Jürgen Hubert
First Post
Originally, I wanted to make the yuan-ti a big part of Urbis, and older writeups of the Snake Kingdoms reflected this. But then I discovered that the yuan-ti were not included in the d20 System Reference Document - which meant that I couldn't use them for copyright reasons.
Bummer.
Well, I soon decided to replace them with a thematically similar creature, just as I had done with the mind flayers. The latter were alien, brain-eating monsters who dwell below the surface and had vast mental powers. The replacement I came up with for them were the daresh, a creature with a similar ecological niche, but sufficiently different to make them new and exiting (at least, I hope so...).
So I had to think what the yuan-ti were about. To my mind, they were about Taint - a non-human heritage hidden in human bloodlines. This has been explored before in fiction, most famously with H.P. Lovecraft's Deep Ones, acquatic fish-men that bred with human women. So I needed a non-human race (and distinctly non-human at that - after all, elves breed with humans often enough, and their children rarely cause disgust in those who know of their heritage...) that was capable of interbreeding with humans. They also needed to fit into the Snake Kingdoms - I didn't want to rewrite that region more than neccessary - but I didn't just want them to be yuan-ti with the serial numbers filed off, either.
Thus, the surathi. They can't just breed with humans - thanks to their powers, they can breed with almost any creature, from animals to all sorts of humanoids and monsters, and even with dragons (if you are a really sadistic DM...)! Their templates make them extremely flexible, and they can fill almost any role - from the traditional "Snake Men" to Deep One analogues, to forests of intelligent animals and beast cult leaders. They can pop up anywhere - and your PCs might wonder if they, too, might not carry the taint of surathi blood...
Well, here it goes...
[size=+2]Surathi[/size]
The Surathi (singular Surat) are the mortal progeny of the deity Sarush. Able to interbreed with any terrestrial creature, they have infiltrated many bloodlines and given them psychic powers and vast intellects - but tainted them with a cursed heritage and a disposition towards evil. They rule in the Snake Kingdoms, but their kind can be found hidden in the underbellies of cities in many regions
There are four types of Surathi, who are distinguished by how thick the blood of Sarush flows in their veins. The thin-blooded carry the surathi heritage in them, but apart from an ability to learn psychic powers, they are unaffected. Lesser brethen are the most common "true" surathi, and they are often significantly more powerful than their non-surathi ancestors. Favored ones are often visibly different from the lesser species that spawned them, and the rare pure ones are a true testament to the power of Sarush's blood and the natural born leaders of all surathi.
These four types are treated as templates that can be added to the following creature types: Animal, beast, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, monstrous humanoid, and vermin. Other combinations are possible - in general, the creature must have evolved on Rothea, which excludes extraterrestrial creatures such as destrachan and yrthak, and most elementals outsiders as well - though any outsider that is capable of interbreeding with humans (such as many demons and devils) is eligible as well. The creature also must be living, corporeal creature similar to terrestrial animals (with similiar reproductive processes) - this excludes creatures such as constructs, oozes, plants, and the undead. All in all, the surathi are capable of breeding with a frightfully large range of creatures, and no one is sure how far their taint has already spread.
[size=+1]Thin-blooded[/size]
Thin-blooded usually have the lowest status among surathi communities, though individuals who show exceptional promise might be elevated in the eyes of their betters. Since they are indistinguishable from normal members of their parent species, they also serve as perfect spies and infiltrators. Outside the Snake Kingdoms, many thin-blooded exist who are completely unaware of a heritage, having been sired by a surathi parent and then abandoned.
Creating a Thin-blooded
"Thin-blooded" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a thin-blooded can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A thin-blooded can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the thin-blooded is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
[size=+1]Lesser Brethen[/size]
Lesser brethen are the most common of the "true surathi". They have been blessed with some of the powers of the blood of Sarush, but not enough to make them truly powerful. While at first glance they seem to be a typical member of the base creature's species, there is always a sign of their mixed heritage - an odd patch of fur or scales, skin discoloration, slitted eyes or a forked tongue.
