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A serious attempt at building a race I might actually play instead of one intended to exploit the rules. A sample character build using the race is included.
Size: Medium
Speed: Normal(30')
Ability Score: Human Heritage
Languages: Standar Array (1) (Start with Celestrial / Common)
available languages: aquan, auran, draconic, elven, ignan, sylvan, terran)
Racial Abilities:
Defensive Training, Greater (3)
Bonus Feat (4)
Stalker (1)
Low-light vision (1)
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History
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Created by a near-immortal wizard know only as the elder and residing in a private demi-plane that rivals Elysium
itself in beauty, the wolfen are a race of warriors, scholors and poets whose culture values the ideals of honor,
compassion,courage and self perfection.
Shielded inside their paradise for nearly a thousand years, The wolfen have finally convinced their proginator to
permit a small number of explorers to venture into the prime material plane to experiance it first hand after arguing that continued isolation would only lead to cultural stagnation. The elder has reluctantly agreed that it is time for his children to come of age and participate in the larger world outside Wolfholme.
The wolfen favor the classes Bard, Cleric( Iomedae, Irori or Shelyn), Monk, Paladin, Ranger and Wizard. Sorcerers and Inquisitors are nearly unknown amongst their race. Wolfen are nearly always good aligned, and only rarely neutral. Evil is unheard of. Both the structured lifestyle of the law and the individuality of chaos are accepted within the Wolfen culteral norm.
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Appearance
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The wolfen appear as a cross between human and wolf, with pelts ranging in color from white or silver to pure black, though the vast majority have pelts in shades of gray with black markings. Both the male and female average 5'10" in height with an average weight of 180 lbs. Eyes range in color from pale grey to emerald green or sapphire blue. The Wolfen have no racial preference for the right or left hand, and many are ambidextrious.
Female Wolfen Fighter 1
LG Medium Humanoid
Height: 6'; Weight: 184 lbs.; Age: 19
Init +4; Senses Perception +4
Deity Irori
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DEFENSE
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AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dodge, +1 shield, +2 Dex, +5 armor)
Hp 13 (10+2+1)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
. . Longsword +2 (1d8 +3/19-20/x2)
. . Shortsword +2 (1d6 +3/19-20/x2)
. . Greatsword +4 (2d6 +4 /19-20/x2)
. . Chakram +3 (1d8 +3/20/x2)
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STATISTICS
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Str 16[5], Dex 15[7], Con 14[5], Int 13[3], Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Two-weapon fighting, Double Slice, Two-weapon defense
Traits Centered, Reactionary
Skills Perception-1(+4), Stealth-1(+6), Survival-1(+4)
Languages Celestrial, Common, Sylvan
SQ Dodge +2, Low-light vision
Equipment: Scale mail, Chakram(x6)
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Background
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Alexanax is a young warrior of the Wolfen who has only recently petitioned for permission to leave Wolfholme and explore the outside world. She has trained hard with her littermates and has developed an affinity for fighting with a matched longsword / shortsword set gifted her by her father at her rite of passage.
A pious follower of all three of the Wolfen dieties (Iomedae, Irori and Shelyn), she feels a special affinity for Irori and seeks self perfection in all that she does.
Buying 2 points of Bite for 1d4 damage would not be a bad idea it is a Standard choice and will only bump you to an 11.
Love the fluff! Can't wait till you finish polishing it.
Buying 2 points of Bite for 1d4 damage would not be a bad idea it is a Standard choice and will only bump you to an 11.The Wolfen may well be able bite someone, but would never consider taking such a crude and beastial course of action.
I recommend it as well; flavor-wise it makes perfect sense for them to HAVE it, and seeing as they are being exposed to the material plane, they may adopt some of the customs of their parent races (humans and wolves). They may not like biting people, but if they are unarmed and need to defend themselves, I'm sure they would consider it. And you wouldn't have to go for the d4 damage die, if you just wanted it to be a very last ditch effort sort of thing.
They will be sorry (and naive) indeed if they think that bluff, diplomacy, or intimidation will get them out of every situation the world throws at them. Centuries in isolated idealism doesn't do very well for warriors, either. They were right to claim stagnation of culture as reason to leave.
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A version of the Wolfen with a bite attack:
Size: Medium
Speed: Normal(30')
Ability Score: Human Heritage
Languages: Standard Array (1) (Celestrial / Common)
available languages: aquan, auran, draconic, elven, ignan, sylvan, terran)
Racial Abilities:
Defensive Training, Greater (3)
Bonus Feat (4)
Stalker (1)
Bite 1d3 (1)
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History
-----------------
Created by a near-immortal wizard know only as the elder and residing in a private demi-plane that rivals Elysium
itself in beauty, the wolfen are a race of warriors, scholars and poets whose culture values the ideals of honor,
compassion,courage and self perfection.
