juga'doiq
The Nokwmaa and Nup'tsuu
The Uas'raok and Zuufu'nien
And now, Humans:
(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.
Humans in General:
The humans of Ej’aeka are all descended from the Luzian Empire. Imperial humans have been genetically divided into 6 different castes that excel in their respective places in society. The Luzian Empire for millions of years worked on improving its population’s genes and the humanity that is spread over the planets reflects this careful improvement. About eighty percent of humanity is part of the Luzian Empire, but some small kingdoms have broken away and live independently. These outsiders must be secretive, as the Luzian Empire will proclaim rulership and legal jurisdiction if they are discovered or come into contact with a significant portion of Luzian military power. The Imperial humans live in a bureaucratic and political society that has included a place for everyone within its social structure. Even illegal activities are legal if the proper precedent is followed or if the activity takes place in certain designated zones.
History:
The Imperial humans believe fervently that they are the descendents of the Originators. The disaster that befell Originators is said to have caused the loss of the incredible technologies, but that humanity as a species is nearly identical to the Originator species. While this may or may not be true in reality, all Luzian Imperial humans believe this and furthermore have a special kind of superiority complex over other beings because of it.
Luzian Imperial historical records are said to detail events millions of year ago, although obviously they lack extensive histories of their time out of time. These near-Originator histories may exist, but only in the most secret of Imperial libraries. The Imperial Librarians are a special class of Inquisitors and guardians that have knowledge unknown to anyone else in the world. The Luzian Empire has decreed that the ancient histories are not to be released to the general public and all information known by the common populace is carefully regulated by the highest authorities in the Imperial government.
Physical Appearance:
The humans of Ej’aeka have been genetically perfected for millions of years and reflect a kind of physical ideal. Every Luzian human is tall, fit, and muscular. Skin tone is generally a bronzed olive tone that varies only in different climates, not among individuals. In the colder less sunny climes, the Imperial humans have lighter skin, and in more tropical areas the Luzians skin tans incredibly quickly, but any individual traveling to one of these places will find their skin quickly adjusting. Most male and female humans are between 1.9 and 2.1 meters in height and weigh between 80 and 100 Kg. All Imperial humans have straight white teeth and attractive features. Nearly all humans have dark hair (light hair is considered a sign of genetic blessing) and blue eyes. Hair and eye color, however, do vary, just not with much frequency. Hair comes in all types from straight to wavy to true curls. Even elderly humans appear to be attractive and it is incredibly difficult for a human to become overweight or out of shape. Males will occasionally grow a small amount of facial hair and they enjoy various neatly trimmed styles of mustache, beard, and sideburn. Other than thick hair on the head and male facial hair, Imperial humans do not grow any body hair further accentuating their sculpted physiques.
Possessions:
Nearly all humans enjoy visual art. Every child will be taught the basics of visual perception and aesthetic beauty, and given the chance to improve his or her artistic skills. Over their lives a human will generally collect art that pleases them and give this collection the tenderest of care. Over time these private collection can become quite valuable and the loss of a treasured piece of art is nearly as traumatic as the loss of a distant family member. Even traveling humans are quite likely to carry a scroll case with several rolled up painting and some supplies to paint or draw an especially memorable scene.
Humans use all types of weaponry and armor, but Luzian Imperials have several specialties. Militaries are often outfitted with firearms, although the prohibitive cost of ammunition means that these are rarely used. The Luzian Empire has also developed several unique weapons and dueling styles. Luzian armor is nearly always ornate and protective, serving both aesthetic and utilitarian functions.
Living Quarters:
The most common Imperial cities are built out of either Originator ruins and unknown materials or large Adobe settlements surrounded by more substantial walls. Originator ruins come in myriad and completely different styles and are nearly indescribable as a whole. The more common Imperial cities are built with massive walls of stone or steel surrounding the city, but most buildings within the city are built of adobe and mound on one another to create a warren of buildings with passageways throughout and better buildings along the outside. The interior of these adobe buildings is created to be spacious and light-filled. Corridors are large and everything has high ceilings. The Imperial aesthetic is simple and elegant and most public spaces are filled with tasteful gardens, simple streams and small waterfalls. An occasional naturally beautiful rock or log may be strategically placed and rarely there is an elegant sculpture adorning a small square. The interior of individual houses is spare and clean. Nearly all interior spaces are painted white and any exterior house will have a large terrace with billowing curtains separating it from the rest of the house. Furniture is not used very often, and more commonly, large cushions and pillows are used to lounge on the immaculate floors.
Imperial humans live in small family groups with young adult finding their own dwelling when they come of age. Nearly everyone has a large amount of personal space and time for contemplation and personal pursuits.
Calendar:
The Luzian Empire uses the standard calendar of Ej’aeka and may in fact have created it. The regularity of Ej’aekaen time makes keeping an accurate calendar fairly easy. The Luzians celebrate several festivals and holidays throughout the year, but many of these are regional festivals depending on what the community does.
Social Skills:
Imperial humans are innately biased against non-humans. This superiority complex can occasionally influence reactions and diplomatic missions. All humans have been bred and genetically tweaked for millions of year. They know this and are proud of their strong genetic background. Imperial humans consider themselves the most advanced race, and while they do not have common access to their truly ancient historic records, most humans believe that the other races were created by the Originators, and that the Originators were human. While this racial prejudice is found in every aspect of humanity, it is not especially strong and some non-human individuals have been accepted into human communities as near-equals. The human superiority complex does not mean that an average individual will refuse service to non-humans, but more that every interaction will be tinged with an attitude of pity and condescension.
