Golden-Esque
2009-10-24, 10:01 PM
THE VULSUNE
Mysterious and attuned with the workings of the world, the vulsune are a race who more closely resemble foxes then humanoids. Of all the mortal races, the vulsune are the most long-lived, many living for over two millennia, and their own legends providing accounts of heroes who live even longer. Scholars of other races often frazzle themselves over trying to unravel the source or cause for the vulsune’s elongated lifespan, but if the vulsune know the secret, they speak nothing of it. Instead, the vulsune preach that a long life comes from a personal fulfillment and a life balanced between the self and nature.
TYPICAL VULSUNE
The average vulsune is wary but curious, occasionally letting their curiosity getting the better of their good judgment. Regardless of this natural curiosity, the vulsune are wizened fighters, scholars, and sorcerers. They are virtually unmatched in skill with the katana, a variant of bastard sword with which they are renown for using, and many vulsune choose to learn the ancient techniques of battle that their ancestors perfected. To the vulsune, one’s heritage is an important part of culture, and to dishonor one’s family can result in what seems like an eternity of shame to other mortal races. However, most vulsune are forgiving people who all but expect redemption from those who wrong them. This doesn’t mean, however, that the vulsune are ignorant to concepts such as malice or evil, though they believe that no person is too far past redemption.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Vulsune are tall and thin, giving them a frail appearance. An average vulsune stands at 5’ 10” and weighs 85 lbs, with males slightly heavier and taller than females. Their bodies are covered with a thick, rich coat of fur that ranges in color from a vivid red to a fiery orange to a subtle gray. Rare among the vulsune are those with an ebony coat, and black fur is often perceived as an omen of greatness. This coat-color typically remains the same hue over the Vulsune’s entire body, with the exception of patches of lighter fur on their stomach and on the tips of their tail. These places are often lighter shades, such as a light orange, gray, or white. Vulsune who have a lighter coat and a darker torso are often treated mistrust among their people, for such a color scheme is often an omen for a dark heart. A vulsune reaches physical maturity at 50 years, though their minds mature much quicker than this.
Vulsune appear almost entirely humanoid, with several major differences. Their feet have the typical structure of an animal's paw, though their shape is closer to a human's foot. A vulsune’s paws have a strong leathery coating on the bottom for protection, so it is not entirely uncommon for a vulsune to forgo the use of shoes, though vulsune who travel to other lands (especially cooler ones) often employ the use of boots, shoes, and other footwear. A vulsune’s head is also fundamentally different from a typical humanoid’s; they have elongated snouts similar to foxes and their ears are mounted firmly on top of their heads, also resembling a fox’s ears. Finally, a vulsune has a long, fox-like tail. This tail aids the vulsune in balancing, and a tail is a symbol of honor among vulsune; the worst dishonor a vulsune Lord can place on another vulsune is removing their tail.
Vulsune eye color ranges from any of the normal human eye colors, and includes both brilliant gold and pale gold. Vulsune, like other races, have particular hairstyles; like other races, the hair on the top of their heads grows at a faster rate than their coat, which allows them to have distinguished hairstyles. Males favor either spiking their hair or pulling it back, while females have no particular preference; female vulsune are just as likely to have an extravagant hairstyle as a female from any other common race.
With a full fur coat, vulsune do not need clothes for warmth, though they often wear simple, elegant garments regardless. In the vulsune culture, clothing is more of an art then a necessity, so vulsune typically sport clothing that is colorful and earthy. Vulsune clothing traditions, therefore, seem particularly unusual to outsiders, for with the exception of their more private bodily areas the vulsune tend to place their clothing on a whim rather than use it as protection from the elements. Vulsune who travel abroad into the lands of other races, however, typically abide by that race’s clothing standards, though their outfits are usually extravagant when compared to the norm.
Relations With Other Races
The vulsune typically address humans and half-humans as they would their own young, for they consider humanity’s trademark ambition and determination to be rather childish and unrefined. An adult, so says an adult vulsune, has ambition and determination, but also knows patience and discipline. As a result, the vulsune tend to give greater respect to the more disciplined of humans, such as monks and paladins.
