Vishkanya

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Vishkanya

I'll show you a mistake!

Origins

Many races are old, and have vague origins lost to the depths of time. Not so the Vishkanya. They are the youngest race, barely two hundred years old, and their origins are well known, if not exactly well understood.

The story goes like this: A little over two hundred years ago, the Ophidian Screed was a hugely successful cult among the Yuan Ti. The Screed hatched a mad plan, under their mad masters, to remake the world into an apocalyptic hell, with themselves elevated in power and ability to serve as the tyrannical rulers. Unlike most Yuan Ti cults, the Screed was hugely successful. They researched the massive True Dweomer ritual required to remake the universe to their liking, they assembled the nigh-impossible to obtain ingredients, they found or made the apocalyptic tools required to literally End the World, and they did indeed complete their gigantic dark magic.

To say that it backfired upon them is putting it mildly.

Of the hundreds of thousands of Ophidian Screed cultists assembled in a mighty army, ready to rule their new hell, not one survived. The world was not destroyed or even mussed. Instead, the Yuan Ti of the Ophidian Screed were obliterated, root and branch, and in their place stood an entirely new race of lovely and quite nice snake creatures, called the Vishkanya.

Since that day, the Day of Becoming, the Vishkanya have spread and prospered. They are not exactly welcomed wherever the tale of their odd creation is well known, but in general, they are well regarded.

Culture

Vishkanya as a race have a surprisingly strong cultural identity. Vishkanya have a very distinct appearance, their skin being glossy and butter-soft, with just the merest hint of a dappled pattern reminiscent of scales. Aside from their amazing skin, Vishkanya have quite ophidian eyes and definite reptilian cast to their otherwise humanoid features.

This unique appearance gives Vishkanya a powerful sense of belonging when they are with other Vishkanya. Vishkanya have quickly developed many small customs among themselves, such as greeting one another by pressing their cheeks together.

Vishkanya

Starting Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4 ft. 10 in.	+2d8 in. (5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 4 in.)	100 lbs.	+(2d8×7 lbs.) (114 - 212 lbs.)
Female	4 ft. 7 in.	+2d4 in. (4 ft. 9 in. - 5 ft. 3 in.)	70 lbs.	+(2d8×5 lbs.) (80 - 110 lbs.)

Starting Ages

Adulthood	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
10 years	+5d4 years (15 - 30 years)	+6d4 years (16 - 34 years)	+7d4 years (17 - 38 years)

PC's

Vishkanya have no class or alignment restrictions.

Standard Racial Traits

All Vishkanya have the following Standard Racial Advantages:

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

• Type: Vishkanya have the Humanoid type, with the Vishkanya subtype.

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

• Languages: Vishkanya begin play speaking Common and Nagaji. Vishkanya with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Tengu, Giant, D'ziriak, Goblin, Xth'tl'ck, Orc, Treant, and Strix. See the Languages skill page for more information about these languages.

• Low-Light Vision (Ex): Vishkanya can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

• Poison Resistant (Ex): Vishkanya add a +2 racial bonus to any saves made against poison. This bonus improves to +3 at 10th level, +4 at 20th level and +5 at 30th level.

Major Racial Traits

Choose one of the following Major Racial Traits:

• Kreiger

• Hibernate

• Poisonous

Minor Racial Traits

Choose one of the following Minor Racial Traits:

• Boneless (Ex): A Vishkanya with this racial trait gains the Escape Artist skill as a class skill, and a +2 racial bonus to Escape Artist checks. This racial bonus improves to +4 if she has 10 or more ranks in the skill, +6 if she has 20 or more ranks in the skill, and +8 if she has 30 or more ranks in the skill.

• Shield Fighter (Ex): A Vishkanya with this racial trait does not lose her shield bonus to AC after performing a shield bash. She still loses the shield bonus to AC if she attacks with a weapon held in the same hand as the shield (or buckler). In addition, she can reduce the armor check penalty of a worn shield by 1, to a minimum check penalty of 0.

• Unusual Technique (Su): Whenever you cast a harmless spell on an ally, you may add a +2 racial bonus to your Caster Level check to overcome Spell Resistance, and you may bypass a number of points of Energy Resistance equal to your character level. (This is most commonly useful when trying to heal an ally with ER x/- which reduces positive energy effects.)

• Ardent Nerve (Ex): A Vishkanya with this racial trait takes only a -1 penalty from the Nervous or Shaken status conditions, instead of -2.

• Sensual (Ex): A Vishkanya with this racial trait gains Diplomacy and one Perform skill of her choice as class skills. She gains a +2 racial bonus to the chosen Perform skill if she has at least 1 rank in it. This racial bonus improves to +3 if she has 10 or more ranks in the skill, +4 if she has 20 or more ranks, and +5 if she has 30 or more ranks. At 10th level, she gains a +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy if she has at least 1 rank in it. This racial bonus improves to +3 if she has 10 or more ranks in the skill, +4 if she has 20 or more ranks, and +5 if she has 30 or more ranks.