Barani

• Go back to the Epic Path page.
• Go back to the Character Creation page.

Barani

Sometimes the light burns.

Origins

Eons ago, there was a prophecy of the End of the World. This prophecy came to pass in the fullness of days, and a vast Celestial Host entered the World to devour it in Light.

That Host failed.

The world carried on, the various Gods, Powers, and Portents involved moved on to another vast scheme, and life went on. Except that the survivors of that vast Celestial Host were stranded in the world, their destiny thwarted. Thousands of them perished of despair, hubris, and simple attrition. But thousands more of them settled down, adapted to their new home, and slowly, over ages of time, the Destroyers of Light came to resemble the races of the Prime Material more and more, until they became the eerie race known as the Barani.

Culture

Barani today are a humanoid race like many others, except they still carry that spark of the Destroying Light which defined their race from the very beginning. Barani today are neither good nor evil, any more than any other race, and their gifts of light are often tinged with destruction, as they are still fated, some day, to end the world.

Barani live as any other humanoids, marrying and having children, trading with their neighbors and existing in the world. But every moment of every day, all Barani feel the weight of their destiny, whether they want to fulfill it or not. This eroding pressure of doom pervades Barani culture, and even though they are bright creatures of the light, there is a melancholy which hangs over their communities like a pall.

Growing Up Barani

Barani children are born bearing their lifetime allocation of The Spark. Births are a time of celebration, but as always in Barani culture, that happiness is tinged with melancholy as every successful birth robs the parents of a portion of their Spark, shortening their lives by a noticeable amount. Due to this, Barani families rarely have more than four children.

Barani children are extremely active, walking at three months and talking at the age of 1 year. Barani live in loose enclaves, several or many Barani families in loose clusters, often mixed in with other humanoid races. Barani tend to follow the customs of their adoptive culture, with the notable exception that all Barani, everywhere, celebrate the Summer Solstice as a holiday they call the Day of Light, where gifts are exchanged and prayers are offered that the coming year will be better than the one just passed.

Barani mature very quickly, reaching full adulthood by the age of ten, and they live long lives, with a distinct middle age period that begins at age forty. They do not suffer from a period of dotage, and instead die at the same age as humans do. Note that their maximum age is decreased by five years for every child they have successfully sired or birthed.

Economy

Barani are a very 'average' race in terms of their economic impact. Barani are skilled diplomats, not craftsmen, and their racial abilities tend toward the martial. Many Barani become healers and warriors, and as a result, their largest economic impact is the money they make as adventurers and the fact that they often serve in military units or the Town Watch.

Barani tend to be quite fearless and have potent abilities against Undead. It should come as no surprise that the race with the celestial spark contains many priests and clerics. As representatives of clergy is where Barani make their largest contributions to the economy of the world. Barani frequently live in or administer large temples, cathedrals, and monasteries, and as such, their impact on their neighbors can be quite considerable.

Starting Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	5 ft. 2 in.	+2d8 in. (5 ft. 4 in. - 6 ft. 6 in.)	110 lbs.	+(2d8×5 lbs.) (120 - 190 lbs.)
Female	5 ft. 0 in.	+2d8 in. (5 ft. 2 in. - 6 ft. 4 in.)	90 lbs.	+(2d8×5 lbs.) (100 - 170 lbs.)

Starting Ages

Adulthood	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
10 years	+2d6 years (12 - 22 years)	+3d6 years (13 - 28 years)	+4d6 years (14 - 34 years)

PC's

Barani have no class or alignment restrictions.

Standard Racial Traits

All Barani have the following Standard Racial Advantages:

• Attributes: Barani may choose to gain one of the following ability score bonus sets when creating their character. No ability score may ever be modified above a 20 or below a 7.
  • +2 to two different stats, -2 to one stat
  • +2 to one stat, +1 to three different stats, -2 to one stat
  • +4 to one stat, -2 to two different stats

• Size: Barani are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

• Type: Barani have the Outsider type, with the Native subtype.

• Base Speed: Barani have a base land speed of 30 feet.

• Languages: Barani begin play speaking Common and Celestial. Barani with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, and Sylvan. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

• Darkvision: Barani have darkvision 60 ft. (they can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.)

• Harbinger of Dawn: Barani can cast Light as a spell-like ability three times per day with a caster level equal to their character level. They can manifest the light source on their bodies or an item held in their hand. It can, for example, appear as a halo, a third eye or a glowing sword, though it is entirely up to the Barani.

Major Racial Traits

Choose one of the following Major Racial Traits:

• Celestial Resistance: Barani with this racial trait have energy resistance (ER) versus negative energy. The value of the ER is 5 plus half the Barani's character level (round down, minimum 0).

• Exultant: Barani with this racial trait choose either the Diplomacy skill or the Knowledge (planes) skill, and may add half their character level as a racial bonus to that skill (round down, minimum 1). At 10th level, they may add half their character level as a racial bonus to the other skill (round down). Both skills become class skills at 1st level if they are not already.

• Lightborn: Once per day for one round, protection from evil on self

• Positive Energy Affinity,(add character level to effects with their element in it),

• Divine artistry

Minor Racial Traits

Choose one of the following Minor Racial Traits:

• Arbitration: Barani with this racial trait gain a +2 racial bonus to Perception checks. This bonus increases to +4 if they have 10 or more ranks in the skill, +6 if they have 20 or more ranks in the skill, and +8 if they have 30 or more ranks in the skill. Perception becomes a class skill if it is not already.

• Dogmatic Resolve: Barani with this racial trait receive a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws against fear.