The vulsune are also particularly friendly with the good elves, especially the wood elves, whom the vulsune share a love and harmony of nature with. The vulsune openly disprove of the lack of respect for nature that the high elves tend to exhibit, who view nature as something to be manipulated rather the respect and cherish. The vulsune have little to no relations with the aquatic elves, who shy away from surface folk. Finally, the vulsune deplore the evil methods and ways of the dark elves; though this usually doesn’t result in a pity for the dark elven people as a whole.
While the vulsune have no particular qualms against the dwarves, the dwarven people dislike the vulsune for their rather savage appearance. Many dwarves question the extent of the vulsune’s civility and theorize that they are as deceptive and tricky as the foxes they closely resemble. Whether or not the dwarves have a legitimate reason for distrusting the vulsune isn’t known, as none but the dwarven king himself is allowed to behold the Book of Grudges, and even he seldom attempts to read the weighted tome.
Like most people, the vulsune have difficulty distinguishing Halflings from human children, but as they treat all people, regardless of age, with respect, the Halflings rarely notice any difference. The vulsune and Halfling peoples have a similar lighthearted outlook on life, and both races have something of a prankster streak. The vulsune also enjoy the company of the gnomes, for both cultures have an extremely long and proud tradition of folklore and storytelling, and neither ever misses an opportunity to compare tales.
The vulsune tend to get along less well with savage races, especially the orcs and goblins. Both races share a vicious love for death and violence, as well as a strong tendency for evil. Vulsune are naturally wary against orcs and goblins, though like any other race they are willing to give members of these races a chance to prove themselves, though vulsune are often unintentionally critical of Good goblins and orcs. The vulsune also have a healthy sense of respect for the militaristic culture of the hobgoblins, who are much more disciplined in their actions, but none the less they are still prone to the death marches of their goblin cousins. The vulsune believe that although a warrior has his place, he too must also learn to sheath his sword; a concept that the hobgoblins find fool hearty.
Among all other races, the vulsune get along less well with the yuan-ti. Whether resulting from the ancient feud between snakes and foxes, or an unspeakable crime long since committed, the vulsune are the least friendly and hospitable to a yuan-ti, and most vulsune aggression is focused in on the yuan-ti. While the vulsune seldom start wars, against the yuan-ti they are more than willing to fight.
Alignment
Most vulsune value balance over all others, so in terms to Law and Chaos, vulsune sway more towards neutrality, believing that a free, creative spirit coupled with a healthy respect for authority is the best way to live life. Virtually all vulsune value life and freedom over all else, so they tend towards Good over Evil.
Vulsune Lands
The vulsune inhabit the woods and forests in the northeastern corner of the world. Referred to outsiders as the Eventide Forest, the woods span for countless miles, wedged between the Thor’s Spine mountain range and the Eventide River. The vulsune are not arrogant enough to claim the entire forest as their domain; they predominantly inhabit the forested peninsula that overlooks the East Sea. While technically still apart of the Eventide Forest, the vulsune refer to the land in which they inhabit as Yakusoku no Tei, the Spirit Lands. Unlike other races, who alter their homes by force, the vulsune coax, persuade, and bargain with the forest in order to make it accommodate them. This is done through the use of the Spiritspeakers, the public enclave of vulsune druids. While these druids answer to the druidic society as do all other druids, the Spiritspeakers protect nature by helping the vulsune settle within it peacefully. Using their powers, trees are coaxed into favorable positions and buildings forged from their still-living branches.
Vulsune culture and society revolves around the wisdom of elders. Individual towns and villages are governed by an aged vulsune, usually highly honored within that village or town, and groups of forests and towns are grouped into sectors. Traditionally, there are four sectors of the Spirit Lands. The Water Sector encompasses all the Spirit Lands that boarders the ocean. The Fire Sector lies closest to the inland, and is the warmest of the sectors. The Earth Sector is located to the northwest, bordering the Thor’s Spine mounts. Finally, the Air Sector is located in the heart of the Spirit Lands, in the Valley of Breezes.