Within human society there is a rigid social structure and the government has layers upon layers of bureaucratic offices and ranks. There is very little social mobility and those who are born of a certain class to parents who have certain jobs are expected to continue this work with very few exceptions. Although this may seem cruel, the Imperial humans have been bred into this for millions of years and most of the populace is relatively happy with their social positions and assigned jobs.
Diet:
Human food is incredibly diverse depending on the region where a community is located. There are some general similarities shared by most Imperial dining experiences. Cooking is considered an art form within the Empire and a good chef is treasured. All meals are prepared fully in the kitchen it is considered to be in bad taste to serve anything that looks like what it came from. All food is served in bite sized portions and already spiced and seasoned. Most meals consist of numerous dishes served in many very small portions. The dining room within an Imperial household is usually an elegant room with a low table raised just off the floor and with a large window or view. Many people will often dine together and friends and family often mingle at the dining table, reclining on thick cushions and eating.
Luzians are famous for drinking light mead with nearly every meal. This drink is alcoholic (although weak) and made from fermented honey. It is very refreshing and usually served chilled and with a piece of fresh fruit inside it to add an additional touch of flavor. This mead is highly sought after by other races and bottles of high quality can be shockingly expensive.
Fashion and Dress:
Since the Luzian Empire covers most of an entire planet, as well as having cities on another three planets and several moons, Luzian dress necessarily varies according to climate. Most Luzians, however, have a predisposition to wearing large, long, loose fitting trousers that hide the movement of the legs and a double breasted shirt with loose sleeves and tied with a sash. Various varieties of this style exist and the clothing can be made out of many materials, finely embroidered or patterned, and are used for all occasions, from the most menial to the intricately formal. The large sleeves have several pockets inside and it is common to be seen reaching into one’s sleeve for some money or another object. If more carrying capacity is required pouches and bags may be hung from the sash.
Both men and women often wear thin veils obscuring the details of their lower face, but hats are rare, and usually used only as protection against the weather. These veils are not necessary to wear in public, but many Imperial humans enjoy the sense of mystery and style they give. Men and women both wear split-toed slippers on most occasions. These are thin enough to give a good feel of the ground, but still tough enough to protect against damage and wear.
Education:
There are two types of education within the Luzian Empire. Every child is required to attend school until the age of 12, and these schools are provided by the government. Classes are taught by different teachers, but a single group of between fifteen and twenty young humans is taught together from the age of four. They are taught the basics of reading and writing, mathematics, the geography of Ej’aeka, the recent history of the Luzian Empire, as well as techniques in survival, cooking, and various other subjects. Once a human reaches thirteen years old he is expected to become an apprentice under his parents, or possibly a close family friend. This apprenticeship teaches the young human all he will need for his future career. In this way, most Imperial humans have a similar general knowledge base, but widely varied training depending on their jobs.
Communication:
The Luzian Imperial tongue has become the common language of the Ej’aeka system. It is a flexible language, somewhat guttural and with occasional glottal stops. The name “Ej’aeka” is in Luzian Imperial common, as are the names of the other races and human castes. The Imperial government keeps a strict regulation on the education of young humans in this language and therefore there is very little slang and almost no different accents. Inevitably some people will use some type of slang and so words from other languages have occasionally been used in different parts of the Empire to fulfill this role.
Humans do not use extravagant body gestures and communication is usually somewhat subdued, although this simply means that gestures and body language is more subtle and able to convey small nuances with better accuracy. When first meeting a person it is normal to reach forward and kiss them on both cheeks. Bowing is used to show respect although in most cases this is simply a lowering of the head. Only for truly important ceremonial situations will a full bow be socially required.
Communication between Imperial cities is carried out by telegram or messenger depending on the security of the message. Cities are regularly in touch with one another and the government is in continual contact with itself throughout the entire empire.
Professions:
Within Imperial society, all professions are given respect. Since people are born into social positions, most professions are equally respected. This does have some limits of course, but talent at anything is considered more important that what the skill is. Only a few professions are considered somewhat taboo. Most commoners view warlocks and clerics that have begun transformation as something strange and to be feared. The power that a Warlock holds is considerable as is the risk of insanity and this combination is considered risky and eccentric.
Medicine:
As a fairly scientifically adept race that also excels in Psionics, the Luzian humans have doctors for all types of illness. From bodily injury to mental disease, all Imperial humans are taken care of by the government’s doctors. In addition, for those who have the power and money to maintain themselves, there exist advanced cloning facilities in a few of the largest Imperial Cities. These Emergency Rebirth Facilities (ERF) will keep a small tissue sample from a person for a fairly high annual fee. In addition they create a psychic connection to this tissue sample and if the person is ever killed, they immediately begin to grow a clone, who after one to two months is reborn as the person who was killed with all the memories up to the last point they updated their tissue sample. Most government officials, royalty, and other very important people keep a constantly updated tissue sample at the ERFs in case anything should occur. This has affected politics deeply, as assassination is legal after giving certain documented warning; key political figures are often killed before a time of turbulence to take them temporarily out of the picture.
True death is somewhat more serious in the Luzian Empire. Solemn funeral processions and mourning are considered normal within the Empire and even more so when someone who was registered with an ERF was killed in one of the several ways that can disrupt the rebirth process.
Social Factors:
Within the Luzian Empire people are considerably free with their bodies and even sexuality. In every city the drinking water is laced with contraceptives and normal people are unable to give birth without government approval (which is rarely difficult to get, but there will be certain requirements). What is considered shocking in this culture is the unacceptance of ones station in life. Within the Luzian Empire everyone has a social position and genetically determined work. Trying to move outside of your own place, doing things that are better left to others; these are the things that could alienate a person from the empire.
