Jarrick
2010-09-20, 10:47 PM
Playable race of lesser dragons created for my Dai Nippon campaign setting. Dragons of all types in this setting are considered spirits for the sake of effects that taget spirits.
It bears mentioning that there is a subset of spells in this setting that effect only spirits in a similar vein to those that effect only humanoids (Enlarge/reduce person, Hold person, charm person, etc) so as far as power is concerned, spirit is about equal with humanoid in this setting.
Description:
Among the last to act during the Mingling of Spirits were the dragons, mightiest of all spirits. The least of these, and therefore the most ambitious, were the Tatsu. Seeing the plight of the human world, the reclusive Tatsu learned from their elders how to assume human form and ventured out to aid the humans in the defeat of the Youma.
Personality: Tatsu are calm, collected individuals. It takes a great deal of action to truly shake up a tatsu. Many exude a quiet confidence in all their endeavors and speak softly and decisively, but not arrogantly. This is not to say they are emotionless, indeed they display the same array of emotions as most, but are confident in their ability to handle their problems.
Physical Description: Tatsu in their human forms resemble humans, albeit thin and light of frame. Their skin ranges from pale white to ruddy brown. Their hair colors vary widely, reds, greens, blues, white, and black being most common. In their dragon forms, they resemble red, black, blue, green, white, or silver lung dragons with hair the same color as the hair in their humanoid form. They have long single whiskers on the end of dog-like mouths and stand on bird-like feet. A pair of bony horns or antlers sweeps backwards over their head.
Relations: Tatsu strive to get along with others to the best of their ability. Most other spirits who recognize them as dragons pay them at least token respect as their clan is the mightiest of the spirit clans.
Alignment: Tatsu favor lawful and good alignments. They keep their word and generally attempt to perform good deeds where needed. Less altruistic Tatsu do exist, however, and one may occasionally encounter less honest or centered Tatsu as well.
Lands: The Tatsu’s homelands are in the spirit realm. They emerged into the human world to aid in the Yokai war, and thus may be found wherever there are humans.
Religion: Tatsu do not worship the spirits that humans venerate—they consider themselves the spirits’ equals. Tatsu may practice the disciplines of a philosophical school, sharing a spiritual orientation with certain monks. Tatsu priests command the power of the spirits not through veneration, like human priests, but through partnership.
Language: Tatsu speak Draconic, a language shared by all dragons as well as the spirit tongue. Three years of living in the human world has taught them Common as well.
Names: Tatsu have long names. They are typically named after specific bodies of water, mountains, islands, and so forth. Their name also encompasses their clan name and any titles they hold as well. Many have adopted a shorter human name to make it easier on the humans.
Adventurers: Tatsu come from powerful families that hold magic above all other pursuits, and so they favor the sorcerer class. Tatsu Duskblades are also fairly common. Warriors of any type are uncommon, though more than a few have taken up the banner of a samurai. Some of the more devious Tatsu have taken up the arts of the Ninja or even those of a rogue to earn wealth by stealing it from others. Tatsu with a chaotic bent are fairly rare, but they have been known to make fierce barbarians.
Tatsu Racial Traits:
Medium Dragon (Spirit)
+2 Dex, -2 Con. Tatsu are quick and agile, but also thin and light of frame.
Speed: In its humanoid form, a Tatsu has a base land speed of 30ft.
Low Light Vision: A Tatsu can see twice as far as a human in conditions of low light.
Darkvision out to 60ft.
Immunity to magical Sleep and Paralysis effects.
+2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. Tatsu are keenly observant.
Alternate form (Su): Although it spends the majority of its time in humanoid form, a Tatsu’s natural form is that of a lung dragon, thin and snake-like, and as long as the Tatsu’s humanoid form is tall. It has four spindly legs that end in sharp talons. This supernatural ability functions like the polymorph spell, but a Tatsu can change form at will. Changing form is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
The Tatsu’s size changes to small when in dragon form, gaining a +2 size bonus to Dexterity, a -2 size penalty to Strength (to a minimum of 1), and a +1 bonus on attack rolls and AC due to its reduced size.
A Tatsu in dragon form has a 1d4 primary bite attack. While it keeps its base land speed, it also gains the limited ability to fly (See Flight below).
A Tatsu's equipment usually transforms to become part of her dragon body. She loses the benefits of any weapons, shields, armor, or robes she wears or carries. Items that require a physical apparatus to function, such as a ring or a pair of boots, shift to adopt a form suitable to the animal, such as a collar or anklet and continue to provide their benefits.
A Tatsu’s dragon form is unable to use her limbs to manipulate fine objects. She cannot cast spells with a somatic component, use scrolls, or activate magic items. When a Tatsu in dragon form assumes human form, her equipment returns to its normal form and magic items resume functioning.
