Lycan
Mystic travelers with ties to
the primal and the night.
RACIAL TRAITS
Average Height: 5’-6’3”
Average Weight: 100-250lb.
Ability Scores: +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma
Size: Medium
Speed: 6
squares
Vision:
Low-light
Languages:
Common, Sylorel, Lycan Dialect
Skill Bonuses:
+2 Nature, +2 Perception
Bond of Nature: You can speak to animals who do not
have a normal language and who are intelligent enough to speak. This does not
mean an animal is predisposed to be friendly to you, but you can communicate
with it.
Gleam of the Red Eye: You gain a +2 racial bonus to Intimidate.
Natural Weapons: You have claws on your hands that
allow you to deal 1d6 damage to an opponent. You may use both hands on a single
opponent in a single attack without suffering any penalties.
One with the Night: You gain training in Stealth.
Mystic travelers who
have a strange affinity for the night, lycan are a mysterious nomadic race.
They travel from city to city, country to country, in large caravans made up of
one or two families. Some see them as beautiful, magical entertainers. Other
see them as harbingers and dark omens; wherever you find a lycan caravan, you
are likely to find trouble.
Play a lycan if you
want…
♦ to be a mysterious, charismatic
creature of the night.
♦ to have strange and powerful ties
to the natural world.
♦ to be a member of a race that favors
the bard, druid, invoker, rogue, shaman, sorcerer, and warlock classes.
Physical
Qualities
Lycan resemble
humanoid wolves. They are covered with fur and have bushy tails like a wolf or
large predatory dog. They stand roughly the same height as humans, with a
slightly leaner build and somewhat smaller frame. Some lycan have knees that
bend backwards and resemble an actual wolf’s leg as opposed to a normal human
leg. Their heads are entirely wolfish but they have no mains or hair aside from
their normal fur. Their fur colors run a wide gamut of colors from oranges and
reds, to browns and tans, and even greys and blacks. Most often they are a
solid color with their belly being white, or occasionally white paws. However,
there are a number that have mottled colors on their faces, or occasional
streaks of color through their fur. Their eyes are very human-like, but they’re
usually gold, silver, blue, or purple.
Lycan have a very particular style
of dress, enjoying lavish leather clothes and dark fabrics that are not only
beautiful and elegant, but also functional. Woman tend to wear black lace and
satin dresses that sweep and swoop and carefully, tastefully show off their
curves, but also conceal various weapons and hidden pockets and pouches. Some
prefer to let their hair flow free, while others enjoy intricate lace scarves
to tie their hair in. Often these are decorated with jewels and coins. The men
enjoy soft cotton shirts with leather vests. The vests are always ornate and
have a few interesting bits of metalwork or jewelry on them. They also enjoy a
nice broad brimmed hat such as a bowler, fedora, or homburg. Both men and women
enjoy jewelry and talismans. You will find ears that have multiple piercings,
several necklaces made of string and chain that have various symbols,
characters, and talismans carved out of bone, wood, or made of pewter or gold
and silver. The men enjoy rings more while the women enjoy bracelets and
bangles worn on the wrist or ankle.
Lycan mature at a human rate, but
then the aging process slows. They are vital until around 100 years of age,
then they begin to slow and degrade physically. They can live to see 150 to 200
years.
Playing a Lycan
The lycan are a very
nomadic tribe. They generally move in large caravans, almost like a performing
troupe; large wagons that are also homes, tents, various animals, and other
things. The caravans size depends on the number of families who travel
together. There are usually around 3 families or roughly 14 people in a small
group, and the larger groups can have 20 families and more than 100 people. Family
ties and bonds are very important in lycan culture, and often families will
merge. Though there may be different bloodlines in a caravan, they often
consider themselves one big family traveling together.
Lycan make their living by being
skilled merchants and excellent entertainers. Their mystic ties allow them to
make tinctures and tonics that are potent and valuable, and they’re excellent
at finding hidden and rare herbs and roots used in alchemy and cooking. Many
are also bards and performers. They have enchanting voices and their travel
allows them to learn a great number of inspiring tales and songs to cheer the
spirits of anyone they perform for. Still others have great magic power and use
their arcane abilities to enchant, dispel evil, and raise protective wards.