Each of the councils bows to the Emperor of Spirits. Despite his title, the Emperor of Spirits is not true royalty, for the ancestors of Yakusoku no Tei themselves select whom will arise as the next Emperor of Spirits. This ritual is enacted with a powerful series of artifacts that, according to the vulsune, date back to their creation by the gods. Whenever an Emperor of Spirits passes on, the Council of Ancestors consults the spirits of the woods again, who then pick a new emperor.
As a whole, vulsune have little very little contact with the outside world. They tend to stick to their homeland, though those that leave the Spirit Lands tend to blend many of the cultural traditions of the foreigners that they meet with their own. Vulsune who leave the Spirit Lands are often either ambassadors or merchants, giving advice to leaders of other nations or selling some of the fine vulsune produce to outsiders.
Religion
The vulsune’s primary deity is Isis, the goddess of life. The vulsune have respect for all forest and animal deities, and there aren't many good gods and goddesses that the vulsune won't pay homage to.
Language
The vulsune language is extremely similar to the common tongue; it even shares the same alphabet as it. However, the vulsune’s language, called kokugo, (though many people refer to it as foxtrot) retains a very musical blend of words and sounds that makes it reminiscent of Elven.
Common Names
The vulsune typically pick common words as first names (the vulsune language mirrors the real Japanese language). As surnames, they are most likely to combine essences of nature together, sometimes with body parts at the like.
Male Names
Chiyo, Ebisu, Juro, Kenji
Female Names
Maru, Megumi, Rei
Family Names
Embertail, Sunblossom, Whisperwallow, Stonepaw
Adventures
Vulsune typically adventure for a cause. Most vulsune are uncomfortable with changing scenery, and many of them dislike leaving their forest home for long. Whether it be to establish peaceful relations with their neighbors, to instruct another sect of clerics on new procedures, or to battle the forces of evil, vulsune are rarely out and about for no reason.
Vulsune Racial Traits
+2 Wisdom, -2 Constitution: Vulsune are wise and perceptive, but their bodies are frail.
Medium Sized: Vulsune suffer no penalties and gain no bonuses due to their size.
40 ft. Movement Rate: A vulsune can move 40 feet per round.
Mind of the Fox: Although they're extremely intelligent, average to above average when compared with other humanoids, their minds still operate similarly to a fox's mind, which this causes them to be susceptible to spells and effects that are normally reserved for animals. Vulsune are affected by mind-affecting spells, abilities, and effects as if they had the animal creature type. A vulsune is treated as a Magical Beast if it would give them a better Will saving throw against the effect, and a vulsune is always entitled to a Will saving throw against a spell or ability that would normally only work on creatures with the Animal creature type.
Low Light Vision (Ex): A vulsune’s eyes are more sensitive to light then most creatures. A vulsune can see twice as fair in low light conditions, such as moonlight, starlight, or torchlight, then creatures without Low Light Vision.
Natural Reflexes: Vulsune have finely tuned reflexes. A vulsune gains a +1 racial bonus to Reflex saving throws and to their Initiative.
Perceptive: Vulsune have a heightened sense of awareness regarding their surroundings. A vulsune gains a +2 bonus to Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
Will-O-Wisp: Vulsune have a strong tie to the Spirit World, a bond that manifests in a limited ability to conjure and control spirit fire. A vulsune with a Charisma score of 11 or higher is able to cast either produce flames or faerie fire a number of times per day equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum once per day). A vulsune can only use this ability a maximum number of times per day equal to the lower between their Charisma modifier and their ECL.
Weapon Familiarity: Tradition mandates that warrior vulsune learn the arts of the katana. A vulsune treats the bastard sword as a martial weapon instead of an exotic weapon.
Automatic Languages: Common, Foxtrot
Bonus Languages: Any (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
Favored Class – Druid: A vulsune's Druid class does not count when determining if the vulsune takes an experience penalty due to multiclassing.
