Pithikos

Physical Description

      Pithikos range in size from medium to large their bodies are covered  mostly in soft fur that ranges in color from near white to dark brown to  deep red to black.  Built with powerful arms, long torsos, and short  strong legs, they have  bulky bodies and wide, powerful chests. Both  their hands and their feet have four fingers and toes along with an  opposable toes or thumbs. Older members of the species tend to have a large, silvery like stripe that grows down their back indicating their  age and their station within the their clans and communities. 

Personality

       Like so many honor bound species pithikos tend to be straight forward  species that detest other species that in their view are double  dealing.  They take things as they are presented to them, for good or  ill.  The species is quick to adapt to changes in their world as well as  quick to impose their strict laws on those that live in their  territories.

     Most are very inquisitive and curious, which happens  to get them into trouble with others as they see their laws being more  just and upstanding than others.  Even the laws of the bhahuul are  considered inferior to the laws of the pithikos.

     As a species, as  well as per individual, they have long memories for those that have  caused them harm and those that have done good to them. They sometimes  are brash and overbearing, but all pithikos are honor bound, filled with  pride to a fault. 

    Most pithikos consider themselves to be  superior over others, by divine design. Pithikos rely heavily on their  social cohesiveness. Despite their feudal animosity between the three  species they have managed to create an ordered society without murder,  theft or greed. 

Languages and Names

      Pithikos speak a gutteral language known as Huuthiak.   It is made up of a series of deep chested barks and bellows, various  hoots, and powerful barking sounds. It is difficult for other species to  actually speak in pure huuthiak as their voice boxes cannot vocalize  the barks and bellows of the language, and pithikos find it offensive  for other species to try without proper training.  Because of this  pithikos are naturally multilingual picking up other languages with  ease.  They tend to prefer common, azhdehak, fak-chun and cor shan. 

      Nearly all pithikos prefer single names that provide  descriptive  information about who they are.  Unfortunately, these names tend to be  made up of words directly from the huuthiak language.  However, they  tend to take on names such as: 

    Typical Names - Abasi, Abdikarim,  Aja, Azmera, Babukar, Chaga, Cheikh, Jaha, Kaaria, Marwe, Mekonnen,  Nkechi, Tabia, Tekle, Zuhura. 

Cultural Kin and Communities

      The life and culture of the Pithikos are based on feudal principles  that are composed mostly of farmers and craftsman. Since their early  tribal beginnings, Pithiki tribes have been extremely isolastionist,  preferring to neither provoke others or invade surrounding territories  already under control of other species.  However, if anyone enters their  territories with hostile intentions they are able to retaliate with  deadly force.  This is how it has been since the dawn of their tribes. Magic,  while strong with other species, is just beginning to take hold as  superstition, tradition, and religion collectively work to limit  progress.  Despite these superstitions education is highly valued in  Pithiki culture and is viewed as the fundamental building block to their  future.  Pithikos have the highest literacy rates in Hurlan, if not the  world.

       Because of their unique isolationism and the areas that  they live within they have been able to develop technology entirely  independently of influence from the Ha'Vatu, the Chovah or the Ta'Jahu.

   Their technology called Gruthak, is is so radically different in design and function from the rest of the world, it is nearly impossible to interact with aradagh  without severe hacking and alterations.  Their technology is highly  coveted by others, and like the technology of the Ta' Jahu it is highly  protected and secreted away.

      As a species pithikos are both  highly superstitious and highly religious and while they have ties to  the deities of Kralis and the known Omniverse they also have ties to a  pantheon known as the Kushari, which means spirit.  The pantheon is made  up of 5 gods: Ghurng, the Warrior Goddess, Etosh the good of the moon,  wisdom and beauty, Pithik god of creation and life, Mhujali god of  fertility and sustenance and Khtak goddess of the Underworld.

      Very little is known about the social organization of pithikos. They  usually live in groups that vary in size between 100 and 300  individuals, and the group is often headed by a dominant male. These  small communities are often surrounded by vast stretches wilderness,  which is generally made up of forested hills and jungle mountains.  They  consider everything else around them to be considered Wild Lands, even  though they may live in the heart of the Wild Lands. 

Beringei

      Beringei live in forests that span the temperate zones of the world.   There are two major groups of beringei: Eastern and Western. The bulk of  the western beringei are found in the lowland temperate/tropical  forests. Eastern beringei are divided into two groups, mountain and  lowland hills.  Most of the eastern beringei live in volcanic regions  that straddles the borders of WildLands and the other realms. All  beringei have large heads with a crest on top, tiny ears, and dark-brown  to silver eyes.  Male beringei are much larger than the females, reaching a height of 8’ and are almost twice as heavy. Despite their  size and aggressive natures, beringei are predominantly herbivores, eating mostly fruits and vegetables. 

Abelii

      Abelii are medium sized pithikos that are often covered red to auburn  to grey to brunette colored hair.  They have a large head with a  prominent mouth area. They are similar in shape to that of the berengei,  having a large, bulky body, a thick neck, very long, strong arms and  short, bowed legs.

     Like most pithikos they are usually friendly,  peaceful beings. They will only become aggressive to defend themselves.  Abellii, unlike the verus and the berengei are predominately tree  dwelling beings, living a great deal of their lives running through the  thicker branches of the trees. They make their huts and homes in the  largest of trees and have numerous platforms and rope bridges connecting  them to each other.

     Males are rarely found in the company of  females.  It is a society dominated by females, allowing the young males  who have not reached maturity to live among them and their young.  Once a male as come of age they generally leave the community to become  wandering warriors.  Despite their solitary life, males are always  welcome back to the female community if they are in need of healing,  help or are “lonely”.  Most abelii stand between four feet and five feet  in height and weigh between 150 and 250 pounds. 

