Admiral Squish
2013-12-06, 03:44 PM
Ocelotl/Cuauhtli
Created for Crossroads: the New World (“http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269334”)
The Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are varieties of warrior that have done great deeds in battle, and for their bravery and accomplishments, have undergone a ritual transformation, becoming even more powerful warriors by taking on the aspects of fearsome animals.
Personality: Both Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are proud, fierce warriors, hardened by battle and, usually, eager for more. There is a lot of camaraderie among each of the groups, a very close-knit bond with their squad-mates, and they may even be distrustful of outsiders. To undergo either transformation, a warrior must accomplish 20 great acts (usually captures) in battle, so their ranks are made up of seasoned veterans.
Physical Description: Ocelotl take on the aspects of the jaguar. Their skin becomes patterned as a jaguar’s fur, and in many places, becomes covered in short fur. Their features become more angular and feral, and they have long, pronounced canines. Their eyes become yellow and slitted, like a cat’s, and their fingers lose their fingernails, replacing them instead with a sharp, retractable claw.
Cuauhtli take on the aspects of the eagle. Their skin remains much the same, but all the hair on their body is replaced with brilliantly-colored feathers of varying length and thickness. The longest feathers are on their heads, followed by a pair of colorful plumes on the sides of their forearms, extending out and back, past the elbow. Their eyes become yellow, with large pupils, and a quite intimidating stare. Their fingertips sprout long, hooked talons.
Relations: Each of the two groups believe their own transformation is superior, and they often butt heads when off the battlefield. However, when out on the battlefield, they work side by side quite well, competition with the other group driving them to perform better and better, leaving their unfortunate foes in a rather rough position. The transformation signifies membership into an elite warrior group, demanding respect equal to a noble, so the common folk are cautious with their words around them, though most nobles still view the common-born among them as commoners, leaving many in a strange limbo between the two castes.
Alignment: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli both have similar alignment spreads to their human roots, though they have a somewhat more lawful bent, due to their military time.
{table=head]|L|N|C
G|15|10|10
N|15|10|5
E|15|10|10[/table]
Lands: The Ocelotl and Cuauhtli continue to live among the humans they used to be, though many move up in their living arrangements to more upscale areas. They mingle freely among other warriors and their transformed brethren. The nature of the transformation tends to make them stand out in a crowd, particularly in places where they are not seen every day, such as formal settings.
Religion: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli follow the same faith they had before the transformation, and many even follow it with more fervor afterward. The Ocelotl are generally aligned with Tezcatlipoca, and the Cuauhtli are generally aligned with Huitzilopotchli.
Language: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli speak the same languages they spoke before the transformation, though they may pronounce some sounds with strange, animal affectations.
Names: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli names are the same as they were before the transformation, though some take a new name afterward, based on their accomplishments on the battlefield.
Adventurers: Adventurers are quite common among the Ocelotl and Cuauhtli. These are usually warriors assigned on special missions by their commanders to accomplish certain goals. Some are retired and take up the sword once again to lend their strength and experience to youngsters heading out into danger. Others abandon their posts against orders, when some greater threat than the neighboring city looms.
Typically, Ocelotl or Cuauhtli with class levels have those levels in hunter or brute, though in recent years, gunslinger is becoming a more common choice.
The Ritual:
The ritual to transform into either a Ocelotl or Cuauhtli is relatively simple. When one is up for promotion, they seek out guidance from their commander and a priest. Then they gather their closest friends and embark on a sacred hunt, where they must find and kill one of the chosen animals. The body of the animal is brought back to the priests at the local temple to Tezcatlipoca. They drain it of blood, and take select portions and reduce them to powder, paste, or patches of fur and feathers. The feathers or fur are applied to the individual, then he is anointed with the blood, pastes, and powders in a highly ritualized fasion. The process takes one hour and three preists of at least 5th level. The ritual can be performed on any human of 5th level or higher, but it is only done on warriors who have reached the appropriate number of great acts. When the ritual is complete, the character loses all existing racial traits and gains the following traits. This causes them to lose any bonus skill points and bonus feats they gained from being human (effectively, selecting one non-background feat to lose). The feat lost cannot be a prerequisite for any other feat.
+2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are swift, with sharp senses, but the transformation weakens their minds.
Type: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are Humanoids.
Size: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are medium creatures with no special bonuses or penalties due to size.
Normal Speed: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli have a base speed of 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
Claws: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a pair of claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage.