Mysterious and attuned with the workings of the world, the vulsune are a race who more closely resemble foxes then humanoids. Of all the mortal races, the vulsune are the most long-lived, many living for over two millennia, and their own legends providing accounts of heroes who live even longer. Scholars of other races often frazzle themselves over trying to unravel the source or cause for the vulsune’s elongated lifespan, but if the vulsune know the secret, they speak nothing of it. Instead, the vulsune preach that a long life comes from a personal fulfillment and a life balanced between the self and nature.
TYPICAL VULSUNE
The average vulsune is wary but curious, occasionally letting their curiosity getting the better of their good judgment. Regardless of this natural curiosity, the vulsune are wizened fighters, scholars, and sorcerers. They are virtually unmatched in skill with the katana, a variant of bastard sword with which they are renown for using, and many vulsune choose to learn the ancient techniques of battle that their ancestors perfected. To the vulsune, one’s heritage is an important part of culture, and to dishonor one’s family can result in what seems like an eternity of shame to other mortal races. However, most vulsune are forgiving people who all but expect redemption from those who wrong them. This doesn’t mean, however, that the vulsune are ignorant to concepts such as malice or evil, though they believe that no person is too far past redemption.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Vulsune are tall and thin, giving them a frail appearance. An average vulsune stands at 5’ 10” and weighs 85 lbs, with males slightly heavier and taller than females. Their bodies are covered with a thick, rich coat of fur that ranges in color from a vivid red to a fiery orange to a subtle gray. Rare among the vulsune are those with an ebony coat, and black fur is often perceived as an omen of greatness. This coat-color typically remains the same hue over the Vulsune’s entire body, with the exception of patches of lighter fur on their stomach and on the tips of their tail. These places are often lighter shades, such as a light orange, gray, or white. Vulsune who have a lighter coat and a darker torso are often treated mistrust among their people, for such a color scheme is often an omen for a dark heart. A vulsune reaches physical maturity at 50 years, though their minds mature much quicker than this.
Vulsune appear almost entirely humanoid, with several major differences. Their feet have the typical structure of an animal's paw, though their shape is closer to a human's foot. A vulsune’s paws have a strong leathery coating on the bottom for protection, so it is not entirely uncommon for a vulsune to forgo the use of shoes, though vulsune who travel to other lands (especially cooler ones) often employ the use of boots, shoes, and other footwear. A vulsune’s head is also fundamentally different from a typical humanoid’s; they have elongated snouts similar to foxes and their ears are mounted firmly on top of their heads, also resembling a fox’s ears. Finally, a vulsune has a long, fox-like tail. This tail aids the vulsune in balancing, and a tail is a symbol of honor among vulsune; the worst dishonor a vulsune Lord can place on another vulsune is removing their tail.
Vulsune eye color ranges from any of the normal human eye colors, and includes both brilliant gold and pale gold. Vulsune, like other races, have particular hairstyles; like other races, the hair on the top of their heads grows at a faster rate than their coat, which allows them to have distinguished hairstyles. Males favor either spiking their hair or pulling it back, while females have no particular preference; female vulsune are just as likely to have an extravagant hairstyle as a female from any other common race.
With a full fur coat, vulsune do not need clothes for warmth, though they often wear simple, elegant garments regardless. In the vulsune culture, clothing is more of an art then a necessity, so vulsune typically sport clothing that is colorful and earthy. Vulsune clothing traditions, therefore, seem particularly unusual to outsiders, for with the exception of their more private bodily areas the vulsune tend to place their clothing on a whim rather than use it as protection from the elements. Vulsune who travel abroad into the lands of other races, however, typically abide by that race’s clothing standards, though their outfits are usually extravagant when compared to the norm.
Relations With Other Races
The vulsune typically address humans and half-humans as they would their own young, for they consider humanity’s trademark ambition and determination to be rather childish and unrefined. An adult, so says an adult vulsune, has ambition and determination, but also knows patience and discipline. As a result, the vulsune tend to give greater respect to the more disciplined of humans, such as monks and paladins.
