Lix Lorn
2010-09-15, 05:40 PM
THE MANAKETE
The Manakete are a strange tribe of draconic creatures, looking like small humanoids, with large, draconic wings upon their back. They often have a regal look about them, and regularly ruin this appearance with a curious and almost immature outlook. Their origin is unknown; some claim they're a strange offshoot of dragons, others believe they've been around for as long as anyone.
With the use of their powerful items, that they call Dragonstones, they can transform into a second form they possess: A large, powerful, draconic form.
TYPICAL MANAKETE
Most Manakete are small, good looking, and friendly. They tend to have powerful personalities, and sunny outlooks, making up for comparatively weak physical abilities. Of course, with the use of the glowing stone they all carry with them, this all changes.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Manakete are generally the size of a human child, sometimes reaching four or even five foot, but almost never taller. They are often lithe, and almost always beautiful, both mentally and physically. They can be mistaken for children-some even play to this, and more still actually act like them simply because they are that childish.
In dragon form, Manakete vary immensely. Some look forbidding, others look friendly. The most common word used to describe them is 'majestic'.
Relations With Other Races
Manakete can easily pass as humans, if they hide their wings. Due mainly to this, they have passed themselves off as humans and half-dragons for many years. Their sudden emergence leads them to be distrusted by those who wonder why they hid, but most forgive them soon after meeting them due to their friendly nature.
Alignment
Friendly and inquisitive natures mean that Manakete tend towards chaotic or good alignments. Needless to say, this is not a constant rule, and Manakete of all alignments exist.
Manakete Lands
No known Manakete lands exist, but is known that they have some small villages. These villages tend to be small, close knit, and laid back.
Religion
Like most races, Manakete vary greatly in their opinion of religion. Some are ardent believers, others dismissive and uncaring on the subject. In general, draconic deities are preferred. Hlal in particular is a common deity of choice, due to her friendly nature.
Language
Manakete tend to use Common for most purposes, sometimes using Draconic as well.
Common Names
Manakete names are erratic; sometimes they use the names of the culture they are currently in, sometimes they name their children after concepts, herbs, or feelings, and sometimes they simply use Draconic.
Female Names: Faith, Myrrh, Ixenmi, Rika, Lisa
Male Names: Truth, Thyme, Miirik, Steven, Johann
Adventures
Manakete are driven creatures. Most are driven by desire or curiosity, and these two ideas are easily enough to lead to a life of adventuring. Equally, a search for power, or love, or almost anything can be fulfilled as an adventurer.
Manakete Racial Traits
Abilities -4 Str, +2 Dex, -2 Con, +2 Cha: Manakete are agile, and strong of will, but weak of body.
Size: Small.
Type: In their normal form, Manaketes are Humanoids with the Dragonblood subtype.
Movement Rate: Manakete have a move speed of 20ft, plus a flight speed of 20ft (Good)
Elemental: Most Manakete have an affinity for a certain type of power. This is either fire, cold, electricity, acid, sonic, or force.
Manakete add one to the DC of any saving throws caused by a spell or ability with this descriptor, or that deals this form of damage. (Including the breath weapon they have in their dragon form.)
Some Manakete have no affinity. (Although they still add one to the save DC for their breath weapon.)
Eyes of the Dragon: Manaketes have great senses, even in their humanoid forms. They have low light vision.
Dragonstone: All Manakete possess a Dragonstone. This item is described below. A Manakete never needs to make Use Magic Device checks to use their own Dragonstone.
Automatic Languages: Common and Draconic
Bonus Languages: Any-Manakete are often learned beings.
Favoured Class – Sorcerer, Duskblade or Swordmage:
Level Adjustment/CR: +1. In addition, they begin play with one dragon hit die, with all benefits that implies.
* * *
Item
Dragonstone
A Dragonstone is a powerful magical item that originates with the Manaketes. When they are born, their spirit and power is split in two-one humanoid to live daily life, and a draconic power that dwells within the stone until they need it. A Manakete always begins play with a Dragonstone, which is bound to their soul.
