Lesser Harssaf (3.5e Race)

Author: Aeturo (talk) Date Created: 1/23/2017 Status: Completed? Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Lesser Harssaf

For those that want to play the desert dwelling harssafs without 6 Racial Hit Dice and 4 LA

Personality

Harssafs are as harsh and unyielding as the deserts they live in. Harssafs are brutal enemies during wars, seemingly one with the sands, attacking from all sides, and taking no unnecessary prisoners. Among their own kind Harssafs adhere to strict caste systems within their clan. Men and women who offer nothing to the clan remain at the bottom of the hierarchy, but those who prove themselves to be invaluable may rise up above their station within the clan. Both men and women are equally able to prove themselves within Harssaf society. Harssafs do not take pride in killing, but have no problem with carrying out an execution either. Harssafs view killing as a necessary skill to survive in the harsh desert. Harssafs are cold and calculating, and are always striving to fulfill a purpose.

Physical Description

Harssafs share a slender frame with elves and have similar pointed ears but this is where the similarities end. Harssaf skin is rough and coarse and tinted a deep reddish color. On top of their head are horns and bone ridges, and their chins can have small horn-like ridges as well. Harssafs typically wear colors which blend in with the sandy desert around them but also give protection from the harsh climate.

Relations

Harssafs are the only ones who can guide others through the harsh deserts they call home, so many like to keep themselves in good standing with the clans. Harssafs are often treated with respect and caution. Conversely, Harssafs consider many other races to be weak or to be wasting their time on the planet. They find the needless revelry of halflings disgusting, and their only thought on humans is that they are easy to manipulate and easier to kill. Harssafs only find common ground in other races that act as they do, to serve a purpose. They may admire the power and resourcefulness of a tiefling, but will scorn them if they stray too far from their fiendish heritage and become almost human in character. Harssaf clans rarely get along though, either. They understand they have a common goal in spreading the reaches of the desert as far as they can but often fight with each other for territories and resources.

Alignment

Spreading the desert influence is often True Neutral, but evil and good do arise often in Harssaf clans, normally with a clan being overwhelmingly good or overwhelmingly evil, and Harssafs' nomadic natures imply chaotic but the strict hierarchies suggest the opposite so each Harssaf is equally likely to be one or the other.

Lands

Harssaf clans call the harsh deserts home and can be very territorial, but as nomads have no lands to call their own.

Religion

Harssafs worship no deity, but rather the desert itself, a perfect union of the planes of fire and earth. They serve the desert and strive to extend its reach far. The desert's domains are Fire, Sun, Solar, and Sand(from Sandstorm). Harssaf clerics may also choose the Strength or Law domains, but still must meet any alignment requirements.

Language

Harssafs speak a language that derives from both Terran and Ignan that they call Nar'Sharaa. Most that interact with others also speak common as well.

Names

Harssafs only gain a name once they have earned the honor within the clan and often only use this name among other Harssafs, tending to use words to indicate their job such as Scout or Warrior when dealing with others outside of their clan.

Male Harssaf Names-Aoth, Cadre, Errat, Kriv, Rashem, Tanin.

Female Harssaf Names-Asee, Batii, Ceidi, Kethra, Lei, Mara, Nephi, Selise.

Harssaf Titles used with Outsiders-Healer, Scout, Hunter, Warrior, Cleric, Guide, Leader

Racial Traits

• +2 Dex, -2 Cha, -2 Int: Harssafs are nimble and able to hide even under the bright desert sun, but their cold nature tends to make them not very charismatic and their caste system tends to create those who do not have the ability to impose their will onto others as proficiently. Additionally, as those who typically interact only within their clan their knowledge of the world is limited, as are their skills which were not needed in the clan.
• Monstrous Humanoid 
• Medium: As a Medium creature, a lesser harssaf has no special bonuses or penalties due to its size.
• Lesser Harssaf base land speed is 30 feet. Burrow 10, but only on sand and leaving no tunnel. 
• Flame Aura (Su): Once per day as a swift action the Harssaf can cloak their weapons in flames, adding 2d6 fire damage to one attack. 
• Sand Form (Ex): The Harssaf can become a pile of sand as a standard action, absorbing a light load of equipment into this new body. Any excess is sitting beside the sand pile after the transformation. Mechanically this functions as Gaseous Form but without the Damage Resistance and instead of flying the sand pile slithers along the ground at a speed of 10 feet per turn. 
• Sand Pulse (Ex): Once per day as a standard action the Harssaf can generate a sand pulse in a 30' burst. This causes all creatures within 30 feet to make a Reflex DC equal to 10+half of the Harssaf's HD rounded down+Con Modifier or take 2d6 bludgeoning damage and be blinded for a number of turns equal to the Harssaf's HD -4, with a minimum of 1 turn and a maximum of 5 turns.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Nar'Sharaa
• Bonus Languages: Ignan, Terran, Orc, Draconic, Giant, Dwarven, Elven
• Favored Class: Any
• Level Adjustment: +0
• Effective Character Level: 1

Vital Statistics

Table: Lesser Harssaf Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
30 years years	+1d6	+4d6	+8d6

Table: Lesser Harssaf Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
140 years years	250 years years	330 years years	+4d% years years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Lesser Harssaf Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	5' 7"	+2d6	100 lbs. lb.	× (1d3) lb.
Female	5' 7"	+2d6	90 lb.	× (1d3) lb.

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