The vulsune are also particularly friendly with the good elves, especially the wood elves, whom the vulsune share a love and harmony of nature with. The vulsune openly disprove of the lack of respect for nature that the high elves tend to exhibit, who view nature as something to be manipulated rather the respect and cherish. The vulsune have little to no relations with the aquatic elves, who shy away from surface folk. Finally, the vulsune deplore the evil methods and ways of the dark elves; though this usually doesn’t result in a pity for the dark elven people as a whole.
While the vulsune have no particular qualms against the dwarves, the dwarven people dislike the vulsune for their rather savage appearance. Many dwarves question the extent of the vulsune’s civility and theorize that they are as deceptive and tricky as the foxes they closely resemble. Whether or not the dwarves have a legitimate reason for distrusting the vulsune isn’t known, as none but the dwarven king himself is allowed to behold the Book of Grudges, and even he seldom attempts to read the weighted tome.
Like most people, the vulsune have difficulty distinguishing Halflings from human children, but as they treat all people, regardless of age, with respect, the Halflings rarely notice any difference. The vulsune and Halfling peoples have a similar lighthearted outlook on life, and both races have something of a prankster streak. The vulsune also enjoy the company of the gnomes, for both cultures have an extremely long and proud tradition of folklore and storytelling, and neither ever misses an opportunity to compare tales.
The vulsune tend to get along less well with savage races, especially the orcs and goblins. Both races share a vicious love for death and violence, as well as a strong tendency for evil. Vulsune are naturally wary against orcs and goblins, though like any other race they are willing to give members of these races a chance to prove themselves, though vulsune are often unintentionally critical of Good goblins and orcs. The vulsune also have a healthy sense of respect for the militaristic culture of the hobgoblins, who are much more disciplined in their actions, but none the less they are still prone to the death marches of their goblin cousins. The vulsune believe that although a warrior has his place, he too must also learn to sheath his sword; a concept that the hobgoblins find fool hearty.
Among all other races, the vulsune get along less well with the yuan-ti. Whether resulting from the ancient feud between snakes and foxes, or an unspeakable crime long since committed, the vulsune are the least friendly and hospitable to a yuan-ti, and most vulsune aggression is focused in on the yuan-ti. While the vulsune seldom start wars, against the yuan-ti they are more than willing to fight.
Alignment
Most vulsune value balance over all others, so in terms to Law and Chaos, vulsune sway more towards neutrality, believing that a free, creative spirit coupled with a healthy respect for authority is the best way to live life. Virtually all vulsune value life and freedom over all else, so they tend towards Good over Evil.
Vulsune Lands
The vulsune inhabit the woods and forests in the northeastern corner of the world. Referred to outsiders as the Eventide Forest, the woods span for countless miles, wedged between the Thor’s Spine mountain range and the Eventide River. The vulsune are not arrogant enough to claim the entire forest as their domain; they predominantly inhabit the forested peninsula that overlooks the East Sea. While technically still apart of the Eventide Forest, the vulsune refer to the land in which they inhabit as Yakusoku no Tei, the Spirit Lands. Unlike other races, who alter their homes by force, the vulsune coax, persuade, and bargain with the forest in order to make it accommodate them. This is done through the use of the Spiritspeakers, the public enclave of vulsune druids. While these druids answer to the druidic society as do all other druids, the Spiritspeakers protect nature by helping the vulsune settle within it peacefully. Using their powers, trees are coaxed into favorable positions and buildings forged from their still-living branches.
Vulsune culture and society revolves around the wisdom of elders. Individual towns and villages are governed by an aged vulsune, usually highly honored within that village or town, and groups of forests and towns are grouped into sectors. Traditionally, there are four sectors of the Spirit Lands. The Water Sector encompasses all the Spirit Lands that boarders the ocean. The Fire Sector lies closest to the inland, and is the warmest of the sectors. The Earth Sector is located to the northwest, bordering the Thor’s Spine mounts. Finally, the Air Sector is located in the heart of the Spirit Lands, in the Valley of Breezes.
