Monday, 4 February 2019

Choll - yellow skinned humanoids that choose their gender

This is the transgender type humanoid in my world. They are a race onto themselves, but are welcoming so others may find a home in their towns and culture. Choll always breed true, regardless of who they mate with. Their communities are hidden from enemies but open to anyone that seeks help in questioning their role or place in society, many spell-casters and artists find their way, for a while to seek solace or to find a new home.

Choll
Chol are bright yellow humanoids, with long arms and legs. Their hair is most often shoulder length and grey, but many choll are able to change colour through concentration. Many do fancy or odd hair styles to express themselves, others wear it short or shave it off completely. Both typical genders exist in their society, but at their Ritual of Aging, they decide their Adult gender identity. They have no hesitation to pick fashion or weapon styles which are seemingly bizzare, but they fit that individual.

Choll society is one of workers and artists, where traditional gender roles and functions exist within a wide spectrum. Some are natural Choll, born and raised by community members, who seek to find their path in life and society.  Just as many are elves, humans or dwarves who travel there, these are first generation, their children are always born to other choll, and are choll. Their society is split into four primary genders: males, females, plus the mixed and the bred. Mixed are individuals who chose their gender, by dress and habit. Bred are those who go through a magical ceremony to pick gender. While there is much social interaction and options, individuals are left alone to make a choice.

Most of their villages are in spire or forest communities where there is plenty of resources, but they can hide their population. It has long been believed that due to their changing of genders they are embarrassed, but this is false, because of their capacity to change, they are sought out by hunters and sorcerers to be instruments of adaption. They are often physically and magically abused, and while many choll do not hesitate to fight for others, they prefer their offspring be sheltered.

Personality: Despite their harsh life and constant threats, choll find beauty, charm and humor in their lives. A large number are in constant threatening situations so they take joy where they can, especially in themselves and their allies. They have many allies that are fey or chaotic, but they appreciate friends no matter where or why - few are lawful, many have noble allies who do not understand their carefree ways, but respect them nonetheless. They form egalitarian societies, as they look for leaders to step forward, regardless of their family history - yet they are also respectful of those who do not want to be apart of their battles. Most are meshed within city society, which is typical of many creatures on Nyssa.

Most males are sorcerers and artists, females usually become rangers or strngth based warriors - the feminine often exist far from the core city centres. United Male or United Female form the largest group that resides in the centre of the community and society. They are very competitive with each other, but most do it in a playful way. Individuals are free to select their role and class.

Physical Description: They are heavily muscled, bright yellow skinned with deep red hair. Many of them wear heavy furs and a backpack filled with everything they may need to survive in the wilds. They ritually brand themselves as physical reminders of personal oaths and victories. Men tend to braid their hair; women cut it short when weaning otherwise flowing long. Women tend to be taller and thinner then men and excel at archery and running, but once they are mothers they refrain from active raid participation.

Relations: They are well versed with other chaotic or fey beings, sharing in their wild parties of glee. They are respectful of anyone who is of differing opinion,but often they are dangerously protective of allies or family which can cause problems. They do not try to cause problems, but many lawfully aligned beings find them distasteful. Choll do not seek recruits, yet they do not need to, many individuals look for this group, especially those who question their role in life or their gender or sexuality or other life decisions. They offer advice to artists and thinkers, many races come through their community, and seek solace or refuge for short periods of time. Choll help people make decisions for themselves and then help them thrive in their selected path. Most civilized people know and accept individuals who have become choll, so these people have allies among most non-evil peoples.

Alignment: While unpredictable, they try to avoid problems with allies. They tend towards chaotic and neutral, but they do have many good aligned allies.

Lands: Choll are community folk, sharing space typically with Elf or Charr. They rarely gather in large enough numbers to form their own self-contained groups.

Religion: Few are religious, they tend to respect their allies gods, but do not have their own. They do have a small pantheon of High Heros, they look to as guides but not religious ones. The few who do follow a specific deity, organize in ways as elsewhere on Nyssa, except there are no sermons; weekly gatherings at an obelisk happen, but many just stand, pray in silence or meditate. Individuals may seek out guidance, but do so with clerics, sorcerers or even druids. Monks are highly revered, and some have followings based on their capacity to concentrate, or their non-verbalizing leadership.

Language: They speak their own language, and those of breeding also learn common, elven, dwarven or faerie.

Adventurers: For the Choll life is an unexpected adventure. They spend much of their life struggling for themselves and their allies, because there are those who would use their bodies. They want to help other creatures be able to live their lives... unjudged and free.

Choll 
+2 on survival and Knowledge (Either Nature or Society)
Gain Endurance as a free feat
Tribal Weapon - Energy Lash, supernatural ability
+2 dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma

Racial Hit Dice: 2d8; Attack, Hit Dice, Saves, and Skills as a fighter of the same level
Base 8 skill points, more if they have exceptional intelligence, to be used on core skills only:

Core Racial Skills: Acrobatics, Climb, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Knowledge (local, geography, nature), Perception, Ride, Stealth, Survival, Swim (core skills are always available)

Level Adjustment: +1 CR

Gain +4 skill points every HD over 1st, feat at second level and every two levels afterwards
1 HD Youth or Non-Combatant
2 HD Gain Energy Lash (1d4)
3 HD gain damage reduction 1 / -; Control Colour, Size and Shape of minor objects by touch
4 HD +2 to Dexterity or Constitution; Modify Physical appearance
5 HD Specialized in Energy Lash (2d4); gain damage reduction 2 / -
6 HD +2 to Dexterity or Constitution; Gain Physical Adaption
7 HD Double Energy Lash Damage; +2 to Dexterity or Constitution
8 HD +2 to strength or Constitution
9 HD gain damage reduction 5 / -; Triple Energy Lash Damage & range (1d12 dmg); +5 to any three ability scores

Advancement by HD levels; most do not gain class levels until 10th; most select Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger, Sorcerer. If they select a standard class before 10th, they cannot advance further on this table.

Energy Lash: Choll have a strong but brief connection to otherworldly elements. Upon concentration, they can release a bright flash of energy, acting as a combined elemental whip weapon. It can affect creatures within a ten foot radius. If they lower the damage, (change to a D6) the energy can be focused to one type of energy (Rock, Water, Air or Sunlight also called Celestial Flame.)

Specialized lash: Increase in damage and length increases to 20 ft

Double Energy Lash: Two energy lash are extended up to 20 feet. The two creatures cannot be more than ten feet apart.

Modify Physical appearance: Have an ability to adjust their physical presence (+/- 50 pounds, +/- 2 feet, change skin and hair colour. for up to one hour.)

Gain Physical Adaption; Adjust their physical features to better fit into one environment. Gain +3 to any physical skill, such as fins for +3 on their swim skill score, or +3 on climbing, etc. Once selected this adaption becomes permanent.

Triple Energy Lash Damage & range: Three energy lashes at a range of 30 feet. The creatures cannot be more than fifteen feet apart.

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This was an idea I have been playing around for awhile, and never got right. Still things that I'm not happy with, but I gotta let it go, and let it be.

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