| Azothath |
[larger]Yatagarasu[/larger] (eight-span crow) species – PC playable race
{any} Med humanoid (shapechanger)
Yatagarasu are a rare race of divinely inspired human shapechangers that live in a demiplane Yamauchi coterminous with Zi-Ha and surrounding lowlands in Tian Xia. Their three legs represent earth, heaven, and man; or morning, noon, and night of the Sun, bringing light into the darkness of death. Not much is known about them in Tian Xia much less the Inner Sea region. Most observers believe them to be tengu. The tengu whom may be related remain tight lipped and deny that the yatagarasu might exist extemporizing that excess saki is usually the cause. One decrepit old scholar in Goka claims they hail from the remaking after the First World and that greater kami protect them.
Physical Description: In their human form they are indistinguishable from humans even with detect magic. Generally it takes 1 minute of interaction and a successful Knowledge (local) DC (15 +HD or Level) or Sense Motive DC (20 +HD or Level) check to discern their unique racial heritage.
Society: like humans yatagarsu are eusocial and generally maintain and live in their human form. Table L1 lists the lineage by implied social rank but it would be difficult to get an aesthetic or aristocrat to vocalize it publicly as it is socially rude and “in the past”.
Relations: They tend to live isolated in their stable demiplane of 5 lands yamauchi upon the mountains, separate from Zi-Ha and the samsarans, accessible only through mountain caves and the rare weakened barrier. Usually an adventurer crosses out through the rifts or a weakened barrier in yamauchi only to return many years later if at all. Most adventurers leave bearing a geas to not reveal the secrets of yamauchi. Foreigners are generally drugged then enspelled to forget and carried out while unconscious and left in Jinin or Chu Ye. Foreign criminals are beheaded or executed with prejudice. The rare NPC with class levels and an agreeable demeanor (accepting a geas) may be allowed to remain for their lifetime never spreading word of the outside, their inability to take crow form is considered a handicap and social flaw placing them in the lower social ranks.
Alignment and Religion: varies but many yatagarsu are neutral and like humans simple seek a better life for themselves and extended family. The deity Takamimusubi/Erastil is seen as their father or patron along with his wife Jaidi, son Cernunnos, daughter Halcamora, advisors Baekho, Immonhiel, Ketephys, Valani, and the Green Mother whom are all represented at major temples with shrines. Smaller temples for other deities from Zi-Ha & Goka such as Irori, Pharasma, and several kami are patronized. Servants gossip about wretched hamlets where the peasants try to appease several giant deities. Whispers persist about the rare secret cabal to Urgathoa that crosses social barriers as some seek gluttony or avoid death.
Adventurers: Much like human society. Lawful & aristocrat adventurers take on a special geas and it is optional for others.
selection of lineage: choose one lineage; aperae, athletic, artistic, aesthetic, or aristocratic.
Lineage Table (Table L1)
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(1) Lineage: Aperae
Ability adjustment [+2, 0,+2, -1, 0, -2]
Class Skill Choose one skill from each craft or profession skill; Craft(baskets, bows, carpentry, cloth, clothing, leather, pottery, shoes, stonemasonry, traps), Profession(baker, cook, driver, farmer, fisherman, merchant, midwife, miller, miner, porter, rancher, sailor, shepherd, stable master, soldier, tanner, trapper, woodcutter), and gain them as class skills. Gain +1 race bonus to the chosen skills. If Prof(farmer, rancher, or shepherd) garners +2 rather than +1 race bonus. You cannot gain Know(arcana), Spellcraft, or Use Magic Device as a class skill, race or trait bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. Gain one skill point per even HD or Level that must be put into a chosen skill.
Crow form Natural attacks claw {primary} (1d3, 1d3 c20 *2)S|P, beak {secondary} (1d3, c20 +2)P. If the beak attack is the only attack, consider it a primary attack for that round.
