Shibaten (Apath)
 | |
| Unofficial rules compendium | |
|
|
Shibaten or shibatengu are diminutive Japanese spirits, at home on lawns and in streams, akin to kappa. As game creatures, they are humanoid ducks, related to duck the same way tengu are related to ravens.
Description
Shibaten or duck-folk are humanoids with the physical characteristics of ducks, much like tengu have the features of ravens. They mostly live sedentary lives, but have a fierce temper and can be very competitive. Their tempers fade as quickly as they fade, however, and rarely get the shibaten into serious trouble.
Physical Description: Duck-folk are small, about 3'10, with duck-like feathered bodies, beaked heads, oversize eyes, and yellow or orange bird legs with finned feet. Their plumage varies wildly in color; white, black, speckled brown, or motley with bright colors like blue, green, red, and orange. Plumage color is inherited, and sometimes related to social class and occupation. For example, black shibaten are considered sly, brown ones shy, and motley ones vain. Shibaten are surprisingly strong for their size and make excellent wrestlers and fighters despite their small size. Their compact, water-repellent body and finned feet make them excellent swimmers.
Society: Shibaten live in small enclaves, usually close to the dwellings of other folk. Then tend to specialize in water-bound occupations, such as fishermen, ferrymen, and doing laundry. They also farm and forage in marshes and lakes. Their society is loud, intense, and might even seem violent to outsiders.
Relations: Shibaten are not well regarded by most other races, but neither are they seen as a serious threat. While neighbors find them noisy, they are tolerated as a humorous element, and their work in water-craft rarely causes serious competition. Shibaten get along decently with humans and well with tengu and half-orcs. Elves, half-elves, gnomes, and halflings tend to shy away from their boisterousness, but once they get to know them and realize they are not truly dangerous accept them, if preferably at arm's length.
Alignment and Religion: Duck-folk are self-centered and boisterous and tend towards chaotic alignments in their personal habits. But they are rarely anarchists - they like a stable society to fall back on. They are drawn to boisterous, brave-faced gods much like themselves, patrons that see the value of a quick wit and a good laugh - tough they rarely pay more than lip service to religion.
Adventurers: More aggressive shibaten adventure to express their exuberance, while others are forced into a life of adventure because they have been kicked out of their homes by stronger creatures. They make surprisingly good warriors despite their small size, and many are fine archers and hunters, but a good number of them display magical powers, as sorcerers or bards. Despite their size, they are too impatient and noisy to make truly good sneak rogues, but can do well as con-men.
Male Names: Akio, Arata, Atsushi, Haruo, Hiro, Hiroki, Isamu, Katsu, Ken, Kichirou, Masa, Orochi, Ryuu, Sadao, Sho, Takayuki, Takeo, Takeshi, Tatsuya, Tsuyoshi, Yasuo.
Female Names: Akane, Asami, Aya, Ayano, Chiharu, Etsuko, Hitomi, Kameyo, Kasumi, Kei, Kohaku, Mari, Mayumi, Nana, Natsuko, Ren, Sango, Takara, Toshiko, Yoshie.
Standard Racial Traits
- Ability Score Racial Traits: +2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom. Shibaten are surprisingly strong and hardy for their size, and their energy is infectious, but they are overly focused on one thing at a time and not sensitive to their surroundings.
- Size: Kobolds are Small creatures and thus gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on their combat maneuver checks and to Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
- Type: Shibaten are humanoids with the tengu subtype.
- Base Speed: 30 ft.
- Languages: Shibaten begin play speaking Common and Tengu. Shibaten with high intelligence scores can choose from the following: Aquan, Catfolk, Draconic, Halfling, and Necril.
- Random Starting Age: Base age 15 years
Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer +1d4
Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger +1d6
Cleric, Druid, Monk, Wizard +2d6. - Aging Effects: Middle Age 35. Old 55. Venerable 80. Max 80+3d20.
- Height and Weight: Male Height 3'3 Weight 45 lbs. Modifier 2d4 Weight Multiplier x2 lbs.,
Female Height 3'0 Weight 35 lbs. Modifier 2d4 Weight Multiplier x2 lbs.
Offense Racial Traits
- Sumo Aficionado: Shibaten spend a lot of time wrestling and gain a +2 racial bonus on combat maneuver checks to grapple and on CMD against grapple attacks.
Movement Racial Traits
- Swim Speed: Shibaten have a swim speed of 30 feet and gain the +8 racial bonus on Swim checks that a swim speed normally grants.
- Bog Stride: Shibaten can move through natural difficult terrain at their normal speed while within bog, marsh, or flooded areas. Such areas that that have been magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect them.
Skill Racial Traits
- Quacking Fury: Shaibaten have a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks, and Intimidate is always a class skill for them.
- Natural Comedians: Shaibaten have a +2 racial bonus on Perform (comedy) checks.
- Can't Shut Up: Despite their size, shaibaten are not good sneaks. They tend to make some unfortunate noise at just the wrong moment, and suffer a -4 penalty of Sneak checks. This negates their size bonus on Sneak attempts.
Senses Racial Traits
- Low-light Vision: Duck-folk can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.