Mantyd-Caste, a fantasy race
Mar. 31st, 2008 03:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akaihyoThis idea came to me several years ago when I was running my Hellenic-themed D&D campaign and it led into me running a short-lived Far Cathay/Magic China campaign.
The basic idea was that after the first Great Empire fell, the land was divided up into petty states, most ruled by warlord who employed sorcerers. Very quickly, the sorcerers took over ushering in the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings. For hundreds of years, they fought among themselves, and in the process created new magics, new weapons of war and new races to fight their wars. But fusing together the traits of animal they found useful or appealing and humans, the various sorcerer-king created their own troops. These were given the name "castes" and linked to the animal side of their hybrid heritage, so there are wolves, panthers and even "wooden warriors". But my favorite are the human/mantis hybrid:
Mantyd-Caste
Created by the gardener-wizard Shan Ho Xie, the Mantyd-Caste were bred as warriors during the Age of Sorcerous War. Shan Ho Xie combined the elements of the preying mantis with that of his personal guard to produce the Mantyd-Caste. The Mantyds were among the handful of sorcerous hybrid lines that survived the Age of Sorcerous War and prospered.
Seeing the way the karmic wheel was turning, Shan Ho Xie submitted to the Emperor Li Zhinmi and his Seven Heroes. In return he was rewarded by the new Emperor for his wisdom, Xie became the first minister of the House of Evening. The Mantyd-Caste now serve as warriors and guards to the Houses of Evening in Cathay, though a few have been allowed to seek their destiny outside of the House of Evening.
Personality: The Mantyd were created and have been breed for a dedication to duty and a stoic attitude to physical hardship.
Physical Description: Mantyds are mostly humanoid but slightly elongated in limb. They tend toward a slender build with tight muscles.
Their skin is milk white with an odd mint green under-tone, and it shines, reflecting light from its hairless surface. But it is their eyes that stand out, they are usually emerald green and multi-faceted. Their eyes project slightly from narrow faces, with thin lips are a pale mint green. Their hair is black with dark green highlights. Their ears are almost non-existent, just holes to gather sounds. Adding to their strangeness are two small antenna that project just above their foreheads.
Their fingers are long and slender with milk green finger nails.
Mantyds usual move with a easy grace, but when they stop moving, they can hold perfectly still, as if poised, waiting for something.
Relations: The Mantyds are judged, fairly in most cases, as tools of the House of Evening in its continued political games in the Imperial Court.
Alignment: Almost all Mantyds are raised in a rigidly hierarchical society, from which they tend towards a lawful alignment.
Mantyd-Caste Lands: The Mantyd-Caste have no lands of their own, they are an artificial race that exists because they serve the House of Evening and through them the Empire.
Religion: The Mantyd-caste as a whole are stoic with little interest in religion or philosophy, they do venerate their ancestors but more as examples of proper action than as spirits.
Names: The Mantyd-caste prefer short names.
Mantyd-Caste Racial Traits
• +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: the Mantyd-Caste have been bred to be quick and tough, but they have been bred to obey and their mental flexibility has suffered.
• Medium-sized: As medium-sized creatures Mantyd-caste suffer no bonuses or penalties due to size.
• Mantyd-Caste base speed is 30 feet.
• Low-light Vision: Mantyds can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• +1 natural armor: the skin of the Mantyd-Caste is strong and flexible and their bones are exceptionally tough.
• +2 racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks: the Mantyd-Caste have exceptionally keen senses.
• +2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks: the ability of the Mantyd-Caste to hold perfectly still improves their ability to stalk their prey.
• +2 racial bonus on Escape Artist, Jump and Tumble checks: the Mantyd-Caste musculature is extremely flexible and well suited to leaps and acrobatics.
• -2 racial penalty on saves against bright light and flashes: the eyes of the Mantyd-Caste are vulnerable to being overloaded by bright light.
So far, I have had two artists draw member of the Mantyd caste for me:
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
haikujaguar did this lowly piece for me called Teabreak.
