Bladeling

[Xornik]

Homebrew Race: Bladeling

Careful with that edge.

Background

Bladelings are mysterious humanoids found in Ocanthus, the deepest and darkest level of the crystal sphere Acheron. They are roughly the same height and build as a human, but that's where the resemblance ends. Bladelings, as their name suggests, are covered with spikes as sharp as blades which are comprised of the creature's own skin and bone. Nobody knows the exact origins of the bladelings - or if they are even natives of the depths they call their home. Some speculate they are were a long forgotten weapon - forged and uplifted by the Syrne for use in the War in Heaven, abandoned in favor of the Orks sheer numbers.  Other speculate they are descendants of a emigrated race, perhaps turncoat tieflings, an overzealous goblinoid army or simply band of fierce warriors from above. Whichever race they were, they supposedly found themselves changed over time - pierced by the shards of thin ice and weapons falling from the endless wars raging above them.

The Bladelings have made their home in the isolated and inhospitable wastelands at the bottom of Acheron, despite being battered by constant bladestorms made from millions of flying razor sharp black ice shards, they have thrived in their large fortress city named Zoronor. Otherwise known as the City of Shadows, Zoronor stands alone as as the only permanent settlement in Ocanthus - protected from the harsh conditions within the Blood Forest that it was carved from. The Blood Forest itself appears from the outside to be a large hollow shell made from a strange unidentifiable mix of wood, unsavory organic matter and thorns,  the inside is hollow, with large domes carved inside. These domes are filled with buildings made from the dead gray remains of the forest's 'wood' which bend and sway whenever the outer shell of the forest is struck by a particularly large chunk of razor ice. Most items that aren't made from the strange bleeding wood is instead crafted from chunks of unmelting black ice from the vast black ice sea that Zoronor and the Blood Forest rest upon. The endless black glacier as large as a sun is rumored to hide an ancient horror - whether the Bladelings stand by to guard against it or worship it, working towards its release in secret is unknown.

Physical Characteristics

Average Height: 1.6 - 2.1m
Average Weight: 80-120kg
Languages: Trade, Bladeling
Common Personality Traits:  Aggressive, xenophobic, intolerant, impatient, superstitious
Common Physical Traits: Sharp protrusions, gleaming iIce-like eyes, dark hued skin with a metallic sheen, well built frames, imposing stance
Example Names: Zlash, Blaydnix, Razzore, Kutt, Xdge,

Racial Statistics

Characteristic Bonus: +1 to Dexterity or Willpower
Skill Bonus: +1 to Weaponry and Scrutiny
Power: Barbed Hide : Any time an opponent currently engaged in melee with a Bladeling succeeds on an action with the 'melee' and 'attack' subtypes, they must roll a dexterity test with a TN equal to 4* the Bladeling's dexterity. If they fail this test, they hurt themselves on the bladeling's spikes during the action and take a wound in a rolled location.
Size: 4

Racial Feats

Razor Storm [Bladeling]
Once per scene, a Bladeling can expel shrapnel-like bits of its skin up to (5*Level)m in a 30 degree arc, all characters in this area must make a Dexterity Test (TN is equal to 5x the firer's Dexterity, or else be struck and  take (2k2 R,Pen Y) damage, where Y is 5+Level. After this attack, the Bladeling’s loses its Racial Power for the rest of scene as it's spiky protrusions regenerate.

Xenophobic [Bladeling]
Ocanthus doesn't get many visitors. Zoronor even less so. Those who do venture down rarely have the Bladelings best interests at heart which has left them extremely jaded and suspicious of outsiders
Upon meeting members of a race you haven't met before, temporarily gain the feat Hated(that Race) and a +1k0 bonus to all Scrutiny rolls against members of that race. This effect lasts until you have had subsequent encounters with a non-hostile member of that race a number times equal to your level at the first encounter.

Scissor-Hands [Bladeling]
It's not uncommon for Bladelings to fashion their sharp growths into weaponry. Many have razor sharp claws on their hands and feet, long bladed arms or bladed crests upon their heads.
Gain a (2k2 R, Pen: 2*Level, Melee) Natural Weapon attached to the end of an appendage of your choice (ie Head, Arm, Leg, Tail, Wing, etc).  Attacks with this weapon use the Weaponry skill instead of Brawl.
You may choose to add the keywords Tearing and Razor Sharp, but if you do, the appendage will no longer fulfill its original purpose - A wing wont fly, hand cannot grasp, cannot see from your head etc. The appendage's sole purpose is now being the weapon. These weapons are not retractable and are very difficult to conceal.
This feat can be purchased multiple times - but only once per limb.

Ocanthus Native [Bladeling]
Ocanthus is a cold dark place, filled with millions of impossibly sharp shards of ice that fly dangerously through the air, colliding, splintering and threatening to slice open anyone who would dare walk through the realm exposed. Bladelings have adapted, surviving and thriving in such a place. You have dark-sight and do not feel the effects of cold, treat your Resilience as 1 higher when taking R type damage.

Bladestudy [Bladeling, Paragon]
While other Bladelings were playing with spikes, you were busy cultivating your inner strength and studying the blade. When using weapons that deal Rending Damage, add your Excellence and Level to their Pen value.

