The Campaign Builder's Guild

I like everything about the Damari except the LA+1.  They are balanced enough wothout it, in my opinion.

Really? But they get all the features of the Ihueli elves and more. Does that mean the Ihueli aren't balanced?

Quote from: Golem011Really? But they get all the features of the Ihueli elves and more. Does that mean the Ihueli aren't balanced?

No, the Ihueli look balanced, I just don't think the Damari's few extras deserve a +1LA.  

+1 on fort against cold effects... weapon proficiencies... hmm... maybe...

Quote from: Golem011+1 on fort against cold effects... weapon proficiencies... hmm... maybe...

Trust me, would I lie?  
;)   ;)  :poke:  :poke:

Of course not. :P

The Rimfolk

 

The Rimfolk hunt on the borders of civilised lands and beyond. Creatures that can take on aspects of animals, they hunt swiftly and silently and kill as if animals. It is said that if Rimfolk are hunting you, you should just give up. Rimfolk names are always descriptive, such as Wind-That-Cuts-The-Tall-Grass, Claw-That-Strikes-Softly, and He-Who-Kills-Swiftly. Rimfolk are often renamed later on in their lives because of certain deeds performed, reputations gained etc.

 Settlements: Rimfolk live in small mountain villages or moving. They prefer tents or caves to permanent buildings, and they own little in the way of furniture. Rimfolk have no imports and no exports, in fact, they are extremely self-sufficient.

 Psychology: Rimfolk follow a pack mentality. They have three categories in which others fall: Pack-mate, ally and enemy. A pack-mate is considered closer than a brother or sister, an ally is merely someone you don't attack, and an enemy is... an enemy. Shifters have a near telepathic effect with members of their pack, and they will never betray such an individual; however, they don't make pack-mates lightly, and they expect the same from them.

Religion: Rimfolk, like Changelings, follow the Ever-Changing God. It is speculated that perhaps once they were one people, but few know much about either. Their priests are generally Shamans (see the Mechanics thread for more info).

Appearance and Biology: Rimfolk are humanoids about the same height as a human, generally broad, swift, and agile. They often sit in a feral crouch, and even when standing they often bend slightly, arching their backs. As they come in different types, one for each major clan-group, they often look slightly different, but all of them look feral and ready to kill.

Other races: Rimfolk ignore most other races, except for two: the Changelings, and Humans. Humans are considered fair game for the hunt... afterall, they tried to enslave them. Changelings they are remarkably friendly with due to their shared religion, and a Changeling is always welcome in their lands.

Languages: The Rimfolk speak their own language, Cho'ih-na, which uses (strangely enough) a version of the Amar (Changeling) alphabet.

Stats:

 

* Shapechanger Subtype.
* +2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence.
* Medium size.
* Base Land Speed 30ft.
* Tap Instinct (Su): A Rimfolk can use his inborn hunting spirit to tap into his animalistic nature. Once per day, a Rimfolk can enter one of seven different animalistic states. (States are below.)
Tapping into this natural instinct is a free action, and lasts a number of rounds equal to 5 + his Constitution modifier (if the modifier is improved by the Instinct, use the improved one).
* Low-Light vision.
* +2 Racial bonus on Climb, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Swim and Survival checks.
* Automatic languages: Cho'ih-na.
* Bonus languages: I'hasa, Me'ama, Amar, Do'rox (Language of the Lycanthrope tribes) Ka'mim (Language of the gnolls) Chaarok.
* Favoured class: Warrior.

Instincts:

Ga'ma clan (Fang): The Ga'ma clan are the lowest-living of the clans, hunting on the plains beneath the mountains. A Ga'ma clan Rimfolk gains a +2 bonus to strength whilst tapping his instinct, and grows long, sharp canine teeth which he can use as a natural weapon, dealing 1D6 points of damage +1/5 character levels. He cannot attack more than once per round with his bite, even if his base attack bonus is high enough to grant him extra attacks. He can use his bite as a secondary attack (-5 on attack roll) whilst using a weapon.

