Though they outwardly resemble young humans, Nivae are the immature forms of giant insects that have adapted to trick humanoid communities into guarding their young. Their natural life cycle involves irreversibly transforming into a mindless mosquito-like beast- a prospect which the Nivae regard with revulsion and horror, when they are aware of it at all. In recent years a simple herbal concoction has been found to indefinitely delay the transformation, allowing Nivae to live normal lives if their true nature is noticed in time.
As impostor humans, Nivae outwardly behave like their host species but are emotionally uncanny in subtle ways. They seem unable to feel love or anger, appear ambivalent towards comfort and beauty, and may be prone to inappropriate bouts of laughter. These traits, their yellow blood, and their tendency to disappear on hot summer nights has led some rural communities to call them "witch-children".
- Racial Traits
- Ability Score Modifiers: Human Heritage (+2 to a chosen score)
- Size: Medium
- Languages: Linguist
- Darkvision (60ft)
- Fixed Bonus Feat (Pass for Human)
- Flawed Mimic
- Flexible Bonus Feat
- Integrated
Pass for Human:
All Nivae gain the Pass for Human feat for free, even if they do not meet its prerequisites. They don't benefit from this feat while bleeding. Many younger Nivae are even unaware that they aren't human, either oblivious to or in denial about their distinctive yellow blood and alien organs.
Integrated:
Nivae gain a +1 racial bonus to the Diplomacy, Bluff, and Knowledge (Local) skills.
Flexible Bonus Feat:
Nivae gain an additional feat of their choice at 1st level. They must still meet all prerequisites.
Flawed Mimic:
Their psychology is similar to humans', but is an imperfect facsimile. Nivae cannot benefit from morale bonuses and gain a +2 racial bonus on saves against emotion effects.
Partial Transformation
Prerequisites: Nivae race
Nivae who are stopped from transforming at the eleventh hour bear lasting reminders of their brush with a fate worse than death. Along with minor cosmetic changes, they grow translucent insectoid wings that halve fall damage and grant Fly as a class skill. At 6th level their wings become strong enough to bear their weight, granting a fly speed of 30 feet (clumsy).
Old Blood
Prerequisites: Nivae race
Some Nivae learn to enter a meditative state that brings them closer to their insectoid side. As a swift action, they can enter or leave an atavistic trance. While in an atavistic trance, their skills and actions are restricted as if they were raging, but they become immune to all effects that would not also work on creatures with the Vermin type.
Raised Proper
Prerequisites: Nivae race
Despite their bizarre natures, a few Nivae seem truly receptive to the lessons of their adoptive homes. They count as both Nivae and human for all effects related to race, and may also choose to permanently lose the Flawed Mimic trait.
Interesting idea. What creature type are they though - some sort of humanoid, monstrous humanoid, aberrations, vermin or what?
Whoops! Should've mentioned they were Humanoids, yeah. That got lost in the editing shuffle. And thank you!