Shielded inside their paradise for nearly a thousand years, The wolfen have finally convinced their proginator to
permit a small number of explorers to venture into the prime material plane to experiance it first hand.
The wolfen favor the classes Bard, Cleric( Iomedae, Irori or Shelyn), Monk, Paladin, Ranger and Wizard. Sorcerers and
Inquisitors are nearly unknown amongst their race. Wolfen are nearly always good aligned, and only rarely neutral. Evil
is unheard of. Both the structured lifestyle of the law and the individuality of chaos are accepted within the Wolfen
culteral norm.
-----------------
Appearance
-----------------
The wolfen appear as a cross between human and wolf, with pelts ranging in color from white or silver to pure black,
though the vast majority have pelts in shades of gray with black markings. Both the male and female average 5'10" in height
with an average weight of 180 lbs. Eyes range in color from pale grey to emerald green or sapphire blue. The Wolfen have no
racial preference for the right or left hand, and many are ambidextrious.
Female Wolfen Fighter 1
LG Medium Humanoid
Height: 6'; Weight: 184 lbs.; Age: 19
Init +4; Senses Perception +4
Deity Irori
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DEFENSE
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AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dodge, +1 shield, +2 Dex, +5 armor)
]b]Hp[/b] 13 (10+2+1)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
. . Longsword +2 (1d8 +3/19-20/x2)
. . Shortsword +2 (1d6 +3/19-20/x2)
. . Greatsword +4 (2d6 +4 /19-20/x2)
. . Chakram +3 (1d8 +3/20/x2)
. . Bite +4 (1d3 +3/20/x2) / +2(1d3 +1/20/x2)
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STATISTICS
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Str 16[5], Dex 15[7], Con 14[5], Int 13[3], Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Two-weapon fighting, Double Slice, Two-weapon defense
Traits Centered, Reactionary
Skills Perception-1(+4), Stealth-1(+6), Survival-1(+4)
Languages Celestrial, Common, Sylvan
SQ Dodge +2
Equipment: Scale mail, Chakram(x6)
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Background
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Alexanax is a young warrior of the Wolfen who has only recently petitioned for permission to leave Wolfholme and
explore the outside world. She has trained hard with her littermates and has developed an affinity for fighting with
a matched longsword / shortsword set gifted her by her father at her rite of passage.
A pious follower of all three of the Wolfen dieties (Iomedae, Irori and Shelyn), she feels a special affinity for
Irori and seeks self perfection in all that she does.
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They will be sorry (and naive) indeed if they think that bluff, diplomacy, or intimidation will get them out of every situation the world throws at them.
I had to laugh. The expanded history I am working on had them enter the Prime Material about 20 years ago. Their first encounter was with a tribe of orcs, The Blood Talon clan. The great bard Iolanthe calmed their savage hearts through words alone, convincing them to give up their brutal ways and join Wolfen society.
After 20 years, the town of Wolfsreach has a population of roughly 50 Wolfen and 250 orcs. Most of the orc population are farmers and fishermen, though some have become skilled craftsmen and a few have become acolytes of the church of Iomedae.
Tharg One-eye, the former clan cheif, was Alexanax's mentor and forged the swords she now wields before he passed away. Peacefully, of old age.
They will be sorry (and naive) indeed if they think that bluff, diplomacy, or intimidation will get them out of every situation the world throws at them.I had to laugh. The expanded history I am working on had them enter the Prime Material about 20 years ago. Their first encounter was with a tribe of orcs, The Blood Talon clan. The great bard Iolanthe calmed their savage hearts through words alone, convincing them to give up their brutal ways and join Wolfen society.
After 20 years, the town of Wolfsreach has a population of roughly 50 Wolfen and 250 orcs. Most of the orc population are farmers and fishermen, though some have become skilled craftsmen and a few have become acolytes of the church of Iomedae.
Tharg One-eye, the former clan cheif, was Alexanax's mentor and forged the swords she now wields before he passed away. Peacefully, of old age.
That's very impressive for a race who was kept segregated from all other mortal races for centuries, with no other social contacts than themselves. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's highly improbable.
