Admiral Squish
2014-09-12, 01:05 PM
Houpetor (Hidden)
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/jake-long-american-dragon-jake-long-2879881-300-399.jpg
The houpetor, a draconic word for 'hidden', are a very secretive race of dragonblooded that live among humanoids. In an ancient age, in a land where dragons were hunted nearly to extinction, the dragons began to hide themselves, first as simple humanoids in the wild, then among the humanoids themselves. But when the dragon hunters began to seek them out with divination, they knew their simple disguises would not hold to such scrutiny. A ritual was developed, one that made the human disguise seem their true form. And as dragons are wont to do, they mated with the humanoids they lived among. Over generations, this secretive draconic nature spread through the populations, the power of the dragons sleeping in the blood of their children, their children's children. In modern times, these sleeping dragonkin are known as houpetor, and they are widespread through almost every humanoid civilization. Some keep their nature hidden, others proudly advertise their dragon blood, and some are entirely unaware of what slumbers within them.
Personality: Houpetor personalities are widely varied, as widely varied as their humanoid forms can be. Typically, their personalities have more in common with those of the race they are disguised as than other houpetor, but there are a few common traits to be found, even among widely differing races. Most houpetor are at least a bit secretive, accustomed to keeping the truth out of sight. Even those who do not deny their dragon blood will usually avoid putting it out in the open where they can. Houpetor are generally charismatic and somewhat regal, and many can be found in leadership positions. Many houpetor families are noble houses or families of wealthy merchants. Most houpetor will trust a few very close friends and allies with their secret.
Physical Description: Houpetor may look almost exactly like humans, but that's not to say they are unremarkable. They are often physically strong and attractive, a potent combination. It's also common for them to have traits that are uncommon among the local humanoid populations, such as slightly fairer or darker skin than usual, unusually-colored eyes, or some other distinctive trait. Nothing dramatically inhuman, just enough to make them stand out a bit. These traits come from their draconic ancestor's disguises, many choosing to appear as foreigners when they first entered society, as to help disguise their unfamiliarity with humanoid culture. When they activate houpetor feats, the draconic traits they take on match their draconic ancestor's, with scales of the same shade or features resembling that dragon type in some other way. Houpetor have lifespans similar to those humanoids they emulate, but as much as half again as long. Most will off-handedly thanks some distant elven ancestor when their slow aging is pointed out.
Relations: Houpetor were once actively hunted in humanoid societies. Traditions of secrecy and subtlety were born out of these dark times, and even in today's often more accepting age, they can be hard to break away from. Most modern societies won't hunt them down or raise mobs against them, but the unusual is still often met with undue scrutiny and discrimination by most humanoids. True dragons view the houpetor as the bastard children of cowards who abandoned their nature in times of strife. At best, they are no better than the other humanoids, at worst, the dragons will seek to erase the products of that embarrassing age from the world. The exception being those dragons who founded the houptor lines, some of whom still keep close watch over their distant progeny.
Alignment: Houpetor are more likely to be one of the extreme alignments than neutral, most having gained a strong moral compass from their draconic heritage. They are also a bit more likely to be lawful than chaotic, as the traditions of secrecy that kept them alive did not come as easy to their chaotic kin.
LNC
G20515
N1055
E20515
Lands: Houpetor have no lands of their own, being part of the humanoid cultures that have spread so far and wide. Some more powerful families may own land or even rule cities, but most dwell among the people. The families are as varied as their ancestors. Some are studious record-keepers, able to trace their lineage back through the ages to their draconic ancestor, some even keeping in contact with the founding wyrm. Some are only vaguely aware of their draconic nature, simply knowing somewhere along the line there was a dragon and the rules to abide and teach their offspring. Others have long-forgotten, or were never told their nature, until some accident or event reveals the truth of their heritage. Whatever the case, the families usually keep their ancestry hidden from the world at large, and rarely draw unneccesary attention to themselves.
Religion: Some houpetor families, more proud of their dragon ancestry, may revere Io, Tiamat, or other draconic deities, but such faiths are almost always hidden beneath the trappings of the more conventional religions of the race they live among. Many houpetor houses of draconic faith will have holy symbols or idols of humanoid gods casually displayed, while their true shrines and idols are hidden, stowed in drawers, tucked away in cellars, or even hidden in some secret compartment.
Language: Houpetor speak common and the languages spoken by the humanoids they live among. Most will know a few words of phrases of draconic, terms used among the family when they're alone, but it's rarely spoken freely in such houses. Most fear that speaking the tongue will draw too much attention to their unusual traits and clever neighbors may put two and two together. Many will eventually seek out and learn the language of the wyrms, in an effort to connect to their heritage.
