| Dastrient |
Looking for advice or opinions on this custom race I built for a friend's campaign. I wanted a race set at odds to drow society but was not interested in svirfneblin. I used drow and kitsune as templates as best I could but this is my first custom race.
Anubune are a race of subterranean jackal headed shapeshifters believed to be related to Kitsune and are known for their cunning and physical prowess. Anubune possess two forms: that of a well-muscled and large drow, and their true form of an anthropomorphic jackal. A persecuted and warlike people anubune prize honesty among friends and a penchant for survival. Though they live in nomadic tribes those possessed of skill in construction and engineering are held in high regard.
Strong and smart, anubune make excellent magi, thought the blend of martial and magical prowess is uncommon. Most anubune tend toward one or the other, exceling as fighters and wizards. Others tend toward the paths of rangers and rogues, as a sharp eye and the ability to blend into the background ensure survival from raiding drow. Few anubune become oracles or sorcerers, and it is believed that their persecution has driven them from the innate magics many believe they may have sprung from.
Physical description: Anubune possess two forms – a single drow form and their true form, that of a humanoid jackal. In their drow form, anubune tend toward a strong and well-muscled physique. In their true forms, they have a short coat of white fur, ranging from a dusky gray to a stark white.
Society: Anubune tribes live a life of hard survival, avoiding or fighting drow when they need too. They delight in pursuits of the mind, and respect those with the tenacity to survive. Outsiders may see contradictions in their society, as they both fiercely cling to personal survival as the ultimate goal, and treat their tribes as a collective, sharing out tasks and rewards with great equity.
Relations: Anubune have an ancient animosity toward drow, they are hunted and exterminated by the deep elves whenever possible, though some anubune live amongst the drow, blending in to their society in a effort to survive. The svirfneblin have an uneasy alliance with anubune, and are treated with great respect whenever they interact. Duergar however are not extended this same respect, though their feats of engineering are held in high regard their society is viewed as just slightly worse than that of the drow.
Alignment and Religion: Most Anubune tend toward neutrality but have a nuanced view of alignment. Anubune follow a trinity in the pantheon, and while some devote themselves to one diety or another most hold with all three. Ol’ Deadeye, revered for survival, for the hunt. Zyphus, dark god of tragedy and accidental death, is worshipped through appeasement in the hopes that his eyes do not fall on the tribe. And Brigh, goddess of invention, whose worshippers find their greatest numbers in the anubune, a race that prizes invention highly and yet is too persecuted to fully commit to erudition and invention.
Adventurers: Few Anubune strike out willingly from the safety of their tribes, most who turn to adventure may be the last of their societies or those exiled or otherwise separated from their tribes. Those who dwell among the drow are more likely to venture out alone if discovered or threatened, and rarely have a tribe to turn to.’
Female Names: Jiyoki, Elistraee, Himani, Usagi
Male Names: Takeshi, Zzizt, Zzephani, Ryunin
Standard Racial Traits (13RP)
• Ability Score Modifier: Anubune are strong and cunning, but have difficulty interacting with other races. They gain +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, and -2 Charisma.
• Size: Anubune are Medium creatures and thus have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Type: Anubune are humanoids with the anubune and shapechanger subtypes.
• Base Speed: Anubune have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Anubune begin play speaking Undercommon and Sylvan. Anubune with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following; common, dwarvish, gnomish, aklo, elvish.
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
• Cunning (VC) Anubune gain 1 additional skill point per hit die.
• Problem Solver (EX) Anubune are curious and cunning observers, able to overcome relatively complex barriers and dangers, Disable Device is always considered a class skill. Additionally, Anubune receive a +2 racial bonus on disable device checks.
Magical Racial Traits
• Change Shape (Su) An Anubune can assume the appearance of a specific singer drow form of the same sex. The Anubune always takes this specific form, cannot use their bite attack, but gains +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear drow. Changing shape is a standard action. This ability functions as alter self, except that the anubune does not adjust her ability scores and can remain in this form indefinitely.
Offense Racial Traits
• Natural Weapons (Ex) In her natural form, an anubune has a bite attack that deals 1d4 points of damage
Defense Racial Traits
• Spell Resistance, Greater: Anubune possess spell resistance (SR) equal to 11 plus their total number of class levels.
Senses Racial Traits
• Superior Darkvision: Anubune have superior darkvision, allowing them to see perfectly in the dark up to 120 feet.
Weakness Racial Traits
• Light Blindness: As deep underground dwellers, anubune suffer from light blindness. Abrupt exposure to any bright light blinds anubune for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they a dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
Magus Favored Class Bonus; +1/4 modifier to overcoming spell resistance. (see dhampir wizard)