Ganeshan
Ganeshan are humanoid pachyderms native to the south and to the east. In the ancient ages, when the Asuras contended endlessly with the Devas for dominion of the three worlds of the Golden Kingdoms, there were among the Gajasura clans some who grew weary of conquest and the endless hunger for power. Seeing that their struggles only deepened the cycle of rebirth and suffering, they turned away from the path of asuric pride and sought instead the path of dharma—to live in harmony with the forests, the earth, and the laws that sustain all beings. Renouncing their celestial realms, they descended into the mortal world and took human spouses, teaching wisdom, memory, and the reverence of nature to their descendants.
Through many generations, their divine and demonic essence faded, tempered by karma and mortal life, until their elephant forms were no longer manifestations of asuric power but the natural bodies of a new people. Thus arose the Gajakin, neither Deva nor Asura, but a mortal race bound to remembrance and the steady rhythms of the world. Some among them still recall in dreams the wars of heaven and the temptations of asuric ambition, but their sages teach that true strength lies in restraint, compassion, and the faithful practice of dharma, by which even those born of demons may walk the path toward liberation.
Their people spread across forests, rivers, and wild plains, and their forms slowly changed according to the lands and duties they embraced. Those who remained in the deep forests and remembered most clearly the ancient wisdom of the Gajasuras became the Gajakin proper, the elephant-clan, keepers of memory and dharma. Others wandered into the thorn plains and savannas, where their bodies hardened and a single horn of karmic will rose upon their brows; these became the Khaḍgakin, the rhino-clan, guardians and warriors who embody steadfast strength. A third people settled along great rivers and marshlands, growing broad and heavy, bound to water and fertility; they were called the Jalāśvakin, the hippo-clan, wardens of life, earth, and the flowing currents of rebirth. Thus the Gajakin people became three kindreds, each shaped by karma, land, and the path of dharma they chose to follow.
CREATURE TRAITS (15 XP)
- Types Size 6 Sapient Bipedal Organism (Ganeshan, Humanoid, Pachyderm)
- Reach 5 feet
- Speed Land 20 feet
ATTRIBUTES (2 XP)
- +2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Dex, +2 (varies by clan)
LANGUAGES (0 XP)
- Starting Languages: Common, Sylvan.
- Bonus Languages: Any common language.
INNATE ABILITIES (13 XP)
- Ganeshan Clan Abilities (3 XP): You gain variable abilities based on your tribe (see Variants below).
- Low-light Vision (1 XP): Ganeshan ignore concealment and Perception penalties caused by dim lighting but not total darkness.
- Large (7 XP): Ganeshan have all the bonuses and penalties for being size 6 (large).
- Slow and Steady (0 XP): As a Slow and Steady ability.
- Thick Skin (2 XP): +1 natural armor.
VARIANTS
Gajakin: +2 Int, Gore, Prehensile Appendage (elephant trunk).
Jalasvakin: +2 Cha, Bite, Swim speed.
Khaḍgakin: +2 Wis, Gore, Charge.
ADDITIONAL ABILITIES
Ganeshan begin with their innate traits and can gain additional traits from the following list as feats.
CHARGE (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Ganeshan, Str 13
Benefits: You gain Charge as an innate tier 1 feat. You can upgrade its tier by spending additional XP up to a maximum of 1/2 your level.
CRUSH (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Ganeshan, Str 13
Benefits: You gain Crush as an innate tier 1 feat. You can upgrade its tier by spending additional XP up to a maximum of 1/2 your level.
HORN OF THE STAMPEDE (4 XP)
Prerequisites: Khaḍgakin, gore attack
Benefits: When you charge and make a gore attack, the attack’s damage increases by one effective size category and you add 1.5 �— your Strength modifier to the damage roll. This doesn't stack with other effects that increase effective size category.
KEEN SCENT (4 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin, Wis 13
Benefits: You gain the Scent ability.
LIVING ARCHIVE (3 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin, Int 13
Benefits: You may attempt Knowledge checks untrained and gain a +2 innate (racial) bonus on all Knowledge checks.
MASSIVE FRAME (1 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin
Benefits: You gain a +1 innate (racial) bonus to melee maneuver attacks and Parry DC.
MEMORY OF DHARMA (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin
Benefits: You gain a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (history) and Sense Motive checks.
MIGHTY TRUNK (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin
Benefits: You can wield light weapons with your trunk, but take a �“2 penalty on attack rolls when doing so.
MUCK DWELLER (4 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin
Benefits: You gain Resistance 1 vs. poison and disease.
WATERS OF SAMSARA (6 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin
Benefits: You gain water walk and water breathing as tier 3 primal powers.
ANCESTRAL TITAN (4 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin
Benefits: Your Powerful Build racial trait also applies to weapon size and carrying capacity.
River Colossus, Greater (4 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin, River-Born
Benefits: You gain a swim speed of 20 feet (if you do not already have one) and can charge through water without penalties.
RELENTLESS CHARGE (1 XP)
Prerequisites: Khaḍgakin
Benefits: You increase your Charge feat by 1 tier and can add upgrades to it as listed in its description.
RIVER-BORN (1 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin, Swim speed.
Benefits: Your swim speed increases to 30 feet.
RIVER NATIVE (1 XP)
Prerequisites: Jalāśvakin
Benefits: You can hold your breath three times longer than normal and gain a +2 innate (racial) bonus on saving throws against drowning and water hazards.
SLAM (1 XP)
Prerequisites: Ganeshan, Str 13
Benefits: You gain a basic slam attack (see Innate Weapon).
STABILITY OF THE EARTH (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Gajakin
Benefits: You gain a +2 innate (racial) bonus to defenses against bull rush, drag, reposition, and trip attempts.
THICKER SKIN (2 XP)
Prerequisites: Ganeshan, Con 13
Benefits: Your Innate Armor goes up by 1 tier. You can upgrade its tier by spending additional XP up to a maximum of 1/2 your level.