Names: Houpetor names are typically common to their humanoid races, sometimes painfully common. Anything that avoids drawing unusual attention, after all. Those who are proud of their hidden heritage will choose fully draconic names for themselves when they come of age.
Adventurers: Houpetor very often become adventurers, particularly as young adults, as that is often when their true nature is revealed. The isolated lifestyle allows them to relax their need for privacy, and adventurers have a tendency to accept even the strangest of companions, as long as they continue to prove useful and trustworthy. Houpetor often enter physical classes, such as fighter or barbarian, capitalizing on their strength. Others embrace their draconic heritage for the arcane, becoming sorcerors or dragon disciples.
+2 Strength, +2 Charisma, -2 Dexterity Houpetor are as strong in body and personality as their draconic parentage, but they can be slow to react.
Humanoid Houpetor are humanoid creatures with the Dragonblood Subtype.
Medium Size Houpetor are medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties based on size.
Normal Speed Houpetor have a base speed of 30 feet.
Humanoid Form Houpetor look, to all outward appearances, like perfectly normal examples of a humanoid race. They are born in this form, live in this form, and many live as one of these races, until their true nature is revealed by a parent, ancestor, or even by some accident that reveals their energy resistance or causes them to subconsciously activate a houpetor feat. This appearance is not an illusion or disguise, they are, for all purposes, a member of that race. When making a houpetor character, select one medium-sized humanoid race. They are treated as though they possessed that race's subtype or the dragonblood subtype, whichever would be beneficial, for the purposes of how they are affected by spells and effects, and for qualifying for feats or prestige classes. They do not need to make disguise checks to appear as a member of that race.
Elemental Affinity Houpetor are bound to an elemental energy through their draconic bloodline. A houpetor selects one of the following elemental affinities and gains the associated racial traits. Once selected, this cannot be changed.
Air: The houpetor gains electricity resistance 5 and a +1 racial bonus to acrobatics and fly checks.
Earth: The houpetor gains acid resistance 5 and a +1 natural armor bonus to their armor class.
Fire: The houpetor gains fire resistance 5 and a +1 morale bonus to melee damage rolls.
Water: The houpetor gains cold resistance 5 and a swim speed of 30 feet. This swim speed grants a +8 racial bonus to swim checks.
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/jake-long-american-dragon-jake-long-2879881-300-399.jpg
The houpetor, a draconic word for 'hidden', are a very secretive race of dragonblooded that live among humanoids. In an ancient age, in a land where dragons were hunted nearly to extinction, the dragons began to hide themselves, first as simple humanoids in the wild, then among the humanoids themselves. But when the dragon hunters began to seek them out with divination, they knew their simple disguises would not hold to such scrutiny. A ritual was developed, one that made the human disguise seem their true form. And as dragons are wont to do, they mated with the humanoids they lived among. Over generations, this secretive draconic nature spread through the populations, the power of the dragons sleeping in the blood of their children, their children's children. In modern times, these sleeping dragonkin are known as houpetor, and they are widespread through almost every humanoid civilization. Some keep their nature hidden, others proudly advertise their dragon blood, and some are entirely unaware of what slumbers within them.
Personality: Houpetor personalities are widely varied, as widely varied as their humanoid forms can be. Typically, their personalities have more in common with those of the race they are disguised as than other houpetor, but there are a few common traits to be found, even among widely differing races. Most houpetor are at least a bit secretive, accustomed to keeping the truth out of sight. Even those who do not deny their dragon blood will usually avoid putting it out in the open where they can. Houpetor are generally charismatic and somewhat regal, and many can be found in leadership positions. Many houpetor families are noble houses or families of wealthy merchants. Most houpetor will trust a few very close friends and allies with their secret.
Physical Description: Houpetor may look almost exactly like humans, but that's not to say they are unremarkable. They are often physically strong and attractive, a potent combination. It's also common for them to have traits that are uncommon among the local humanoid populations, such as slightly fairer or darker skin than usual, unusually-colored eyes, or some other distinctive trait. Nothing dramatically inhuman, just enough to make them stand out a bit. These traits come from their draconic ancestor's disguises, many choosing to appear as foreigners when they first entered society, as to help disguise their unfamiliarity with humanoid culture. When they activate houpetor feats, the draconic traits they take on match their draconic ancestor's, with scales of the same shade or features resembling that dragon type in some other way. Houpetor have lifespans similar to those humanoids they emulate, but as much as half again as long. Most will off-handedly thanks some distant elven ancestor when their slow aging is pointed out.
