PDA

View Full Version : D&D 3.x Other Aurochsen (3.5e race) PEACH



Alabenson
2019-12-31, 03:07 PM
This is the first in a series of races that I've been working on for a homebrewed setting which will be dispensing with the usual nonhuman races.

Aurochsen

Originally created by a cabal of immensely powerful wizards by mixing human and bovine spirits to act as servitor race of farmers, aurochsen have weathered the implosion of their creator's empire and continue to tend their farmlands in peace. Those who harass them, however, soon learn that the strength that allows them to farm without aid of beasts of burden can quickly be put to other uses.

Personality: For the most part, aurochsen are peaceful creatures, preferring to avoid conflict if at all possible, though they tend to be wary of strangers. Once an aurochsen is assured of an individual's good intentions, however, they will quickly warm up and have been known to be rather boisterous when surrounded by those they trust and consider friends.

Physical Description: Aurochsen strongly resemble hulking, bipedal, humaniod bulls or cows. In particular, aurochsen appear to possess the heads and tails of bovines (though some aurochsen have human-like hair on their heads), with broad cloven hooves in place of feet. Their bodies are covered with short fur, typical colors being black, brown and grey, with white blotches occasionally present. The typical aurochsen male stands at roughly seven and a half feet tall and weigh well over 300 pounds, with females being a bit shorter and lighter. All aurochsen possess curved horns, with the horns of a male aurochsen being typically much larger than those of the females. Aurochsen tend to dress simply, favoring utilitarian garments and earth tones, although wealthy aurochsen will sometimes adorn their horns with gold and jewels.

Relations: Aurochsen tend to get along quite well with halflings, welcoming their caravans to their communities and trading foodstuffs for goods and news from the outside world. While they interact much less frequently, aurochsen also tend to enjoy the company of dwarves, with the two races sharing many of the same values. Aurochsen have a notable tendency towards being deferential when dealing with humans, however, almost to the point of quiet subservience at times, partially a holdover from their creation as servants of human mages and partially due to the fact that many aurochsen communities lie within human-ruled lands.

Alignment: Aurochsen culture places immense significance on the importance of community and it's primacy over the individual, and as such aurochsen are overwhelming lawful in alignment, and tend to lean more towards good than evil. While exceptions exist, those aurochsen that don't fit the mold of their society tend to be ostracized, with many turning to the life of an adventurer as a result.

Aurochsen Lands: Communities of aurochsen almost always are established near arable, which the aurochsen will work together to farm. Many of these communities are generations old, with some even stretching back to when the aurochsen were first created.

Religion: As aurochsen were the product of mortal magic and not a divine creation they've never had a specific patron deity like many other races. Consequently, aurochsen communities tend to venerate a wide array of divinities, though they most often gravitate towards good or lawfully aligned nature deities.

Language: Aurochsen speak Common like their human progenitors.

Adventures: Aurochsen adventurers tend to fall into one of two categories; those who are outcast from their communities and those see adventuring as the best way they can support their homes.

Aurochsen Racial Traits:

+4 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence. Aurochsen are massively strong and tough, but also tend to be clumsy and unintelligent.
Medium: As Medium creature, aurochsen have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Aurochsen base speed is 30 feet.
Low-light vision: An aurochsen can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Powerful build: The physical stature of aurochsen let's them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever an aurochsen is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the aurochsen is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. An aurochsen is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. An aurochsen can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
Mentally resilient: Aurochsen receive a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against all mind-effecting affects.
+2 racial bonus on Handle Animal, Knowledge (nature), and Profession (farmer) checks. Aurochsen possess a natural affinity for farm work and related tasks.
Strong back: An aurochsen is treated as a Large quadruped when calculating carrying capacity, giving them x3 that of a normal Medium, two-legged creature.
Gore: Aurochsen may use their horns to gore their opponents as a natural attack that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 + their Strength modifier.
Level Adjustment: +1