#yaddithian

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Prestige Class Spotlight 17: Hinterlander

(art by Chalvary on DeviantArt)

We’ve seen a few prestige classes this week that are (or at least profess to be) the defenders of civilization.

And that’s all fine and dandy for big cities that are the major targets for armies and big bads, but what about the small towns? The villages on the edge of the wilderness. Who comes to their aid when the wicked invite themselves over for dinner? For a lot of places, the answer may very well be a Hinterlander.

Patrolling the outskirts of remote villages  at the behest of their god: Erastil, hinterlanders live up to their name, surviving on the very edge of civilization, and watching for threats both natural and unnatural to protect the people from. They often hunt to provide fur and food for those they watch over, but their primary role it to keep an eye out for threats and take care of them before they become a problem. Oftentimes a village may not even realize there was ever any danger if they can handle the foe, but when they cannot, their first priority is to get the word out and get help.

You may have of course noticed that the hinterlander sounds an awful lot like a ranger, but while that’s no doubt one of the more common professions, the hinterlander does offer it’s own version of some ranger-like mainstays and plenty of tricks unique to them too, making it available to plenty of other classes too.

So let’s see what Erastil’s guardians have to offer!

In addition to being a worshipper of Erastil, these woodsmen must have training in survival and the natural world, skill with a longbow, good stamina, and the ability to cast at least basic magic. This does preclude fully martial or skill classes from taking it without further multiclassing, but it does open things up like divine hunter paladin, and even full spellcasters if you’d like an alternative to eldritch knight for a gish build.

Hinterlanders also continue to develop their magic in all but the first level making them quite competent casters overall.

They also gain a more narrow version of favored enemy, only able to choose creature types that are active threats to the natural world, but also giving them additional bonuses against such foes. They can resist the strange powers of aberrations, target the weak points of constructs, add minor blessings to their weapons to punish fiends, befriend magical beasts, resist the powers of monstrous humanoids, and strike down the ghostly undead with blessed arrows.

Unsurprisingly, these archers learn many tricks to improve their abilities and options with a bow and arrow.

With their athletic lifestyle, it should come as no surprise these scouts are quick on their feet.

While rangers focus on broad terrain types, hinterlanders instead make a point of analyzing all the terrain near any small settlements they come across, able to benefit when in such familiar territory.

They also have their own version of the woodland stride, though it also applies to difficult terrain within settlements as well as around them, allowing them to wade through hazards created by town life in addition to foliage.

By choosing to treat allies like kin, these foresters help guide them, providing useful tips on terrain traversal.

When a hinterlander chooses a particular small settlement to be their ward, their skill at defending it and patrolling it only increases further. What’s more, they can even tap into primal magic to sense nearby unnatural threats miles away.

Like arcane archers, these hunters also learn the secret of imbuing their arrows with magic, allowing them to deliver area effect spells at long range.

The most powerful among them ready themselves to be able to depart to a town in an instant either to rush to their aid or to flee to a friendly surrounding. They do this by leaving waymarkers linked to them by magic in various town and settlements, allowing them to teleport to them when needed.

This archetype is a fun idea, and almost feels like someone wanted to take the arcane archer, open it to more casting classes, and make it more focused on being a pseudo-ranger than magical Green Arrow. That being said, the prestige class does simultaneously do better and worse when it comes to situational terrain and favored enemy abilities. In the former case, the ability works in all terrain types, but only within certain proximity to smaller settlements. Too far into the wilderness, or near a larger settlement, and you’ve got nothing. In the latter case, you have a much smaller array of options for favored enemies, but you get a neat gimmick for the various creature types you can take that helps get around some of the more annoying aspects of dealing with them. If this class does appeal to you, feel free to experiment! The requirements are just loose enough to really open up most class combinations to you!

With their divine imperative to protect small communities, it can be difficult to imagine these warriors going off to save the world if doing so would separate them from those humble small towns. However, if the need is great enough, I imagine that Erastil or whatever god they worship in your setting sending them a sign to do so. Still it can be fun to explore that take on the idea of homesickness and the hero that only thinks of getting home soon after all is said and done.

