Slaad (4e Race)
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Slaad[edit]
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| By James Zhang |
Order is the bane of these chaotic amphibioids existence, and they will stop at nothing to grind it under their heel.
| Racial Traits |
| Average Height: 6'9"-7'2" |
| Average Weight: 200 lbs. |
| Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Charisma or Constitution |
| Size: Medium |
| Speed: 6 squares |
| Vision: Darkvision |
| Languages: Common, Slaad |
| Skill Bonuses: +2 Intimidation, +2 Athletics |
| Telepathy: You can communicate telepathically with any creature within 5 squares of you that has a language. |
| Chaotic Origin: You are native to Limbo. So you are considered an elemental creature for the purpose of effects that relate to creature origin. |
| Control Gem: You gain a moderate racial bonus to saving throws against charm effects. |
| Chaotic Infection: You can use Chaos Phage as a daily power. |
| Chaos Phage | Slaad Racial Power |
| You infect your prey with your chaotic essence and absorb their subsequent fear as nourishment. | |
| Daily | |
| Standard Action | Close Burst 1 |
| Target: all creatures in burst | |
| Attack: Strength + 2 Vs. Constitution | |
| Hit: 3d4 + Constitution Modifier damage | |
| Effect: You regain hit points equal to damage dealt | |
| Level 21: Strength + 4, 4d4 + Constitution Modifier damage | |
The slaad, plural slaadi, are a race of amphibious frog creatures originating from the plane of Limbo. They are chaotic almost all the time, save some variants like the gormeel. It is said they were created by the frog-like creator gods of batrachi, though this is contested. Others say the Spawning Stone, a location crucial to the primordial home of the slaad, was instrumental in their creation. Supposedly, the modrons tried to rid Limbo of chaos using the Stone as a purifier. While it did absorb chaos, it just manifested it alternatively into the slaadi, who sought to destroy all the modrons. Being outsiders of the normal planes, the slaadi have unnaturally keen sight, even in darkness.
Play a slaad if you want...
- To be unpredictable.
- To have a mysterious, chaotic origin.
- To be a member of a race that favors the barbarian, fighter and sorcerer classes.
Physical Qualities[edit]
The slaadi are tall, bipedal frog creatures. Their heads are rather large in proportion to their bodies, and they have sharp claws. More powerful slaad usually were able to use magic which helped them get rid of their scaly appearance and disguise themselves. There are a large variety of slaad, differentiated by the color of their skin. The most common sort are the blue, red, green, grey, and white slaadi. Rarer forms were the black slaadi, a metamorphosis of a white slaad, the death slaadi, who appeared withered, mud slaadi and gormeel slaadi, who often appeared purple. The slaad claim their physical creatures from the batrachi, which explains the froggy traits.
Slaadi do not believe in decency or restriction, favoring chaotic freedom and whim. They usually wear nothing at all save a loincloth, unless they are carrying gear like backpacks. Slaadi armor is usually very revealing to allow for fluid movement in exchange for less coverage. Green Save for their genitalia, slaadi are indistinguishable by sex.
Attitudes and Beliefs[edit]
The slaadi are creatures nearly all completely opposed to order. The main exception is the gormeel slaadi, who are lawful and ally themselves with the githerazai against all other slaadi. Slaadi find pleasure in slaughtering those of order, namely creatures like modrons, who have colonies in Limbo set up by Primus. Like primitive beasts, the slaadi act in chaotic patterns solely to hunt, eat and reproduce. Brute force earned one status and gave them purpose wrought from the chaos coursing through their veins. They have little regard for other opinions, some seeing other creatures merely as food or even just instruments of breeding.
There are no gods for beings who live such ephemeral lives of chaotic violence. The slaadi mainly have belief in themselves as survivors who can change and adapt to anything, even the crushing chaos of Limbo itself. They have a desire to climb the ladder in their societies and become slaad lords, who are rumored to be slaadi who ascended from physical form into a whirling chaotic state of being. All slaadi desire to become them as "true slaadi," though this is incredibly rare. Often, infighting and the prevention of the ascension of others occupies a slaad enough as it is.