The Luzians are generally dishonest people, although in a rigid and defined manner. The general populace will not be dishonest, trying to take advantage of everyone. There is social order and this works, people enjoy the stability that their Empire gives them. There are, however, legal recourses for dishonest behavior. Theft and even murder are not considered morally reprehensible as long aa one follows the proper guidelines and regulations. For example, in order to assassinate a person, it is required to contact the person one wishes to assassinate at least three months in advance through government channels, and warn the person that the attempt will be made. This allows a person time to bolster their defenses and possibly pay to have a tissue sample saved at an ERF if the victim is able to afford it. In addition, a legal assassin registered with the government must be hired to perform the deed. It is not unusual for business and politics to include large amounts of murder, theft, and blackmail and these things are considered a normal part of the inevitable human corruption.
Within the Luzian society, everyone has his or her place except for the non-human races. Occasionally an individual of another race will prove their worth and be fully accepted into Luzian society, but they will always be treated somewhat as second class citizens. The other races find this frustrating, but have come to accept the bureaucratic system as inevitable.
Luzians are, for the most part, allowed to court and marry who they please. The Luzian Empire does require governmental approval for every marriage after a genetic match. Occasionally a marriage is turned down, although the pair is allowed to continue with their relationship on the side of any other relationship, but they are never allowed to have children without governmental approval. The family unit is a pair who raise their children, or occasionally the children that a government forces them to raise. All children have a caste that is determined during birth by the government and depends on their ideal genetic structure. Occasionally a child’s optimal caste differs from his or her birth parents, and in this case the government redistributes the child to a more appropriate family of the same caste. Because marriages are occasionally denied and there is no risk of birth outside of governmentally controlled marriages, there is a high incidence of extra marital sex and having sexual relations is considered a normal and healthy enterprise. There even exist government “pleasure houses” which are available with the most skilled members of both sexes in a safe and regulated environment.
Religion:
The Luzian Empire does not officially have a religion, but the ancient and mysterious God-Emperor is considered to be nearly god-like. The God-Emperor is unknown but he is rumored to be the oldest human Warlock alive or possible even the last Originator. He is never seen by his subjects, but his rule is absolute and his power is incredible. There has never been an individual or even an organization powerful enough to truly challenge the God-Emperor. The general populace regards their God-Emperor as a deity figure and although they never see or interact with him personally, he is a constant presence in their lives.
Throughout the Luzian Empire there exist numerous Dojos and Monasteries where the population can go to practice Martial Arts under the masters, and engage in quiet contemplation and meditation to improve their psychic abilities. These centers are the closest thing that the Empire has to public temples or places of worship and most people will study martial arts for their entire lives. The Martial Arts masters are treated very well by the government and given rewarding stipends and wonderful living quarters as long as they will teach the any student to come in their doors.
Transportation:
The Luzians have several fast and easy means of transportation throughout their Empire. Their dominance of the Ej’aekaen system is due to the fact that the majority of their cities are joined by large Originator gates that allow travel along a certain path, from one Luzian city to another. This great path between the planets has allowed easy transport throughout the large and extended empire. There do exist other gates from planet to planet, but for the most part they are not as continuous as those that link most of the Luzian cities. Although many of the largest Luzian cities are connected in this way, smaller cities and outposts do not have the luxury of being on the path of these gates. They must be reached by traditional means, by foot, animal, vehicle, or airship. Many military and governmental officials use the incredibly fast airships, which the Luzian Empire has many of. More normal people, however, usually have to resort to transport by animal powered carts and caravans.
Protection:
The Luzian Empire is the most powerful force in the Ej’aeka system, it has a large and powerful military and more airships than any other nation. Even with all this power, however, the Luzian Empire is no match for the combined might of all the scattered kingdoms and principalities throughout the system, combined with the threat of monstrous Gar’um. The unity of the Luzian Empire allows them to dominate the system, but historically when the empire has tried to expand or consume another kingdom the surrounding kingdoms ally themselves and have been able to repel the Luzians. At the moment there is an uneasy balance of power and some small amount of stability in Ej’aeka.
The Luzian God-Emperor has an additional weapon that kept closely secret, although the few times that it has been used have left rumors and hearsay spread throughout Ej’aeka. The God-Emperor has linked himself psychically to an originator weapon designed to protect the system from external treats, although what these treats could have been remains to be seen. The fact is that there exists a large satellite in rapid orbit around the sun. This satellite has the capability to project large plumes of nuclear plasma taken from the sun at a significant portion of the speed of light at anything that the God-Emperor might perceive as a threat. Additionally it has psychic projectors that conceal the presence of this chunk of plasma from its target during the fifteen to thirty minutes that it takes to travel in the solar system. This weapon was designed to be used against large spacecraft or invaders and when used against a planetary target the effect is devastating, approximately the same as detonating a large nuclear device. For this reason the Emperor refuses to use this weapon except in the direst of emergencies as his agenda seems to be to save and rule all of the Ej’aeka system, not to exterminate all life outside of his Empire and render much of the habitable planetary surface uninhabitable for thousands of years.
General Human Racial Traits:
• All humans get these abilities, but a further template must be chosen which will represent the genetic class that the human was born into.
• +2 “floating” bonus to one of the Human’s ability scores. This must be chosen at first level.
• Medium sized creatures.
• Base speed 30
• 1 extra feat at first level.
• 4 Extra skill points at first level and 1 additional skill point at each additional level.
• Automatic Language: Luzian Imperial Common
• Favored Class: Any
Humans Castes:
Mev’wei: Philosophers, Scholars, and Scientists:
The Mev’wei are the scientists and scholars of the Luzian Empire. They are greatly respected in a theoretical way, but often regarded as having no basis in the “real world”. Despite this they are responsible for the new innovations that the Empire creates as well as the recovery of Originator technology, modern medicine, and many other vital parts of Imperial life.