Verus

      Like other Pithikos, the verus occupy a range of wooded habitats, from  humid evergreen forests and deciduous forests to dry savanna  woodlands.   The majority of their diet includes fruits, vegetables, honey and meat. Of all the pithikos only the Verus are omnivores;  stalking, killing and eating young antelopes, red deer or other jungle  dwelling animals. They are aggressive with no fear of killing others.

      The pithikos society is dominated by the verus as it is often their  males, though female chiefs are not unheard of, that lead the small  communities.

       Despite their medium size the verus are perfectly  suited for climbing and swinging on trees. They have wiry, powerful long  arms (in comparison to a humans) that make it easy for them to reach  from branch to branch. They also have very flexible hands and feet that  help them grasp the branches. Because of their ability to reach and hang  on, a verus can travel across thin branches without breaking them.

      Like other pithikos verus are covered with varying color of hair,  mostly chocolate and caramel to brunette to auburn, on most of their  body (except their fingers, palms, armpits, and bottoms of their feet).  Young verus have very pale skin in the areas that have no hair and a  white tufts of hair on their back.

     Verus are recognized by their  slight brow ridge, large ears, small nostrils, and an elongated snout.  They have a hairless face except for a short, white beard common with  the males as a sign of maturity and position.

       Verus males are larger than the females reaching a height of just over 6’ and a weight of nearly 250 lbs. 

Pithikos Features 

Species Merit Cost: 1200 

Age: 10-20, live to be over 150 yrs 

Size: Pithikos tend to be medium creatures, (4 to 7 Feet) 

Weight: Base 250 plus 5d10 

Vision: Pithikos have night vision 

Move: Base Move of 25 feet per Movement Action 

Languages: Pithikos begin play speaking Huuthiak (Pithikos Common), Cor Shan (Ta' jahu Common), Azhdehak (Chovah Common), Fak Chun (Firbog Common) and Common Resistances: Immunity to Fear and Horror 

Pithikos Bonuses: +10 bonus to Perception (Hearing and Smell), +20 Climbing Skill Pithikos Attribute Modifiers: 

        Beringei +10 to any two: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Charisma 

        Abelii +10 to any two: Agility, Intelligence, Wits, Willpower

         Verus  +10 to any two: Strength, Stamina, Agility, Willpower 

Pithikos Traits:   

Abundant Leap As a Move Action a pithikos has the ability to leap and jump up to double its normal movement. 

Incredible Jump  A  pithikos is able to jump double its move upward.  This can be used to  jump at a target with an attack, this causes a -25 penalty to such  attacks. 

Abellii - Natural Ambidexterity.  Abelii are blessed with being naturally ambidextrous and do not suffer  the -20 to your Off-Hand attack under Multiple Strike. Other Multiple  Strike penalties still apply. 

Beringei - Manifest Destiny.   Beringei are natural leaders and planners, gaining +10 on any check to  command, coordinate, or administrate any organization, from the smallest  war band to the vastest empire. 

Verus -Superior Reflexes.   Verus have developed a sense of action happening before it does happen,  this instinct has given them a +10 bonus to all Perception and/or  Agility based skills. Dextrous Feet You  are able to use your feet as well as you do your hands.  If you are not  walking on them, they can even be used to wield weapons and manipulate  items. 

Species Abilities Pithikos  begin play with two of the following abilities: Ancient Memories,  Battle Born, Defensive Training, Focused Mind, Hardy, Natural Magic,  Protective Shag, or Stalker 

Species Abilities 

Ancient Memories:  You have a strong tie to the ancient wisdom and knowledge of the world  and its ancestors. Pick any two Lore skills it gain a bonus +10 to these  skills.

 Battle Born: Pithikos gain the  following bonuses: gain its Willpower Modifier as bonus damage to any  melee or missile attack; +10 Health Points and its Holding Zero now  occurs when it reach two times its Willpower Modifier in negative health  points. Finally, the creature gains a natural armor absorption equal to  its Willpower Modifier.

 Defensive Training:  You have trained hard, taken beatings and still have gotten up to  battle on. Because of this harsh training you have also learned how not  to get hit or repel a mental/spiritual assault. You gain an additional  +5 bonus to any 1 Defense Type per rank to a maximum bonus of +50, you  must choose a new Defense type each rank. 

Focused Mind:  You gain +10 cumulative bonus for every hour you concentrate on any  next non-combat skill check. You may only focus for 1/2 your Stamina  modifier in hours to gain this bonus. During combat as a Simple Action  you gain +10 bonus to any next non-attribute check that you make. 

Hardy:  You are unusually hardy and are immune to types A, B and C Poisons,  gain +10 Magical Defense against one elemental type (Earth, Air, Fire,  Water, Spirit or Essence); and are immune to non-magical diseases. 

Natural Magic:  Among your species you are known for your connection with the great  weave of magic. The use of the spells is less taxing on you than  normal.  The cost of fatigue for spells is reduced by 2 per Power Rank  of the spell to a minimum of 1. Thus, a Power Rank of 3 spell normally  costs 9 fatigue points (3 fatigue per rank), now costs only 3; where as a  Power Rank 6 spell normally costs 54 fatigue points (9 fatigue per  rank) now only costs 42 fatigue points. 

Protective Shag: Because of a thicker shaggy coat you gain +10 Natural Armor Absorption. 

Stalker:  You gain a +10 bonus to skill checks you make while you are actively  stalking, performing surveillance, tracking, evading and stealthing. But  may apply to other skills as deemed by your GM.