Mesha'xin (3.5e Race)

Mesha'xin

Personality

The Mesha'xin are the "default" caste, the original caste. They work as laborers and merchants during peacetime, and spies during wartime. They prefer anonymity, but take great pride in the work they do, regardless of the job.

They are cautious, and are the least likely to take upon themselves a career in adventuring.

Physical Description

The Mesha'xin range between 4'10" - 5'6" (females) and 5'0" - 5'10" (males). Their frame is much like that of an elf, but sturdier. Their skin is often olive in color. Eyes range from steel-grey to a pale blue, with bright blue eyes exceptionally rare, but possible.

Relations

The Mesha'xin view other races as inferior, and prefer to avoid contact. However, should a war be started with the Mesha'xin, they will seek to eradicate the transgressor without mercy.

Alignment

Most are lawful neutral; some are true neutral. The concepts of good and evil are foreign to them, and chaos tends to react poorly with a caste system. What little "chaotic" element exists is primarily due to individuality.

Lands

The Mesha'xin live with the other three castes ( Mela'xin, Meza'xin and Mena'xin) in secluded areas, often in volcanic regions where obsidian (the preferred building material for weapons)is readily available.

Religion

The Mesha'xin firmly believe in the inevitability of fate. Though the Mesha'xin caste has no spiritual leaders (the spiritual leaders are the Mela'xin) The religion is that of a cycle of life, death and rebirth. Death is not feared, but accepted as a temporary destination, a moment of respite in that cycle.

As combat plays a significant role in this cycle, all Mesha'xin are expected to have some adequacy in combat before being allowed to leave the homeland.

The Mesha'xin worship "Xinora", one of the first of the Mesha'xin. She is worshipped exclusively, but as she is not a god, she does not grant spells.

Xinora is an ancient lich, and represents to all four castes of the Mesha'xin culture perfection. This is not in spite of their hatred of the undead(see below), but the cause of it. She is the epitome of their cycle, one who surrendered her life to step briefly into death, and now exists in a state of both. They consider all other undead to be inferior mockeries of Xinora.

Language

Mesha'xin, Common is NOT an automatic language for them.

Names

Names are acquired during the Rite of Awakening, in which the individual leaves for the crater of a volcano (see preferred lands) and during the rite, chooses their caste. Those who remain in the Mesha'xin caste are given a name by his/her parents. Surnames, as an individual family is relatively unimportant, consist of "al'"(for males) or "dal'" (for females), then the caste (ie "al'Mesha). First names are similar to human and elven given names.

Racial Traits

• Humanoid (Mesha'xin): They are humanoid, as the predecessors of the elves and humans, they are neither; hence the subtype.
• Medium
• Mesha'xin base land speed is 30 feet
• Favored enemy(undead)(Ex): Same as the ranger special ability on page 47 of the PHB, though it does not improve with level. A Mesha'xin ranger may still choose undead as a favored enemy, and the bonuses will stack. The dogma of their religion teaches hatred of the undead, and the martial aspect of the culture demands each of its followers to be able to adequately combat such a threat.
• -2 on Diplomacy when dealing with those not of the Mesha'xin subtype checks due to the belief of their inherent superiority.
• When using Craft skills to make tools and weapons from obsidian, the tools are as strong as steel. The smiths have worked with obsidian as a primary material for millennia, and have mastered working with it.
• May NOT take levels in Cleric: Xinora is not a god, and as such cannot grant spells. Clerics of other gods are generally viewed as misguided heathens.
• Automatic Languages: Mesha'xin (Common is NOT automatic). Bonus Languages: Common, Elven, Ignan.
• Favored Class: Any (see above).

Vital Statistics

Table: Mesha'xin Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
15 years	+d4	+d6	+d8

Table: Mesha'xin Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
75 years	150 years	300 years	+4d12 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: Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 10"	+2d6	90 lb.	× (d4) lb.
Female	4' 8"	+2d4	75 lb.	× (d4) lb.

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