A Dragonstone can be activated automatically by the Manakete it is bound to, but otherwise can only be used with a successful Use Magic Device check, with a DC equal to Ten plus the Manakete who is bound to it's current ECL. If the manakete would not desire you to use it, add their Charisma modifier to the DC. In addition, only Dragonblood characters can activate a Dragonstone. (Although a second Use Magic Device check with a separate DC can emulate this racial need.)
Using a Dragonstone is a Move Action that provokes Attacks of Opportunity. It transforms you into a Dragon, modifying your ability scores and abilities. Needless to say, while this ability is active, you have the Dragon type in addition to all original types. At 1st level, the effects are as follows:
Strength +4, Constitution +2. You gain a primary Bite attack dealing 2d4+Str damage, two secondary claw attacks dealing 1d6+1/2 Str and a secondary tail slap dealing 1d6+ 1 1/2 Str damage. In addition, you gain a Flight Speed of 30ft (Good). Your size increases to that of a medium creature. You also gain a breath weapon, usable as a standard action at will, dealing a number of 1d8s of damage equal to half the bonded Manakete's ECL, minimum 1d8. This attack has a range of 20ft, for a cone, or 40ft for a line. Whether the attack is a cone or a line is chosen during the character creation process for the bonded Manakete.
When bonded to a Manakete of seven or more hit die, your Strength and Constitution are improved by an additional two points each. Your bite now deals 2d6+Str damage, your claws 1d8+1/2 Str, and your tail slap 1d6+1 1/2 Str. Your Flight Speed becomes 50ft (Good), and your breath weapon increases to either a 30ft cone or a 60ft line. Your dragon form is now a Large (long) creature.
A Dragonstone bonded to a being of twelve or more hit die gives another two points increase to strength and constitution, and their bite now deals 3d6+Str, their claws 2d6+1/2 Str, and their tail deal 2d6+1 1/2 Str. Your Flight Speed becomes 70ft (Good) and your breath weapon increases to a 40ft cone, or an 80ft line. Their dragon form is now a Huge (long) creature.
At seventeen hit die, both Strength and Constitution are improved by two more points, to +10 Strength and +8 Constitution. Your bite is increased to 4d6+Str, your claws to 3d6+1/2 Str, and your tail 3d6+1 1/2 Str. Your flight speed becomes 90ft (Good), and your breath weapon increases to a 50ft cone, or a 100ft line. Their dragon form is now a Gargantuan (long) creature.
Regardless of your hit die, you may speak all languages you know, including verbal spell components.
Then damage dealt by their breath weapon is off a type matching the bonded Manakete's elemental affinity. If their affinity is sonic, the breath weapon deals damage in increments of 1d6. If their affinity is force, it instead deals d4s. A Manakete with no elemental affinity deals either untyped damage in increments of d3s, or slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning damage in increments of d10s.
Whenever you change from one form to the other; you regain HP as if you had rested for a night.
This transformation lasts for a number of rounds equal to your constitution modifier, before racial modifiers for the dragon form are applied.
A Dragonstone has limited uses: It has only fifty charges, although it regains one additional charge at a specific point of each day, differing for each Manakete. (Common choices are Noon, Midnight, Dawn...) Once per week, with an hour's ritual, the Manakete can restore a number of charges to his Dragonstone equal to his Charisma modifier.
Bonding a Dragonstone
All Manakete are born with a Dragonstone bonded to them, but it is possible to gain them for other species. If a Manakete dies, their Dragonstone goes cold. A character who successfully uses the dragonstone in the next 24 hours is automatically treated as bonded to it. (The Manakete is always treated as unwilling to allow anyone save a close friend or lover use the stone.)
If no-one uses the stone before this duration is up, it crumbles to dust.
* * *
Manakete Arcana
Prerequisites: Possession of a Dragonstone bonded to you.
Benefit: You may perform somatic components while in the draconic form granted to you through use of a Dragonstone.
* * *
Anything glaringly wrong?