(2) Lineage: Athletic
Ability adjustment [+2, +2, 0, -1, -1, -1]
Class Skill choose two skills from; acrobatics, climb, escape artist, ride, sleight of hand, stealth, swim, and gain them as class skills. Gain +1 race bonus to the chosen skills. You cannot gain Know(arcana), Spellcraft, or Use Magic Device as a class skill, race or trait bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. You cannot gain a Will save bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. Gain one skill point per even HD or Level that must be put into a chosen skill.
Crow form Natural attacks claw {primary} (1d4, 1d4 c20 *2)S|P, beak {secondary} (1d3, c20 +2)P. If the beak attack is the only attack, consider it a primary attack for that round.
(3) Lineage: Artistic
Ability adjustment [0, 0, -1, +1, 0, +2]
Class Skill choose two skills from; Craft(basket, book, calligraphy, carpentry, cloth(weaving, tapestry, rug), clothing, glass, jewelry, leather, painting, pottery, sculpture, shoes) or Perform(category & subtype), and gain them as class skills. Gain +1 race bonus to the chosen skills. You cannot gain Disable Device, Stealth, or Survival as a class skill, race or trait bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. You cannot gain a Fortitude save bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. Gain one skill point per even HD or Level that must be put into a chosen skill.
Crow form Natural attacks claw {primary} (1d3, 1d3 c20 *2)S|P, beak {secondary} (1d3, c20 +2)P. If the beak attack is the only attack, consider it a primary attack for that round.
(4) Lineage: Aesthetic
Ability adjustment [0, +2, 0, -1, -1, +1]
Class Skill choose two skills from; Perform(category & subtype) or Profession skill, and gain them as class skills. Gain +1 race bonus to the chosen skills. You cannot gain Disable Device, Disguise as a class skill, race or trait bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. You cannot gain a luck bonus or Fortitude save bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. Gain one skill point per even HD or Level that must be put into a chosen skill.
Crow form Natural attacks claw {primary} (1d3, 1d3 c20 *2)S|P, beak {secondary} (1d4, c20 +2)P. If the beak attack is the only attack, consider it a primary attack for that round.
(5) Lineage: Aristocrat
Ability adjustment [0, 0, -1, 0, +1, +2]
Class Skill Gain Knowledge(nobility), diplomacy, and intimidate as class skills. You cannot gain a fortitude bonus from an alternate racial trait or a trait. Gain one skill point per even HD or Level that must be put into one of the above skills.
Crow form Natural attacks claw {primary} (1d3, 1d3 c20 *2)S|P, beak {secondary} (1d4, c20 +2)P. If the beak attack is the only attack, consider it a primary attack for that round.
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Starting Ability scores: see Table L1. Yatagarasu purchase their ability scores using the standard method and can have no single score above 18 or below 7 before racial modifiers are applied. After racial modifiers no ability score can increase above 20 or go below 6 and the cost of the scores must be balanced to reflect that overall restriction.
Type: human humanoid (subtype shapechanger). You have two forms; a normal human form of (adult) medium size and weight, then a crow form with 3 legs at adult large size at the same weight which requires huge size in squares during winged flight. Saddles for crows are exotic thus cost double the large horse saddle (Hrd:2, HP:5) price and are half the usual weight with Hrd:3, HP:4. Yatagarasu never consent to be a mount without a long term (year+) contract (as it is considered a shameful indenture visited upon the poor and petty criminals) thus mounted combat feats do not apply.
> Note on Winged Flying creatures: most naturally flying winged creatures require one size category larger to initiate and maintain flight and it is usually not a problem. When in a confined space (their size) the flier must succeed on a Fly DC 30 check (like squeezing) to move through or directly up and out of the confining square(s) and every 10 ft moved through adds 2 to the DC. Launching horizontally or downwards from a confined space into the air has no restrictions (even if you cannot fly). Thus a Fly check of 32 indicates the large creature moves through 5 plus 10 ft(+2 DC) of a large open corridor and then must land(stop) in the third square(15ft). If the Fly check fails within 5 the creature may bank and relaunch from the obstacle losing 10 ft of movement but cannot pass through on this attempt, otherwise it attempts an Acro DC 30 to land in the confined space else lands prone in the first square(s) of the confined space.