Questions this brings to my mind: How big is this demi-plane? Who did the wolfen-creator worship in his life on the material plane? Do all of the wolfen worship this same deity? Why or why not? How much diversity would really be feasible on a demi-plane where all conditions are under control of an individual? The wolfen must be highly intelligent to be so eloquent, did the creator build them libraries and schools?
If they were taught about races outside of the demi-plane, and they are in anyway related to humans, then they would have been curious about that other realm of mortals. I can't help but think of the movie "Tangled" now...
On the surface this is a swell idea, but there is a disconnect in the logic. These wolfen come across as angels in werewolf bodies to me. They come out of an Elysium-based realm, speak words that move the hearts of savages, and promote peace and unity... I mean... it's not only striking to have that beastial image coupled with the purity of spirit, but it's kind of boring to say that every single one of them is exactly the same in that regard.
I think you could really open up your backstory by adding something along the lines of a "rebellion" at some point in the history, perhaps though it was quelled and the sympathizers have to live in shame and secrecy now. Something like that. There are two sides to every coin. It would help to see the darker side of this race.
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That's very impressive for a race who was kept segregated from all other mortal races for centuries, with no other social contacts than themselves. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's highly improbable.
The arts of diplomacy and debate are highly regarded cultural values, and Iolanthe is a high level bard specializing in all aspects of social interaction.
Questions this brings to my mind: How big is this demi-plane? Who did the wolfen-creator worship in his life on the material plane? Do all of the wolfen worship this same deity? Why or why not? How much diversity would really be feasible on a demi-plane where all conditions are under control of an individual? The wolfen must be highly intelligent to be so eloquent, did the creator build them libraries and schools?
The Demiplane is several hundred miles across by this point. It is constantly being expanded. There are currently 3 Wolfen wizards working on the project. There is only one city, Wolfholme, with the rest of the plane being either rural or mountainous woodlands. There are fewer than 20,000 wolfen in total.
As for worship, I named 3 specific deities, only one of which is lawful good. They are the deities that best share the ideals of Wolfen culture. Knowledge is one of those ideals and Wolfholme houses several libraries of considerable size covering every conceivable topic.
The Elder himself is very much a mystery to even the Wolfen. They know only what he has chosen to reveal, which is nothing of his past or of what he does when not in Wolfholme. The Elder himself has hundreds of names on dozens of worlds. He is not good aligned, but true neutral, the Wolfen are his personal act of balance for wrongs he has committed elsewhere. All viewed as necessary evils. He is involved in schemes and plots spanning centuries and sufficiently tangled as to be beyond unraveling even by the gods.
An act of atonement that spans a millenium and the creation of a race of innocents living in an ivory tower.
If they were taught about races outside of the demi-plane, and they are in anyway related to humans, then they would have been curious about that other realm of mortals. I can't help but think of the movie "Tangled" now...
Yes, very curious, and very eager to experience first hand. They have always had full knowledge of what lay beyond their plane. Now they want to see it for themselves.
On the surface this is a swell idea, but there is a disconnect in the logic. These wolfen come across as angels in werewolf bodies to me. They come out of an Elysium-based realm, speak words that move the hearts of savages, and promote peace and unity... I mean... it's not only striking to have that beastial image coupled with the purity of spirit, but it's kind of boring to say that every single one of them is exactly the same in that regard.
They are not angels, nor do all chose to lead the same lifestyle. Most are not even lawful, but neutral good. A significant portion would be defined as chaotic good, choosing to live outside Wolfholme. The lawful portion of the population is, by nature, more structured and more concerned with the formal laws of the society though.
I think you could really open up your backstory by adding something along the lines of a "rebellion" at some point in the history, perhaps though it was quelled and the sympathizers have to live in shame and secrecy now. Something like that. There are two sides to every coin. It would help to see the darker side of this race.
The conflict has yet to occur, and is one that has been faced by other societies. Their civilization, and their ideals, are very obviously far superior to those of any race they are likely to encounter.
They had an easy success converting a single tribe of orcs to their cultural ideals, but a single tribe is insignificant in the larger scheme of things. How are they going to handle more civilized races who are obviously deeply morally flawed? Are they going to try to purge those deep seated moral flaws from the larger society in the name of preserving their ideals?
Are they going to take no action, allowing individual freedom of choice as more important than honor, truth, family, knowledge, self-perfection and love? If so, how will their society be affected?
Two points:
1. In the end Athens ideals fell before the city itself did.
2. Consider the Crusades.
The Wolfen will be tested. The PC's will play a pivotal role in that testing. The fate of the Wolfen hangs in the balance.
Growing up is never easy.