Of Chitin And Creativity VI: The Undiscovered Country

Whew. It’s taken a lot longer to get here than I’d ever dreamed, but this is the finale of the series, finishing up the Cha’k for Fantasy Craft.

No blather, no intros, just on to the good stuff!

We were discussing limits.

Cha’k are a minority race on Cret, and are furthermore deeply disturbing to many sentients, striking a primal chord of fear and loathing, albeit not in Las Vegas.  They get Reviled, so that the starting disposition of anyone not of their race is reduced by 1 grade, for -1 points.

Cha’k have a fairly restrictive culture. If they choose specialities other than Adept, Artisan, Guardian, Miner, Nomad, or Wizard, they do not gain the bonus feat. This is another -1 to the race, for a total of -2.5.

For 2 of those points, we give the Cha’k a +1 to Knowledge checks (which scales with level, +1 at each of 4,8,12,16, and 20). This represents their vast store of learning and hints at a bit of hive/racial memory. What any Cha’k knows, any other may guess at.

For 0.5 points, they gain a Natural Attack, Grade I Claws for 1d6.

And there’s the base race, done!

But we’re hardly done yet. We still have Species Feats!

First, Cha’k can take Many-Legged or Many-Armed, representing some mutant castes.

Second, we have some of the following…

Caste Of The Skywatcher

You were bred to dwell at the peaks of the hives, and keep an eye on the foes below.

Requirements: Cha’k, Level 1 only.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus with Acrobatics checks, and your jump distances are doubled and are not limited by your height. In addition, you never become sprawled when you fail a Break Fall check, and your threat range with Acrobatics checks increases by 1.

Caste Of The Skywardens

Your true shape emerges from the chrysalis as you take to the wind.

Requirements: Cha’k, Caste Of The Skywatcher

Benefit: You gain winged flight with a speed of 50′.

Caste Of The Tunnel-Runner

You can speed through any passage, avoiding foes as you hurry to your destination.

Requirements: Cha’k, Level 1 only

Benefit: You gain +2 to Defense and +10′ to your Move. However, you suffer a -2 to Strength.

Caste Of The Guardians

Where others scurry to the welcoming dark, you stand and fight.

Requirements: Cha’k, Level 1 only.

Benefit: Your thick hide increases to 4, and you gain +1 to your Fortitude saves.

Caste Of The Commander

You order; others obey. It is the natural way of things.

Requirements: Cha’k, Level 1 only.

Benefit: Once per scene, you may use the Sage’s wise counsel ability. If you are a sage, once per scene, you may increase the size of the Action Die you roll by one step.