Chenlians [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Chenlians [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tristevoix
06-29-07, 08:43 PM This is a race I posted here a long time ago and the only one I found in my old files out of the few races I had previously posted (the cyausas, the shinos, the sangs d'ogre, and the ustecs). I thought I might post it again...

My inspiration came from a bad guy in an old anime called (at least in French) Goldorak, as well as Mr Spock, the Mentats in Dune, and a couple more things I've heard of but cannot remember the source. I also sort of based the naming stuff on Chinese (hope that won't offend anyone or such).

CHENLIANS

General description

Chenlians are a tall and proud people, human-like in appearance, but with a few distinctions. Their skin is of a grayish hue and their hair tends towards deep blue or green and is very soft. Their eyes are large and usually match their hair. They only have four long fingers, as if the third and fourth fingers of a human hand had merged together. Chenlians call this finger the wunulan and it is a custom to let its nail grow long. It is a thick nail well suited for artistic creativity. Important chenlians have richly decorated wunulans whilst others either are forbidden to decorate it (like the yolins and the jisunjis) or must cut the nail due to the nature of their work.

However, the most striking feature of the chenlians is the long scar-like line that runs from the tip of their forehead to just under their chin. At a certain point in their life, they become naturally able to rip open their face in order to reveal their lansen, or other self. This does not require the use of the hands, is quite painless and there is no blood. It is as if their main face was but a mask.

Each chenlian has a hidden visage that is revealed when he splits his face. This visage is usually pretty similar to the main one, except that it looks and sounds as if it was of the opposite sex and has a paler skin, pitch-black eyes and is blind. When acting under the influence of his lansen, a chenlian keeps all of his memories and knowledge and is in fact much the same person, except that he sees the world a bit differently. Indeed, the hidden visage is of a different alignment, always one step closer to neutrality (a partially neutral or True Neutral alignment becomes or remains True Neutral, and a non-neutral alignment becomes partially neutral). The lansen is a toned-down version of the chanlian's personality. It is colder, more composed, detached and emotionless. It is believed that the lansen makes better decisions since its neutrality leaves it detached from biased point of views. Chenlians will therefore revert to their lansen to better judge and analyze complicated or difficult situations.

However, exceptions exist. Mogois, or deviants, are chenlians that have a lansen drastically different from their main self. A mogoi's lansen's alignment is never neutral and therefore must be either LG, LE, CG or CE. It generally tends to be as opposed to the main alignment as possible. A mogoi's lansen is not toned-down. It is the main self, but with very different views of things. Like every other chenlians, mogois will tend to trust more their lansen when it comes to important decisions.

Moreover, the lansen has the ability to enter a special trance, the sensanminsir, or deep thinking meditation. During this trance, the lansen analyzes a problem or situation and seeks to uncover more information about it. This information either comes from some connection with an ancestral memory or an ability to see in the mind what was apparently forgotten. Some intuitive or logical deductions are then applied and the lansen finally comes up with a better understanding of whatever it was thinking about. However, whenever a lansen speaks, it must do so within the jensinjir, or the truth restriction. A lansen cannot lie, although it is not compelled to say everything. Because of that, chenlians tend to be very good at side-stepping the truth. Mogois are even better by necessity.

Chenlians children cannot reveal their lansen at all. This traumatic experience only manifests itself at puberty. This period is critical for them and adults become especially attentive and understanding. It is important to keep watch on the youth, for it is during this period that the mogois shape themselves. The shock of suddenly having to try and re-understand the world with a different set of values can be too much for some. Usually, a chenlian learns to accept his lansen within a year and by then can safely reveal it. It then takes a few more years to understand it fully. This is normally achieved mainly at school where young chenlians learn how to enter the sensanminsir and to deep think. Mogois are often discovered at that stage and are dealt with accordingly. However, some manage to fool the system as they quickly realize they are different and develop strategies to adapt themselves and avoid detection.

