When Zaren the Prescient, Master Diviner of the Atman Circle Of Nine, saw the end of the world fast approaching he began to gather about him the friends and families of close and trusted friends.
Finally, in the year -13 A.A. Zaren led his followers deep beneath the surface, down into the depths of the world. Down to a safe land where they could start anew, away from the devastaion and ruin of the surface.
The descendants of those people became the Zanathae.
The Zanathae are a subrace of humans who have adapted, over the centuries, to life far beneath the surface of the world. They are marked by pale white skin, black or white hair, and eyes whose shade and hue can vary widely from the human standard with colors such as red, yellow, or black.
Though they might seem a bit alien to most humans, zanathae consider themselves to be a surface dwelling human and can pass as such, with a little work, most of the time.
In their generation long war with the Mind Flayers of Rilayeh the Zanathae developed psionic potential. Many, if not all, of the Zanathae have at least one level in Psion or Psychic Warrior.
They are sworn to the destruction of the Mind Flayers, and it is prophesied that the fall of the deep ones great city will herald a return to the mythical surface world. They believe it is their birthright.
The average zanathae lifespan is 50 to 60 years, and zanathae tend to be slightly shorter than the average human and are comparable to elves in this regard.
Zanathae have the following characteristics:
Medium: As Medium creatures, zanathae have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Zanathae base land speed is 30 feet.
Keen Awareness (Ex): The Zanathae have become adapted to using senses other than sight to determine their surroundings. Zanathae recieve a +2 racial bonus to Listen and Search checks.
Twilight Eyes (Ex): Zanathae recieve a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks when in areas of low illumination. They cannot see in darkness, and bright light tends to blind their sensitive eyes.
Illithid Foe (Ex): +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against Illithid and Illithidkin. Zanathae are trained in special combat techniques that allow them to fight their ancestral enemies more effectively.
No Human Bonus Feat: The Zanathae have specialized over the years and thus do not get the bonus feat for being human.
Natural Psionic Potential (Su): All Zanathae have innate psychic potential. They all begin with 1 psionic power point and gain an additional number of power points equal to their charisma modifier. This allows them access to certian psionic feats such as inertial armor, speed of thought, and stand stil: feats that non-psionic beings wouldn't normally have access to. If they aquire levels in a class that gives them psionic power points, these aquired points stack with their innate power points.
Telepathy (Su): All zanathae can communicate telepathically with anyone within 100 feet.
Low-light Vision (Ex): Zanathae can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds a zanathae for 1 round. In addition, zanathae suffer a -1 circumstance penalty to all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in bright light (Note that this can be countered by aquisition of the Daylight Adaption feat found in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting).
Bonus Skills: 4 extra skill points at 1st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level.
Favored Class: Psychic Warrior. Unlike surface humans the Zanathae have specialized in order to ensure their survival. |