Flight (Su): While in dragon form a Tatsu can float through the air supernaturally. At lower levels, this manifests as a sort of low hovering, the Tatsu lacking the strength to ascend higher. At higher levels, the Tatsu is capable of flight worthy of its kind. A Tatsu of 4th level or lower flies at a speed of 30ft with good maneuverability, but due to its limited power, can only ascend a maximum of 10ft off the ground. When falling from higher heights, this ability manifests as the Feather Fall spell. At 5th level, this restriction is lifted, allowing the Tatsu to fly like any other creature with a fly speed. Furthermore, the Tatsu’s flight maneuverability improves to Perfect.
Breath Weapon (Su): As dragons, Tatsu have minor control over the weather. A Tatsu’s breath weapon reflects it’s affinity. Once per day, a tatsu may produce one of the following effects as a supernatural ability as a standard action. This effect is chosen at character creation and afterwards may not be changed. Caster level for the effect is equal to the Tatsu’s HD: Obscuring Mist* , Cloudburst*^, Gust of Wind, or Thunderhead.
*As the spell, though you need be in the center of the effect, you must be within or adjacent to it.
^ The Water created by this effect is real, and quenches thirst like normal water.
Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic, Spirit Tongue
Bonus Languages: Any
Favored Class: Sorcerer
Feats: Here's where I need the most peaches, lol. Please be gentle, I havent tested these yet.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL I [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 3 HD
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of medium size. The tatsu can freely switch between size categories as easily as it can between human and dragon form. Consult the chart “Tatsu Dragon Forms” for ability score and bite damage increases.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL II [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 9 HD, Draconic Potential I
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of large size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL III [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 15 HD, Draconic Potential II
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Huge size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL IV [EPIC, RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 21 HD, Draconic Potential III
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Gargantuan size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL V [EPIC, RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 27 HD, Draconic Potential IV
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Colossal size.
Tatsu Dragon Forms:
{table=head]Dragon Form Size Category|Ability Adj (Str, Dex, Con)|Bite Damage|Nat. Armor|AC/Atk Mod.|Space/Reach
Medium|+0, +0, +0|1d6|+0|+0|5/5
Large|+6, -2, +0|1d8|+1|-1|10/5
Huge|+12, -2, +4|2d6|+3|-2|15/10
Gargantuan|+18, -2, +8|3d6|+7|-4|20/15
Colossal|+24, -2, +12|4d6|+12|-8|30/20
[/table]
It bears mentioning that there is a subset of spells in this setting that effect only spirits in a similar vein to those that effect only humanoids (Enlarge/reduce person, Hold person, charm person, etc) so as far as power is concerned, spirit is about equal with humanoid in this setting.
Description:
Among the last to act during the Mingling of Spirits were the dragons, mightiest of all spirits. The least of these, and therefore the most ambitious, were the Tatsu. Seeing the plight of the human world, the reclusive Tatsu learned from their elders how to assume human form and ventured out to aid the humans in the defeat of the Youma.
Personality: Tatsu are calm, collected individuals. It takes a great deal of action to truly shake up a tatsu. Many exude a quiet confidence in all their endeavors and speak softly and decisively, but not arrogantly. This is not to say they are emotionless, indeed they display the same array of emotions as most, but are confident in their ability to handle their problems.
Physical Description: Tatsu in their human forms resemble humans, albeit thin and light of frame. Their skin ranges from pale white to ruddy brown. Their hair colors vary widely, reds, greens, blues, white, and black being most common. In their dragon forms, they resemble red, black, blue, green, white, or silver lung dragons with hair the same color as the hair in their humanoid form. They have long single whiskers on the end of dog-like mouths and stand on bird-like feet. A pair of bony horns or antlers sweeps backwards over their head.
Relations: Tatsu strive to get along with others to the best of their ability. Most other spirits who recognize them as dragons pay them at least token respect as their clan is the mightiest of the spirit clans.
Alignment: Tatsu favor lawful and good alignments. They keep their word and generally attempt to perform good deeds where needed. Less altruistic Tatsu do exist, however, and one may occasionally encounter less honest or centered Tatsu as well.
Lands: The Tatsu’s homelands are in the spirit realm. They emerged into the human world to aid in the Yokai war, and thus may be found wherever there are humans.
Religion: Tatsu do not worship the spirits that humans venerate—they consider themselves the spirits’ equals. Tatsu may practice the disciplines of a philosophical school, sharing a spiritual orientation with certain monks. Tatsu priests command the power of the spirits not through veneration, like human priests, but through partnership.
Language: Tatsu speak Draconic, a language shared by all dragons as well as the spirit tongue. Three years of living in the human world has taught them Common as well.
Names: Tatsu have long names. They are typically named after specific bodies of water, mountains, islands, and so forth. Their name also encompasses their clan name and any titles they hold as well. Many have adopted a shorter human name to make it easier on the humans.