And just recently,wyndstar did this piece for me.
Both of which delight me.
If anyone has any questions on the race, the campaign or whatever, just let me know.
The basic idea was that after the first Great Empire fell, the land was divided up into petty states, most ruled by warlord who employed sorcerers. Very quickly, the sorcerers took over ushering in the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings. For hundreds of years, they fought among themselves, and in the process created new magics, new weapons of war and new races to fight their wars. But fusing together the traits of animal they found useful or appealing and humans, the various sorcerer-king created their own troops. These were given the name "castes" and linked to the animal side of their hybrid heritage, so there are wolves, panthers and even "wooden warriors". But my favorite are the human/mantis hybrid:
Mantyd-Caste
Created by the gardener-wizard Shan Ho Xie, the Mantyd-Caste were bred as warriors during the Age of Sorcerous War. Shan Ho Xie combined the elements of the preying mantis with that of his personal guard to produce the Mantyd-Caste. The Mantyds were among the handful of sorcerous hybrid lines that survived the Age of Sorcerous War and prospered.
Seeing the way the karmic wheel was turning, Shan Ho Xie submitted to the Emperor Li Zhinmi and his Seven Heroes. In return he was rewarded by the new Emperor for his wisdom, Xie became the first minister of the House of Evening. The Mantyd-Caste now serve as warriors and guards to the Houses of Evening in Cathay, though a few have been allowed to seek their destiny outside of the House of Evening.
Personality: The Mantyd were created and have been breed for a dedication to duty and a stoic attitude to physical hardship.
Physical Description: Mantyds are mostly humanoid but slightly elongated in limb. They tend toward a slender build with tight muscles.
Their skin is milk white with an odd mint green under-tone, and it shines, reflecting light from its hairless surface. But it is their eyes that stand out, they are usually emerald green and multi-faceted. Their eyes project slightly from narrow faces, with thin lips are a pale mint green. Their hair is black with dark green highlights. Their ears are almost non-existent, just holes to gather sounds. Adding to their strangeness are two small antenna that project just above their foreheads.
Their fingers are long and slender with milk green finger nails.
Mantyds usual move with a easy grace, but when they stop moving, they can hold perfectly still, as if poised, waiting for something.
Relations: The Mantyds are judged, fairly in most cases, as tools of the House of Evening in its continued political games in the Imperial Court.
Alignment: Almost all Mantyds are raised in a rigidly hierarchical society, from which they tend towards a lawful alignment.
Mantyd-Caste Lands: The Mantyd-Caste have no lands of their own, they are an artificial race that exists because they serve the House of Evening and through them the Empire.
Religion: The Mantyd-caste as a whole are stoic with little interest in religion or philosophy, they do venerate their ancestors but more as examples of proper action than as spirits.
Names: The Mantyd-caste prefer short names.
Mantyd-Caste Racial Traits
• +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: the Mantyd-Caste have been bred to be quick and tough, but they have been bred to obey and their mental flexibility has suffered.
• Medium-sized: As medium-sized creatures Mantyd-caste suffer no bonuses or penalties due to size.
• Mantyd-Caste base speed is 30 feet.
• Low-light Vision: Mantyds can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• +1 natural armor: the skin of the Mantyd-Caste is strong and flexible and their bones are exceptionally tough.
• +2 racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks: the Mantyd-Caste have exceptionally keen senses.
• +2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks: the ability of the Mantyd-Caste to hold perfectly still improves their ability to stalk their prey.
• +2 racial bonus on Escape Artist, Jump and Tumble checks: the Mantyd-Caste musculature is extremely flexible and well suited to leaps and acrobatics.
• -2 racial penalty on saves against bright light and flashes: the eyes of the Mantyd-Caste are vulnerable to being overloaded by bright light.
So far, I have had two artists draw member of the Mantyd caste for me:
haikujaguar did this lowly piece for me called Teabreak.
And just recently,
wyndstar did this piece for me.Both of which delight me.
If anyone has any questions on the race, the campaign or whatever, just let me know.