Arcanosians (3.5e Race)

Arcanosians

Personality

Scholarly, erudite, and somewhat arrogant, Arcanosians take a very methodical and scientific approach to life. They enjoy intellectual pursuits and hobbies, and are enthusiastic patrons of art, music, literature, natural science, and planar science. In spite of their natural charm, Arcanosians are slow to trust others, but make very loyal allies. Arcanosians tend to be friendly to those who share their studiousness and fascination with knowledge and art (i.e. anyone with any ranks in Spellcraft or any Perform, Knowledge, or Craft skill). They have great contempt for those who favor physical strength over mental aptitude, regarding them as "uncultured."

Arcanosians are obsessed with arcane magic, and possess significant talents towards wizardry, sorcery, and bardic lore. Divine spellcasters are almost unheard off, as most Arcanosians prefer to rely on their own power, rather than "borrow" from a more powerful being. Classes that rely on stealth and subterfuge (rogues and rangers), or meditation (psions and monks), are also common. Classes that rely on brute strength, such as fighters or paladins, are almost never adopted, and it would be an unusual Arcanosian indeed who would consider barbarian as an acceptable profession.

Physical Description

Arcanosians resemble the humans they are descended from, and have the same range of skin and hair colors. Their eyes are however very different, with irises consisting of a deep color such as blue, green, brown, violet, or black, filled with ever-changing bright metallic sparks of any color. Their eyes brighten when casting arcane spells.

Physically, Arcanosians tend towards to the taller, but thinner side, with very few physical differences between genders, though males tend to be a little taller and heavier than females.

Relations

Arcanosians get along well with species and cultures that foster literacy and arcane magic, such as elves, many human nations, goblins, or gnomes. Species or cultures that have a dim view of arcane magic and wizardry in particular, such as dwarves, orcs, or certain human "barbarian" tribes are tolerated with a thin veneer of politeness and regarded with ill-concealed contempt. For reasons unknown, Arcanosians cannot stand the presence of most outsiders, regardless of alignment; only elemental outsiders, such as genies, are exempt from this animosity.

Alignment

Arcanosians are generally neutral in alignment, with slight biases towards good and law. However, most arcanosians are not interested in the intricacies of moral or ethical debate and are thus true neutral in alignment.

Lands

Arcanosians tend to live in small communities of 50-100, most often found in temperate forest or mountains. Powerful Arcanosians prefer more exotic locales, such as the Astral Plane, or the Elemental Plane of Fire.

Religion

Arcanosians follow the paths of non-evil deities of learning and magic, but do not possess any actual divine spellcasters. They believe that it is best to serve one's deities with innate skills and talents, rather than "borrowing" power from them that could be put better elsewhere. The arcanosians have developed arcane versions of most cleric spells to supplement this lack

Language

Arcanosians speak their own language, as well as Common. Most also have a high Intelligence score, and thus will speak one or more languages, such as Elven, Gnome, Ignan, or Aquan.

Names

Arcanosians consider names to be important, and that knowledge of a person's true name grants power over them. As a result, Arcanosians have three sets of names. The most important is their secret name, to be shared only with close family or friends, and which is unique from one Arcanosian to another. The official name is used in daily life and for legal purposes. It consists four parts of their clan name, family name, both parents' first names (mother first), and their first name. The clan name depicts their overall ancestry and also determines who they marry, as no member of the same clan can wed. The clan names are Flame, Stone, Wave, or Wind. The family name varies, but usually incorporates a creature or object with some synonym of their clan name, while first names may be chosen from practically any humanoid or elemental language. An example of this system is "Colwyn, son of Ember and Barrimore Emberstone, of the Flame clan". As their life progresses, Arcanosians collect nicknames and monikers depicting important events, professions, or achievements in their lives (spellmaker, hordetamer, dinosaur rider, etc.).

Racial Traits

• +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma: Arcanosians are intelligent and charming individuals, with a talent for arcane magic.
• Outsider (native): Arcanosians are not affected by spells and abilities that specifically target humanoids, and as native outsiders, Arcanosians may be raised just as material plane denizens may be.
• Medium: Arcanosians do not receive any benefits nor take any penalties for their size.
• Arcanosian base land speed is 30 feet.
• +2 saves against spells and spell-like abilities.
• Use Magic Device is always a class skill.
• Automatic Languages: Arcanosian, Common. Bonus Languages: Any (apart from secret languages).
• Favored Class: Arcane spellcaster (any): The arcane spellcasting class in which an arcanosian has the most levels does not count towards an experience penalty.
• Level Adjustment: +1

Vital Statistics

Table: Arcanosians Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 10"	+2d6	120 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
Female	4' 8"	+2d6	100 lb.	× (2d4) lb.

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