Human - Zhenwu - Black Tortoise

Zhenwu - Black Tortoise of The North

北方玄武

Zhenwu, the Black Tortoise, or Black Warrior its always listening, and is thus portrayed as completely versed in the esoteric teachings of ascension to enlightenment. It is locked in an endless battle with the serpent representing its struggle with death and decay and completeness and balance through struggle and conflict.

Zhenwu is yin aligned and corresponds to the night, winter, cold, water, black, earth, and faith. The tortoise is a symbol of longevity and happiness. When a tortoise reaches one-thousand years, it is able to speak the language of humans, and foretell the future.
Ancient legends say there was once a young prince named Zhenwu, who showed no interest in ascending the throne of his father, who was the Emperor. He left his parents at the age of sixteen, to study the paths of balance, alchemy and the path to immortality in the mountain temples instead. As a master of this philosophy, he later attained enlightenment and ascended into the heavens.
Zhenwu is an enigmatic and mysterious creature full of esoteric symbology and secret, hidden meanings. Its shell is compared with the celestial vault where the stars, immortals and gods dwell, the underside of its shell corresponds with the flat disc of the earth. It is duality, completeness and the marriage of the divine and mortals, heaven and earth. It symbolizes happiness, stability, longevity, help in difficult phases of life, endurance and mental agility.
Those born under the influence of Zhenwu are said to be complex, contemplative individuals, they often make both good warriors and strategists, they are methodical, meticulous. They are those who plan ahead in years and will plant seeds whose fruits they reap decades later. Like their namesake, ever in battle with the venomous serpent they are said to have a natural resistance to poisons and the charms and spells of demons, sorcerers and mystics.

Zhenwu Racial Traits

+2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Dex Zhenwu posses great physical and mental fortitude, while possessing mental acuity they tend to be physically lumbering and slow.
Zhenwu: Zhenwu are humanoids with the Human and Water subtypes.
Medium: Zhenwu are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Slow & Steady: Zhenwu have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armour or encumbrance.
Elementally Aligned: your strong affinity to your celestial totem imbues you with an affinity for its associated element. You have the (Water) Subtype and vulnerability to spells, abilities and damage bearing the (Fire) descriptor.
Elemental Attunement: Any special abilities, class features, or spells you use with the (Water) descriptor function as if your character, class, or caster level was one level greater.
Elemental Harmony: Any class features, feats, special abilities or spells you use which heal damage or provide bonuses function as if one character, class, or caster level higher when the recipient has the (Wood) subtype.
Elemental Adversity: Any class features, feats, special abilities or spells you use which deal damage or inflict penalties function as if one character, class, or caster level higher when the recipient has the (Fire) subtype.
Celestial Shell: Zhenwu are resistant to sorcery and venom they receive a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities and to resist Death effects, negative levels and ability damage.

Genetic Ancestor(s)