Feral Senses: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a +2 bonus to perception checks
Battle-Hardened: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a +1 bonus to CMB and CMD
Created for Crossroads: the New World (“http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269334”)
The Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are varieties of warrior that have done great deeds in battle, and for their bravery and accomplishments, have undergone a ritual transformation, becoming even more powerful warriors by taking on the aspects of fearsome animals.
Personality: Both Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are proud, fierce warriors, hardened by battle and, usually, eager for more. There is a lot of camaraderie among each of the groups, a very close-knit bond with their squad-mates, and they may even be distrustful of outsiders. To undergo either transformation, a warrior must accomplish 20 great acts (usually captures) in battle, so their ranks are made up of seasoned veterans.
Physical Description: Ocelotl take on the aspects of the jaguar. Their skin becomes patterned as a jaguar’s fur, and in many places, becomes covered in short fur. Their features become more angular and feral, and they have long, pronounced canines. Their eyes become yellow and slitted, like a cat’s, and their fingers lose their fingernails, replacing them instead with a sharp, retractable claw.
Cuauhtli take on the aspects of the eagle. Their skin remains much the same, but all the hair on their body is replaced with brilliantly-colored feathers of varying length and thickness. The longest feathers are on their heads, followed by a pair of colorful plumes on the sides of their forearms, extending out and back, past the elbow. Their eyes become yellow, with large pupils, and a quite intimidating stare. Their fingertips sprout long, hooked talons.
Relations: Each of the two groups believe their own transformation is superior, and they often butt heads when off the battlefield. However, when out on the battlefield, they work side by side quite well, competition with the other group driving them to perform better and better, leaving their unfortunate foes in a rather rough position. The transformation signifies membership into an elite warrior group, demanding respect equal to a noble, so the common folk are cautious with their words around them, though most nobles still view the common-born among them as commoners, leaving many in a strange limbo between the two castes.
Alignment: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli both have similar alignment spreads to their human roots, though they have a somewhat more lawful bent, due to their military time.
{table=head]|L|N|C
G|15|10|10
N|15|10|5
E|15|10|10[/table]
Lands: The Ocelotl and Cuauhtli continue to live among the humans they used to be, though many move up in their living arrangements to more upscale areas. They mingle freely among other warriors and their transformed brethren. The nature of the transformation tends to make them stand out in a crowd, particularly in places where they are not seen every day, such as formal settings.
Religion: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli follow the same faith they had before the transformation, and many even follow it with more fervor afterward. The Ocelotl are generally aligned with Tezcatlipoca, and the Cuauhtli are generally aligned with Huitzilopotchli.
Language: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli speak the same languages they spoke before the transformation, though they may pronounce some sounds with strange, animal affectations.
Names: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli names are the same as they were before the transformation, though some take a new name afterward, based on their accomplishments on the battlefield.
Adventurers: Adventurers are quite common among the Ocelotl and Cuauhtli. These are usually warriors assigned on special missions by their commanders to accomplish certain goals. Some are retired and take up the sword once again to lend their strength and experience to youngsters heading out into danger. Others abandon their posts against orders, when some greater threat than the neighboring city looms.
Typically, Ocelotl or Cuauhtli with class levels have those levels in hunter or brute, though in recent years, gunslinger is becoming a more common choice.
The Ritual:
The ritual to transform into either a Ocelotl or Cuauhtli is relatively simple. When one is up for promotion, they seek out guidance from their commander and a priest. Then they gather their closest friends and embark on a sacred hunt, where they must find and kill one of the chosen animals. The body of the animal is brought back to the priests at the local temple to Tezcatlipoca. They drain it of blood, and take select portions and reduce them to powder, paste, or patches of fur and feathers. The feathers or fur are applied to the individual, then he is anointed with the blood, pastes, and powders in a highly ritualized fasion. The process takes one hour and three preists of at least 5th level. The ritual can be performed on any human of 5th level or higher, but it is only done on warriors who have reached the appropriate number of great acts. When the ritual is complete, the character loses all existing racial traits and gains the following traits. This causes them to lose any bonus skill points and bonus feats they gained from being human (effectively, selecting one non-background feat to lose). The feat lost cannot be a prerequisite for any other feat.
+2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are swift, with sharp senses, but the transformation weakens their minds.
Type: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are Humanoids.
Size: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli are medium creatures with no special bonuses or penalties due to size.
Normal Speed: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli have a base speed of 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
Claws: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a pair of claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage.
Feral Senses: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a +2 bonus to perception checks
Battle-Hardened: Ocelotl and Cuauhtli gain a +1 bonus to CMB and CMD