The Ten
Out of the AshesAfter their conquest of our homes, the Imperium has been on Verdas for one hundred and seventeen years. In all that time, we've remained hidden here. Now though, we can stay hidden no longer. Our crops wither and die, even assisted by magic, and you all have seen that quakes rock the caverns, injuring many. It doesn't matter any longer that these caves have given us their protection; we have no choice but to try to find a place in the outside world. Pack your things, we leave in the morning.
Kanda, Senior Councilor
Therek 9, 120 PIE |
DragonbornDragons live their lives, if they're lucky, in two stages. When a dragon is born, it's wingless, and quite helpless - for a dragon. In times past, these children were sequestered from everyone until they were old enough to receive the blessing that gave them their wings. That was before the Dragon Pact. After, the dragons let them oversee most of the interaction with the other races before getting their wings. Then the invasion came. Now, there's not much of the old magic left, and most dragons never reach that second stage.
Dragonborn can be found in the 13th Age core rulebook. KenkuThe Kenku are an avian race, preferring to live alone in their forests. They are mischievous and opportunistic, but make up for that by being brilliant strategists and puzzle solvers. They quite often prefer for others to do the work, but they are never unwilling to lend a hand when necessary. During the first days of the apocalypse, the Kenku were the first to figure out the humans' weaknesses, although they were ultimately unable to bring their plans to bear.
RevenantRevenants were created accidentally by the Imperium, when they tried to take stolen spellbooks and reverse engineer them. Unaware that more than just strict procedure was neccesary, the resultant plague spread miles before being stopped by the Shadar-Kai. Now, although not contagious, the revenant community continues to grow by resurrecting those they feel deserve, sometimes against their wishes.
StonekinEschewing artificial dwellings, Stonekin prefer to live in what they consider to be the dwellings their gods gave them, caverns in the mountains. They unique relationship with the mountains is ultimately what allowed the survivors of the Imperium's purges to gain safety, and their wards have kept Verdas' native races safe ever since.
+2 STR or CON Powerful (Racial Power): When you make a check related to jump, climb, run or something else athletic, roll twice and use either result. Adventurer Feat: Once per day (recharge 16+), you gain Resist 12 to physical attacks. Thri-KreenWhen the Imperium came, the Thri-Kreen retreated to the vast deserts, residing with the Mataca, so they were spared the brunt of the attack. However, the deserts could not sustain their population, and so they began to dwindle. Now, they live as nomads, co-existing somewhat uncomfortably with the Mataca, not having a land of their own.
+2 STR or CON Able Leaper (Racial Power): When you miss with a melee attack you can pop free from the target as a free action. If you choose not to pop free you may add your Strength or Constitution modifier to the damage of your next attack against this target. Champion Feat: You can now also pop free from an enemy you’re engaged with as a free action when that enemy’s attack misses you. If you choose not to do so you may add 2x your Strength or Constitution modifier to the next miss damage that you do this battle. Epic Feat: You can now also pop free from an enemy you’re engaged with as a free action when an ally engages that enemy. If you choose not to do so you may add 2x your Strength or Consitution modifier to the next miss damage that you do this battle. |
KalashtarThe Kalashtar take their name from the name of the human regiment they once were. During the final stages of the Imperium's conquest, the Dromites were forced back to their home city, and although they could defend this small area with their vast mental abilities, it soon became clear that they could not hold out forever. In a desperate last attempt, they attempted to send their minds to replace the humans' minds, but the humans were more mentally resiliant than they planned. Instead of overwiting their minds, they discovered they were living alongside them in their body. The new gestalt minds that were produced soon caused the Kalash Legion to be hunted by the very Imperium they served, and they had no choice but to side with the native races of Verdas.
MatacaA plant-based people, the Mataca were at first overlooked by the Imperium until they launched a series of devastating attacks against unwary soldiers. The Imperium turned their attention to the Mataca and nearly wiped them out of existence. Only the harsh conditions of the Verdan deserts kept the Imperium from pursuing the survivors.
+2 WIS or DEX Barbed Body (Racial Power): When you attack an engaged enemy or when an engaged enemy attacks you, deal damage equal to 2 + half your level (rounded down). Champion Feat: Once per battle you may deal your Barbed Body damage to every enemy Engaged with you and Near you.
After the Imperium's conquest of Verdas, there were three generations of children born, and in each generation, a small number of children were born to the humans that were altered by the magic present on Verdas. These children were either killed or thrown out when they were discovered, but some were protected by their parents so that when they were finally discovered they were old enough to be able to flee. They soon found homes among the Kalashtar and other, native races.
Shadar-KaiThe Shadar-Kai were the first of all peoples on Verdas, and yet, they were not. Known as the Verdan-Kai in the history lost to their deadliest weapon, the Verdan-Kai were given unwittingly as a sacrifice to the Raven Queen when a mage initiated a devastating attack. Remade in her image, the Shadar-Kai no longer worship life, except in so much as it leads inevitably, eventually, to their Queen's domain. They are considered by some to be a race of paladins, others to be a race of assassins. In point of fact, both are correct.
TieflingAs the tieflings fought back against the Imperium, they began to deal with darker and darker magics, becoming ever more reckless as their desperation grew deeper. Their pacts with elder beings, demons, and fey affected them physically, causing them to take on the appearance of their arcane allies.
Tieflings can be found in the 13th Age core rulebook. |