Personality: The Mev’wei have a dreamy, unattached quality to the way they regard the world. They like to examine everything and try to determine the way that it works. They are constantly arguing with each other over the laws of the universe and other indeterminable qualities or philosophical topics. They regard most people other than themselves as ignorant or at least out of touch with the finer aspects of the mind, although some have come to respect the alternate disciplines of the body.
Mev’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Strength
• +2 racial bonus Concentration, Spellcraft, and one Knowledge checks.
• blah blha some small ability.
Qar’wei: Merchants, Craftsmen, and Artisans:
The Qar’wei are the producers and suppliers of the Luzian Empire. Most Qar’wei learn at least two forms of valuable crafting skill, and many are talented artists as well. The Qar’wei not only create most of the goods of the Luzian Empire, but also take a role as merchants and venders. Sometimes selling their own wares, and sometimes using their skill to appraise and sell the goods of others.
Personality: The Qar’wei are perfectionists, always putting every ounce of effort into anything they do. If a Qar’wei begins to craft a sculpted vase for the chambers of a government official he will make every nuance of the vase clearly show the effort put into it, but the same effort will be put into crafting a child’s toy, or a doormat. Even outside of their work, the Qar’wei are focused and perfectionist in every detail.
Qar’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• - 2 Constitution
• +2 racial bonus on Appraise, Craft, and Bluff skill rolls.
• The time and expense needed to create an item of Masterwork quality is halved when created by a Qar’wei.
Suz’wei: Bureaucrats and Diplomats:
The Suz’wei are the bureaucrats and diplomats of the Empire. They keep the incredibly complicated machine that is the Luzian Empire running smoothly and without serious problems. There are departments for every aspect of government and Imperial control and the Suz’wei are the ones who work in these offices. The Suz’wei also work as diplomats and Lawyers, convincing other races of Imperial goals and finding loopholes and precedent in dry legal documents.
Personality: While they do cover the traditional role of the bureaucrat, nearly all Suz’wei are friendly and personable, with a natural gift for convincing others of their viewpoint. Even when approached in a difficult paperwork mess or legal application the Suz’wei are able to keep others from becoming too frustrated with the system.
Suz’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Dexterity
• +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information skill rolls
• Gains one extra language at 1st and every 2 other levels
Teqet’wei: Warriors and Soldiers:
The Teqet’wei are natural soldiers and warriors and excel in the fighting arts. Many Teqet’wei will train as fighters, monks, or rangers and their fighting skills are unparalleled. The Teqet’wei have mastered the arts of warfare and combat, but also study strategy and diplomacy. The only good warrior is the intelligent warrior and the discipline of martial arts combined with a keen education make the Teqet’wei both feared and respected throughout the Luzian Empire.
Personality: The Teqet’wei nearly always have a rigidly military mentality and have a difficult time adjusting to situations where there is no clear superiors and inferiors. Although strict and very disciplined, the Teqet’wei are warm and loving in informal situations. A tendency toward good humor and a love of a good joke are as much the sign of the Teqet’wei as martial prowess.
Teqet’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Strength
• +2 Constitution
• - 2 Charisma
• +2 Racial bonus on Intimidate and Survival checks
• +1 Racial dodge bonus AC
Xu’wei: Entertainers, Thieves, and Assassins:
The Xu’wei are known as the entertainers of the Luzian realms. They are great composers, actors and singers, but also something darker. Among the seamier, but still legal areas of the Luzian empire, theft and assassination are permitted after certain warnings and bureaucratic paperwork have been filled out. The Xu’wei are not only great performers, but also great thieves and assassins. When a Luzian citizen sees the Xu’wei performing, the atmosphere is always slightly tinged with fear of darker talents.
Personality: Most Xu’wei are always thinking and moving, they move with grace that is inborn and a flashing smile that can charm anyone. These attractive people are born to show off and enjoy giving a show more than anything else except perhaps for knowing a secret they are not supposed to know. The Xu’wei embrace their darker side, giving it free reign in the legally corrupt regions of each Luzian city.
Xu’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Wisdom
• +2 racial bonus on Move Silently, Hide, Perform, and Disguise skill rolls.
• Low-light vision
Zeb’wei: Laborers, Farmers, and Animal Handlers
The Zeb’wei are the hard working class of the Luzian Empire. When buildings need to be built, fortifications raised, or farms run, the Zeb’wei are those who do it. The Zeb’wei handle many of the “menial” tasks of everyday life, but rather than being scorned for this, they instead given respect from every other class of human. This has had the effect of motivating the Zeb’wei to do their best with all their work.
Personality: The Zeb’wei are suited for their work. They find more pleasure in doing a good, hard day’s physical labor than through any other pursuit. They are not as intelligent or educated as other classes, and they know this. They take this in their easygoing stride and allow others to do the “difficult work” or mathematics, craftwork, or art. The Zeb’wei enjoy physical labor, working closely with animals, and the feeling of working the land.
Zeb’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Constitution
• +2 Wisdom
• - 2 Intelligence
• +2 racial bonus on Profession (anything), Ride, and Handle Animal skill rolls.
• The Zeb’wei can work twice as long as normal before becoming fatigued and needing rest.
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 caes 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.
I am going to post my version of the human race, which has several genetically different "castes". I would appreciate feedback and ideas. Remember, these races are meant to be balanced against EACH OTHER, not any other standard.
When I begin posting my other 10 races, Would you all prefer them to be in this thread or a seperate thread for each race. I was thinking of doing a seperate thread for each, as nobody seems to comment when they are all in one thread. BUT, I don't want to be rude, or step on any toes by posting 11 threads with all these races at once. I think I will stagger their "release" a bit. Please let me know your thoughts on this as well.
