Tékumel Nonhuman Races
For the most part, the various races of friendly nonhumans remain in their enclaves scattered around the region, but many travel and hire themselves out around the continent. The hostile nonhumans remain in their stronghold, venturing out to harass the unwary.
- Ahoggyá (Knobbed Ones)
- 347 points
The swamp-dwelling Ahoggyá look almost like a furry barrel that has sprouted four arms
and legs. They live in the wet, low-lying coastal plains across a narrow part of the
southern ocean and in their extremely distant enclave, Ónmu Tlé Hléktis, beyond the
most distant province of Salarvyá. These squat beings have four knobby arms and legs
equally spaced around their barrel-like bodies. Ahoggyá are 10 inches shorter than
humans and 100 pounds heavier for their ST. An Ahoggyá cannot take the Skinny
disadvantage.
Advantages: ST +3, DX -2, IQ -2, HT +2, 6 Extra Hit Points, Increased
ST, Extra Encumbrance, PD 1, DR 2, Independently Focusable Eyes/4, 360-degree Vision,
Full Coordination/3, Claws and four arms and legs.
Disadvantages: They are Ugly and are considered Outsiders (-3 Social Status) in the Five Empires. Due to their bulk and body shape, they have Inconvenient Size. Ahoggyá have Odious Racial Habits -3: crude, smelly, and obnoxious. Ahoggyá make poor magic users (-2 to spellcasting). One in ten Ahoggyá has the Mana Damper advantage. Ahoggyá react to Shén at -5 with no reaction better than 'poor' possible. Shén react in kind to Ahoggyá.
Quirks: Ahoggyá¡ are unconcerned with religion.
Disadvantages: They are Ugly and are considered Outsiders (-3 Social Status) in the Five Empires. Due to their bulk and body shape, they have Inconvenient Size. Ahoggyá have Odious Racial Habits -3: crude, smelly, and obnoxious. Ahoggyá make poor magic users (-2 to spellcasting). One in ten Ahoggyá has the Mana Damper advantage. Ahoggyá react to Shén at -5 with no reaction better than 'poor' possible. Shén react in kind to Ahoggyá.
Quirks: Ahoggyá¡ are unconcerned with religion.
Armored Ahoggyá
- Hláka (Furred Flyers)
- 16 points
In their mountaintop aeries east of Tsolyánu are the skittish Hláka, flying mammalians
of roughly human size. They are cowardly, yet curious, and their usefulness as military
scouts is unsurpassed. These mammalian flyers are 10" shorter and 10 pounds
lighter than humans of the same ST. Hláka cannot take the Overweight or Fat
disadvantages.
Advantages: ST -2, DX +3, and HT -1. Sword-like tail (cutting striker,
1 hex range, ). Hláka start aging later at age 70. Winged Flight and Flight skill at
DX.
Disadvantages: Cowardice, Curiosity, Fragile and Odious Racial Habits: very talkative and scatterbrained.
Quirks: Hláka dislike sea travel and walking (they prefer to fly), they never wear armor and only use Hlaka-style weapons.
Disadvantages: Cowardice, Curiosity, Fragile and Odious Racial Habits: very talkative and scatterbrained.
Quirks: Hláka dislike sea travel and walking (they prefer to fly), they never wear armor and only use Hlaka-style weapons.
Hláka
- Hlutrgú (Swamp Frogs)
- 35 points
The Hlutrgú are a swamp-dwelling race so inimical that every race will fight them. Only
their rapid reproduction and ferocity, and their boggy homeland on the southern coast of
Tsolyánu, have kept them from being wiped out. Hlutrgú are eight inches shorter and 10
pounds lighter than the average human for a given ST. Hlutrgú cannot be Fat. Hlutrgú are
inappropriate for PCs or Patrons. Their nature makes them most useful for NPC
adversaries.
Advantages: ST +2, DX +1, HT +1 and Amphibious. Their tough, rubbery
skin provides DR 1. They have an Extended Lifespan and Early Maturation. Their legs
have manipulators.
Disadvantages: Intolerance for all other races, extremely Bestial, Bloodlust and Uneducated.
Racial Learned Skills: They have Boating at DX.
Quirks: Hlutrgú use mob tactics, throwing large forces at intruders, and wear no armor. They are poor magic users (-2 on all spellcasting).
Base Morale for mass combat: 17.
Disadvantages: Intolerance for all other races, extremely Bestial, Bloodlust and Uneducated.
Racial Learned Skills: They have Boating at DX.