A grand tournament is happening in the city, with many adventurers and other groups coming in to compete. None of that interests Tolban Leatherfoot, for he has come to find answers about why a bandit leader plaguing the lands under his care had a token of the royal guard hidden on his person.

The Tapir Man is a mysterious figure that watches over those that travel peacefully though the stretch of jungle that he considers his territory. In truth, he is in fact a yaddithian long ago stranded on this world. Falling in love with the rainforest around him, he became a magical guardian and archer, protecting those that live there.

As the sky turns red and fire falls from the sky, unnatural swarms of rats billow up to devour the food stores of the people. Many believe that the Lord of the Harvest has abandoned them, or worse, saw fit to punish them for some trespass. Rohda, longtime guardian of the homesteads, knows that this cannot be, however, and sets out to find the true source of this unholy apocalypse, and hopefully put an end to it.

[tenebris-metallum]

@aiden-nevada Zkauba!!

Also a general doodle of a Yaddithian in the corner while I was trying to figure out what the hell their bodies would look like.

[fantasymapmaster]

Unholy Wizards - Unheilige Zauberer

It's been a long time, but here is a new 'Lovecraft meets Crusades' piece.

Crusaders fighting a group of Yaddithians, who crashed with their light-wave envelope in this age and place.

Text is in Middle High German: With squeal and lighting falls the iron bird from the sky. The unholy wizards are with much bashing and blood chased away.

Print available here: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/fantasymap/unholy-wizards/

[madcat-world]

Yaddithian - Igor Krstic

[quarkmaster]

Yaddithian

one of many work I done for Machina Arcana https://machinaarcana.com/

Igor Krstic

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Roleplaying Races 16: Yaddithian

(Art taken from Pathfinder Bestiary 6, art by Florian Stitz)

And here we are, the very last ancestry we’ll be covering for First Edition (Though don’t worry, I have something in mind for Thursday and Friday), and it’s a bit of a deep pull from the Elder Mythos.

Originally appearing in the story Through the Gates of the Silver Key, the Yaddithians were the natives of the world of Yaddith, powerful mages and masters of technology who, despite their mastery of travel through time and space, could not save their world from being consumed and ravaged by Dholes (or perhaps Bholes). They primarily come into the story due to recurring Lovecraftian protagonist Randolph Carter getting stuck inside of the body of one after wishing to see and learn from their civilization before it’s collapse. It… doesn’t go well for him.

Pathfinder’s take on the yaddithians pretty much follows their book counterpart, save that a handful of them escaped the destruction of their homeworld, fleeing across space and time. Now, the bestiary entry does state that most yaddithians are mid to high level due to their immortality and rarity, but there’s nothing to stop someone from playing a young yaddithian, perhaps trying to piece together the secrets of their people from their cosmic diaspora.

Yaddithians are lanky creatures whose limbs bend in ways that would seem to make more sense for insects than mammals, but their skin is thick and wrinkly rather than chitinous. Meanwhile, their most prominent facial feature is their tapir-like trunk nose, capable of similar levels of flexibility.

We don’t know very much about yaddithian society given their world is dead and their people scattered, but we do know that they mastered powerful magic and technology. As such, one can assume that they are open and scientifically-minded. And while the wizard Zkauba was disgusted with Randolph Carter sharing a body with him, it’s unclear if it was disgust with what Randolph was, or with the unbidden intrusion.

However, honestly unless the story you want to tell focuses on Yaddith before it’s destruction, stories involving yaddithians are less about their society and more about the lack of society, of being one of the last of their kind struggling with the isolation and the distance they feel with other civilizations across the cosmos.

Yaddithians are tough and smart, but their alien mindsets make empathy with other species difficult.

They are somewhat sluggish for their size, but possess excellent night-eyes and the ability to survive in a vacuum.

Though they prefer magic and science, they do sport powerful claws which can be used in a pinch.

Their thick, wrinkly skin is also quite tough and hard to penetrate.