What LA would this require..?
The Manakete are a strange tribe of draconic creatures, looking like small humanoids, with large, draconic wings upon their back. They often have a regal look about them, and regularly ruin this appearance with a curious and almost immature outlook. Their origin is unknown; some claim they're a strange offshoot of dragons, others believe they've been around for as long as anyone.
With the use of their powerful items, that they call Dragonstones, they can transform into a second form they possess: A large, powerful, draconic form.
TYPICAL MANAKETE
Most Manakete are small, good looking, and friendly. They tend to have powerful personalities, and sunny outlooks, making up for comparatively weak physical abilities. Of course, with the use of the glowing stone they all carry with them, this all changes.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Manakete are generally the size of a human child, sometimes reaching four or even five foot, but almost never taller. They are often lithe, and almost always beautiful, both mentally and physically. They can be mistaken for children-some even play to this, and more still actually act like them simply because they are that childish.
In dragon form, Manakete vary immensely. Some look forbidding, others look friendly. The most common word used to describe them is 'majestic'.
Relations With Other Races
Manakete can easily pass as humans, if they hide their wings. Due mainly to this, they have passed themselves off as humans and half-dragons for many years. Their sudden emergence leads them to be distrusted by those who wonder why they hid, but most forgive them soon after meeting them due to their friendly nature.
Alignment
Friendly and inquisitive natures mean that Manakete tend towards chaotic or good alignments. Needless to say, this is not a constant rule, and Manakete of all alignments exist.
Manakete Lands
No known Manakete lands exist, but is known that they have some small villages. These villages tend to be small, close knit, and laid back.
Religion
Like most races, Manakete vary greatly in their opinion of religion. Some are ardent believers, others dismissive and uncaring on the subject. In general, draconic deities are preferred. Hlal in particular is a common deity of choice, due to her friendly nature.
Language
Manakete tend to use Common for most purposes, sometimes using Draconic as well.
Common Names
Manakete names are erratic; sometimes they use the names of the culture they are currently in, sometimes they name their children after concepts, herbs, or feelings, and sometimes they simply use Draconic.
Female Names: Faith, Myrrh, Ixenmi, Rika, Lisa
Male Names: Truth, Thyme, Miirik, Steven, Johann
Adventures
Manakete are driven creatures. Most are driven by desire or curiosity, and these two ideas are easily enough to lead to a life of adventuring. Equally, a search for power, or love, or almost anything can be fulfilled as an adventurer.
Manakete Racial Traits
Abilities -4 Str, +2 Dex, -2 Con, +2 Cha: Manakete are agile, and strong of will, but weak of body.
Size: Small.
Type: In their normal form, Manaketes are Humanoids with the Dragonblood subtype.
Movement Rate: Manakete have a move speed of 20ft, plus a flight speed of 20ft (Good)
Elemental: Most Manakete have an affinity for a certain type of power. This is either fire, cold, electricity, acid, sonic, or force.
Manakete add one to the DC of any saving throws caused by a spell or ability with this descriptor, or that deals this form of damage. (Including the breath weapon they have in their dragon form.)
Some Manakete have no affinity. (Although they still add one to the save DC for their breath weapon.)
Eyes of the Dragon: Manaketes have great senses, even in their humanoid forms. They have low light vision.
Dragonstone: All Manakete possess a Dragonstone. This item is described below. A Manakete never needs to make Use Magic Device checks to use their own Dragonstone.
Automatic Languages: Common and Draconic
Bonus Languages: Any-Manakete are often learned beings.
Favoured Class – Sorcerer, Duskblade or Swordmage:
Level Adjustment/CR: +1. In addition, they begin play with one dragon hit die, with all benefits that implies.
* * *
Item
Dragonstone
A Dragonstone is a powerful magical item that originates with the Manaketes. When they are born, their spirit and power is split in two-one humanoid to live daily life, and a draconic power that dwells within the stone until they need it. A Manakete always begins play with a Dragonstone, which is bound to their soul.
