d20 Ronin Arts Future Alien Race 1 - Taxob-Zhin.pdf - Ronin Arts - R5700

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TAXOB-ZHIN

FUTURE: ALIEN RACE 1 - TOXOB-ZHIN

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HAMMES

ILLUSTRATED BY BRADLEY K. M C DEVITT

PRODUCTION BY PHILIP REED

McDevitt. All text in this book is designated as open game content. You may not distribute this PDF without permission

of the author. d20 Modern™ is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is used with

permission. Wizards of the Coast® is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.,

and is used with permission.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Alien Race 1 - The Taxob-

Zhin , the first in Ronin Arts’ new line of alien

race sourcebooks. Each of these PDFs intro-

duces a new alien race with complete d20

Modern/Future Statistics and all the back-

ground, concepts, and ideas needed to bring

the aliens into play in your campaign.

In addition, each Alien Race sourcebook

features new rules (i.e. new Advanced Classes,

Occupations, Feats, etc.) relating to the partic-

ular alien race featured in the sourcebook that

can also be applied to the general campaign

(with the GM’s permission, of course).

THE TAXOB-ZHIN

P HYSIOLOGY

Taxob-Zhin are an amphibian-descended

race whose most prominent features are their

three quad-jointed arms, three legs, and three

frog-like eyes. They have a pronounced

predatory appearance thanks to wicked

retractable claws that emerge from the tops of

the wrists and feet and a double row of sharp

teeth that lines the mouth. Their smooth skin

ranges in color from a light brown to dark

green.

Although Taxob-Zhin appearance is clear-

ly amphibian, they are in fact endothermic.

While their temperature-regulating systems

are not as well developed as that of humans

(a fact no doubt due to their home world’s

lack of temperature variation), they are

capable of withstanding significant variances

in temperature.

The typical Taxob-Zhin (male or female)

averages between five and five-and-a-half

feet in height and carries between 90 and 130

pounds of pure muscle on a thin frame.

Taxob-Zhin are extremely strong and robust

for their size, easily exceeding humans of

similar size in those categories.

At the same time, their brains are not as

developed as that of humans, and as a result

they lag behind humans in terms of quantifi-

able intelligence. That is not to say that they

are stupid, far from it, but Taxob-Zhin are

less able to process complex information and

cannot absorb new knowledge as rapidly or

completely as humans.

TAXOB-ZHIN

H OME W ORLD

The Taxob-Zhin home world is a hot and

extremely humid planet, covered with impen-

etrable jungles and shot through with wide

rivers that empty into a number of large tropi-

cal seas. It is most akin to the Earth’s Amazon

region, except even more hot and humid.

Due to the high humidity, a constant layer

of clouds forms in the planet’s atmosphere,

allowing only the barest amount sunlight to

penetrate. Even on the brightest days, the

lighting conditions are akin to that of an over-

cast day on Earth. This, combined with the

thick jungle canopy, renders conditions on the

planet’s surface twilit at best while almost

total darkness reigns at night.

It rains constantly on the planet’s surface.

Morning finds a light sprinkle that builds to a

steady downpour by midday and usually ends

up as a full-on tropical rainstorm by evening.

These rainstorms last well into the night until

they taper down by morning and the cycle

begins all over again. Flooding is a daily

occurrence.

As would be expected in such a tropical

environment, the planet teems with animal life

of all kinds, both predator and prey.

Interestingly, the extremely dense vegetation

appears to have inhibited the growth of large

species (no land-based predator or prey of

greater than Medium size exists). It is only in

the wide rivers and large seas that larger race

can be found.

While the Taxob-Zhin home world is lush

in vegetative and animal resources, it is poor

in mineral resources. This, combined with the

fact that fire is unknown on the home world

(although there are rainstorms, there is no

lightning to start fires naturally and even if

there was, such fires would quickly be extin-

guished by the incessant rain), means that the

Taxob-Zhin have never developed metallurgy

of any kind (a key step in the advancement of

civilization). Furthermore, the extremely

humid nature of the world means that every-

thing quickly molds and rots, another limiting

factor for a civilization.

C IVILIZATION

Taxob-Zhin civilization exists at a very

primitive level (PL 0). This is mainly due to

the difficult environmental and resource con-

ditions of the Taxob-Zhin home world. In the

face of these obstacles, the fact that there

even is a definable Taxob-Zhin civilization

says much about the abilities of the race.

All Taxob-Zhin are hunter-gatherers. The

basic unit of Taxob-Zhin social organization

is the extended family (or clan). Each

extended family is a matriarchy, led by the

oldest female of the family, and all Taxob-

Zhin trace their ancestry through their moth-

er’s line.

Each family lives in a familial village that

is a collection of crude huts made from the

local vegetation and emplaced on stilts

standing in a cleared space within the jungle.

Family (or clan) units fluctuate in size

from around 10 members up to around 50

and the size appears to be determined large-

ly by what the immediate environment is

able to support; whenever resources grow

too scarce to support the existing family, one

of the matriarch’s daughters takes her chil-

dren away to carve out her own territory.

This forced migration occasionally brings

the emigrants into contact with other fami-

lies; this is the only source of contact

between clans. Such contact can lead to

everything from conflict, wherein one side

tries to drive away the other from the territo-

ry, to acceptance of the daughter and her

children into the new clan. Again, this is

chiefly driven by the resources available in

the resident family’s area; if resources are

scarce, the resident family will attempt to

drive away the intruders, but if resources are

plentiful, they will often adopt them.

Taxob-Zhin have a spoken language,

which varies to some extent from clan to

clan, but have not developed a system of

writing.