While many lesser brethen are willing to stay in the Snake Kingdoms where they can be sure that they at least aren't at the bottom of the social order (this being reserved for the thin-blooded and the slaves), others strike on their own and try to establish their own small surathi communities, with the Lesser Brethen as the father or mother of the whole group. These groups often take on religious or cultish aspects, with those members who are able to display psychic powers (and thus, surathi blood) seen as "blessed". One popular trick among lesser brethen of animal ancestry is to seek out small, primitive tribes of humanoids and establish themselves as tribal animal totems. Usually, the lesser brethen establishes a ritualized copulation between the brethen and tribesmembers who are of the opposite gender as a rite of adulthood (made possible by the Sarush's fruitful loins or Sarush's bountiful womb psychic powers). This results in a steep rise of tribe members with surathi blood. If the lesser brethen also has offspring with other members of his own animal species, this "beast cult" will eventually be self-sustaining, with more and more sulrathi appearing among both humanoids and animals.
Creating a Lesser Brethen
"Lesser brethen" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a lesser brethen can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A lesser brethen can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the thin-blooded is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Lesser brethen are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to five powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to two weaknesses to gain an additional power.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +1
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +1
Alignment: Often evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]Favored Ones[/size]
Favored ones are clearly marked by their tainted blood. Unless disguised, it will be obvious that they are no longer a normal member of the base creature's species - there is at least one, and often several blatantly unnatural changes to the creature's appearance. Fur, scales, feathers and more freely mix, though the species of the base creature is still recognizeable.
Favored ones are respected enough in the Snake Kingdoms that few wish to leave. To be sure, the pure ones are their undisputed rulers, but these are few - too few to run their realms on their own. Therefore the favored ones usually fill out very comfortable positions near the top of the local power structures, if not exactly at the top. Those who do leave only do so for specific missions - or because they have been exiled or fear for their lives. In the latter cases, they often engage in the same cult-building behaviour that the lesser brethen favor.
Creating a Favored One
"Favored one" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a favored one can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A favored one can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the favored one is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Favored ones are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to ten powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to four weaknesses to gain up to two additional powers.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +2
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2
Alignment: Usually evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]Pure Ones[/size]
The pure ones are the obvious inheritors of Sarush's might. Their appearance incorporates traits of many species, though the traits of one will usually predominate. Lesser surathi, let alone non-surathi, cannot help but be intimidated when gazing on these monstrosities.
Pure ones are the rulers of the Snake Kingdoms, and their lesser relatives cater to their every whim. Only the most dire emergencies or the most pressing needs will make them leave their courts, and they will try to maintain the utmost secrecy as long as they are away from their armies and hordes of bodyguards.
Creating a Pure One
"Pure one" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, apurefavored one can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A pure one can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the pure one is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Pure ones are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to fifteen powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to six weaknesses to gain up to two additional powers.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +3
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +3
Alignment: Usually evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]]Surathi Powers[/size]
Surathi may select a number of powers depending on their template. Choose from the list below:
Note: This is merely a small sample of the possible sulrathi powers - in theory, any special attack or quality found among the creatures sulrathi can interbreed with that is based on purely biological functions could be found among individual sulrathi as well. The DM is therefore encouraged to make up new powers. However, he should veto any powers he considers abusive in case of sulrathi PCs, and at the very least should let powerful special abilities such as regeneration cost the equivalent of several "normal" powers.
The surat may also take a number of weaknesses to gain additional powers. Each two weaknesses taken from the list grant him an additional power. Note that you cannot take a weakness that the base creature already has - such as "No Fine Manipulators" with most animals.
Note: Again, the DM is encouraged to come up with new weaknesses and prohibit any he considers unbalancing in the case of PC surathi.
[size=+1]Surathi Procreation[/size]
Surathi are always capable of producing offspring with the normal creature (the "base creature" mentioned in the templates), and any creature that that base creature is capable of interbreeding with (so a sulrathi closely related to humans could also have offspring with orcs or elves). For any of pairing, the surathi must learn and use one of the following psionic powers:
Sarush's Bountiful Womb
Psychometabolism (Str)
Level: Psion 4, Psychic Warrior 4
Display: Ol
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level or until end of pregnancy
Power Points: 7
For the duration of the power, your reproductive organs alter to match that of a single species of a type that surathi are generally capable of interbreeding with (see above), though the creature must not differ in more than one size category. If you copulate with such a creature, you will get pregnant from such a union. The resulting offspring will be of the same basic species as you are, but if it or its descendants should turn out to be true surathi, share traits of the father's species.