Quirks: Hlutrgú use mob tactics, throwing large forces at intruders, and wear no armor. They are poor magic users (-2 on all spellcasting).
Base Morale for mass combat: 17.
Hlutrgú warrior
- Hlüss (Spawn of the Old Ones)
- 115 points
As for the enemies of humankind, they are scattered around the continent as well. In
the middle of the southern ocean is the island of Hlüssuyal, where the dreaded Hlüss
live. These aquatic creatures are one of the original races of Tékumel, before it was
discovered by the Terran star empire. They travel the ocean in their huge hive-ships,
each carrying a queen of their race, much like a queen bee or ant. Hlüss are eight
inches shorter than the average human for a given ST. No Hlüss can be Fat or Skinny.
Advantages: +4 ST, +1 DX and +2 HT. Extended Lifespan and Early
Maturation. Four legs, chitinous Armor (PD 1, DR 1), Claws (impaling on tail, cutting
on front legs), and an envenomed tail (Striker; 1-hex range; Venom, paralysis only).
Disadvantages: Enemy: Humans and allies, appear on 9-. Hlüss live at sea in large Hive-ships, which make a loud buzzing noise, audible for long distances at sea. Their bodies emit a distinctive odor, and Smell perception rolls are at +2 within 30 yards.
Quirk: They embed gems into their chitinous armor.
Disadvantages: Enemy: Humans and allies, appear on 9-. Hlüss live at sea in large Hive-ships, which make a loud buzzing noise, audible for long distances at sea. Their bodies emit a distinctive odor, and Smell perception rolls are at +2 within 30 yards.
Quirk: They embed gems into their chitinous armor.
Hlüss Warrior
- Mihálli (Shape-Shifters)
- 156 points
Where the homeland of the mysterious Mihálli is found is not known. In some regions of the
continent, this shapeshifting, hermaphroditic race is believed to be mythical. Some say
that Baron Áld's chief advisor, the enigmatic Fú Hsí, is a Mihálli, but no one knows
for certain. What is known is that the motivations of these people are completely
unfathomable to humans. One minute they might aid you and the next attack you. Perhaps
their view of reality is vastly different than ours, or perhaps they are just mad. Mihálli
are 10 pounds lighter than the average human at a given ST. No Mihálli can be Fat. Mihálli
are inappropriate for PCs or Patrons. Their nature makes them most useful for NPC
adversaries.
Advantages: ST +2, DX +2, IQ +2, HT +1 and 8 Extra Fatigue (spellcasting
only). They have Magery 2, Extended Lifespan/2 and Early Maturation/2. Mihálli have the
ability to change their form (Morph; -20% Limitation: eyes remain red, noticeable on
Vision-2 roll, if the person looks closely).
Disadvantages: Odious Racial Habit (-3): unknowable, seemingly random motivation.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Disadvantages: Odious Racial Habit (-3): unknowable, seemingly random motivation.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Mihálli sorcerer
- N'lüss
- -6 points
The N'lüss are a tall race of human barbarians from a mountainous area north of
Mu'ugalavyá. Their ancestors began the reign of the Dragon Warriors, 23,000 years ago.
They value honor, loyalty, and bravery. The N'lüss are a foot taller and 10 pounds
heavier than the human average for their ST.
Advantages: N'lüss have +2 ST, -1 DX, -1 IQ and +1 HT.
Disadvantages: In civilized areas (all of the Five Empires), they are considered Barbarians (-3 Social Stigma).
Quirks: Because of their heroic culture, N'lüss react with an additional -2 to cowardice and pacifism. They fear and avoid magic, though their priests of Vimúhla do use magic.
Common disadvantages: Manaphobia, Impulsiveness, Bloodlust, Berserker, etc.
Base Morale for mass combat: +1 from normal human.
Disadvantages: In civilized areas (all of the Five Empires), they are considered Barbarians (-3 Social Stigma).
Quirks: Because of their heroic culture, N'lüss react with an additional -2 to cowardice and pacifism. They fear and avoid magic, though their priests of Vimúhla do use magic.
Common disadvantages: Manaphobia, Impulsiveness, Bloodlust, Berserker, etc.
Base Morale for mass combat: +1 from normal human.
N'lüss warrior
- Pé Chói (The Listeners)
- 89 points
To the north of the Páchi Léi live the Pé Chói, beautiful insectoids with considerable
magic talents. They also easily join human society, rising nearly as high as humans
within the bureaucratic hierarchies. These six-limbed insectoids are 5" taller and
10 pounds lighter than humans of the same ST. No Pé Chói can take the Overweight or Fat
disadvantages.