Relations: Houpetor were once actively hunted in humanoid societies. Traditions of secrecy and subtlety were born out of these dark times, and even in today's often more accepting age, they can be hard to break away from. Most modern societies won't hunt them down or raise mobs against them, but the unusual is still often met with undue scrutiny and discrimination by most humanoids. True dragons view the houpetor as the bastard children of cowards who abandoned their nature in times of strife. At best, they are no better than the other humanoids, at worst, the dragons will seek to erase the products of that embarrassing age from the world. The exception being those dragons who founded the houptor lines, some of whom still keep close watch over their distant progeny.
Alignment: Houpetor are more likely to be one of the extreme alignments than neutral, most having gained a strong moral compass from their draconic heritage. They are also a bit more likely to be lawful than chaotic, as the traditions of secrecy that kept them alive did not come as easy to their chaotic kin.
LNC
G20515
N1055
E20515
Lands: Houpetor have no lands of their own, being part of the humanoid cultures that have spread so far and wide. Some more powerful families may own land or even rule cities, but most dwell among the people. The families are as varied as their ancestors. Some are studious record-keepers, able to trace their lineage back through the ages to their draconic ancestor, some even keeping in contact with the founding wyrm. Some are only vaguely aware of their draconic nature, simply knowing somewhere along the line there was a dragon and the rules to abide and teach their offspring. Others have long-forgotten, or were never told their nature, until some accident or event reveals the truth of their heritage. Whatever the case, the families usually keep their ancestry hidden from the world at large, and rarely draw unneccesary attention to themselves.
Religion: Some houpetor families, more proud of their dragon ancestry, may revere Io, Tiamat, or other draconic deities, but such faiths are almost always hidden beneath the trappings of the more conventional religions of the race they live among. Many houpetor houses of draconic faith will have holy symbols or idols of humanoid gods casually displayed, while their true shrines and idols are hidden, stowed in drawers, tucked away in cellars, or even hidden in some secret compartment.
Language: Houpetor speak common and the languages spoken by the humanoids they live among. Most will know a few words of phrases of draconic, terms used among the family when they're alone, but it's rarely spoken freely in such houses. Most fear that speaking the tongue will draw too much attention to their unusual traits and clever neighbors may put two and two together. Many will eventually seek out and learn the language of the wyrms, in an effort to connect to their heritage.
Names: Houpetor names are typically common to their humanoid races, sometimes painfully common. Anything that avoids drawing unusual attention, after all. Those who are proud of their hidden heritage will choose fully draconic names for themselves when they come of age.
Adventurers: Houpetor very often become adventurers, particularly as young adults, as that is often when their true nature is revealed. The isolated lifestyle allows them to relax their need for privacy, and adventurers have a tendency to accept even the strangest of companions, as long as they continue to prove useful and trustworthy. Houpetor often enter physical classes, such as fighter or barbarian, capitalizing on their strength. Others embrace their draconic heritage for the arcane, becoming sorcerors or dragon disciples.
+2 Strength, +2 Charisma, -2 Dexterity Houpetor are as strong in body and personality as their draconic parentage, but they can be slow to react.
Humanoid Houpetor are humanoid creatures with the Dragonblood Subtype.
Medium Size Houpetor are medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties based on size.
Normal Speed Houpetor have a base speed of 30 feet.
Humanoid Form Houpetor look, to all outward appearances, like perfectly normal examples of a humanoid race. They are born in this form, live in this form, and many live as one of these races, until their true nature is revealed by a parent, ancestor, or even by some accident that reveals their energy resistance or causes them to subconsciously activate a houpetor feat. This appearance is not an illusion or disguise, they are, for all purposes, a member of that race. When making a houpetor character, select one medium-sized humanoid race. They are treated as though they possessed that race's subtype or the dragonblood subtype, whichever would be beneficial, for the purposes of how they are affected by spells and effects, and for qualifying for feats or prestige classes. They do not need to make disguise checks to appear as a member of that race.
Elemental Affinity Houpetor are bound to an elemental energy through their draconic bloodline. A houpetor selects one of the following elemental affinities and gains the associated racial traits. Once selected, this cannot be changed.
Air: The houpetor gains electricity resistance 5 and a +1 racial bonus to acrobatics and fly checks.
Earth: The houpetor gains acid resistance 5 and a +1 natural armor bonus to their armor class.
Fire: The houpetor gains fire resistance 5 and a +1 morale bonus to melee damage rolls.
Water: The houpetor gains cold resistance 5 and a swim speed of 30 feet. This swim speed grants a +8 racial bonus to swim checks.