Altanian

The “barbarian” Altanians occupy the portion of the Pazidan Peninsula south of the City State of the Invincible Overlord known as Barbarian Altanis. Families are organized into animal totem clans within each tribe. Some clans remain completely nomadic in nature, while most have settled into a semi-nomadic way of life, settling in small ramshackle villages. Clans include Grizzly Bear (the largest tribe), Mountain Lion, Forest Ape, Tusked Boar, Gray Wolf, and Spotted Wolverine. Altanians are among the most renowned trackers in the world. Altaninians maintain their youth and vigor through old age, and then continue with a mature physique until the day that they die—though few ever live to reach the natural end of their life. Altanian society (non-nomadic tribes) is dominated by the women, who own all chattel and property, save the weapons wielded by the warrior men. The men follow the Way of the Sword, which is a quasi-religious cult led by Sword Knights—Altanians that have earned the right to carry Ancestral Swords (mostly Greatswords). Warriors that are not Knights are members of one of several Warrior Lodges, including the Red Lion, Amber Serpent, Blue Bear, Gray Stallion, Black Eagle, White Wolf, and Green Drake Lodges. Warrior women have a single lodge, the Ivory Swan. Most women stay at home, tending to small gardens with their druidic abilities, while the men go hunting and raiding, or form mercenary bands and adventure in other regions. There are reputedly some pureblooded Altanians, with the darkest blood red skin, who claim descent from various Chaos Lords—powerful inhuman creatures from the Chaos Planes of the Netherworld.

Description:

Copper skin, sandy to black (pure bloods) hair, hazel eyes, 5 ft. 6 in., 180 lbs, average to stocky build, typically Neutral or Chaotic Neutral.

Racial Traits: As per the PHB for Human with the following additions or substitutions:

• Attributes: +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence and -2 Charisma
• Feats: Altanians gain the Track feat as a bonus feat
• Skills: Altanians gain Knowledge (Nature), Handle Animal and Survival as class skills regardless of class chosen as well as a +2 racial bonus to the Survival skill
• Bonus Skill Points: Altanians do not receive the normal human bonus of 4 skill points at first level, nor do they gain the 1 additional skill point at each additional level
• Age Effects: Altanians do not feel the effects of age as other humans do. They suffer the penalties of Middle Age at Old Age, and the penalties of Old Age at Venerable Age, but gain the bonuses of aging at the normal age steps.
• Favored Class: Barbarian, Druid (particularly Altanian women) or Psion (again, particularly Altanian women; or Sorcerers if your campaign does not use the Psionics Handbook).
Languages: Altanian.