Advantages: ST +1, DX +2, HT +1, and +2 Extra Fatigue (Magic Use
Only), Magery 1, Acute Hearing +1, Alertness +3 , 4 arms (the lower two are at DX - 2),
Full Coordination/1, and Attractive.
Telepathy (Sense Life Only) at Level 4 with the Sense Life skill (see below) at IQ-1, and Telepathy (Sense Death Only; Limitation: Pé Chói Only: 1/3 cost) at Level 15 with Sense Death skill (see below) at IQ.
Disadvantages: Short Lifespan, Slow Healing, Resistance to Magic Healing (does not affect spellcasting) -2, Weakness to water over 2 feet deep (1d per minute, Somewhat Common) and severe Thassalophobia (fear of oceans and other bodies of water over 1 ft. deep).
Quirks: Pé Chói cannot swim, and they will seek revenge on those who murder other members of their race needlessly, though they do not avenge military casualties.
Telepathy (Sense Life Only) at Level 4 with the Sense Life skill (see below) at IQ-1, and Telepathy (Sense Death Only; Limitation: Pé Chói Only: 1/3 cost) at Level 15 with Sense Death skill (see below) at IQ.
Disadvantages: Short Lifespan, Slow Healing, Resistance to Magic Healing (does not affect spellcasting) -2, Weakness to water over 2 feet deep (1d per minute, Somewhat Common) and severe Thassalophobia (fear of oceans and other bodies of water over 1 ft. deep).
Quirks: Pé Chói cannot swim, and they will seek revenge on those who murder other members of their race needlessly, though they do not avenge military casualties.
Pé Chói Warrior
- Páchi Léi (Forest Dwellers)
- 51 points
The Páchi Léi, four-legged forest dwellers, live in the southern coastal area of the Cháka
forests. They fit well into Tsolyáni society, being somewhat passive and calm. These
multi-limbed beings are allies of the Tsolyáni. Their homeland in the jungles and forests
of Pán Cháka have been invaded many times by the Mu'ugalavyáni, whom the Páchi Léi
hate. They reproduce by asexual budding, where a small growth from their body develops,
growing into a young Páchi Léi, which later drops off. Páchi Léi are four inches taller and
5 pounds heavier than humans for their ST. No Páchi Léi can take the Skinny
disadvantage.
Advantages: HT +1. They have Night Vision, Alertness +2, and 4 arms and
legs.
Disadvantages: All races react to Páchi Léi at -1 because they are generally passive and uncharismatic (Anti-charisma -1).
Racially Innate Skills: Because of their jungle origins, Páchi Léi know Climbing at DX-1 and Survival (jungle) at IQ-1.
Quirks: They are very sociable and do well in human society.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Disadvantages: All races react to Páchi Léi at -1 because they are generally passive and uncharismatic (Anti-charisma -1).
Racially Innate Skills: Because of their jungle origins, Páchi Léi know Climbing at DX-1 and Survival (jungle) at IQ-1.
Quirks: They are very sociable and do well in human society.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Páchi Léi ready to fight
- Páchi Léi (Forest Dwellers)
- 51 points
The Páchi Léi, four-legged forest dwellers, live in the southern coastal area of the Cháka
forests. They fit well into Tsolyáni society, being somewhat passive and calm. These
multi-limbed beings are allies of the Tsolyáni. Their homeland in the jungles and forests
of Pán Cháka have been invaded many times by the Mu'ugalavyáni, whom the Páchi Léi
hate. They reproduce by asexual budding, where a small growth from their body develops,
growing into a young Páchi Léi, which later drops off. Páchi Léi are four inches taller and
5 pounds heavier than humans for their ST. No Páchi Léi can take the Skinny
disadvantage.
Advantages: HT +1. They have Night Vision, Alertness +2, and 4 arms and
legs.
Disadvantages: All races react to Páchi Léi at -1 because they are generally passive and uncharismatic (Anti-charisma -1).
Racially Innate Skills: Because of their jungle origins, Páchi Léi know Climbing at DX-1 and Survival (jungle) at IQ-1.
Quirks: They are very sociable and do well in human society.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Disadvantages: All races react to Páchi Léi at -1 because they are generally passive and uncharismatic (Anti-charisma -1).
Racially Innate Skills: Because of their jungle origins, Páchi Léi know Climbing at DX-1 and Survival (jungle) at IQ-1.
Quirks: They are very sociable and do well in human society.
Base Morale for mass combat: as human.