A yaddithian’s mind is shockingly good at retaining information, especially magical information, meaning that not only can they more easily recall knowledge, but they have no need for spellbooks or familiars, able to reference and prepare their magic directly from memory, though the process of memorizing such magic still requires expensive herbs to help them concentrate on committing them to memory.

Nearly immortal, yaddithians have lifespans measured in millenia, never seeming to age after maturity and being completely immune to magical aging by virtue of there simply being no difference that such paltry magics can latch onto.

With their intelligence bonus and ability to never worry about losing a spellbook or familiar, yaddithians are just begging to be paired up with the witch or wizard class. However, that’s not all they’re good for. Though it doesn’t say so specifically, I’d argue that this applies to formulae books as well, making alchemist and investigator very viable options, especially with the bonus to knowledge checks as well. Their con bonus also makes them surprisingly durable, making kineticist and melee classes quite viable, especially magus. The wisdom penalty does mean that non-oracle or paladin divine classes have some hampering, but it’s nothing these brilliant and ancient beings can’t get around.

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Prestige Class Spotlight 12: Asavir

(art by Karen Gillmore on karengillmoreart.com)

We’ve had a few options involving being a character with a mount before on the blog, and some of them where the mount was an exotic magical creature. But not before have we covered one in which the rider is astride a horse blessed with elemental powers from genies!

Hailing from the desert regions of Qadira, the Asavir’s are rare individuals trained not just in mounted combat, but in the keeping of these extraordinary mounts, swift steeds descended from lines blessed by genies in the past, and through their training, they bring out this elemental power in both their mount and themselves.

As an aside, it should be noted that the recent Rage of the Elements books have given the various genie subspecies different names, reflecting not just an attempt to move away from D&D lore-wise, but also better tap into actual middle eastern djinni lore rather than keep the haphazardly borrowed names of past games and editions. (I and others are probably going to still sometimes use the old names for a bit until we memorize the new ones, of course)

In any case, these Asavirs represent a select few, defenders and commanders in times of conflict that clans and tribes can band around when trouble comes calling.

As rare as they are, the actual requirements to become one are fairly simple, revolving around being trained riders and mounted combatants.

Traditionally, asavirs are pillars of the community that others look to, and as such, their advice is considered very helpful in a pinch.

They also gain a mount, typically a horse, though other mounts are possible at GM discretion, and their training with other classes that grant them a mount carries over, though if they lack such training from another vocation, their mounts are a wee bit stronger to compensate.

Blessed by the genies of the earth, their mounts become resistant to fear and mind-warping effects, gaining surprising resolve and loyalty to the rider.

Drawing upon elemental power, their mounts make their very ground shake with their hooves, allowing them to make foes stumble and fall as they charge forward.

As beacons of hope for their people and other allies, these riders inspire allies to stand strong against fear.

Aiding and protecting their allies is not just emotional support though. Indeed, they have a knack for rushing in to disrupt foes that try to flank their allies, keeping the pressure off of them.

They are also exceptionally accurate with their mounted charging attacks, and shore up any holes in their defense after such a charge.

Blessed by the genies of air, their mounts also become supernaturally swift and able to carry greater burdens without slowing.

The blessing of the water genies also makes their mounts movements supernaturally smooth, allowing spellcasters and other allies that might be riding on the beast with the asavir to cast or perform complex actions without fear of disruption.

The mighty footfalls of their mounts are particularly punishing, and these riders train their mounts to overrun and crush foes under their hooves.

A lone horse rider among your foes certainly draws attention, and these warriors can challenge their foes to provide further distraction to give their allies an edge.

With the blessing of the fire genies, their mounts become something more than mortal, gaining a resistance to fire and superheated hooves to burn foes.

They can also call out and encourage a single ally directly to briefly inspire them greatly.

Finally, the most skilled among them receive the blessings of the genies of all elements, giving both them and their mounts a bit of supernatural luck.

With a focus on charisma and mounted combat, this prestige class is begging to be paired with cavalier and paladin to a lesser extent. However, it is also possible to play them with fighters, gunslingers, and other martial classes. In any case, this prestige class offers some good upgrades for mounted combat and a selection of ally-buffing and supporting abilities, so a build that focuses on rushing around the battlefield to support allies in need is certainly very appealing here.