> Note on Encumbrance: Flying creatures suffer 50% lower load categories while flying. A Strength 10 large crow has a light load of 66lb (=2{Lrg}*33lb). The same large crow flying (now huge) has a light load of 66lb (=4{hugh}*33 / 2{flying}). 4 wings (like legs) are needed to reach the same carrying capacity of quadrupeds.
> Note on Polymorph: As with Polymorphs, usable and worn items that cannot be used (up to half your light load in the new form) are adsorbed into the new form or fall in your square as unattended objects. Absorbed items do not count against your total encumbrance. See MIBS(Magic Item Body Slots) for usable slots. Change Shape is often used to store an adventuring or traveling outfit.
Size: medium(human) or large(crow).
Movement: human: Spd:30ft; or crow: Spd:10ft, Fly:60(avg).
Senses: usual human senses.
Skilled: see Table L1.
Natural Weapon: see Table L1.
Language: common(tian) and hon-la. Yatagarasu with a high intelligence may learn; common(taldane), draconic, erutaki, sakvroth(undercommon), samsaran, senzar, sylvan, tang(dtang), tengu, wayang.
Bounded Telepathy(Su): yatagarasu crow form has no language and cannot vocalize speech but they can gesture and write with their feet on the ground. The yatagarasu(human or crow) has a very limited form of telepathy requiring a move action and successful Concentration DC 14 +([(word count, maximum 22)/2], minimum 1) check to communicate to sentient creatures within 30 ft otherwise they communicate nothing. If the creature does not have a concentration check from spellcasting use 1d20 +(highest ability score bonus of Int, Wis, or Cha) +HD for the check. Damage and effects that impede/boost concentration work on this check. If the listener has telepathy, limited telepathy, or bounded telepathy a concentration check is not needed but still takes the move action.
Change Shape (Su): a yatagarasu can assume the appearance of a specific single human form or a specific large 3-legged crow form of the same sex which share some physical attributes with no mechanical impact (for example a human with naturally blue hair would transform into a large crow with blue head feathers). The yatagarasu always takes these specific forms when using this ability. A yatagarasu in human form cannot use their crow form’s natural attacks but gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise(with -2 penalty to appear human versus Perception) checks to appear as another human if they don a disguise (as their appearance is set). As they normally go about life as themselves, it takes 1 minute of interaction and a successful Knowledge (local) DC (20 +HD or Level) or Sense Motive DC (25 +HD or Level) check to discern their true unique racial heritage. Most assume they are tengu after witnessing a change into crow form. Changing shape is a standard action that does not provoke AoO. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape 2 spell into a large 3-legged crow, they do not adjust their ability scores and gain the usual modifiers to AC and attacks from size, the duration of the change is indefinite and their current form remains after death.
Feat/Trait options: Yatagarasu have access to human subraces and alternate racial traits (note there are restrictions on what bonus types each lineage may gain). Ignore the following human options; Trailblazer, Dual Talent, Adopted Parentage, Heroic, Rationalize, Shadowhunter, Tribalistic, Dimdweller, Fey Magic, Fey Thoughts, Heart of the Seas, Poison Minion, Wayfarer. Heart of the Fields offers one Aperae class skill with no racial bonus but gaining a skill point for that skill every even Level and a +2 trait bonus as the Endurance feat with no help(effect) for sleeping in armor, this trait bonus stacks with the Endurance feat. Social Ties offers no benefit to Leadership. Yatagarasu may substitute their first level feat for a human alternate racial trait that replaces a human bonus feat.