Otara clan (Scent): The Otara clan are supposedly the most territorial. Mimicking the snakes of their home forests, they can gain an amazing sense of smell. An Otara Clan Rimfolk gains a +2 bonus to constitution and the scent ability (see DMG or MM) whilst Tapping his Instinct. He can use the track feat in conjunction with his scent ability to follow tracks, making survival checks to follow the trail. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10. This increases by 2 for every hour the trail goes cold, and can increase or decrease depending on the strength of the odour of the creatures being tracked. It otherwise follows the rules for the Track feat and Scent ability. An Otara Rimfolk gains +2 on survival checks to follow tracks even when not Tapping his Instinct.

Dak'ar Clan (Swimmers): Living near the so-called Rim Sea, a colossal lake high up in the mountains surrounded by several smaller of its kind, the Dak'ar clan take on the traits of aquatic animals. Whilst tapping his instinct, a Dak'ar clan Rimfolk gains a +2 bonus to constitution, a +8 racial bonus on swim checks, and a swim speed of 30ft.

A'karu Clan (Mountains): Living in the steepest areas of the Mountains, the A'karu are known for their agility. They imitate traits of the mountain goat whilst tapping their instinct, gaining a +2 bonus to dexterity and a climb speed of 20ft.

Hem'Isef Clan (Hunters): Imitating the hunters of their plateau homes, the Hem'Isef shifters gain a +2 bonus to dexterity and a +20ft bonus to their base land speed whilst tapping their instinct.

Dan'Aru'Et Clan (Claws): Imitating the mountain lions of their rocky homeland, Dan'Aru'Et clan Rimfolk grow two claws which can be used as natural weapons. These claws deal 1D4 points of damage (+1 per every 5 character levels) with each successful attack. He cannot attack more than once per round with a single claw, even if his base attack bonus is high enough to give him multiple attacks. He can attack with a claw as a light off-hand weapon whilst wielding a weapon in his primary hand, but all his attacks in that round take a -2 penalty.

Totemism

There are seven different totems, The Creator (Tiger), The Destroyer (Snake), The Mother (Deer), The Many (Scarab), The Lover (Cat), The Singer (Songbird) and The Leader (Eagle). Each has its own 'totem' (unsurprisingly) in the form of a carved animal, and each has its own function and history. Priests of Totemism are generally extremely devoted. Many of them scar themselves in crude totem forms or tattoo themselves with the animal shapes. Totemism is an ancient faith, older than Mahi, and it has been practiced by humans for thousands of years.

 The Creator (Tiger): True Name: Ahui'im'Uia. The Creator formed the humans in his mind and set them out into the world. He is usually considered the ruler of the Totems. His animal is the Tiger, the Swifthunter, and thus the Creator governs agility. He is the main patron of humans.

 The Destroyer (Snake): True Name: Ahui'im'Amian. The Destroyer is the main enemy of the creator. Appearing as a snake and patronising all things snakelike, he is deadly and feared. A favoured curse, spoken in Totemspeak, is 'Totem-of-Snake-take-you!', Ahui'im'Amian-Alil-Hal! He is thought by scholars to be the heavily weakened god of the extinct Yuan-ti.

 The Mother (Deer): True Name: Ahui'im'Aliu. The Mother is a kind spirit, watching over travel and children. "Forsaken by the Mother" literally means infertile, and "Taken by the Mother's spirit" means pregnant. The Mother is often shown as a rotund, sitting, smiling naked woman with a deer's head and legs and several children on her lap. She is the only Totem ever shown as human except The Leader.

 The Many (Scarab): True Name: Ahui'im'Seskatu. The Many is enigmatic and hidden, a multitude of insects working together, sometimes for good, sometimes for evil. Nobody knows how the Many's minds work, and altogether he's worryingly strange. He is the patron of intelligence and discovery.

 The Lover (Cat): True Name: Ahui'im'Alusa. The Lover is seductive, always shown as female. She watches over young couples and fertility, sharing parts of her portfolio with the Mother. The Lover is said to have disguised herself as a beautiful woman and led The Leader to greatness before leaving him with a kingdom and demigod children.

 The Singer (Songbird): True Name: Ahui'im'Ama'Siha: The Singer is patron of music, the arts, power, magic, and all things creative. He is usually shown as male, although female versions exist, and people still say that he appears sometimes, a mystical minstrel walking in and playing one tune or singing one song before leaving.