A Dragonstone can be activated automatically by the Manakete it is bound to, but otherwise can only be used with a successful Use Magic Device check, with a DC equal to Ten plus the Manakete who is bound to it's current ECL. If the manakete would not desire you to use it, add their Charisma modifier to the DC. In addition, only Dragonblood characters can activate a Dragonstone. (Although a second Use Magic Device check with a separate DC can emulate this racial need.)
Using a Dragonstone is a Move Action that provokes Attacks of Opportunity. It transforms you into a Dragon, modifying your ability scores and abilities. Needless to say, while this ability is active, you have the Dragon type in addition to all original types. At 1st level, the effects are as follows:
Strength +4, Constitution +2. You gain a primary Bite attack dealing 2d4+Str damage, two secondary claw attacks dealing 1d6+1/2 Str and a secondary tail slap dealing 1d6+ 1 1/2 Str damage. In addition, you gain a Flight Speed of 30ft (Good). Your size increases to that of a medium creature. You also gain a breath weapon, usable as a standard action at will, dealing a number of 1d8s of damage equal to half the bonded Manakete's ECL, minimum 1d8. This attack has a range of 20ft, for a cone, or 40ft for a line. Whether the attack is a cone or a line is chosen during the character creation process for the bonded Manakete.
When bonded to a Manakete of seven or more hit die, your Strength and Constitution are improved by an additional two points each. Your bite now deals 2d6+Str damage, your claws 1d8+1/2 Str, and your tail slap 1d6+1 1/2 Str. Your Flight Speed becomes 50ft (Good), and your breath weapon increases to either a 30ft cone or a 60ft line. Your dragon form is now a Large (long) creature.
A Dragonstone bonded to a being of twelve or more hit die gives another two points increase to strength and constitution, and their bite now deals 3d6+Str, their claws 2d6+1/2 Str, and their tail deal 2d6+1 1/2 Str. Your Flight Speed becomes 70ft (Good) and your breath weapon increases to a 40ft cone, or an 80ft line. Their dragon form is now a Huge (long) creature.
At seventeen hit die, both Strength and Constitution are improved by two more points, to +10 Strength and +8 Constitution. Your bite is increased to 4d6+Str, your claws to 3d6+1/2 Str, and your tail 3d6+1 1/2 Str. Your flight speed becomes 90ft (Good), and your breath weapon increases to a 50ft cone, or a 100ft line. Their dragon form is now a Gargantuan (long) creature.
Regardless of your hit die, you may speak all languages you know, including verbal spell components.
Then damage dealt by their breath weapon is off a type matching the bonded Manakete's elemental affinity. If their affinity is sonic, the breath weapon deals damage in increments of 1d6. If their affinity is force, it instead deals d4s. A Manakete with no elemental affinity deals either untyped damage in increments of d3s, or slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning damage in increments of d10s.
Whenever you change from one form to the other; you regain HP as if you had rested for a night.
This transformation lasts for a number of rounds equal to your constitution modifier, before racial modifiers for the dragon form are applied.
A Dragonstone has limited uses: It has only fifty charges, although it regains one additional charge at a specific point of each day, differing for each Manakete. (Common choices are Noon, Midnight, Dawn...) Once per week, with an hour's ritual, the Manakete can restore a number of charges to his Dragonstone equal to his Charisma modifier.
Bonding a Dragonstone
All Manakete are born with a Dragonstone bonded to them, but it is possible to gain them for other species. If a Manakete dies, their Dragonstone goes cold. A character who successfully uses the dragonstone in the next 24 hours is automatically treated as bonded to it. (The Manakete is always treated as unwilling to allow anyone save a close friend or lover use the stone.)
If no-one uses the stone before this duration is up, it crumbles to dust.
* * *
Manakete Arcana
Prerequisites: Possession of a Dragonstone bonded to you.
Benefit: You may perform somatic components while in the draconic form granted to you through use of a Dragonstone.
* * *
Anything glaringly wrong?
What LA would this require..?