Each of the councils bows to the Emperor of Spirits. Despite his title, the Emperor of Spirits is not true royalty, for the ancestors of Yakusoku no Tei themselves select whom will arise as the next Emperor of Spirits. This ritual is enacted with a powerful series of artifacts that, according to the vulsune, date back to their creation by the gods. Whenever an Emperor of Spirits passes on, the Council of Ancestors consults the spirits of the woods again, who then pick a new emperor.
As a whole, vulsune have little very little contact with the outside world. They tend to stick to their homeland, though those that leave the Spirit Lands tend to blend many of the cultural traditions of the foreigners that they meet with their own. Vulsune who leave the Spirit Lands are often either ambassadors or merchants, giving advice to leaders of other nations or selling some of the fine vulsune produce to outsiders.
Religion
The vulsune’s primary deity is Isis, the goddess of life. The vulsune have respect for all forest and animal deities, and there aren't many good gods and goddesses that the vulsune won't pay homage to.
Language
The vulsune language is extremely similar to the common tongue; it even shares the same alphabet as it. However, the vulsune’s language, called kokugo, (though many people refer to it as foxtrot) retains a very musical blend of words and sounds that makes it reminiscent of Elven.
Common Names
The vulsune typically pick common words as first names (the vulsune language mirrors the real Japanese language). As surnames, they are most likely to combine essences of nature together, sometimes with body parts at the like.
Male Names
Chiyo, Ebisu, Juro, Kenji
Female Names
Maru, Megumi, Rei
Family Names
Embertail, Sunblossom, Whisperwallow, Stonepaw
Adventures
Vulsune typically adventure for a cause. Most vulsune are uncomfortable with changing scenery, and many of them dislike leaving their forest home for long. Whether it be to establish peaceful relations with their neighbors, to instruct another sect of clerics on new procedures, or to battle the forces of evil, vulsune are rarely out and about for no reason.
Vulsune Racial Traits
+2 Wisdom, -2 Constitution: Vulsune are wise and perceptive, but their bodies are frail.
Medium Sized: Vulsune suffer no penalties and gain no bonuses due to their size.
40 ft. Movement Rate: A vulsune can move 40 feet per round.
Mind of the Fox: Although they're extremely intelligent, average to above average when compared with other humanoids, their minds still operate similarly to a fox's mind, which this causes them to be susceptible to spells and effects that are normally reserved for animals. Vulsune are affected by mind-affecting spells, abilities, and effects as if they had the animal creature type. A vulsune is treated as a Magical Beast if it would give them a better Will saving throw against the effect, and a vulsune is always entitled to a Will saving throw against a spell or ability that would normally only work on creatures with the Animal creature type.
Low Light Vision (Ex): A vulsune’s eyes are more sensitive to light then most creatures. A vulsune can see twice as fair in low light conditions, such as moonlight, starlight, or torchlight, then creatures without Low Light Vision.
Natural Reflexes: Vulsune have finely tuned reflexes. A vulsune gains a +1 racial bonus to Reflex saving throws and to their Initiative.
Perceptive: Vulsune have a heightened sense of awareness regarding their surroundings. A vulsune gains a +2 bonus to Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
Will-O-Wisp: Vulsune have a strong tie to the Spirit World, a bond that manifests in a limited ability to conjure and control spirit fire. A vulsune with a Charisma score of 11 or higher is able to cast either produce flames or faerie fire a number of times per day equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum once per day). A vulsune can only use this ability a maximum number of times per day equal to the lower between their Charisma modifier and their ECL.
Weapon Familiarity: Tradition mandates that warrior vulsune learn the arts of the katana. A vulsune treats the bastard sword as a martial weapon instead of an exotic weapon.
Automatic Languages: Common, Foxtrot
Bonus Languages: Any (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
Favored Class – Druid: A vulsune's Druid class does not count when determining if the vulsune takes an experience penalty due to multiclassing.