 The Leader (Eagle): True Name: Ahui'im'Amau: Amau, or Tahi as his mortal name was, was the founder of Mahi. He forged out a land and left a legacy for his descendants that lasted 500 years... when Tachi, a direct-line descendant, died without any children. It would seem Amau, supposedly the patron of Mahi, is displeased.

 Races

Out of all the races, only humans and the occasional orc practice Totemism. The other races have their own religions. However, humans also worship saints, a religion becoming more and more popular by the day. This has only increased the tension within Mahi.



 

I agree with silvercat in that you tend to re-state one idea every few sentences.

Quote̢,"The Thronewar is a war between houses that has lasted almost two-hundred years, all of them attempting to take, unsurprisingly, the throne.̢,"

 :wtf:  The entire continent has been at war for two HUNDRED years? What to they do, yell at each other? War is incredibly costly on the economy of a nation. If the entire world is fighting, where is the food coming from? Where are the babies coming from? Why the hell does everyone want to kill themselves in order to claim a throne that nobody has used (metaphor) in two centuries?

Heh, I saw the map and I figured I'd comment, but everyone has picked that apart already. I'll just say I thought those were the â,¬Å"red mountains.â,¬Â

Changlings are a bit odd. I have a hard time understanding why they are so united even with their god. I imagine that having a changling in your court would become second nature, given their ability to sniff out other impostors.

Quoteâ,¬Å"Orcs are often brash and reckless, but they can control themselves.â,¬Â

Um, what? Are they reckless or not?

Quoteâ,¬Å"The only one of these three they have succeeded in themselves is wine, of which they make a large quantity.â,¬Â

In the mountains? Riiight. :P

Once again I will state that you are better off with a new race than drastically changing an old one. Baggage sucks.

Quoteâ,¬Å"Thought to be manevolent and emotionless, the Damari are strong-willed, tough, and vicious. Of course, they have to be. Their homeland is a destructive, terrible place of mist and cold, where terrible beasts roam freely.â,¬Â â,¬Å"Most Damari children kill their first creature at the age of eight and have taken over a hundred skins by the time they're thirteen.â,¬Â â,¬Å"Most of them know elven handtalk...â,¬Â

Are you sure these aren't Aiel?

Quoteâ,¬Å"Religion: Rimfolk, like Changelings, follow the Ever-Changing God. It is speculated that perhaps once they were one people, but few know much about either. Their priests are generally Shamans (see the Mechanics thread for more info).â,¬Â

Whoa! Cool. I want more info here.

In general I find the setting a bit hard to find exiting. Though you have some nice characters/races, the world itself seems to stand on one flawed idea. Gimme some details on what the war is like and how it relates to the people of the world. :)

Aiel?

Pfft, no, although relooking over it, they sound like them...

Yes, the map is crap. I'm fixing it.

They make wine. Just not the same wine as OUR wine. :P

QuoteUm, what? Are they reckless or not?

The entire continent has been at war for two HUNDRED years? What to they do, yell at each other? War is incredibly costly on the economy of a nation. If the entire world is fighting, where is the food coming from? Where are the babies coming from? Why the hell does everyone want to kill themselves in order to claim a throne that nobody has used (metaphor) in two centuries?[/quote]

You will note that it's only Mahi, the nation, and the nation itself has receded far into itself. It's not so much a war as hostility and thievery of land... The changelings see Mahi collapse, decide to take some land, get in on it... none of the outside nations are really effected, apart from getting a lot more freedom. There've been periods of peace, but there's always some new guy trying to come along and take the throne, etc. I'm going to go into more detail soon.

I haven't gone into detail on the humans much, I have to admit. See, many of them are in periods of peace... several mini-nations have sprouted up inside what used to be Mahi (many of them controlled by the Houses) and that's where refugees are going to, that's where many children are raised. However, people lust for power. And because of that, there's always going to be the nasty lad from one village who's trained as a manipulator and drags off a load of the younger men on an 'adventure'. Thus the war.

You know the Hundred Years' War in England? Think that, but on a bigger scale.