Builds:
Small;
Medium
+1 to Arcana, Perceive, Insight
+1 to Perform, Deception
+1d4 to Runic Power
1) Basic History
Talusians were once humans who suffered great and terrible injuries to their body due to either disease or war during the end of the First Era. Using the sciences of the time, these humans were altered using DNA of an endangered creature that could regenerate its body parts and organs. It was the hope at the time that this regeneration ability would transfer to these humans, restoring their body. While it did restore their body, it changed them greatly. These humans began to lose color and their body parts seemed to change at random into different things. The people of the time attempted to keep these changed humans locked away for further study, but when the Great Magic War went into full swing many were able to escape. And escape they did, deep into old caves and tunnels.
It took several generations of breeding before these changed humans would become stable and share common traits with one another. They named themselves a new race, calling themselves Talusians - a name which they got from an old piece of paper that simply read "Talus". Eventually these talusians would re-enter the world, many choosing to hide their abilities and differences from others.
Back to top2) Positives & Negatives
Talusians are natural shape-shifters. From the time they are born they learn their first polymorph, and from then on they prefect their art until the day they die. However having shape shifted for so long they have no real form of their own, no real identity, thus must steal the forms of others. They also have no real strengths, and cannot take the strengths of those they resemble, though they can take on any special movement advantages, such as flying, teleporting, dashing, or swimming.
Talusians are shape shifters and their shape shifting skills make them great spies, adventurers, and treasure hunters.
2.1) Racial Skills & Talents
Talusians start with the following racial skills and talents.
| Skill | Stat Cost | Range & Area | Duration | Check Roll | Effects | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Transformation | 4 Soul | self | until changed back | Normal Arcana -1 | With this skill the Talusian can change form to any living thing that you know well enough. You have to make a Normal Perceive Check to learn the form. The form cannot be greater than double your normal size or less than half your normal size. The form must be a living creature. |
N/A |
| Limb Transformation | 2 Soul | self | until changed back | Easy Arcana - 3 | With this skill the talusian can change his or her limbs into things such as wings or fins or the like. They can even change the length and height up to double or half the original size. |
N/A |
| Minor Physical Alterations | 1 Soul | self | until changed back | Easy Arcana | With this skill the talusian can alter his or her face, eye color, skin color, hair color, and hair length. |
N/A |
| Polymorphing | 5 Soul | self | until changed back | Hard Arcana -1 | With this skill you can change your form to any non-living thing that you know well enough. You have to make a Normal Perceive check to learn the form. This is for non-living forms only. The size cannot be greater than double your original size or less than half your original size. |
N/A |
| Talent | Effects | Requirements | Handicap Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymorphous Enlightenment | This talent allows the talusian to learn one observed racial skill. You must take the form of the target to learn the skill. Once learned you can use the skill in any form that has the required anatomy. For example, if you learn to fly from a great eagle, you could fly as long as you are in any form that has wings or have made your arms into wings. |
Must be talusian |
N/A |
3) Lifespan
Talusians have three stages of life. The first stage, which last from child-birth until they reach the age of 13, is called their childhood. During this time they are completely dependent upon their parents for support, and are still developing certain skills needed for survival as well as their shape shifting abilities.
The second stage, which last from 13 until 21 is their adolescence. It is at this stage in their life they begin trying to develop just who they are, and where they fit into this world. They also become anxious and seek more and more independence and tend to rebel against their parents. Though they are not yet considered full-fledged adults, some leave their parents in this stage.
Their final stage, adulthood, last from 22 until death. During this stage most talusians are already separated from their parents and rarely keep close ties with them. They generally have become more matured and stopped their growing and developing by now. Their death can be painful or painless.
Back to top4) Appearance
Talusians are tall and skinny in their main adapted form. They typically all resemble a generic human, bearing white hair, and pupil-less eyes. Even when they shape shift, any form they take still leaves them with pupil-less eyes.
Back to top5) Living Habitat
Talusians live in the same areas cosmopolitan humans do, and generally resemble them, making talusians hard to spot. They love to explore and learn more about other cultures and histories.
Back to top6) Food & Sleeping Requirements
Talusians require one meal every three days, though can and usually will eat several times a day. They need to sleep at least 6 hours (one 1/2 cycle) every night or suffer from fatigue.
Back to top7) Culture
Talusians tend to mimic the culture they are living among, which most time is cosmopolitan humans. They even follow the naming practices of the culture that they are mimicking.
Back to top8) Racial Relations
Talusians often try to work well with other races, even when the other race distrusts them. Sometimes a Talusian will take the form of the race they are trying to work well with to help ease the other race’s distrust of them. They are even willing to work with xodians when others wouldn’t be so willing. Like most races however they are fearful of the orc and are hateful of the Spirit Elf. They are also distrustful of the Dark Elf.
Back to top9) World Movement Rate
Talusians have a normal gait and average speed.
| Race | Speed: 1-3 | Speed: 4-6 | Speed: 7-10 | Speed: 11-13 | Speed: 14-17 | Speed: 18-20 | Speed: 21+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human, Talusian, Deztunian, Namara | 1d6 | 1d8 | 1d10 | 1d12 | 2d8 | 1d20 | 1d20 + 1d6; +1d6 for every 2 additional speed |