Links to the other races of Ej'aeka
The Aon'daaf and Axud'fia
The Dax'jeut and Duzk'enuh
The Eif'veum and Juga'doiq
The Nokwmaa and Nup'tsuu
The Uas'raok and Zuufu'nien
And now, Humans:
(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.
Humans in General:
The humans of Ej’aeka are all descended from the Luzian Empire. Imperial humans have been genetically divided into 6 different castes that excel in their respective places in society. The Luzian Empire for millions of years worked on improving its population’s genes and the humanity that is spread over the planets reflects this careful improvement. About eighty percent of humanity is part of the Luzian Empire, but some small kingdoms have broken away and live independently. These outsiders must be secretive, as the Luzian Empire will proclaim rulership and legal jurisdiction if they are discovered or come into contact with a significant portion of Luzian military power. The Imperial humans live in a bureaucratic and political society that has included a place for everyone within its social structure. Even illegal activities are legal if the proper precedent is followed or if the activity takes place in certain designated zones.
History:
The Imperial humans believe fervently that they are the descendents of the Originators. The disaster that befell Originators is said to have caused the loss of the incredible technologies, but that humanity as a species is nearly identical to the Originator species. While this may or may not be true in reality, all Luzian Imperial humans believe this and furthermore have a special kind of superiority complex over other beings because of it.
Luzian Imperial historical records are said to detail events millions of year ago, although obviously they lack extensive histories of their time out of time. These near-Originator histories may exist, but only in the most secret of Imperial libraries. The Imperial Librarians are a special class of Inquisitors and guardians that have knowledge unknown to anyone else in the world. The Luzian Empire has decreed that the ancient histories are not to be released to the general public and all information known by the common populace is carefully regulated by the highest authorities in the Imperial government.
Physical Appearance:
The humans of Ej’aeka have been genetically perfected for millions of years and reflect a kind of physical ideal. Every Luzian human is tall, fit, and muscular. Skin tone is generally a bronzed olive tone that varies only in different climates, not among individuals. In the colder less sunny climes, the Imperial humans have lighter skin, and in more tropical areas the Luzians skin tans incredibly quickly, but any individual traveling to one of these places will find their skin quickly adjusting. Most male and female humans are between 1.9 and 2.1 meters in height and weigh between 80 and 100 Kg. All Imperial humans have straight white teeth and attractive features. Nearly all humans have dark hair (light hair is considered a sign of genetic blessing) and blue eyes. Hair and eye color, however, do vary, just not with much frequency. Hair comes in all types from straight to wavy to true curls. Even elderly humans appear to be attractive and it is incredibly difficult for a human to become overweight or out of shape. Males will occasionally grow a small amount of facial hair and they enjoy various neatly trimmed styles of mustache, beard, and sideburn. Other than thick hair on the head and male facial hair, Imperial humans do not grow any body hair further accentuating their sculpted physiques.
Possessions:
Nearly all humans enjoy visual art. Every child will be taught the basics of visual perception and aesthetic beauty, and given the chance to improve his or her artistic skills. Over their lives a human will generally collect art that pleases them and give this collection the tenderest of care. Over time these private collection can become quite valuable and the loss of a treasured piece of art is nearly as traumatic as the loss of a distant family member. Even traveling humans are quite likely to carry a scroll case with several rolled up painting and some supplies to paint or draw an especially memorable scene.
Humans use all types of weaponry and armor, but Luzian Imperials have several specialties. Militaries are often outfitted with firearms, although the prohibitive cost of ammunition means that these are rarely used. The Luzian Empire has also developed several unique weapons and dueling styles. Luzian armor is nearly always ornate and protective, serving both aesthetic and utilitarian functions.
Living Quarters:
The most common Imperial cities are built out of either Originator ruins and unknown materials or large Adobe settlements surrounded by more substantial walls. Originator ruins come in myriad and completely different styles and are nearly indescribable as a whole. The more common Imperial cities are built with massive walls of stone or steel surrounding the city, but most buildings within the city are built of adobe and mound on one another to create a warren of buildings with passageways throughout and better buildings along the outside. The interior of these adobe buildings is created to be spacious and light-filled. Corridors are large and everything has high ceilings. The Imperial aesthetic is simple and elegant and most public spaces are filled with tasteful gardens, simple streams and small waterfalls. An occasional naturally beautiful rock or log may be strategically placed and rarely there is an elegant sculpture adorning a small square. The interior of individual houses is spare and clean. Nearly all interior spaces are painted white and any exterior house will have a large terrace with billowing curtains separating it from the rest of the house. Furniture is not used very often, and more commonly, large cushions and pillows are used to lounge on the immaculate floors.
Imperial humans live in small family groups with young adult finding their own dwelling when they come of age. Nearly everyone has a large amount of personal space and time for contemplation and personal pursuits.
Calendar:
The Luzian Empire uses the standard calendar of Ej’aeka and may in fact have created it. The regularity of Ej’aekaen time makes keeping an accurate calendar fairly easy. The Luzians celebrate several festivals and holidays throughout the year, but many of these are regional festivals depending on what the community does.
Social Skills:
Imperial humans are innately biased against non-humans. This superiority complex can occasionally influence reactions and diplomatic missions. All humans have been bred and genetically tweaked for millions of year. They know this and are proud of their strong genetic background. Imperial humans consider themselves the most advanced race, and while they do not have common access to their truly ancient historic records, most humans believe that the other races were created by the Originators, and that the Originators were human. While this racial prejudice is found in every aspect of humanity, it is not especially strong and some non-human individuals have been accepted into human communities as near-equals. The human superiority complex does not mean that an average individual will refuse service to non-humans, but more that every interaction will be tinged with an attitude of pity and condescension.