It is this mystic power that keeps
the lycan traveling. Since their birth, they have been tied to the magic and
natural world of Joresch. They can speak with the animals, sense danger on the
wind, and read tarots or tea leaves to peek at the future. They travel and use
their abilities to protect the world from dark and secret forces. This has led
them to become an omen among many people. A shaman will divine where they’re
next destination might be, and when they arrive, bad things may have already
started to happen. When the lycan are seen, they are tied to the malady of the
city. The lycan will have their performers and merchants go out and distract by
plying their wares, while the warriors of the tribe go and search out the
darkness and destroy it. The fear of lycans is only compounded when the darkness
is lifted as they leave for their next destination. They bear their fate with a
smile, happy to be doing good even if no one sees it. It is due to their
diligence that many countries and cities are still standing. It is also why
lycan are the only race on Joresch that know of the Obsidian Order.
In the end, the lycan are a noble
race of protectors and mystics. They are strong and bear their burden with a
smile and a song, happy in the knowledge that they are with their family and
helping the world. They can be mistrustful of outsiders, given the way they are
treated, but they are usually willing to give anyone a chance. They are a
friendly, warm and affable people who only want to live their lives and protect
the world from unseen dangers.
Lycan Characteristics: Adaptable, ambitious, cautious, charming, mysterious, mystic, protective,
sly, wise
Male Names:
Bo, Boldo, Diorjy, Emilian, Fonso, Hanzi, Luca, Marko, Milosh, Niko, Shandor,
Stefan, Tobar, Walther, Yanoro, Yoska
Female Names:
Aishe, Esmerelda, Florica, Jaelle, Luminista, Mala, Nadya, Nori, Shofara,
Symza, Talitha, Vadoma, Viola
Lycan
Adventurers
Three sample lycan
adventurers are described below.
Boldo is a lycan bard. He has
traveled on his own for a long while to broaden his ability and talent. He’s
made many friends and allies throughout Joresch in his travels, and his life is
simple and easy. Recently, he decided to try and find his family caravan and
went in search of his own people. He was shocked to find a caravan burning and
nearly destroyed. He leaped into help his brethren, saving nearly 20 members of
the caravan and fighting off strange, dark, twisted creatures that resembled
kasoev dragons. After getting the survivors to safety he spoke with the elder
of the tribe and learned that the creatures are not natural, and they suspect
it has something to do with the Obsidian Order. They’ve recently been attacking
caravans, and the attacks are coming more swiftly and against larger caravans.
Something must be done. Ensuring the survivors are safe in a big town and will
be well on their own, Boldo sets out to call in favors and form an adventuring
group to discover the secret of the creatures and why the Order has targeted
his people.
Dark things have always followed
Florica, and she commands them and controls them for the aid of the caravan.
She uses her warlock powers to fight evil wherever her family travels. During
their last battle, her powers were magnified, the shadows, demons and magic
nearly slipping from her control. After she sat down and spoke with Those from
the Shadows. They spoke of fear, they whispered to her that something had
changed in the world, and that a great hero had been born, but it only served
to weaken the barriers that shelter the world from other planes and evils. Now
there are tears opening all over the world, some natural, some being ripped
open by evil mages with dark purpose. Florica, determined, told her people, and
they moved out, heading for the next town to protect while Florica worked to
balance and control her power.
Niko is a rogue who enjoys the
shadows of big cities. He long ago left his tribe, believing the world was his
for the taking. He lives in Quin’la and makes his living as a skilled thief and
pick pocket. He’s never been caught and has made a small reputation for himself
as a man who can get things or get into places no others should. One day, while
parusing the palace and lightening the terribly overburdened coin purses of
visiting dignitaries, he happened upon the king’s chamber and managed to sneak
inside. What he saw shocked him. There was a man there he’d never seen before,
using dark magic to animate the king’s corpse. Niko managed to escape unseen,
but is now worried about what the necromancer might be doing with the king, and
how long the king has been dead. He decides he must find help and goes out to
seek adventurers he trusts to share this knowledge with and find a way to learn
what evil is being plotted and bring it to an end.
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