From: "Mr. Mad" <[m l morr 0] at [service1.uky.edu]>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: RESOURCE: NEW PC RACE: The Oyasini of Carthasana
Date: 25 Nov 1995 06:58:16 -0500
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The Oyasini of Carthasana
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Welcome:
Once again I submit something for the board from the world of
Carthasana -- But instead of spells it is a race unique to this campaign
world, except for the possibility of magic teleport or SpellJamming (TM).
However, Oyasini could concievably be found outside Carthasana through
these methods, so use your imagination. If you use this please mail me
and let me know what you think.
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The Oyasini of Carthasana
The Oyasini (pronounced oo ya SEE nee) are a rare group of people who are
similar to elves and pixies in many ways, leading some sages to believe
that Oyasini are the ancestors of sprites and pixies and the descendents
of elves. Whatever the case they are an old and proud race readily able
to trace their linages far back before the time of men.
Oyasini stand between 2 1/2 and 3 feet tall, rarely exceeding those
extremes by more than an inch or so. Their skin ranges from chalk white
to a light reddish tan, their hair running the shades between sand
blonde and solid white, though on occasion an individual will be born
with light blue hair, a sign of good luck among the small people.
Oyasinin eyes are usually one of the various shades of blue, though green
and on rare occasion pink eyes have been known. Their ears come to a
definite point in all individuals, slanting out and away from the head so
that they are visible in even long haired individuals. Oyasini live to
be around 180 years old, with matriarchs reaching 230 on occasion.
At puberty female Oyasini will grow their first set of wings, and
will grow a new set each year until the end of her childbearing days.
They lose the wings for one month out of the spring while a new pair
grows to replace the previous, a process the small folk call "Selinasic"
and translates roughly as molting. As with the antlers of deer, each
successive set is larger thant the previous throughout her childbearing
years, after which no wings will grow. Other than the loss of wings
however (which occurs at the old stage), Oyasini have no noticable signs
of aging.
The first few wing sets of a female cannot bear her wieght. A
Oyasini female is considered mature when she can truly fly, not merely
glide. This occurs at about age 30, the first wing set appearing at 26
or 27 years of age. The exact pattern upon the surface of the wings is
as unique as a fingerprint to every individual, and even two wing sets of
the same individual will be slightly different. The wings themselves
have a mothlike feel and can only take 1d4 points of damage, independent
of the HP's of the individual (with classed Oyasini the wings have a +1
per level, thus a 3rd level Oyasini's wings will have 1d4 hp +3.
Constitution bonuses are not figured in to wing hit points).
Oyasini males do not possess anything nearly as spectacular as the
wings, though they are stronger and more agile than their counterparts.
They grow no facial hair whatsoever, at any age. All of them can climb
trees as a thief with a 75% chance, +1% per two levels of experience.
They also far outnumber the females, for only one in six children born
will be a girl. As a result, Oyasini are polyandric, that is, one wife
will have several hasbands, usually two or three. Whatever children she
has will be cared for and loved equally by all its 'fathers'. Females
dominate nearly all aspects of the culture as well, with the notable
exception of magic use, which males use more frequently. The culture
exploits the various applications of conjuration in a manner similar to
the gnomic bend for illusions, such to an extent that they are only
allowed to become conjurers, not mages.
An Oyasini will have three names. Her first name will be her own,
and the second her mother's. The last name is that of the first
matriarch in the history of the clan, from who all in the family descend.
Males have a fourth name, though rarely used, which is the name of the
family he was born in, in effect his maiden name.
Oyasini homes are usually built as high off the ground as the trees
will allow, members of the species have a strong "nesting" instict, such
that they hate sleeping on the ground as much as halflings hate sleeping
outside of a burrow or a gnome without his flame. Part of this is to
gain protection since the small size of Oyasini leaves them vunerable to
orcs, goblins, kobolds and the like. They have no love lost for
humankind either (at least on Carthasana) and tend not to allow them near
their homes. The fact that some unscrupulous human mages have discovered
that the female's wings can be used in various fly related spells and
devices has not helped reations. Elves are welcome amoung them, as are
forest gnomes who often build their homes at the base of the trees
Oyasini inhabit.
Oyasini can begin with the languages of any woodland creature,
including but not limited to, pixies, elves, dryads, nymphs, centaurs,
etc. Their own language is extremely similar to both Elven and Pixie,
such that someone knowing one can understand 20% of what is said; if both
languages are known they will understand 50%.
A character of Oyasini race can choose to be a fighter, a range a
conjurer (but not mage), a thief or a druid. They can be multiclassed
fighter/thieves, fighter/conjurers, fighter/druid, or a druid/conjurer.
As mentioned previously, Oyasini males are highly agile and dextrous.
Their thieving adjustments are:
+5% Pick Pockets
-10% Open Locks
+5% Move Silently (+10% in woodlands)
+5% Hide in Shadow (+10% in woodlands)
-5% Read languages
+15% Climb Walls
They gain a +1 on all Dexterity checks against agility (i.e.
Tumbling, Tightrope walking, etc.)
Females aren't as agile and do not receive the Dexterity bonus.
However, they can fly at a movement rate of 18' manuver class C. They
can only carry 1/2 their Weight allowance in lbs. and still maintain
altitude, any more and they can merely glide. Their Maximum flight
weight is their Weight allowance.
All Oyasini have a 60' infravision and a high resistance to charm
and sleep related spells (90%).
Table 1: Oyasini Ability Scores
Ability Minimum Maximum
Strength 3 17
Dexterity 10 19
Constitution 3 18
Intelligence 6 19
Wisdom 3 19
Charisma 10 18
Ability Score Adjustments
Male: +1 Dex, +1 Int, -2 Wis
Female +1 Wis, -1 Str.
Height in Inches: 27/25 + 4d4
Weight in Pounds: 48/46 + 5d4
Starting Age: 25 + 2d6
Maximum Age: 150 + 4d20
Aging Effects: Middle Age: 75 years, Old Age: 100 years,
Venerable: 150 years.
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Oyasini entry for your Monstrous Compendium.
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Temperate Forests
FREQUENCY: Rare (Carthasana) Very Rare elsewhere.
ORGANIZATION: Clans
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any (usually day)
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Varies (6-19)
TREASURE: C
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
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NO. APPEARING: 10 - 100
ARMOR CLASS: 8 (10)
MOVEMENT: 9, Fl 18 (C) Females
HIT DICE: 1
THAC0: 20
NO. OF ATTACKS 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK By weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 90% vs. Charm and Sleep spells
SIZE: S (2 1/2' to 3' tall)
MORALE: Steady (11 - 12)
XP VALUE: 65 (base)
This allows for quick reference. Use the above references for these
statistics, and if requested I may post an expanded version of this
Monstrous Compendium entry.
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The Marvelous Magnificent Michael Morris the Manically Mad.
/ \//\:[m l morr 0] at [pop.uky.edu]
\ ////:
\MM/ : "Those we love most hurt us most." -- from my book,
\/ : Flowers in the Wind.