Páchi Léi ready to fight
- Shén (Demon Warriors)
- 91 points
The Shén, a powerful reptilian race, live on the southernmost tip of the continent,
south of Livyánu. They work as mercenaries or ply the oceans as merchants. These
powerful reptilians are 15 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than the average human
for their ST. No Shén can be Skinny.
Advantages: DX -2, HT +2, IQ -1, 2 Extra Hit Points, Extra
Encumbrance, Increased ST, PD 1, DR 2, Claws, a mace-like tail (1-hex striker) and a
sharp beak (+2 damage from Claws).
Disadvantages: Short Lifespan. Shén react to Ahoggyá at -5 and visa versa, due to a long-standing hatred. Shén are poor magic users (-2 to spellcasting). No more than Magery 1.
Common Disadvantages: Berserker, Bloodlust.
Quirks: They dislike magic.
Disadvantages: Short Lifespan. Shén react to Ahoggyá at -5 and visa versa, due to a long-standing hatred. Shén are poor magic users (-2 to spellcasting). No more than Magery 1.
Common Disadvantages: Berserker, Bloodlust.
Quirks: They dislike magic.
Two Shén
- Gray Ssú (Enemies of Man)
- 65 points
The Ssú are also native to Tékumel, cousins to the Hlüss. These magically adept beings
live in cities below the surface north of Salarvyá. They often travel in the
subterranean tube cars, looking for ancient technology. Their bodies exude the odor of
musty cinnamon, which has saved the lives of more than one group of humans delving in
the Underworld. These rather shaggy beings are one of the native races of Tékumel, are
2" taller than the human average, and cannot be Fat.
Advantages: ST +1, HT +1, and +2 Extra Fatigue (Magic Use Only).
Magery 1, Extended Lifespan, Early Maturation. Four legs, the front two of which have
crude manipulators (DX-2). Absolute Direction (Underground Only), Night Vision and
Engineer (Mining) skill at IQ-1.
Natural Attack: Hypnotic Command (see description below).
Disadvantages: Enemy: humans and allies, appear on 9-. Their bodies emit a distinctive cinnamon odor, and Smell perception rolls are at +2 within 30 yards. Grey Ssú have a rigid command hierarchy; if the leader becomes a casualty, the rest of the party will lose morale. They are poor swimmers.
Quirks: They wear no armor.
Natural Attack: Hypnotic Command (see description below).
Disadvantages: Enemy: humans and allies, appear on 9-. Their bodies emit a distinctive cinnamon odor, and Smell perception rolls are at +2 within 30 yards. Grey Ssú have a rigid command hierarchy; if the leader becomes a casualty, the rest of the party will lose morale. They are poor swimmers.
Quirks: They wear no armor.
Ssú Warrior
- Tinalíya (Gnomes)
- 22 points
The Tinalíya are a tiny four-legged race of scholars and mages, who live in the mountainous
area in the north of Livyánu. They are totally literal-minded and
incapable of understanding simile, metaphor and most forms of humor. In spite of their
small stature, Tinalíya are formidable enemies because of their superior magical ability
and their quick reflexes. Tinalíya are 3 feet shorter and half the weight of humans for a
given ST. Many Tinalíya are Skinny.
Advantages: ST -4, DX +2, IQ +1, 8 Extra Fatigue (spellcasting only), four
legs and Magery 1.
Disadvantages: Curiosity and No Sense of Humor.
Quirks: Tinalíya love magic and technology; any new magical or technological item will attract their attention.
Base Morale for mass combat: 14
Disadvantages: Curiosity and No Sense of Humor.
Quirks: Tinalíya love magic and technology; any new magical or technological item will attract their attention.
Base Morale for mass combat: 14
I am not a bug, I am a Tinalíya!
New Abilities
The Sense Life and Sense Death psi skills are similar to the Sense Psi skill. They are passive skills which gain the same bonuses and penalties as Sense Psi. Sense Life can detect the presence of creatures with IQs greater than 2 within range. Sense Death can detect the death of creatures with IQs greater than 2 within range. The Pé Chói Sense Death psi skill can detect the death of another Pé Chói within range.Hypnotic Command is a special psychic attack in which the target must make a Will-1 roll or they must follow the command of the attacker. A command must be rather simple, such as "Stop!", "Attack Friends!", "Run Away!", or "Sit Down". The attacker and the target must look at each other, the attacker must concentrate for two seconds. The attacker must concentrate for an additional second to change the current command. The target gets another resistance roll every five seconds and whenever the command is changed. The range is 20 yards. Ahoggyá, Swamp Folk, and Tinalíya are immune.