Slaad Communities[edit]
The slaadi are divided into individual communities based on their colors and all are under the control of the slaad lords. Their chaotic society is fraught with conflict and a complex social structure built around revolving domination by brute force between groups. Achievements are logged onto a slaad as tattoos, and power over another was represented by the removal of a special gem in their heads. Their language of Slaad consisted of a series of chaotic hissing noises and croaks as well as gesticulation. It is believed to be too chaotic to even have a written script.
Generally, there are two base slaadi, who are red and blue. Above them are the green slaadi. Green slaadi who isolate themselves for a year to concentrate their powers become grey slaadi. If a grey slaadi devours the flesh of a dead death slaadi or undergoes a certain ritual, they become a death slaadi. Once a slaadi has survived a century, regardless of what color it is, it becomes a white slaadi. White slaad who live for another century become black slaad, who are the strongest slaadi under the slaad lords. Gormeel slaad are considered enemies of all other slaad and to be killed on sight.
Slaadi reproduction plays a large role in the power structure of the race. Those who are able to control the flow of the Spawning Stone and wrest it from the other's control is considered dominant. While stronger slaadi might think they have all the advantage, the lower ranks have all the numbers. Slaadi use the stone as means to fertilize their internal egg sacs, making them ready for implantation into hosts. Their eggs burst from hosts as tadpoles, which mature quickly into fully-grown adults in a few days only.
Slaad Adventurers[edit]
The slaadi can easily adventure just because they want to. Their chaotic nature makes them unpredictable. For most slaad, they would travel for hosts. Others may want tattoos telling of their great accomplishments, and so go looking for trouble. Few would step out of their groups for noble causes.
Barbarian: Slaadi love to use brute force. They draw upon the primal chaos within themselves to smash through enemies with savage abandon. To die a peaceful death would be an insult to a slaad barbarian.
Fighter: While slightly more restrained than barbarians, slaad fighters are no less savage. They train themselves in the most chaotic of techniques to throw enemies off and revel in the fight.
Sorcerer: Arcane powers are coveted among slaadi. Those who use it tend to be of the green and higher sort. These slaadi are bent on sowing chaos and destruction whilst furthering their name and power.
Three sample slaad adventurers are described below.
Sslorg is a slaad fighter that has joined the ranks of a gladiator body, fighting for glory and pure survival. The fight invigorates him and he loves the feel of victory, whether it be smashing a skull or slitting an opponent's throat. He one day got bored of this contained chaos and thus struck out to sow its seeds afar, no longer confined to a little coliseum. In his wake was a litter of bodies.
Garthsha is a slaad barbarian who seeks ever greater achievements and recognition. Her goal is to eventually retire from this physical form and become a true slaadi, joining the slaad lords. Upon realizing the spawning stone has been rigged by the lords to prevent the ascension of others, she furiously left Limbo and now seeks empowerment techniques elsewhere to further her aims of almighty power. Enraged at the betrayal of her leaders, her rage shall be her weapon until either she is dead or she has slain them and taken their place.
Plorgath is a slaad sorcerer who enjoys an elevated status above his red slaad parents due to him being green. He has spent much of his life bullying the weak mud slaad, and so had little ambition to ascend into the grey slaad rank. Believing in his own skills over small-minded traditions and rituals, Plorgath left his home plane to go seek amusement among other weak creatures he can torment.
Roleplaying a Slaad[edit]
When creating a slaad adventurer, here are a few points to consider.
Unpredictable. If slaadi hate anything, it's being predictable. They hate if people knew what they thought or were going to do. Therefore they always try to be unpredictable and chaotic, throwing off the norm like a pair of dirty trousers. This often means immense resentment against anyone lawful in a party.
Primal. The slaadi live usually as they always have in Limbo, regardless of where their travels take them. They do not respect local cultures and usually do as they please, making them usually unwelcome guests.
Greedy. Slaadi usually share the mentality of "if I can't have it, no one can." They will actively debase other's progress if their own does not go well, even that of their own race and allies. This is why often a room of slaad can never get anything done collectively in a competition.
Slaad Characteristics: Impetuous, impulsive, petty, egotistic, animalistic, stubborn, arrogant
Slaad Male Names: Ssendam, Yorgl, Chourst, Loreskh, Oregth
Slaad Female Names: Forghla, Bagrebsh, Erran, Hisshki, Chylt
Slaad Feats[edit]
| Name | Description |
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| Slaad Mutation | You have been infected by a slaad or raw chaos and survived, gaining strange powers through it. |
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