Obsidiman

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Obsidiman

Listen to the rocks of the earth. Those around

you want to hurry, for they listen to the waters of

their blood and the fire of their hearts. You are hewn

from living rock. Listen to the rocks of the earth. The

call of those around you is the call of the volcano.

The fire of other hearts burns hot enough to melt your

world around you. Listen to the rocks of the earth.

Saying from "The Liferock," Dwarven translation

Obsidimen are tall, reaching an average height of 7 feet 3 inches. Seen from a distance they seem squat, because their massive average weight of 900 pounds offsets their height. Their craggy skin and bodily tissue incorporate the properties of stone, and the most common coloration is black or gray. Their blood is blue-gray. The skin of a few obsidimen, usually those of high-ranking families, shows veins of semi-precious stone such as tourmaline. Obsidimen are mostly hairless and have internal ears completely covered by a thin layer of skin. Obsidimen are mature physically by the end of their first century of life. Natural life span has yet to be determined, because as they age, obsidimen spend more time attached to their Liferock, the largest source of stone within four hours' walk of their birthplace. They may remain attached to the Liferock for decades, showing no signs of being aware of their surroundings, then emerge again in a time of crisis. In one indication of obsidimen lifespan, dwarven records show that individual obsidimen have traveled and lived away from their Liferock for at least 500 years after reaching maturity. Obsidimen feel loyalty to their Liferock and all others formed from it. These loyalties loosely resemble human or ork loyalties to a tribe. Obsidimen do not form villages or cities, though they do erect ceremonial structures on or near their Liferock. Obsidimen prefer to live outdoors, exposed to the sky. Obsidimen can live underground for short periods, but those who spend too many months in a dwarven city without traveling outside to the open sky fall into a hibernation-like state. Once carried outdoors again, the obsidiman will awaken in two to five days.

Obsidimen Racial Traits

+4 Strength +2 Constitution –4 Dexterity –2 Intelligence: Obsidimen are stout and tough but their strength does not compensate for their weight slowing them down their lack of urgency make them hard to follow and it takes them longer to make up their minds.

Medium-size: as Medium-size creatures, Obsidimen have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size. Their girth requires them to have most equipment special made, bows and crossbows are not weapons useable by Obsidimen, they may use thrown weapons. Most things made to hold other medium-sized creatures (and many trolls) will break under their weight (equipment will cost 1.25x as much as regular equipment)

Stonecunning as per the dwarf

1/+1 Natural Damage Reduction: Obsidimen skin is very thick.

3/+1 Points of Damage Reduction vs. subdual damage only. Their skin is naturally thick (damage reduction stacks for unarmed combat. Natural total 4/+1 pts (1/+1 and 3/+1) vs. subdual damage)

-2 Initiative penalty: they are slow starters but hard to stop once in motion

-6 to all swim checks as they have no natural buoyancy

Obsidimen base speed is 20 feet

Obsidimen are considered huge creatures for Bull Rush, Trip and Grapple because of their weight, even trolls have second thoughts about grappling an obsidimen.

Favored Class: Monk they refer to all obsidimen Monks as Purifiers and it’s though that the discipline of Purifier is derived from the Monk. They use the Small Monks table for movement but the regular table for damage.

Obsidimen Characters

An Obsidimen has an ECL of 1.

An Obsidiman’s favored class is Purifier. Obsidimen are very rare most that interact in the regular society of Barsaive tend to be merchants only rarely will they teach the abilities of a Purifier to any but a Obsidimen. Obsidimen do not have gender, as the other races know it. The ones that interact with other name givers have a tendency to dress as one gender or another to make others feel more at ease.