Note: This power may only be learned and used by female sulrathi.
Sarush's Fruitful Loins
Psychometabolism (Str)
Level: Psion 2, Psychic Warrior 2
Display: Ol
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level or until end of pregnancy
Power Points: 3
For the duration of the power, your reproductive organs alter to match that of a single species of a type that surathi are generally capable of interbreeding with (see above), though the creature must not differ in more than one size category. If you copulate with such a creature, it will have the usual chances of getting pregnant. The resulting offspring will be of the same basic species as the mother, but if it or its descendants should turn out to be true sulrathi, share traits of your species.
Note: This power may only be learned and used by male sulrathi.
In general, if a "true surat" (lesser brethen or above) produces offspring with a non-surat, the resulting offspring will always be a thin-blooded. If a thin-blooded produces offspring with a non-surat, the resulting offspring may be either a thin-blooded or a normal member of the partner's species, though the former is more likely if the thin-blooded has a higher concentration of surathi blood. Thin-blooded breeding with other thin-blooded may produce anything from normal creatures to pure ones, though the latter is very rare and usually only possible if both of them have many surathi ancestors. True sulrathi breeding with other sulrathi may usually produce any type of sulrathi, from thin-blooded to pure ones, though a pure one's offspring will at least have the breed of his partner, and a favored one breeding with another favored one will at least produce a lesser brethen.
(Note: A full explanation of surathi genetics can be found here.)
In general, male surathi are encouraged to father as many children as possible to spread their kind. Female surathi, on the other hand, are encouraged to breed with the surathi of the highest breed available so that they might produce high-breed offspring. In small, isolated communities with a low number of surathi, this often leads to incestous pairings.
So, what do you think of the general concept? Is it lame, or would you use this in your own campaign? And is it too sexually explicit? While I figured that what's good enough for Call of Cthulhu is certainly sufficient for me, I do want to stay within the bounds of good taste... (Any help with specific wordings would also be appreciated - English isn't my native language, after all...)
And what do you think of the mechanics? Do the powers and level adjustments balance, or should I adjust the number of powers upwards or downwards? And are there any obvious powers and weaknesses I have been missing?
Finally, should I rewrite anything to make it clearer? And do you have any good ideas how to expand on this?
Oh, and I think I'll work the drow of Urbis into this somehow. After all, they do have an unhealthy fascination with spiders...
Bummer.
Well, I soon decided to replace them with a thematically similar creature, just as I had done with the mind flayers. The latter were alien, brain-eating monsters who dwell below the surface and had vast mental powers. The replacement I came up with for them were the daresh, a creature with a similar ecological niche, but sufficiently different to make them new and exiting (at least, I hope so...).
So I had to think what the yuan-ti were about. To my mind, they were about Taint - a non-human heritage hidden in human bloodlines. This has been explored before in fiction, most famously with H.P. Lovecraft's Deep Ones, acquatic fish-men that bred with human women. So I needed a non-human race (and distinctly non-human at that - after all, elves breed with humans often enough, and their children rarely cause disgust in those who know of their heritage...) that was capable of interbreeding with humans. They also needed to fit into the Snake Kingdoms - I didn't want to rewrite that region more than neccessary - but I didn't just want them to be yuan-ti with the serial numbers filed off, either.
Thus, the surathi. They can't just breed with humans - thanks to their powers, they can breed with almost any creature, from animals to all sorts of humanoids and monsters, and even with dragons (if you are a really sadistic DM...)! Their templates make them extremely flexible, and they can fill almost any role - from the traditional "Snake Men" to Deep One analogues, to forests of intelligent animals and beast cult leaders. They can pop up anywhere - and your PCs might wonder if they, too, might not carry the taint of surathi blood...
Well, here it goes...
[size=+2]Surathi[/size]
The Surathi (singular Surat) are the mortal progeny of the deity Sarush. Able to interbreed with any terrestrial creature, they have infiltrated many bloodlines and given them psychic powers and vast intellects - but tainted them with a cursed heritage and a disposition towards evil. They rule in the Snake Kingdoms, but their kind can be found hidden in the underbellies of cities in many regions
There are four types of Surathi, who are distinguished by how thick the blood of Sarush flows in their veins. The thin-blooded carry the surathi heritage in them, but apart from an ability to learn psychic powers, they are unaffected. Lesser brethen are the most common "true" surathi, and they are often significantly more powerful than their non-surathi ancestors. Favored ones are often visibly different from the lesser species that spawned them, and the rare pure ones are a true testament to the power of Sarush's blood and the natural born leaders of all surathi.