Adventurers: Tatsu come from powerful families that hold magic above all other pursuits, and so they favor the sorcerer class. Tatsu Duskblades are also fairly common. Warriors of any type are uncommon, though more than a few have taken up the banner of a samurai. Some of the more devious Tatsu have taken up the arts of the Ninja or even those of a rogue to earn wealth by stealing it from others. Tatsu with a chaotic bent are fairly rare, but they have been known to make fierce barbarians.
Tatsu Racial Traits:
Medium Dragon (Spirit)
+2 Dex, -2 Con. Tatsu are quick and agile, but also thin and light of frame.
Speed: In its humanoid form, a Tatsu has a base land speed of 30ft.
Low Light Vision: A Tatsu can see twice as far as a human in conditions of low light.
Darkvision out to 60ft.
Immunity to magical Sleep and Paralysis effects.
+2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. Tatsu are keenly observant.
Alternate form (Su): Although it spends the majority of its time in humanoid form, a Tatsu’s natural form is that of a lung dragon, thin and snake-like, and as long as the Tatsu’s humanoid form is tall. It has four spindly legs that end in sharp talons. This supernatural ability functions like the polymorph spell, but a Tatsu can change form at will. Changing form is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
The Tatsu’s size changes to small when in dragon form, gaining a +2 size bonus to Dexterity, a -2 size penalty to Strength (to a minimum of 1), and a +1 bonus on attack rolls and AC due to its reduced size.
A Tatsu in dragon form has a 1d4 primary bite attack. While it keeps its base land speed, it also gains the limited ability to fly (See Flight below).
A Tatsu's equipment usually transforms to become part of her dragon body. She loses the benefits of any weapons, shields, armor, or robes she wears or carries. Items that require a physical apparatus to function, such as a ring or a pair of boots, shift to adopt a form suitable to the animal, such as a collar or anklet and continue to provide their benefits.
A Tatsu’s dragon form is unable to use her limbs to manipulate fine objects. She cannot cast spells with a somatic component, use scrolls, or activate magic items. When a Tatsu in dragon form assumes human form, her equipment returns to its normal form and magic items resume functioning.
Flight (Su): While in dragon form a Tatsu can float through the air supernaturally. At lower levels, this manifests as a sort of low hovering, the Tatsu lacking the strength to ascend higher. At higher levels, the Tatsu is capable of flight worthy of its kind. A Tatsu of 4th level or lower flies at a speed of 30ft with good maneuverability, but due to its limited power, can only ascend a maximum of 10ft off the ground. When falling from higher heights, this ability manifests as the Feather Fall spell. At 5th level, this restriction is lifted, allowing the Tatsu to fly like any other creature with a fly speed. Furthermore, the Tatsu’s flight maneuverability improves to Perfect.
Breath Weapon (Su): As dragons, Tatsu have minor control over the weather. A Tatsu’s breath weapon reflects it’s affinity. Once per day, a tatsu may produce one of the following effects as a supernatural ability as a standard action. This effect is chosen at character creation and afterwards may not be changed. Caster level for the effect is equal to the Tatsu’s HD: Obscuring Mist* , Cloudburst*^, Gust of Wind, or Thunderhead.
*As the spell, though you need be in the center of the effect, you must be within or adjacent to it.
^ The Water created by this effect is real, and quenches thirst like normal water.
Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic, Spirit Tongue
Bonus Languages: Any
Favored Class: Sorcerer
Feats: Here's where I need the most peaches, lol. Please be gentle, I havent tested these yet.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL I [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 3 HD
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of medium size. The tatsu can freely switch between size categories as easily as it can between human and dragon form. Consult the chart “Tatsu Dragon Forms” for ability score and bite damage increases.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL II [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 9 HD, Draconic Potential I
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of large size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL III [RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 15 HD, Draconic Potential II
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Huge size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL IV [EPIC, RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 21 HD, Draconic Potential III
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Gargantuan size.
DRACONIC POTENTIAL V [EPIC, RACIAL]
As you grow in level, your size further increases to reflect your power.
Prerequisite: Tatsu, 27 HD, Draconic Potential IV
Benefit: When assuming dragon form, a Tatsu may choose to become a dragon of Colossal size.
Tatsu Dragon Forms:
{table=head]Dragon Form Size Category|Ability Adj (Str, Dex, Con)|Bite Damage|Nat. Armor|AC/Atk Mod.|Space/Reach
Medium|+0, +0, +0|1d6|+0|+0|5/5
Large|+6, -2, +0|1d8|+1|-1|10/5
Huge|+12, -2, +4|2d6|+3|-2|15/10
Gargantuan|+18, -2, +8|3d6|+7|-4|20/15
Colossal|+24, -2, +12|4d6|+12|-8|30/20
[/table]