TAXOB-ZHIN

SIZE COMPARISON CHART

6 FOOT

5 FOOT

4 FOOT

3 FOOT

2 FOOT

1 FOOT

P ERSONALITY

Given their insular conditions and upbring-

ing, Taxob-Zhin tend to be reserved when

around others. Many humans mistake this for

shyness or awe, but that is far off the mark.

Rather, Taxob-Zhin simply prefer to listen and

watch, skills that come in very handy on their

home world, the scene and people around

them before making any decisions.

Given their very limited social skills,

Taxob-Zhin can be very naive at times (acting

much like human adolescents) and, at least ini-

tially, are easily taken advantage of and

manipulated by unscrupulous individuals. Of

course, much like adolescents, once they real-

ize what is going on, they quickly learn from

the experience and the individuals that took

advantage of them often end up regretting it.

Taxob-Zhin are insatiably curious when it

comes to new things and experiences and are

not at all frightened or in awe of advanced

technology. Of course, given their survival

instinct, they are cautious when encountering

something new. But once aware of a thing’s

capabilities and limitations, they treat it as

anyone else would (even if they don’t under-

stand exactly how something works, they

understand cause and effect just fine; after all,

how many people really know how an internal

combustion engine works, and yet drive a

car?).

T AXOB -Z HIN

C HARACTERISTICS

Taxob-Zhin speak their own language

(Taxob-Zhin). Those that have traveled

beyond their home world may also speak other

languages.

RACIAL TRAITS

Taxob-Zhin have the following traits:

Illiterate: Taxob-Zhin have no written lan-

guage; one cannot take ranks in Read/Write

Language (taxob-zhin). Taxob-Zhin may learn

to speak and read/write other languages nor-

mally.

Lowlight Vision: A Taxob-Zhin can see

TAXOB-ZHIN

T AXOB -Z HIN A S

C HARACTERS

Size: Medium. Taxob-Zhin have no spe-

cial bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Ability Modifiers: + 2 Strength, +2

Constitution, –2 Intelligence.

Base Speed: 40 feet. Although their

movement seems ungainly, Taxob-Zhin are

very fast thanks to their additional leg.

Natural Weaponry: Taxob-Zhin have

viciously sharp hooked claws on the tops of

their feet and hands and are considered armed

(even when making unarmed attacks) at all

times. These claws cause 1d4 points of dam-

age (plus the Taxob-Zhin’s Strength bonus)

and threaten a critical hit on a 20. Unless able

to pounce (see below) on its opponent, a

Taxob-Zhin cannot bring more than three of

its claws to bear in combat. A Taxob-Zhin is

able to extend and retract its claws as a free

action.

The mouths of Taxob-Zhin are also filled

with rows of sharp teeth that cause 1d3 points

of damage (plus one-half the Taxob-Zhin’s

Strength bonus, rounded down) and threaten

a critical hit on a 20.

Lowlight Vision: Taxob-Zhin can see

twice as far as normal in poor lighting condi-

tions. A Taxob-Zhin can still distinguish col-

ors, even in dim lighting.

Pounce: A Taxob-Zhin that leaps upon a

foe during the first round of combat can make

a full attack (three claws and one bite), even

if it has already taken a move action. The

Taxob-Zhin can only make use of this ability

using its natural weapons.

Rake: A Taxob-Zhin that pounces on a foe

of Medium size or larger can make three

attacks with its foot claws in addition to its

three hand claws and bite as part of its full

attack. The Taxob-Zhin can only make use of

this ability using its natural weapons. This is

the only circumstance under which a Taxob-

Zhin can bring more than three of its claws to

bear in combat no matter how many oppo-

nents it faces or what their size is.

twice as far as normal in poor lighting condi-

tions. A Taxob-Zhin can still distinguish col-

ors, even in dim lighting.

Pounce: If a Taxob-Zhin leaps upon a foe

during the first round of combat, it can make a

full attack (three claws and one bite), even if it

has already taken a move action. The Taxob-

Zhin can only make use of this ability using its

natural weapons. A Taxob-Zhin can extend

and retract its claws as a free action.

Rake: A Taxob-Zhin that pounces on a foe

of Medium size or larger can make three

attacks (+1 melee) with its foot claws for

1d4+1 points of damage each in addition to its

three hand claws and bite as part of its full

attack. The Taxob-Zhin can only make use of

this ability using its natural weapons. This is

the only circumstance under which a Taxob-

Zhin can bring more than three of its claws to

bear in combat no matter how many foes it

faces or what their size is.

Stability: Because of their tripod stance,

Taxob-Zhin gain a +4 race bonus on ability

checks to resist bull rush and trip attempts

when standing on the ground (but not when

climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not

standing firmly on the ground).

Skill Bonuses: Taxob-Zhin gain a +2 racial

bonus on Spot checks and a +2 racial bonus on

Survival checks.

Bonus Feat: Taxob-Zhin gain the bonus

feat Multiattack.

Taxob-Zhin: CR 1; Medium extraterrestri-

al humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 6; Mas 13; Init

+0; Spd 40 ft.; Defense 10, touch 10, flatfoot-

ed 10; BAB +0; Grap +1; Atk +1 melee

(1d4+1, claw); Full Atk +1 melee (1d4+1, 3

claws) and -1 melee (1d3, bite); FS 5 ft. by 5

ft.; Reach 5 ft.; SQ Lowlight vision, pounce,

rake (+1 melee, 1d4+1 damage), stability; AL

varies; SV Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0; AP 0; Rep

+0; Str 13, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha

10.

Skills: Listen +4, Speak Taxob-Zhin, Spot

+6, Survival +3

Feats: Alertness, Multiattack

Possessions: Loincloth, water-filled gourd.

Advancement: By character class.

d20 Ronin Arts Future Alien Race 1 - Taxob-Zhin.pdf

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