These four types are treated as templates that can be added to the following creature types: Animal, beast, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, monstrous humanoid, and vermin. Other combinations are possible - in general, the creature must have evolved on Rothea, which excludes extraterrestrial creatures such as destrachan and yrthak, and most elementals outsiders as well - though any outsider that is capable of interbreeding with humans (such as many demons and devils) is eligible as well. The creature also must be living, corporeal creature similar to terrestrial animals (with similiar reproductive processes) - this excludes creatures such as constructs, oozes, plants, and the undead. All in all, the surathi are capable of breeding with a frightfully large range of creatures, and no one is sure how far their taint has already spread.
[size=+1]Thin-blooded[/size]
Thin-blooded usually have the lowest status among surathi communities, though individuals who show exceptional promise might be elevated in the eyes of their betters. Since they are indistinguishable from normal members of their parent species, they also serve as perfect spies and infiltrators. Outside the Snake Kingdoms, many thin-blooded exist who are completely unaware of a heritage, having been sired by a surathi parent and then abandoned.
Creating a Thin-blooded
"Thin-blooded" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a thin-blooded can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A thin-blooded can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the thin-blooded is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
[size=+1]Lesser Brethen[/size]
Lesser brethen are the most common of the "true surathi". They have been blessed with some of the powers of the blood of Sarush, but not enough to make them truly powerful. While at first glance they seem to be a typical member of the base creature's species, there is always a sign of their mixed heritage - an odd patch of fur or scales, skin discoloration, slitted eyes or a forked tongue.
While many lesser brethen are willing to stay in the Snake Kingdoms where they can be sure that they at least aren't at the bottom of the social order (this being reserved for the thin-blooded and the slaves), others strike on their own and try to establish their own small surathi communities, with the Lesser Brethen as the father or mother of the whole group. These groups often take on religious or cultish aspects, with those members who are able to display psychic powers (and thus, surathi blood) seen as "blessed". One popular trick among lesser brethen of animal ancestry is to seek out small, primitive tribes of humanoids and establish themselves as tribal animal totems. Usually, the lesser brethen establishes a ritualized copulation between the brethen and tribesmembers who are of the opposite gender as a rite of adulthood (made possible by the Sarush's fruitful loins or Sarush's bountiful womb psychic powers). This results in a steep rise of tribe members with surathi blood. If the lesser brethen also has offspring with other members of his own animal species, this "beast cult" will eventually be self-sustaining, with more and more sulrathi appearing among both humanoids and animals.
Creating a Lesser Brethen
"Lesser brethen" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a lesser brethen can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A lesser brethen can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the thin-blooded is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Lesser brethen are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to five powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to two weaknesses to gain an additional power.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +1
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +1
Alignment: Often evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]Favored Ones[/size]
Favored ones are clearly marked by their tainted blood. Unless disguised, it will be obvious that they are no longer a normal member of the base creature's species - there is at least one, and often several blatantly unnatural changes to the creature's appearance. Fur, scales, feathers and more freely mix, though the species of the base creature is still recognizeable.
Favored ones are respected enough in the Snake Kingdoms that few wish to leave. To be sure, the pure ones are their undisputed rulers, but these are few - too few to run their realms on their own. Therefore the favored ones usually fill out very comfortable positions near the top of the local power structures, if not exactly at the top. Those who do leave only do so for specific missions - or because they have been exiled or fear for their lives. In the latter cases, they often engage in the same cult-building behaviour that the lesser brethen favor.
Creating a Favored One
"Favored one" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, a favored one can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A favored one can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the favored one is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Favored ones are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to ten powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to four weaknesses to gain up to two additional powers.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +2
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2
Alignment: Usually evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]Pure Ones[/size]
The pure ones are the obvious inheritors of Sarush's might. Their appearance incorporates traits of many species, though the traits of one will usually predominate. Lesser surathi, let alone non-surathi, cannot help but be intimidated when gazing on these monstrosities.