Within human society there is a rigid social structure and the government has layers upon layers of bureaucratic offices and ranks. There is very little social mobility and those who are born of a certain class to parents who have certain jobs are expected to continue this work with very few exceptions. Although this may seem cruel, the Imperial humans have been bred into this for millions of years and most of the populace is relatively happy with their social positions and assigned jobs.
Diet:
Human food is incredibly diverse depending on the region where a community is located. There are some general similarities shared by most Imperial dining experiences. Cooking is considered an art form within the Empire and a good chef is treasured. All meals are prepared fully in the kitchen it is considered to be in bad taste to serve anything that looks like what it came from. All food is served in bite sized portions and already spiced and seasoned. Most meals consist of numerous dishes served in many very small portions. The dining room within an Imperial household is usually an elegant room with a low table raised just off the floor and with a large window or view. Many people will often dine together and friends and family often mingle at the dining table, reclining on thick cushions and eating.
Luzians are famous for drinking light mead with nearly every meal. This drink is alcoholic (although weak) and made from fermented honey. It is very refreshing and usually served chilled and with a piece of fresh fruit inside it to add an additional touch of flavor. This mead is highly sought after by other races and bottles of high quality can be shockingly expensive.
Fashion and Dress:
Since the Luzian Empire covers most of an entire planet, as well as having cities on another three planets and several moons, Luzian dress necessarily varies according to climate. Most Luzians, however, have a predisposition to wearing large, long, loose fitting trousers that hide the movement of the legs and a double breasted shirt with loose sleeves and tied with a sash. Various varieties of this style exist and the clothing can be made out of many materials, finely embroidered or patterned, and are used for all occasions, from the most menial to the intricately formal. The large sleeves have several pockets inside and it is common to be seen reaching into one’s sleeve for some money or another object. If more carrying capacity is required pouches and bags may be hung from the sash.
Both men and women often wear thin veils obscuring the details of their lower face, but hats are rare, and usually used only as protection against the weather. These veils are not necessary to wear in public, but many Imperial humans enjoy the sense of mystery and style they give. Men and women both wear split-toed slippers on most occasions. These are thin enough to give a good feel of the ground, but still tough enough to protect against damage and wear.
Education:
There are two types of education within the Luzian Empire. Every child is required to attend school until the age of 12, and these schools are provided by the government. Classes are taught by different teachers, but a single group of between fifteen and twenty young humans is taught together from the age of four. They are taught the basics of reading and writing, mathematics, the geography of Ej’aeka, the recent history of the Luzian Empire, as well as techniques in survival, cooking, and various other subjects. Once a human reaches thirteen years old he is expected to become an apprentice under his parents, or possibly a close family friend. This apprenticeship teaches the young human all he will need for his future career. In this way, most Imperial humans have a similar general knowledge base, but widely varied training depending on their jobs.
Communication:
The Luzian Imperial tongue has become the common language of the Ej’aeka system. It is a flexible language, somewhat guttural and with occasional glottal stops. The name “Ej’aeka” is in Luzian Imperial common, as are the names of the other races and human castes. The Imperial government keeps a strict regulation on the education of young humans in this language and therefore there is very little slang and almost no different accents. Inevitably some people will use some type of slang and so words from other languages have occasionally been used in different parts of the Empire to fulfill this role.
Humans do not use extravagant body gestures and communication is usually somewhat subdued, although this simply means that gestures and body language is more subtle and able to convey small nuances with better accuracy. When first meeting a person it is normal to reach forward and kiss them on both cheeks. Bowing is used to show respect although in most cases this is simply a lowering of the head. Only for truly important ceremonial situations will a full bow be socially required.
Communication between Imperial cities is carried out by telegram or messenger depending on the security of the message. Cities are regularly in touch with one another and the government is in continual contact with itself throughout the entire empire.
Professions:
Within Imperial society, all professions are given respect. Since people are born into social positions, most professions are equally respected. This does have some limits of course, but talent at anything is considered more important that what the skill is. Only a few professions are considered somewhat taboo. Most commoners view warlocks and clerics that have begun transformation as something strange and to be feared. The power that a Warlock holds is considerable as is the risk of insanity and this combination is considered risky and eccentric.
Medicine:
As a fairly scientifically adept race that also excels in Psionics, the Luzian humans have doctors for all types of illness. From bodily injury to mental disease, all Imperial humans are taken care of by the government’s doctors. In addition, for those who have the power and money to maintain themselves, there exist advanced cloning facilities in a few of the largest Imperial Cities. These Emergency Rebirth Facilities (ERF) will keep a small tissue sample from a person for a fairly high annual fee. In addition they create a psychic connection to this tissue sample and if the person is ever killed, they immediately begin to grow a clone, who after one to two months is reborn as the person who was killed with all the memories up to the last point they updated their tissue sample. Most government officials, royalty, and other very important people keep a constantly updated tissue sample at the ERFs in case anything should occur. This has affected politics deeply, as assassination is legal after giving certain documented warning; key political figures are often killed before a time of turbulence to take them temporarily out of the picture.
True death is somewhat more serious in the Luzian Empire. Solemn funeral processions and mourning are considered normal within the Empire and even more so when someone who was registered with an ERF was killed in one of the several ways that can disrupt the rebirth process.
Social Factors:
Within the Luzian Empire people are considerably free with their bodies and even sexuality. In every city the drinking water is laced with contraceptives and normal people are unable to give birth without government approval (which is rarely difficult to get, but there will be certain requirements). What is considered shocking in this culture is the unacceptance of ones station in life. Within the Luzian Empire everyone has a social position and genetically determined work. Trying to move outside of your own place, doing things that are better left to others; these are the things that could alienate a person from the empire.
