| Racial Traits | Race Point Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Humanoid (vanu) | 0 |
| Size | Medium | 0 |
| Base Speed | Normal | 0 |
| Ability Score Modifiers | Standard (+2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Int) | 0 |
| Languages | Standard | 0 |
| Defense | Desert Runner | 2 |
| Defense | Elemental’s Gift | 2 |
| Defense | Energy Resistance (wind) | 1 |
| Defense | Improved Resistance (wind) | 2 |
| Defense | Sleepless Magicks | 2 |
| Feat and Skill | Gift of Tongues | 2 |
| Offense | Sky Sentinel | 3 |
| Senses | Low-Light Vision | 1 |
| Total | 15 | |
This avian beast tribe resides on the floating islands dotting the Sea of Clouds. Prior to the advent of airship technology, man only dared to dream of reaching these islands in the sky. And so, for a time, the Vanu were unknown to the rest of the world. Times have changed, however, and now they must adapt as outsiders encroach upon their home. They appear to be stout beastmen with avian features, including white beaks. Unlike the Ixal, the Vanu are covered with feathers all over their body excluding their lower legs. Despite their feathers, the Vanu have no wings and wear tribal clothing.
Standard Racial Traits
- Ability Score Racial Traits: Vanu are very wise and durable but lack a certain knack for intelligence. They gain +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, and -2 Intelligence.
- Size: Vanu are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Type: Vanu are Humanoid creatures with the vanu subtype.
- Base Speed: Vanu have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Languages: Vanu start off with Common and Vanu. They can learn any of the beastmen languages. Vanu can learn additional languages by putting ranks into the linguistics skill.
Defense Racial Traits
- Desert Runner: Due to their warm blood and adaptable feathers, vanu receive a +4 racial bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion, as well as any other ill effects from running, forced marches, starvation, thirst, and hot or cold environments.
- Elemental’s Gift: The elementals know that the Vanu Vanu are more susceptible to attacks from foreign races and monster and grant them their wind ability. Once per day, as a swift action, a vanu can grant himself a +2 deflection bonus to AC against ranged attacks for 1 minute.
- Heightened Elemental Resistance: Due to both their physical merits and their time amongst the skies, the vanu are quite resilient to wind. Vanu gain wind resistance 10.
- Sleepless Magicks: Vanu are known to go sea fishing for weeks on end without sleeping a wink and have immunities to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws made against enfeebling spells and effects.
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
- Gift of Tongues: Vanu gain a +1 racial bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks, and they learn one additional language every time they put a rank in the Linguistics skill.
Offense Racial Traits
- Sky Sentinel: Vanu gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls, a +2 dodge bonus to AC, and a +2 bonus on Perception checks against flying creatures. In addition, enemies on higher ground gain no attack roll bonus against vanu.
Senses Racial Traits
- Low-Light Vision: Vanu have low-light vision, allowing them to see twice as far as humes in dim light.
Alternate Racial Traits
The following alternate racial traits may be selected in place of one or more of the standard racial traits above. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.
- Flightless Fall: Some vanu can use their feathered arms and legs to glide. Vanu with this racial trait can make a DC 15 Fly check to fall safely from any height without taking falling damage, as if using choco feather. When falling safely, a vanu may make an additional DC 15 Fly check to glide, moving 5 feet laterally for every 20 feet he falls. This racial trait replaces sky sentinel.
- Nimble Faller: Vanu land on their feet even when they take lethal damage from a fall. Furthermore, they gain a +1 bonus to their CMD against trip attempts. This racial trait replaces sky sentinel.
Variant Vanu Vanu Heritages
Although many vanu follow the general model of the vanu, many more do not. Those of different tribes may evince dramatically different manifestations of their tribe, both in appearance and in ability. Here are 3 different potential heritages for vanu vanu PCs. If you choose to use a specific tribe instead of the general rules for creating a vanu vanu, you should work with your GM to ensure that your character’s appearance reflects that bloodline.
- Alternate Skill Modifiers: While most vanu gain a +1 racial bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy and checks, those of the variant heritages listed below gain a modifier to a different skill.
Table: Variant Vanu Vanu Heritages
| Tribes | Ability Modifiers | Alternate Skill Modifier | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gundu | +2 CON, +2 INT, -2 CHA | Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft | A blue-feathered tribe that is used to subjugation and pledging themselves to the Vundu clan, though many seek the Zundu to aid in the rebellion against the Vundu. |
| Vundu | +2 STR, +2 CHA, -2 INT | Swim and Intimidate | A barbaric blue-feathered Vundu that are highly militaristic. As adept summoners, they are most well-known for summoning a Primal form of Bismarck. Establishing their dominance over all other Vanu Vanu tribes, these are seen as the antagonistic tribe. |
| Zundu | +2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 STR | Acrobatics and Knowledge (Nature) | A peaceful red-feathered tribe who oppose the tyranny of the Vundu. With a rare red plumage these are the most easy to identify amongst the Vanu Vanu tribes. |
Racial Archetypes
The following racial archetypes are available to the vanu:
- Bismarckian Subjugator (Summoner; Vanu Vanu)
- Sundrop Storm (Dancer; Vanu Vanu)
Favored Class Options
The following favored class options are available to all characters of this race who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.
- Beastmaster: Add +1 hit point or +1 skill rank to the beastmaster’s animal companion. If the beastmaster ever replaces his companion, the new companion gains these bonus hit points or skill ranks.
- Berserker: Add a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to change a creature’s attitude.
- Black Belt: Increase the number of times per day the black belt can use martial flexibility by 1/4.
- Dancer: Add +1 to the dancer’s total number of battle dance rounds per day.
- Monk: Add +1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
- Red Mage: The red mage gains 1/6 of a new ruby arcana.
- Summoner: Add +1 hit point to the summoner’s avatar.