While the horses (or other mounts) of this prestige class remain otherwise mortal creatures, it’s interesting to consider how the animal reacts to these supernatural changes in their abilities. Is the beast frightened by it’s flaming hooves? Does it know why it is faster? Do other animals realize when they have been blessed with magic? It’s interesting to think about.

While it is true that the asavir’s of Eshauva draw upon the power of genies to empower their mounts, the actual broker of the original deal was not a genie at all, but a yaddithian, the ancient alien exile offering their magical services to make this alliance happen. None know what happened to the elder being after that, however.

In the wastelands of Kafa, a mount is of utmost importance so one can make it to the nearest outpost should you find yourself in the barrens without supplies. As such, the people living there made ancient pacts to bless their beloved horses and camels with the power of the same harsh elements the region is known for.

The Valley of Ghosts is filled with the fallen, quite literally, for it is teeming with the spirits of an entire army that was buried under a landslide travelling through the pass. Their bodies may be ghostly, but their weapons are all too real, and they are too many for most to handle. Therefore, the only ones who dare make the trip through the valley are riders atop the fastest horses blessed by the spirits of the wind and earth to move swiftly and ignore fear.

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Disciple of Wholeness (Monk Archetype)

 The way of the monk revolves around the perfection of body and mind, and for many, that includes wholeness of body and mind, which is why many monks are able to use ki to heal their injuries, and prove superhumanly resilient to disease, poison, and effects that would twist the body and mind.

Of course, while asceticism is about self-perfection first and foremost, there will always be those whose altruism cannot be suppressed, and who wish to share, however briefly, their personal perfection with others.

Thus, these disciples of wholeness seek to show the benefits of their monastic ways by healing others and temporarily imparting their immunities to others, at the cost of their own immunities being easily compromised.

Of course, this isn’t the only healing-focused monk archetype out there. Unlike the Monks of the Healing Hand, however, they do not focus on self-sacrifice to heal others, and can still learn to heal themselves.

This archetype is usable both with the standard and the unchained monk without any modification, so it could be a tempting choice if you want to play a monk that can also heal.

 With a touch, these monks can heal others, and if they learn to heal themselves, they can expend more ki to heal others at the same rate as their personal healing.

They also possess a more tenuous version of the immunity to disease and poison, one that relies on them having no physical or internal injuries. However, though it is hard to keep up, they can also briefly grant it to others with a touch as well for a whole day, though they cannot give immunity against a disease that is already present.

Another application of ki allows them to dispel and remove magic afflicting a creature, healing and protecting their spirit.

A good example of a melee class that blends in healing support and providing immunities, this archetype can be fun to play, though the fact that they lose their own immunities when damaged can be annoying, especially depending on your GM’s ruling about whether said immunities fade before or after an attack that would poison you would resolve. You’ll definitely want to take the Extra Ki feat at least once, so you have a nice deep pool of energy to draw from.

 I probably don’t have to explain to folks that there is some unfortunate potential to use the whole “wholeness of body equals purity of body” thing in a distinctly ableist way, So be mindful of that when choosing to include the monk class, and especially this archetype in your games. However, at the same time, these are characters that choose to share the benefits of their conditioning with others through a transfer of ki, making them healers and protectors as well.

  When plague came to the imperial city, the Monastary of the True Body came to offer their aid, providing healing, as well as warding fellow healers against the disease itself. As such, they earned a place of honor in the empire, and many mortals go there for treatment just as often as they do the temples of goodly gods.

 The Yellow Healer is a recluse who is hard to reach, but worth it for those in need of his healing arts. He keeps his yaddithian features hidden, marking him as a being from beyond the stars, but he does not turn away those who truly need his aid, regardless of their reaction.

 Feeling the best way to bring good to the world it to support mortals that already do the same, the silvanshee Brightfoot lives among the Monks of the Life Path, watching them perfect their healing arts, and ignoring the stiffest of their doctrines, all while disguised as a stray cat living at the temple. The head monk knows her secret, but says nothing, happy to have the agathion’s support.