CHILDREN OF SERPENT AND STONE
HISTORY
The Petrafidi were once humans. Long ago in the distant past there was a mighty city of men. They were wise in the arts of magic, medicine, and science. They tracked the movements of the stars. They learned to open the doors between the worlds, and thence did their doom come.
The high priests of the great city worshiped a now nameless serpent goddess of secrets, wisdom, and planar travel. In probing the Starry Depths, they caught the attention of the Outer Gods, like a child waving a flashlight in an open field at night. They swept down upon these wise fools and laid their civilization to waste. They punished and slew their goddess. They took them, played with them, ruined them, changed them, and then left them, broken and lost, to die in the rubble and ashes of their once great civilization.
But the survivors did not die. They learned to use their strange new bodies, and stranger powers, to survive. Terrified that the Outer Gods may once again seek them out for punishment, they fled. They retreated to hidden enclaves and lived out their lives in secret for many countless generations.
In that time, their numbers grew. The Petrafidi became a true and separate species with their own traditions and unique culture. In this new age of rediscovery and adventure, some young Petrafidi are leaving their hidden homes and venturing out into the world, hoping to create a new future for their kind.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
With the right clothing, a Petrafidi could pass for human. Upon close inspection however, their strange nature can easily be discerned.
The petrafidi look, in almost all respects, human. They run the full gamut of human body types and ethnicities. What gives them away are the dozens of small snakes that sprout from their heads like living hair. These snakes are not independent beings, they are parts of the Petrafidi's body. They can appear as almost any kind of venomous snake and bear the unique color patterns and details of whichever species they resemble, from cobras to coral snakes. Among the Petrafidi, it is the details of these snakes that determine 'ethnicity', with parents passing on these traits to their children. When using their gaze attack, the eyes of the Petrafidi and all their snakes glow with silvery grey light.
SOCIETY
Because of their history, the Petrafidi are clannish and incredibly loyal to their families and communities. The locations of these communities are a closely guarded secret, and the Petrafidi will spare no expense to make sure any who learn of their hidden enclaves never ever reveal them to anyone. Petrafidi who leave their communities never speak of them and will gladly commit suicide if it appears that the only other option is to break and reveal such a location.
Petrafidi society is one that respects elders, wisdom, and both magical and martial proficiency. They have a deep love of art and beauty especially music, theatre, and sculpture. Petrafidi who leave their homes do so knowing they may never return, lest they lead others back. In almost all other ways Petrafidi display as much variety and dynamism as their human forebearers.
RELATIONS
Although secretive about their homes and clannish, adventuring Petrafidi are generally open and curious about new peoples and cultures. They tend to be cautious in their dealings with others, and prefer to keep a low profile. If one earns the trust of one of these people, one has earned a friend for life. Being isolated for so long, they have no strong relations or animosities toward anyone in particular, lest it be the Outer Gods themselves.
ALIGNMENT AND RELIGION
With strict adherence to traditions and a self perceived need for total isolation, Petrafidi lean toward neutral and lawful alignments. They are however just as diverse in their moralities and religions as humans.
ADVENTURERS
Petrafidi adventurers are almost universally outcasts from their clans and communities. Sometimes it is self imposed, a rebellious adventurer, following their wanderlust. Sometimes they are sent as explorers and scouts, updating the hidden enclaves on the state of the world. Either way, under normal circumstances they can expect to never be surrounded by their own kind again. Petrafidi tend toward adventuring roles that support their natural abilities and inclinations, such as Bards and Rogues, or highly self sufficient classes, such as Rangers.
NAMES
http://babynames.net/all/greek
THE PETRAFIDI (15RP)
Type: Humanoid (Petrafidi) - 0RP
Size: Medium - 0RP
Speed: 30ft - 0RP
Abilities: Human Heritage(+2 to any one ability score) - 0RP
Languages: Standard - 0RP
Racial Traits:
-Offensive Traits:
Snakes - As a Natural Weapon attack, a Petrafidi can cause the snakes that make up their hair to attack an adjacent foe en masse causing 1d6 piercing damage and delivering a debilitating poison. If the snakes hit and do damage, they inject their poison into the victim. Snake Poisoon: injury; save Fort DC 10+half the user's Hit Dice+the user's Con modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1 Con; cure 1 save. - 2RP
Petrification: As a standard action, a Petrafidi may select a single living target within 30ft to subject to their petrifying gaze. The Petrafidi must have line of sight to the target, and they and their target must be able to see each other. Petrifying Gaze: save Will DC 10+half the users Hit Dice+the user's Cha modifier; frequency 1/hour for 1 hour; effect if they make their initial save, the target is Slowed for 1 round. If they fail this save they are turned to stone for 1 hour. After the hour is up they make another save. Upon a success they are returned to normalcy. If they fail they are turned to stone permanently. The Petrafidi may use this ability 1/day per point of Charisma bonus, minimum 1. - 8RP
-Senses Traits:
Low Light Vision - 1RP
All Around Vision: The continually writhing snakes that grow from the Petrafidi's head allow them to see in all directions around them including above and below. They cannot be flanked by visible opponents. This allows the Petrafidi to see even when their normal eyes are apparently closed or covered. If the snakes are somehow restrained or covered the Petrafidi loses this ability. - 4RP
RACIAL FEATS
Powerful Gaze
Requirements: Petrafidi, Character level 5, Charisma 16
Effect: The Petrafidi may unleash the full power of their gaze attack. As a standard action the Petrafidi may affect all susceptible targets within 30ft with their gaze attack for 1 round. this ability otherwise follows all the usual rules for gaze attacks.
Piercing Gaze
Rquirements: Petrafidi, Charisma 14
Effect: The range of all uses of the Petrafidi's gaze attack is doubled to 60ft.
Twining Snakes
Requirements: Petrafidi
Effect: When making a grapple, the Petrafidi's snakes wind and twine around their opponent, granting the character +2 on their CMB when making opposed grapple checks.
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