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Friday 19 October 2012

Jahlen - Golden Horned Ram Humanoid (PC Race)



At one point when designing my game world, I tried to totally avoid the most common races found elsewhere. I eventually relented as I could see the benefit of having these there, but they are usually in the background. One of my "original" races, apart of the horned kin, which fits a more beastial aspect to certain
areas of my world.

What are these guys - well think bighorn sheep humanoids, with golden horns. They are fiercely devoted to their horns, both as a weapon & because it represents their tribe. The same way the animals butt heads, so too with this fantasy counter-parts, they are playful and sporty, always ready to jump into battle, traversing the high mountain cliffs with steadfast hooves. Why golden horns...not really sure why at this point, its just who these are.

Jahlen - Golden Horned Ram Humanoid

Personality: Stubborn and determined, jahlen are hardy warriors who are fiercely loyal to both family and their independence. As strict vegetarians, they maintain balance of the land while caring for their own needs. These humanoid rams are playful beings, excelling in sports such as head butting, jumping, climbing and riding. Enjoying the camaraderie, they are never shamed to lose in a fair contest, and use it as a means to judge their own abilities and to train for battle.

Physical Description: These ram humanoids are six and a half feet tall, with thick, curled golden horns with short white, gray or brown fur, hooves instead of feet. They have four digits: two fingers and two opposable thumbs, Most wear some clothing but only need to do so in harsh weather. Their horns are pure gold at birth, but as they grow, it thins becoming an outward coloured sheen only, though there are legends that the oldest tribe members have pure golden horns.

Relations: Jahlen try not to get too involved with other races. They maintain a level of trust with elves and halflings, understanding their nature but not necessarily their methods. They often have a cordial relationship with dwarves; they share territory but not temperament. They are wary of humans mostly because of raiders who attack them for their golden horns. Jahlen  mistrust Minotaurs, their large brutish cousins, who they have often struggled with due to territorial wars in the past.

Alignment: They are individualists, disposed towards independence. CG is the most common alignment with CN, N and NG the next prevalent. Tribes are ruled by the oldest or the most charismatic and most decisions are voted on by tribes the elders.

Lands: Their homes are mountain regions and spires; wanting vast areas of grazing lands and certainly liking sparse rural areas to heavily populated areas. Many tribes are nomadic by choice, some do settle in villages if they can be defended with a suitable food supply nearby. They are spread thin, they have a strong connection with other clans, and come together for shared defense quickly.

Religion: Druidic faiths predominate; they worship the spirits of the land.

Language: Jahlen, Minotaur, Dwarven & the common tongue.

Adventurers: Jahlen have many reasons to adventure, but it usually comes down to them being wanderers by temperament. They seem to find excitement wherever they go, hooking up with adventuring companies to delve, profit and drive back the common enemy. They always return to the tribes, eventually when it is time.

Jahlen Racial Traits

Golden Horns. Hardness 20
+2 constitution, +2 strength
+5 climb, +5 acrobatics
Racial Hit Dice: 2d8; Attack Bonus and saving throws as Fighter
Natural Attack: Headbutt d6 dmg; weapon Focus (Horns)
Base 8 skill points, more if they have exceptional intelligence, to be used on core skills only
Core Skills: Acrobatics, Climb, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (local), Perception, Ride, Sense Motive, Stealth, Survival
Level Adjustment: +2 CR
Preferred Classes: Druid, Fighter, Ranger, Rouge, Sorcerer
Limitation: Jahlen do not use large bladed weapons. They prefer blunt weapons or their horns in melee, bows or spears otherwise.


1 comment:

  1. I can imagine these roaming foothills and mountains. Funny we don't see sheep and goats adapted like this so often, as a straight-up humanoid, especially for adding that wilder tone in the right places. Goats of course can be ever so slightly unsettling anyway in the right context, for the associations, but humanoid rams certainly would be.

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