The Luzians are generally dishonest people, although in a rigid and defined manner. The general populace will not be dishonest, trying to take advantage of everyone. There is social order and this works, people enjoy the stability that their Empire gives them. There are, however, legal recourses for dishonest behavior. Theft and even murder are not considered morally reprehensible as long aa one follows the proper guidelines and regulations. For example, in order to assassinate a person, it is required to contact the person one wishes to assassinate at least three months in advance through government channels, and warn the person that the attempt will be made. This allows a person time to bolster their defenses and possibly pay to have a tissue sample saved at an ERF if the victim is able to afford it. In addition, a legal assassin registered with the government must be hired to perform the deed. It is not unusual for business and politics to include large amounts of murder, theft, and blackmail and these things are considered a normal part of the inevitable human corruption.
Within the Luzian society, everyone has his or her place except for the non-human races. Occasionally an individual of another race will prove their worth and be fully accepted into Luzian society, but they will always be treated somewhat as second class citizens. The other races find this frustrating, but have come to accept the bureaucratic system as inevitable.
Luzians are, for the most part, allowed to court and marry who they please. The Luzian Empire does require governmental approval for every marriage after a genetic match. Occasionally a marriage is turned down, although the pair is allowed to continue with their relationship on the side of any other relationship, but they are never allowed to have children without governmental approval. The family unit is a pair who raise their children, or occasionally the children that a government forces them to raise. All children have a caste that is determined during birth by the government and depends on their ideal genetic structure. Occasionally a child’s optimal caste differs from his or her birth parents, and in this case the government redistributes the child to a more appropriate family of the same caste. Because marriages are occasionally denied and there is no risk of birth outside of governmentally controlled marriages, there is a high incidence of extra marital sex and having sexual relations is considered a normal and healthy enterprise. There even exist government “pleasure houses” which are available with the most skilled members of both sexes in a safe and regulated environment.
Religion:
The Luzian Empire does not officially have a religion, but the ancient and mysterious God-Emperor is considered to be nearly god-like. The God-Emperor is unknown but he is rumored to be the oldest human Warlock alive or possible even the last Originator. He is never seen by his subjects, but his rule is absolute and his power is incredible. There has never been an individual or even an organization powerful enough to truly challenge the God-Emperor. The general populace regards their God-Emperor as a deity figure and although they never see or interact with him personally, he is a constant presence in their lives.
Throughout the Luzian Empire there exist numerous Dojos and Monasteries where the population can go to practice Martial Arts under the masters, and engage in quiet contemplation and meditation to improve their psychic abilities. These centers are the closest thing that the Empire has to public temples or places of worship and most people will study martial arts for their entire lives. The Martial Arts masters are treated very well by the government and given rewarding stipends and wonderful living quarters as long as they will teach the any student to come in their doors.
Transportation:
The Luzians have several fast and easy means of transportation throughout their Empire. Their dominance of the Ej’aekaen system is due to the fact that the majority of their cities are joined by large Originator gates that allow travel along a certain path, from one Luzian city to another. This great path between the planets has allowed easy transport throughout the large and extended empire. There do exist other gates from planet to planet, but for the most part they are not as continuous as those that link most of the Luzian cities. Although many of the largest Luzian cities are connected in this way, smaller cities and outposts do not have the luxury of being on the path of these gates. They must be reached by traditional means, by foot, animal, vehicle, or airship. Many military and governmental officials use the incredibly fast airships, which the Luzian Empire has many of. More normal people, however, usually have to resort to transport by animal powered carts and caravans.
Protection:
The Luzian Empire is the most powerful force in the Ej’aeka system, it has a large and powerful military and more airships than any other nation. Even with all this power, however, the Luzian Empire is no match for the combined might of all the scattered kingdoms and principalities throughout the system, combined with the threat of monstrous Gar’um. The unity of the Luzian Empire allows them to dominate the system, but historically when the empire has tried to expand or consume another kingdom the surrounding kingdoms ally themselves and have been able to repel the Luzians. At the moment there is an uneasy balance of power and some small amount of stability in Ej’aeka.
The Luzian God-Emperor has an additional weapon that kept closely secret, although the few times that it has been used have left rumors and hearsay spread throughout Ej’aeka. The God-Emperor has linked himself psychically to an originator weapon designed to protect the system from external treats, although what these treats could have been remains to be seen. The fact is that there exists a large satellite in rapid orbit around the sun. This satellite has the capability to project large plumes of nuclear plasma taken from the sun at a significant portion of the speed of light at anything that the God-Emperor might perceive as a threat. Additionally it has psychic projectors that conceal the presence of this chunk of plasma from its target during the fifteen to thirty minutes that it takes to travel in the solar system. This weapon was designed to be used against large spacecraft or invaders and when used against a planetary target the effect is devastating, approximately the same as detonating a large nuclear device. For this reason the Emperor refuses to use this weapon except in the direst of emergencies as his agenda seems to be to save and rule all of the Ej’aeka system, not to exterminate all life outside of his Empire and render much of the habitable planetary surface uninhabitable for thousands of years.
General Human Racial Traits:
• All humans get these abilities, but a further template must be chosen which will represent the genetic class that the human was born into.
• +2 “floating” bonus to one of the Human’s ability scores. This must be chosen at first level.
• Medium sized creatures.
• Base speed 30
• 1 extra feat at first level.
• 4 Extra skill points at first level and 1 additional skill point at each additional level.
