Lynch (4e Race)
Lynch[edit]
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| By Dave Melvin |
We are the sweetest dreams and we are nightmares. Far be it for the two to be without the other.
| Racial Traits |
| Average Height: 5'2" - 6'4" |
| Average Weight: 100-200 lbs. |
| Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence or Charisma |
| Size: Medium |
| Speed: 6 squares |
| Vision: Normal |
| Languages: Common, Deep Speech |
| Skill Bonuses: +2 Bluff, +2 Insight |
| Immortal Origin: You are native to the plane of dreams. So you are considered an immortal creature for the purpose of effects that relate to creature origin. |
| Dual Nature Mind: You have a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against effects that daze, dominate or stun. |
| Self Shift: You can use self shift as an encounter power. |
| Self Shift | Lynch Racial Power |
| 'You change into your nightmarish form, taking on a whole new personality and abilities.' | |
| Daily | |
| Minor Action | Personal |
| Requirement: You must be under a condition that can be ended by a save. | |
| Effect: You end one condition on you. Also, until the end of the encounter, you gain a +2 bonus to Will saving throws and your skills change to +2 intimidation and athletics instead. | |
The lynch are creatures said to be from the realm of dreams. They are likened to the malevolent Quori of Dal Quor in Eberron cosmology. However, they are more widespread and seem to be in places like the Forgotten Realms as well. Allegedly, they can appear where others can dream in general. Their initial appearances vary, but they are known to have dual natures that can change for horrendous or the better.
Play a lynch if you want to...
- Be a creature who is both dream and nightmare.
- Have a split personality form.
- Be a member of a race that favors the sorcerer, warlord, and barbarian classes.
Physical Qualities[edit]
The lynch's dichotomous forms come in one dream, one nightmare. Luckily, they are usually in their dream form, but stress can force them to become nightmares temporarily. In their dream form, they are usually white or light in color, and have limbs. Along their backs are soft tendril like extensions, and their limbs end in four digits each. Their faces resemble that of a brachiosaurus, with wizened eyes. The lynch's nightmare form on the other hand is a darker form, with hunched stature and gnarled claws. Their skin turns dark brown to black and their face becomes a horrifying fanged beast. The tendrils become pointed or bloated to resemble fleshy tumors with spikes.
Due to their volatile nature, lynchs don't wear clothing. They can tolerate armor but mostly prefer to be in their birthday suits. This is fine for the most part since they don't have anything obscene to show, but this means they sometimes look like run of the mill bipedal beasts. Lynchs age very slowly and do not show much atrophy even towards the end of their lives, which is about 200 years on average.
Attitudes and Beliefs[edit]
Lynch embody a sort of natural presence of opposing forces. A dream is only as sweet so long as nightmares are vile. Therefore, they are usually against strictly good or evil alignments. This is reflected in the demeanors of a lynch. Their dream forms tend to be very pleasant and eloquent. But this does not mean they always have good intentions, and they can be quite the politicians. While their nightmare forms are frightening, they can also be just as good with words. But they prefer to let fear do the talking for them.
Lynch Communities[edit]
Their primary locations remain in the realm of dreams. In the Material Realm, they are rather scattered and solitary. Some do find company in small groups of three or more. The low density of their population means they don't have any cities to their name and no nations either. Their numbers are nomadic for the most part, though what dictates their movements is a mystery. Lynchs are possibly filled with wanderlust many times in their life and so they will seek new horizons and adventure.
Lynch Adventurers[edit]
The wanderlust of lynchs have made them visible in some of the weirdest locations in the world. Their choice of professions is often tied back to their dual natures and ties to the power of dreams.
Sorcerer: Lynch sorcerers are possibly the most common of the race. They focus on using magic and learning arcane rituals based in otherworldly practice. The dream realm is both a parallel plane and faraway place that lynchs claim their powers from, and this is reflected in their magic.
Warlord: With their natural glib and silver tongues, lynchs are fairly good at routing attacks, planning tactics and manipulating forces. They themselves also display a good deal of mental fortitude, making them ideal leaders.
Barbarian: Some lynchs embrace their nightmare side to a violent degree. Lynch barbarians are not too rare, but they are fairly uncommon. They tend to mix their use of primal rages with their self shifting to become raging nightmares.
Three sample lynch adventurers are described below.
Kezhari is a lynch sorcerer researching degrees of divination magic in a renowned magic council. For one of the riddles posed, she now has to journey out to find research on a rare disorder on dreams. To better protect herself, she solicited the help of some adventurers. After a few mishaps here and there, she has grown rather fond of watching them and their amusing antics.
Aeleph is a lynch warlord who vies for a spot in the nation's war council. He is set on maneuvering his forces to victory to achieve his desires. As part of a recent mission, he was sent to conduct reconnaissance on enemy territory and ended up losing all his troops and prestige. To raise funds for his new ambitions, he has taken up adventuring, and will use others in any way he must to achieve his lofty ends.
Dalus is a lynch barbarian who wanders about the wilds of forests and nature. The Material Realm entrances him with his natural primacy that is nonexistent in the dream realm. Attuning to these energies, he has come to sync with his nightmare form more than ever. Confident, he now seeks adventure to try out this newfound power of his.
Roleplaying a Lynch[edit]
When creating a Lynch adventurer, here are a few points to consider.
Everything has two halves. Lynchs tend to be very good at seeing two sides of a story, and they are even better at selling it. This means they usually like to make decisions with complete information. They have developed good skills to get this information. Anything less is a bit annoying to them.
A being of two natures. You are a dream and a nightmare. Take care to reproduce that two-facedness when you shift selves. Your nightmare self is horrifying and revels in power. Your dream self is more ambivalent but also possibly scheming.
Lynch Characteristics: Two-faced, insightful, ambivalent, aggressive, manipulative, smooth-talking
Lynch Male Names: Ghenzri, Akrato, Loures, Refgren
Lynch Female Names: Zayda, Hendril, Cyri, Barito
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