Beastmen

Beastmen, the vague word to describe any number of sub-specifications of humanoids with animalistic features, are one of the most populous peoples of Illlria. In their own language, the idea of a shared identity of "Beastmen" falls onto the word "Laguz." It is a unique word, a name more like, with no meaning that could be translated out of Ferenese, and people who didn't grow up with Laguz traditions are essentially hopeless to understanding the true nuance of the word. The Laguz are spread almost as far as humans, and given that many are aquatic, you could argue they've spread much farther. They tend to develop materially slowly, but mature quickly and study magic more than any other peoples. This study of magic allows talented Laguz to produce so-called "Beast Stones," which allow a user to literally unleash their inner animal.

Lore
Laguz are short-lived, typically living no more than 40 years, though some have survived to 60. They physically mature by age 12, and mentally by 16 or so.

Beastmen religion is a strange affair, but it is almost universally animistic. Most Laguz simply view the gods of others as being special spirits, and pay them no more reverence than any other; But they pay all spirits a great deal of respect. The Laguz make shrines anywhere they intend to stay more than a few weeks usually, and these shrines often feature symbols or offerings to the Gods of their companions.

Laguz bear a versatility as a group, though individually they specialize a great deal. This means that while a single Laguz may be the hammer against every type of nail, a tribe of Beastmen will easily find as many advantages and solutions as a Human group.

Laguz tend to organize in Tribes, but these tribes are idealistic, traditional, and pragmatic, rather than a matter of shared traits or family. Laguz family are often called "Clutches," and post-maturity Laguz tend to pay no further respect to their Clutch, only their Tribe.

Laguz Kingdoms
Beastmen kingdoms rise and fall quicker than human kingdoms, but those which rise tend to resemble the one that fell, just with some of the problems fixed, and usually a new problem or two. The fourBeastmen kingdoms which survive today are Bozack, Dyragia, Kraxxos, and Syrans.

Bozack is a kingdom run by Chieftain Gongos, but he was not the founder. In fact he's only been chief for three years, after becoming the successor to Chieftain Kor'Qos. She is a wise sage and magic user with an instinctive connection to the spirits, but decided to pass it to the warrior Gongos after he single-handedly repelled a group of raiders from Rathdor. Bozack is a tropical peninsula, and the Laguz there survive mostly on fruit and fish.

Dyragia is a kingdom split between desert and mild plains, and is a shepherd confederation. They have more sheep than New Zealand, and are primarily Harpy-like, with less variation among them compared to other kingdoms.

Kraxxos is an icy kingdom to the north of the Evernorian Sea. It is highly volcanically active, and most of Kraxxos' population is formed around the various volcanos and thermal vents. It is home to many reptillian beastmen, especially lizard-like beastmen and lamia-like beastmen, with some more exotic breeds also present.

Syrans is a very long and narrow strip of land, constantly at war with the Plains of Black Wind and High Tides, the elven peninsula to the south. It's ruler is actually a somewhat legendary figure, the Shadow Knight. Nobody knows their true identity, but they've been alive and ruling for nearly 80 years, seemingly still in their prime.

Ferenese Language
Ferenese is a simple language. For the most part, it doesn't write the vowels into words. The language has vowels, they're just not used unless it's a name. It is written from top to bottom, right to left, and words are "chained" together, such that it could be said that a Ferenese sentence only has Nouns and Verbs. For example, if you wanted to speak about a bird's red feathers, Ferenese would essentially write this as Bird fthr'rd. If you wanted to call them cute, it would be written "Bird fthr'ct'rd". If you also wanted to call them smooth and glossy, "Bird fthr'ct'glsss'rd'smth" If the bird itself is also cute and glossy, it would be "glsss'ct'Bird fthr'ct'glsss'rd'smth" because the order gets reverse for names. It's smoother in proper Ferenese, of course.

Mechanics
By sole virtue of being Laguz, you gain the following traits.


 * +3 split between two or three ability scores of your choice
 * -2 split between one or two ability scores of your choice
 * 5 + Racial Con Bonus + Constitution Modifier Racial Hit Points
 * Choice of three traits;
 * Adaptation. One type of Shield equal to one half your maximum hit points. This Shield is regained at the end of a long rest.
 * Grappling Appendages. Grapple when hitting with an Unarmed Attack
 * Natural Weapons. d8 Finesse Natural Weapons
 * Poisons. Natural poison with a number of doses per short rest equal to your constitution modifier. This poison has a rating equal to your proficiency modifier, split between Pain(2d6) and Lethality(1d8).
 * Swiftness. +10 ft. speed
 * Thick Hide. Natural Physical Shield equal to your constitution modifier times your level. This Shield is regained at the end of a long rest.
 * Wings. Wings which replace the arms, granting a 30 ft. flying speed.

The Half-Laguz Template also has the following traits. As typical for Half-breeds, this is added to the other Half-Template in use.


 * +1 to one ability score
 * 4 + (Constitution Modifier/2) Racial Hit Points
 * Choose one of the above bestial traits.