Description
The last of Taris’s children, Saurians are a race of reptilian humanoids with naturally thick skin and keen senses. They have a natural affinity for the untamed wilds, but can be treated like outsiders due to their draconic appearance and loner nature.
Uniquely adapted to endure the brutal weather of Tarisia, lone Nomads roaming the savage sands are common, but they can also be found in all of the major city states, filling a variety of roles. Their unique physical characteristics make them natural spies, scouts, assassins, hunters, and trackers, and the Thrones employ those talents in their armies.
Saurians are born in clutches, which are left buried, unguarded in the sands. This early abandonment instills a sense of independence and solitude at an early age. And although capable of working in groups, Saurians tend to begin life as loners without familial or cultural allegiances. Saurians average 5 feet tall, and typically weigh between 120-160 lbs though exceptions do exist. They are characterized by scaly skin in an array of earth tone shades which provides a sort of natural armor. They can be muscular, or light and agile, but always have short jagged teeth, small claws, and long tails. Some Saurians deliberately sever their tails for cosmetic reasons, or to better fit into armor or clothing.
Naming Conventions
Commonly born alone, or in small clutches without guardians, Saurians tend to name themselves. Their names are often multisyllabic with soft sibilant sounds accented by harsh consonants.
Examples include: Ryliss, Ziryx, Xalyz, Vissyx, Lyxysa, Syvryx, Myzyra, Sylaxi, Xyryss.
Characteristics
- Agile: Saurians start with a d6 in Agility and raise their maximum for Agility to d12 +1.
- Armor +2: Saurians have thick scaly hide that acts as natural armor.
- Environmental Weakness: Though not truly cold-blooded, saurians are poorly suited for frigid conditions. They suffer a −4 penalty to resist cold environmental effects, and suffer +4 damage from cold-based attacks.
- Low Light Vision: The sensitive eyes of Saurians let them see in the dim and dark shadows of Tarisian nights. Saurians have no penalty for Dim or Dark conditions.
- Nomad: Saurians feel at home in the wild. They have the Nomad Edge, receiving +2 to Survival and Stealth checks in the Deserts.
- Outsider (Minor): Saurians are generally feared and distrusted due to their cultural tendencies towards solitude. Their reptilian appearance doesn’t help. They suffer a –2 penalty on Persuasion rolls when not dealing with other Saurians.