Pure ones are the rulers of the Snake Kingdoms, and their lesser relatives cater to their every whim. Only the most dire emergencies or the most pressing needs will make them leave their courts, and they will try to maintain the utmost secrecy as long as they are away from their armies and hordes of bodyguards.
Creating a Pure One
"Pure one" is a template that can be added to any of the creatures listed above (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
Psionics: Unlike most terrestrial creatures, apurefavored one can take levels in a psychic class. He or she can also develop the new psionic powers Sarush's fruitful loins (if male) or Sarush's bountiful womb (if female).
Favored Class: A pure one can take either the psion or psychic warrior class as his favored class instead of the normal favored class of the base creature. This choice must be made at character creation and is permanent.
Special: For all effects related to race or species, the pure one is considered to be both a sulrathi and a member of the base creature's species.
Surathi Powers: Pure ones are strengthened by both the blood of Sarush in their veins and their mixed ancestry. They can select up to fifteen powers from the Surathi Powers list. They may also take up to six weaknesses to gain up to two additional powers.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +3
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +3
Alignment: Usually evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
[size=+1]]Surathi Powers[/size]
Surathi may select a number of powers depending on their template. Choose from the list below:
- Ability Bonus: +2 to any ability. This may be taken up to once for each ability for lesser brethen, twice for favored ones, and three times for pure ones. The exception is when the base creature starts out with a negative ability modifier (has a base ability value of less than 10). In this case, this power may be taken as often as necessary to bring the total ability bonus to +2 for lesser brethen, +4 for favored ones, and +6 for pure ones. Note: In case of creatures with no base Intelligence, such as vermin, taking this power once gives the creature an Intelligence penalty of -8 (or a base intelligence of 2). This may be increased further up to the usual maximum.
- Aquatic: The character can swim through water with his normal base speed.
- Blindsight: The surat gains the blindsight special quality.
- Claws: The surat gains two claw attacks it can use when making a full attack. Use the full attack bonus for both claw attacks. Unarmed attacks now do the following base damage: Diminuitive 1, Tiny 1d2, Small 1d3, Medium 1d4, Large 1d6, Huge 1d8, Gargantuan 2d6, Colossal 3d6. Add the character's full Strength bonus to the base damage.
- Resistance to Energy: The surat's energy resistance to a certain type of energy (such as acid, cold, fire, or electricity) improves by +5.
- Fangs: The surat gains a bite attack as a secondary attack, which it can use in addition to any claw or weapon attacks when making a full attack. Use the following damage: Fine 1, Diminuitive 1d2, Tiny 1d3, Small 1d4, Medium 1d6, Large 1d8, Huge 2d6, Gargantuan 3d6, Colossal 4d6. Add half the character's Strength bonus (round down) to the damage. Bite attacks are at -5 to the attack bonus.
- Increased speed: Add 10 feet to the surat's base speed.
- Natural Armor: The base creature's natural armor bonus increases by +1. This may be taken up to twice for lesser brethen, four times for favored ones, and six times for pure ones.
- Quadrupedal: The surat may use his hands for feet, giving him +10 feet to his base speed. He may not carry anything in his hands to do so. This also increases his carrying capacity and gives him a bonus against bull rushes, trips, and so on.
- Scent: The surat gains the scent special quality.
- Size Decrease: The surat is one size category smaller than the base creature. This decreases Str, Con, and natural armor, and increases Dex and gives a Size bonus to attacks and AC in the usual way. It also increases the damage of natural attacks.
- Size Increase: The surat is one size category larger than the base creature. This increases Str, Con, and natural armor, and decreases Dex and gives a Size penalty to attacks and AC in the usual way. It also decreases the damage of natural attacks.
- Trample: The surat gains the trample special attack.
- Water-breathing: The surat can breathe water as if it was air.
Note: This is merely a small sample of the possible sulrathi powers - in theory, any special attack or quality found among the creatures sulrathi can interbreed with that is based on purely biological functions could be found among individual sulrathi as well. The DM is therefore encouraged to make up new powers. However, he should veto any powers he considers abusive in case of sulrathi PCs, and at the very least should let powerful special abilities such as regeneration cost the equivalent of several "normal" powers.
