Backgrounds

Each character has one racial background. In addition, humans also have one cultural background. "Favored" feats and skills are those abilities which tend to be found among members of a cultural group. Favored feats and skills must be purchased just like any other feats or skills if the character wishes to have them. All background feats and skills are optional; a character is not required to buy feats or skills which are inappropriate, nor should they. Native languages are free, and do not cost character points.

Alate
Alates are tall, slender bipeds resembling pterodactyls. Alates are native to the mountains of Thrace, Goethe, and Vharsa.

Alates have a reputation for being aloof and unforgiving, but they treat a spoken vow as sacred.


 * An individual is an "Alate"; plural "Alates" 
 * The descriptive term is "Alate" 


 * Alates tend to have higher than average Wisdom, but lower than average Strength
 * Alates are Medium size
 * Alates have up to three ranks in Flight
 * Alates trained as couriers often have the Eidetic Memory feat
 * For purposes of using a lance, Alates are considered mounted while in flight
 * Native languages: Haruka, Killillirukau
 * Name style: Nahuatl

Human
Humans are a varied race, from the tall, burly Goths to the small, slim Ilwraithe, from the pale, reserved Varese to the dark skinned, passionate Khitaj.


 * An individual is a "Human"; plural "Humans" 
 * The descriptive term is "Human" 


 * Humans are the baseline to which other races are compared
 * Humans are Medium size
 * Native language: Humans have native languages based on their cultural background
 * Name style: Humans' name style is based on their cultural background

Khul
The Khul are four-armed, bronze-skinned humanoids who live in small villages in rugged lands between Rugeland and Khulthea.

Khul have a reputation for being ferocious but honorable warriors who place family loyalty above all else.


 * An individual is a "Khul"; plural "Khul" 
 * The descriptive term is "Khul" 


 * Khul tend to have higher than average Strength, but lower than average Charisma
 * Khul are Medium size
 * Khul have two ranks in Additional Limbs (four arms)
 * Khul trained as wardancers often have the Ambidexterity feat
 * Khul treat kamas, sais, and sianghams as martial weapons
 * Native language: Khulthean
 * Name style: Irish

Zinjan
Zinjan are humanoids with short, soft fur in a striped black-on-white pattern, similar to a zebra or white tiger. Zinjan are native to Mrisinnia, but may be found in Cinnabar, Thrace, or Scythia.

Zinjan have a reputation for being casually violent and sexually promiscuous, but they also value a healthy sense of humour.


 * An individual is a "Zinjan"; plural "Zinjan" 
 * The descriptive term is "Zinjan" 


 * Zinjan tend to have higher than average Dexterity, and lower than average Wisdom
 * Zinjan have one rank in Super Senses: Low-Light Vision
 * Zinjan treat bolas and boomerangs as martial weapons
 * Native languages: Zinjan
 * Name style: African

Gothic
Goths are the primary human inhabitants of Goethe, a wild land of rocky hills immediately west of Thrace. Goths are among the tallest of the human races, and generally have blonde or red hair, light or ruddy skin, and blue or green eyes.

Goths have a reputation for being rowdy seafaring warriors, but they are also renowned storytellers, traders, and explorers.


 * An individual is a "Goth"; plural "Goths" 
 * The descriptive term is "Gothic" 


 * Goths are Medium size, but are a head taller, on average, than most other humans
 * Favored skills: Drive (water vehicles), Navigate
 * Favored feats: Armor Training, Weapon Training, Tough
 * Goths treat nets as martial weapons
 * Goths use a bastard sword one-handed as a martial weapon
 * Native language: Gothic
 * Name style: Norse or German

Ilwraithe
The Ilwraithe are the dominant human inhabitants of the Ilwraithe Imperium, an expansionist military empire far to the east of Khitai. This cultural background assumes that the character was part of, or was trained by someone who was part of, the vast Ilwraithe army which occupied Khitai during the Ilwraithe Conquest. Ilwraithe are among the smallest of the human races, and generally have straight black hair, light to medium skin, and near-black eyes.