Geas(Sp): Lawful and Aristocrat lineage PCs acquire a special permanent geas:E6 at CL 15 {for dispelling}, “I will not convey, inform, describe, or show others of the existence of Yamauchi or the yatagarasu and prevent the spread of such information. Blessed be the kin‘u.” Those who take the geas gain a small masterwork mundane carved bone token which allows them legal entry back into yamauchi, others whom return without a token are betraying felons or failures.
Favored Class: Martial class(Barbarian/Fighter, or Full BAB): +1 HP, or +1 Skl pt to a Fighter classes initial class skill, or 1/2 martial or exotic wpn prof; Arcane/Divine/Psychic Spellcaster: +1 Skl Pt, or +1/3 CL & DC to a non-opposed school (named) spell, or 1/2 simple or 1/3 martial (named) weapon proficiency; Skilled class(3/4 BAB): +1 HP, or +1 Skl Pt, or 1/2 martial or 1/3 exotic wpn prof; other(1/2 BAB): +1 HP, or +1 Skl pt, or 1/3 martial or exotic wpn prof.
ECOLOGY
Environment within Yamauchi, attending tengu ritual or ceremony, lone adventurer who claims to be a tengu.
Organization solitary or with 6 tengu guards of CR -2 (minimum CR 1).
Treasure equip & gear at WBL.
>>> Human form <<<
(alignment) Med human (shapechanger) (subject to spells that could affect a human or shapechanger)
Speed: 30 ft.
otherwise as human.
MIBS - Biped[hands] {F*G*} [armor, belt, chest, eyes, feet, head, headband, neck, ring, shoulder, wrist, weapon].
>>> 3-legged Crow form <<<
(alignment as human form) Lrg animal (shapechanger) (subject to spells that could affect a human, shapechanger, or magical beast)
Init; Senses; Perception (as human form).
AC ({sz:Lrg}-1 AC).
Speed: 10 ft, Fly: 60 ft (average).
Mle Natl Atk varies but example is;
claw {primary} +(BAB +Str -1), +(BAB +Str -1) for (1d3+(1.5*Str), 1d3+(1.5*Str) c20 *2)S|P dmg,
& beak {secondary} +(BAB +[Str/2] -6) for (1d3+[Str/2], c20 *2)P dmg.
Space: 10 ft (15ft while flying); Reach 10 ft.
Ability scores (as human form).
BAB (as human form); CMB (sz:+1), CMD (sz:+1, +2 vs trip).
Skills: Fly (sz:-2), Stealth (sz:-4).
MIBS - Avian {G*} [armor(barding), belt, chest(exotic saddle), eyes, head, headband, neck, ring, wrist, custom weapon].
> Note: {F*} fine manipulations (somatic components, tool use, disable device). {G*} can Grasp objects (can hold and manipulate one object). Sentience (Int ≥3) and Grasp is required to use a manufactured weapon. A creature can use a custom weapon affixed to its natural attack otherwise it requires a successful Handle Animal Push(DC 25) check. Sentience, language(verbal component, if needed), fine manipulation(grasp & somatic component, if needed), possibly material and foci, and class abilities or UMD is required to activate magic items or cast spells. Sentient creatures can activate slotless magic items and ioun stones. Continual use items need no activation.
by Azothath
enjoy *caw caw ka-caw*
see also
Azothath's Homebrew: Wizard archetype Tutelary
Azothath's Homebrew: Monster: Therndentro Lignum (aka whompa) Huge Mon Humnd (giant, plant) CR:16
Azothath's Homebrew: Monster: Giant Foaming Grasshopper Med vermin CR2
Azothath's Homebrew: Monster: Barkgator Med animal(reptile) CR:1
Azothath's Homebrew: Monster: Grave Sedge Mother Med plant CR:3 & link to regular grave-sedge CR:0.25.
Azothath's Homebrew: Monster: Helminth Swarm Fine vermin(swarm) CR:3
Azothath's Homebrew: Purchased Mounts and in particular horses with scaling Hit Die & Prices