Physical Qualities

Their skin itself has a similar texture to to iron but can come in a variety of hues - typically grays, blues and purples with all having somewhat of a metallic sheen. The texture of the skin even allows it to be polished, which some more vain bladelings will often partake in. Metallic Spines grow haphazardly in patches all over their bodies. For some these spines are nothing more than small bumpy spikes, but for others they grow abruptly outwards, emerging from the skin in the form of a long shining blade. Regardless of their variety of appearance, these spines are exceedingly sharp and appear to be comprised of a combination of protruding bone and the metallic skin of the Bladeling.

If you were to disregard the spiked protrusions upon their faces, the facial features of the bladelings seem to have much in common with those of a human or the Eldarin, perhaps with a twist of goblinoid influence thrown in. Sharp, pointed teeth lie within their mouths with some even having small fanglike blades jutting out. Their eyes are cold and semi-translucent orbs, that gleam like shards of dark refracting ice.

They are of average height, but most of their frames leave them slightly taller than a human yet slightly more lean. However that is not to say they are lighter. A Bladelings thick metallic skin and protrusions will always leave them weighing in more than other races of a similar build. Running through their veins and seeping out from any broken off spines - a Bladeling's blood is the color and consistency of oil, however it is not flammable.  

Playing a Bladeling

There are generally three types of Bladelings found around the Great Wheel . The first group is made up of explorers and traders who were sent out from Zoronor to gather knowledge about the other planes and to bring back goods that can help the Bladelings survive on Ocanthus. Bladelings of this type will usually make periodic returns to the City of Shadows to share their knowledge and acquisitions with their brethren in the city. The second group are the outcasts from Bladeling society, who are now trying to set up new lives for themselves outside of Acheron. Outcasts are usually afraid to return to Ocanthus, as there their former brethren may attack them. For this reason, outcasts have a habit of keeping a low profile and usually conceal their status to avoid reprisal. The third kind are far less likely to be encountered and are rarely partake in happenstance adventures - these bladelings are the elite soldiers, spies and assassins sent from Ocanthus on missions to further the mysterious overarching goals of the Bladelings interests across the Wheel.

Bladelings who dwell within Zoronor are highly xenophobic and take caution to the extreme, being highly suspicious and thinking the worse of any visitors to their lands. Tresspassers will often find themselves attacked on sight and meet an untimely demise as their corpse is fed to the ever-growing Blood Forest and belongings distributed among the inhabitants within. Those with high charisma and a quick tongue may be able to few words in and convince the bladelings otherwise, but it's very risky. Bladelings adventurers retain their Xenophobia, but are more acclimatized to other races than their isolationist brethren, but many still retain mistrust and suspicion of those they have not encountered before - even those who share common interests or alignments with them. Bladelings are often even distrustful of one another, with Zoronor occasionally prone to internal strife, however these quibbles are quickly discarded should any sign of an external threat appear.  Befriending a Bladeling can be tiresome work, however once you've gotten past their spiky exterior they are a fearsome ally to have.

Bladeling clothing and armor tends to be well-tailored, specially made for the individual bladeling wearing it and fit to their unique spike pattern. Due to the extra effort needed, their clothing is rarely ostentatious, but this is more out of time concerns than a lack of appreciation for aesthetics. As a result, their personal expression tends to be conveyed through accessories, with close groups of bladelings usually settling on an overall shared style. This sense of style and personal expression also extend to their choices of weaponry - with Bladelings unsurprisingly favoring blades and other rending weapons. Distinctive weapon types and artifact blades of rare materials are highly valued and sort after, the latter often seen as symbols of status or position among their kin.

Bladeling Heroes:

Orphaned and raised in the high temple of Zoronor, Kleffton made a habit of sneaking into the vaults and reading the sacred scrolls, particularly those containing the sacred weapon-smithing techniques. Getting cocky, he was eventually caught and had his hand severed as punishment. Exiled from the city of Shadows, he made his way up to Hammergrim, forging himself a new trident hand before dedicating himself to becoming the greatest weaponsmith across the wheel. Now selected as a Chosen of Moradin, he plans to one day return home with his masterwork weaponry and hoping to regain the respect of the city's elders.

Nobody truly understood Xkoldarxteelbladex, he was better than all of his Bladeling kin and he was sure they knew it. That's why they avoided eye contact with him whenever he would dash down the street, arms trailing behind him, his two long curved, single-edged blades in his hands. Nobody could match his raw speed, his mastered skill with the blade or his sharp wit - he was the best of the best and he knew he had to prove it the only way he could. Donning his long coat and his trademark hat, he left the City of Shadows behind. He smirked as drew his blades and walked towards an oncoming bladestorm, it was nothing personal - but he'd show them all.

Nothing could kill Doomzday. Well nothing could kill him twice. He didn't remember his childhood, or much of his early life really, there were experiments, something about DNA but he could never find out what exactly caused his condition as he had destroyed the lab and was no long welcome in Zoronor. It didn't matter anyway, he didn't care anymore. All that was left was his eternal drive to destroy and the hate burning within him.

Inspirations:

• Bladelings (AD&D,3.5, 4.0 / Planescape / Forgotten Realms etc)
• Hamatula
• Spikor
• Needlekin
• Razorhands (CTL)

Bladelings sometimes come in some strange shapes an sizes.