• Automatic Language: Luzian Imperial Common
• Favored Class: Any
Humans Castes:
Mev’wei: Philosophers, Scholars, and Scientists:
The Mev’wei are the scientists and scholars of the Luzian Empire. They are greatly respected in a theoretical way, but often regarded as having no basis in the “real world”. Despite this they are responsible for the new innovations that the Empire creates as well as the recovery of Originator technology, modern medicine, and many other vital parts of Imperial life.
Personality: The Mev’wei have a dreamy, unattached quality to the way they regard the world. They like to examine everything and try to determine the way that it works. They are constantly arguing with each other over the laws of the universe and other indeterminable qualities or philosophical topics. They regard most people other than themselves as ignorant or at least out of touch with the finer aspects of the mind, although some have come to respect the alternate disciplines of the body.
Mev’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Strength
• +2 racial bonus Concentration, Spellcraft, and one Knowledge checks.
• blah blha some small ability.
Qar’wei: Merchants, Craftsmen, and Artisans:
The Qar’wei are the producers and suppliers of the Luzian Empire. Most Qar’wei learn at least two forms of valuable crafting skill, and many are talented artists as well. The Qar’wei not only create most of the goods of the Luzian Empire, but also take a role as merchants and venders. Sometimes selling their own wares, and sometimes using their skill to appraise and sell the goods of others.
Personality: The Qar’wei are perfectionists, always putting every ounce of effort into anything they do. If a Qar’wei begins to craft a sculpted vase for the chambers of a government official he will make every nuance of the vase clearly show the effort put into it, but the same effort will be put into crafting a child’s toy, or a doormat. Even outside of their work, the Qar’wei are focused and perfectionist in every detail.
Qar’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Intelligence
• - 2 Constitution
• +2 racial bonus on Appraise, Craft, and Bluff skill rolls.
• The time and expense needed to create an item of Masterwork quality is halved when created by a Qar’wei.
Suz’wei: Bureaucrats and Diplomats:
The Suz’wei are the bureaucrats and diplomats of the Empire. They keep the incredibly complicated machine that is the Luzian Empire running smoothly and without serious problems. There are departments for every aspect of government and Imperial control and the Suz’wei are the ones who work in these offices. The Suz’wei also work as diplomats and Lawyers, convincing other races of Imperial goals and finding loopholes and precedent in dry legal documents.
Personality: While they do cover the traditional role of the bureaucrat, nearly all Suz’wei are friendly and personable, with a natural gift for convincing others of their viewpoint. Even when approached in a difficult paperwork mess or legal application the Suz’wei are able to keep others from becoming too frustrated with the system.
Suz’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Intelligence
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Dexterity
• +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information skill rolls
• Gains one extra language at 1st and every 2 other levels
Teqet’wei: Warriors and Soldiers:
The Teqet’wei are natural soldiers and warriors and excel in the fighting arts. Many Teqet’wei will train as fighters, monks, or rangers and their fighting skills are unparalleled. The Teqet’wei have mastered the arts of warfare and combat, but also study strategy and diplomacy. The only good warrior is the intelligent warrior and the discipline of martial arts combined with a keen education make the Teqet’wei both feared and respected throughout the Luzian Empire.
Personality: The Teqet’wei nearly always have a rigidly military mentality and have a difficult time adjusting to situations where there is no clear superiors and inferiors. Although strict and very disciplined, the Teqet’wei are warm and loving in informal situations. A tendency toward good humor and a love of a good joke are as much the sign of the Teqet’wei as martial prowess.
Teqet’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Strength
• +2 Constitution
• - 2 Charisma
• +2 Racial bonus on Intimidate and Survival checks
• +1 Racial dodge bonus AC
Xu’wei: Entertainers, Thieves, and Assassins:
The Xu’wei are known as the entertainers of the Luzian realms. They are great composers, actors and singers, but also something darker. Among the seamier, but still legal areas of the Luzian empire, theft and assassination are permitted after certain warnings and bureaucratic paperwork have been filled out. The Xu’wei are not only great performers, but also great thieves and assassins. When a Luzian citizen sees the Xu’wei performing, the atmosphere is always slightly tinged with fear of darker talents.
Personality: Most Xu’wei are always thinking and moving, they move with grace that is inborn and a flashing smile that can charm anyone. These attractive people are born to show off and enjoy giving a show more than anything else except perhaps for knowing a secret they are not supposed to know. The Xu’wei embrace their darker side, giving it free reign in the legally corrupt regions of each Luzian city.
Xu’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Charisma
• - 2 Wisdom
• +2 racial bonus on Move Silently, Hide, Perform, and Disguise skill rolls.
• Low-light vision
Zeb’wei: Laborers, Farmers, and Animal Handlers
The Zeb’wei are the hard working class of the Luzian Empire. When buildings need to be built, fortifications raised, or farms run, the Zeb’wei are those who do it. The Zeb’wei handle many of the “menial” tasks of everyday life, but rather than being scorned for this, they instead given respect from every other class of human. This has had the effect of motivating the Zeb’wei to do their best with all their work.
Personality: The Zeb’wei are suited for their work. They find more pleasure in doing a good, hard day’s physical labor than through any other pursuit. They are not as intelligent or educated as other classes, and they know this. They take this in their easygoing stride and allow others to do the “difficult work” or mathematics, craftwork, or art. The Zeb’wei enjoy physical labor, working closely with animals, and the feeling of working the land.
Zeb’wei Racial Traits:
• +2 Constitution
• +2 Wisdom
• - 2 Intelligence
• +2 racial bonus on Profession (anything), Ride, and Handle Animal skill rolls.
• The Zeb’wei can work twice as long as normal before becoming fatigued and needing rest.
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