The surat may also take a number of weaknesses to gain additional powers. Each two weaknesses taken from the list grant him an additional power. Note that you cannot take a weakness that the base creature already has - such as "No Fine Manipulators" with most animals.
- Ability penalty: -2 to any ability.
- Blind: The surat cannot see, though he gains the blind fight feat for free. This counts as two weaknesses. Note: It is possible to take both the Blind weakness and the Blindsight power. This might represent "vision" based on other senses, such as the echolocation of a bat.
- No Fine Manipulators: The surat's hands are incapable of fine manipulation (like a paw). He cannot use a weapon or most equipment with them.
- No Legs: The character has a snake tail (or flippers, or something similar) instead of legs.
- No Manipulators: The surat doesn't have any functional hands or similar organs at all. He can only manipulate objects by pushing them with his body or pulling them with his teeth. This counts as two weaknesses.
- Reduced Armor: The base creature's natural armor decreases by -1.
- Reduced Speed: Decrease the base speed of the surat by 10 feet.
Note: Again, the DM is encouraged to come up with new weaknesses and prohibit any he considers unbalancing in the case of PC surathi.
[size=+1]Surathi Procreation[/size]
Surathi are always capable of producing offspring with the normal creature (the "base creature" mentioned in the templates), and any creature that that base creature is capable of interbreeding with (so a sulrathi closely related to humans could also have offspring with orcs or elves). For any of pairing, the surathi must learn and use one of the following psionic powers:
Sarush's Bountiful Womb
Psychometabolism (Str)
Level: Psion 4, Psychic Warrior 4
Display: Ol
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level or until end of pregnancy
Power Points: 7
For the duration of the power, your reproductive organs alter to match that of a single species of a type that surathi are generally capable of interbreeding with (see above), though the creature must not differ in more than one size category. If you copulate with such a creature, you will get pregnant from such a union. The resulting offspring will be of the same basic species as you are, but if it or its descendants should turn out to be true surathi, share traits of the father's species.
Note: This power may only be learned and used by female sulrathi.
Sarush's Fruitful Loins
Psychometabolism (Str)
Level: Psion 2, Psychic Warrior 2
Display: Ol
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level or until end of pregnancy
Power Points: 3
For the duration of the power, your reproductive organs alter to match that of a single species of a type that surathi are generally capable of interbreeding with (see above), though the creature must not differ in more than one size category. If you copulate with such a creature, it will have the usual chances of getting pregnant. The resulting offspring will be of the same basic species as the mother, but if it or its descendants should turn out to be true sulrathi, share traits of your species.
Note: This power may only be learned and used by male sulrathi.
In general, if a "true surat" (lesser brethen or above) produces offspring with a non-surat, the resulting offspring will always be a thin-blooded. If a thin-blooded produces offspring with a non-surat, the resulting offspring may be either a thin-blooded or a normal member of the partner's species, though the former is more likely if the thin-blooded has a higher concentration of surathi blood. Thin-blooded breeding with other thin-blooded may produce anything from normal creatures to pure ones, though the latter is very rare and usually only possible if both of them have many surathi ancestors. True sulrathi breeding with other sulrathi may usually produce any type of sulrathi, from thin-blooded to pure ones, though a pure one's offspring will at least have the breed of his partner, and a favored one breeding with another favored one will at least produce a lesser brethen.
(Note: A full explanation of surathi genetics can be found here.)
In general, male surathi are encouraged to father as many children as possible to spread their kind. Female surathi, on the other hand, are encouraged to breed with the surathi of the highest breed available so that they might produce high-breed offspring. In small, isolated communities with a low number of surathi, this often leads to incestous pairings.
So, what do you think of the general concept? Is it lame, or would you use this in your own campaign? And is it too sexually explicit? While I figured that what's good enough for Call of Cthulhu is certainly sufficient for me, I do want to stay within the bounds of good taste... (Any help with specific wordings would also be appreciated - English isn't my native language, after all...)
And what do you think of the mechanics? Do the powers and level adjustments balance, or should I adjust the number of powers upwards or downwards? And are there any obvious powers and weaknesses I have been missing?
Finally, should I rewrite anything to make it clearer? And do you have any good ideas how to expand on this?
Oh, and I think I'll work the drow of Urbis into this somehow. After all, they do have an unhealthy fascination with spiders...
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