Zora (3.5e Race)

Zoras

Personality

Zoras are a very peaceful lot, content to swim in the bodies of water they inhabit or work alongside neighboring communities of humans, elves, or other creatures in day-to-day jobs. Zoras are monarchial in structure, with their small territories being led by a king and queen.

Physical Description

While still visibly humanoid in some cases, the Zoras resemble various marine creatures in their body structure. Most of them wear no clothes, but certain members of their species do wear clothing, or a helmet that completely encases their head. They are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance, and they have dark blue spots on their extremities. Where humans sometimes have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions of their heads shaped like the tails of dolphins, perhaps as a cephalic form of dorsal fin. These tails undulate periodically, which gives a Zora's head the unique semblance of a fish. Zoras have two large ulnar fins located distally on their forearms, and some have smaller fins at their ankles. They are sometimes depicted as having webbed feet and hands. They lack ears in the traditional sense, but do have pronounced noses. Zoras have gills on their abdomen, analogous to the placement of lungs on a human. All Zoras have green eyes, which may indicate a trait associated with the species.

Relations

Zoras get along well with elves, a race that has helped consistently in the past. However, Zoras and Humans have a touch of animosity due to bad history between the two. While this does not contribute to alignment or provoke wars, each race has a hidden dislike for the other.

Alignment

Zoras, given their monarchial structure, are usually lawful.

Lands

Zora prefer to live in warm bodies of water close to the shore. Most Zora towns are built along the coasts of beaches or oceanside cliffs, with part of the town being above water and part of it being below. They also like to settle near coral reefs and shipwrecks, which are abundant sources of food and resources for the Zora people. Most Zora cities consist of elaborate caverns dug into rocky shoreline features, though there are occasional artificial buildings sculpted from water-resistant materials.

Religion

Zoras revere the gods of the sea and water. Rumors have it that Zoras sometimes worship minor elven gods.

Language

Zoras speak Common and Aquan.

Names

Male Names: Zora, Ralis, Japas, Mikau, Evan

Female Names: Ruto, Rutela, Lulu, Laruto, Toto

Racial Traits

• +4 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Strength, -2 Constitution: Zoras are highly agile and self-confident, but they don't have the physical builds of other humanoid races.
• Humanoid (Aquatic)
• Medium: As Medium creatures, zoras have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Zoras base land speed is 30 feet.
• Zoras have a swim speed of 80 feet.
• +1 natural armor bonus. A zora's flesh is scaly.
• Amphibious: Zoras can breath water and air equally well.
• Electric Current (Ex): Zoras have organs similar to those of an electric eel, allowing them to generate a powerful charge which can be used in combat. A zora can deal 1d6 points of electricity damage with a melee touch attack. The target may make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 zora's Hit Dice + zora's Constitution modifier) to convert all damage dealt to nonlethal damage. After using this attack, the zora must wait (10 - Constitution modifier) rounds (minimum 1 round) before he is able to use it again.
• Immunities (Ex): Zoras take only half damage from electricity.
• Graceful Swimmer (Ex): A zora may choose to use its Dexterity, rather than its Strength, to modify its Swim skill.
• Cold Vulnerability: Zoras take one and a half times as much damage from cold, regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or whether the saving throw is a success or failure.
• Fin blade (ex): A zora can increase the size of their arm-fins a little and make them sharper. They can function as natural weapons that deal 2d8 points of damage. The fin becomes wide enough that a zora could also use them as a shield, giving them a +2 shield bonus.
• A zora has a +8 racial bonus on Swim checks. Zora can always can choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. A zora can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
• Automatic Languages: Common and Aquan. Bonus Languages: Any
• Favored Class: Ranger
• LA:+2

Race-Specific Feat

A Zora may spend a feat to increase the damage dealt by his Electric Current attack by a further 1d6. Zora Fighters may take this feat as a fighter bonus feat. This feat may be taken up to four times for a total of 5d6 damage.

Vital Statistics

Table: Zora Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
20 years	+2d4	+2d6	+3d6

Table: Zora Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
50 years	80 years	115 years	+3d20 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: Zora Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4' 8"	+2d10	85 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
Female	4' 5"	+2d10	85 lb.	× (2d4) lb.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Races