I've been searching through all three bestiaries to find something suitable around which to build a nation, but I cannot find anything that particularly appeals to me. So I turn to the boards for help.
I have only a few things planned for them so far (leaving the rest to fall into place after the race is selected), but they are more or less non-negotiable qualities, unfortunately.
The first thing is that they need to be the kind of creatures willing to side with a nation of undead (mostly wights) but cannot be undead themselves. The relationship between the two nations are similar to that between Sauron and Sauruman (with the undead nation being Sauron).
The second thing is that the bulk of the population needs to be CR 2 or less, preferably less. The world is rather low magic and the design philosophy is that 95% of the world is CR 4 or under. An exception can be made for "leaders" because there will be so few of them. The nation just to the south, for example, is mostly re-skinned gnolls lead by a few rakshasa.
The region I will be putting them in is mostly cold forest. It's a large nation, so it need not all be that cold, but it's temperate in the south at best.
Lastly, they cannot be orcs or goblinoids. Those two populations are already well represented in the area and I'd like something a bit different.
So, with all that in mind, does anyone have any suggestions on where to look?
Demon worshipping Gnolls are always awesome...
But they might be a bit to close to the greenskined races.
However i really like their savageness combined with the tactical prowess.
Rangers and traps are a great addition to barbarian.
Add some "Demon" clerics and maybe even some demon depending on the level of the game.
I love the fact that they take slaves and eat their own aswell as human flesh. Pretty nice for a intelligent race
Mongrelmen they would be rejected by anyone save the undead. They would fit nicely into the "breeding they ideal soldier" that is very Saurumanish.
Dhampir.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/humanoids/dhampir
Warforged, the construct race originally from the Ebberon setting (or any other PC construct race) would probably work well for you.
Check miniatures. Their style and the cultural ideas around them can help you make the "people" of your new nation.
I like the suggestions of the Dhampir and the Urdefhan. Also, the thought of some reskinned gnolls has some appeal. Thanks for the suggestions! I was at a complete mental block.
Also, the thought of some reskinned gnolls has some appeal. Thanks for the suggestions! I was at a complete mental block.
If you had them worship Zon-Kulthon you could have them as un-skinned Gnolls.
Dhampir, maybe Drow
Drow usually make good bad guys.