Ilwraithe have a reputation for being orderly and heartless, but they also value beauty and the arts.


 * An individual is an "Ilwraithe"; plural "Ilwraithe" 
 * The descriptive term is "Ilwraithe" 


 * Ilwraithe are Medium size, but are a head shorter, on average, than most other humans
 * Favored skills: Craft, Perform
 * Favored feats: Improved Strike, Weapon Training, Teamwork
 * Ilwraithe treat nunchakus and shuriken as martial weapons
 * Native language: Ilwraithe
 * Name style: Chinese or Japanese

Khitaj
The Khitaj are the people of Khitai, an arid land in central NUM. Khitai is separated into four parts: Scythia, Symeria, Kazarahn, and Cinnabar. Most Khitaj have aquiline noses, and they generally have straight or wavy hair of dark brown or black, swarthy or olive skin, and brown or amber eyes.

Khitaj have a reputation for being impulsive and passionate, but they also value tradition and propriety.

(Note: I want to make this into four separate cultural backgrounds, the same way Archaea is.)


 * An individual is a "Khitaj"; plural "Khitaj" 
 * The descriptive term is "Khitaj" 


 * Favored skills: Handle Animal, Ride
 * Favored feats: Diehard, Dedication
 * Khitaj treat whips as martial weapons
 * Native language: Khitaj
 * Name style: Arabian, Persian, or Hindi

Kurag
Between the chill pine forests of Vharsa and frozen wastes of Ylaria are miles of tundra: Kuraghol, home to the barbaric Kurags. Kurags generally have broad noses, curly brown hair, light to medium skin, and brown or green eyes.

Kurags have a reputation for being brutal and superstitious, but they also value strength and bravery.


 * An individual is a "Kurag"; plural "Kurags" 
 * The descriptive term is "Kurag" 


 * Favored skills: Knowledge (nature), Survival
 * Favored feats: Endurance, Rage
 * Kurags treat a double axe as a martial weapon
 * Native language: Archaean
 * Name style: Turkish

Rugen
North of Thrace is Rugeland, an arid, rocky area typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as sage, juniper and myrtle. The Rugen generally have high cheekbones, straight brown or light hair, light skin, and blue or green eyes.

Rugen have a reputation for being simple or even crude, but they also value honesty and discipline.


 * An individual is a "Ruge"; plural "Rugen" <a tall Ruge, several Rugen on horseback>
 * The descriptive term is "Rugen" <a Rugen weapon, the Rugen people>


 * Favored skills: Craft, Handle Animal
 * Favored feats: Animal Empathy, Track
 * Native language: Archaean
 * Name style: German

Thracian
On the northern coast of the Sea of Mri live the Thracians, who are reknowned as merchants and traders. This cultural background assumes that the character was raised in the Seven Cities of Thrace. Thracians typically have wavy or curly brown hair, swarthy or olive skin, and brown or blue eyes.

Thracians have a reputation for being canny and avaricious, but they are also excellent negotiators.


 * An individual is a "Thracian"; plural "Thracians" <a tall Thracian, several Thracians on horseback>
 * The descriptive term is "Thracian" <a Thracian weapon, the Thracian people>


 * Favored skills: Bluff, Diplomacy
 * Favored feats: Contacts, Well-Informed
 * Native language: Archaean
 * Name style: German if of North Thracian ancestry, or Greek or Italian if of South Thracian ancestry

Varese
North of the Gothic wilderness is Vharsa, the land of the stoic Varesians. Varese typically have straight brown or black hair, pale skin, and brown or blue eyes.

Varesians have a reputation for being unfriendly, but they are also clever and inventive.


 * An individual is a "Varesian"; plural "Varesians" <a tall Varesian, several Varesians on horseback>
 * The descriptive term is "Varese" <a Varese weapon, the Varese people>


 * Favored skills: Disable Device, Sense Motive
 * Favored feats: Inventor, Master Plan
 * Native language: Archaean
 * Name style: Czech