One peculiarity about the chenlians is a punishment they can inflict that no one else can. The sirsin is a ritual that locks away one of the visages, be it the main self or the lansen (usually the guilty or evil one). A locked visage cannot be used anymore leaving the chenlian with whatever face is left. This sentence is very shameful and sometimes considered worse than death. It is usually preferred to death by the authority, though, and is applied to criminals and especially mogois.

Locking away the lansen creates a yolin, a chenlian that can no more deep think. These people are consider to be little more than slaves and are used as such. Sometimes, however, it is the main self that must be locked away. The blind lansen that remains is called a jisunji. These people are taken into special institutes where they spend the rest of their life in the sensanminsir. The mijincar, the chenlians' secret police, uses these jisunjis to predict events and calculate difficult probabilities. It is also believed, but not proven, that the mijincar always seek evil jisunjis for their ability to come up with devious plans.

Relations

Because of the sensanminsir and the jensinjir, chenlians tend to make very good counselors and are readily trusted to act as judges or witnesses in foreign nations that are aware of the chenlians' nature. They usually sell their services at a high price and if a ruler cannot pay in gold or goods, then slaves will do. Chenlians are very elitists within their own land and see other races as inferior. They try to remain neutral in any conflict, preferring to support both sides or none at all. Although they mainly act as advisors and negotiators, chenlians are not above trying to have a say in the ruling of other countries. They will usually subtly influence events so that conflicts will be avoided or resolved without them being involved at all, but according to their own desires. They also try to always slightly favor their people. Strangers do not often realize that the chenlians are schemers and manipulators for two main reasons. Firstly, many believe wrongly the jensinjir also applies to the main self, and secondly, the chenlians' deep thinking ability allows them to devise plans usually too subtle for others.

Alignment

The typical chenlian tends to be Lawful Neutral with a True Neutral lansen. Deep thinking will bring the facts as they truly are, without any bias whatsoever. It is then left to the chenlian to interpret them according to the law. The typical mogoi tends to be Lawful Neutral with a Chaotic Evil lansen. Needless to say, such an individual can be very destructive. Deep thinking will still bring the facts, but the Chaotic Evil nature of the lansen will twist them in the worst possible manner, always within the jensinjir. The chenlian will then interpret them according to the law and the wrong people might very well suffer the consequences. These are not absolutes, however.

Although they have two alignments, chenlians are still pretty much committed to their main alignment. The lansen is just that, another self used to analyze. Therefore, a LG chenlian, for example, could still be a paladin even if sometimes he might become NG (or LN). Whatever facts are brought to him, he will act upon them as a paladin. That does not hold true for the mogois. Progression in certain alignment restricted classes and prestige classes is forbidden for them. A mogoi's lansen is very committed to its own alignment and whatever it discovers will be twisted. For example, let's assume the previous chenlian paladin is a mogoi with a LE lansen. Whatever the lansen produces as deductions will tend to serve its evil alignment. If the paladin uses this information, he might end up serving evil.

Religion

Chenlians have two main deities: Chun Wen and Jin Luen. Chun Wen is the Lady in the Shadow, the Wise Whisper, the Voice of Reason. She is the main deity of the chenlians. She is the counselor, the shadow next to everyone that whispers the right or wisest thing to do, but she is also a deceiver. Chun Wen is not straightforward and is difficult to fathom. She was the one who dictated the laws, but is the first to bend them. She was responsible of having freed her brother Jin Luen from the confinement of the chenlians' mind, but she is also the one who created the sirsin. She teaches nothing, but her followers can learn from her actions and that is why many are sent into the world to stand in the shadow of other rulers. Chun Wen is perceived by the chenlians as Lawful Neutral and grants access to the following domains: law, luck, pact, trickery. Her favored weapon is the dagger and her symbol is a white woman's face with the chenlian's scar. It is said to be very difficult to bring out the right expression on Chun Wen's visage when creating a holy symbol. Minor quarrels over this simple matter have led to the creation of lesser but more extreme factions within the clergy, like the Harpies, the Mockers, and the Sphinxes, for example.

Jin Luen is the Lord of Secrets, the One Who Knows, the Blind Truth. He is to Chun Wen what the lansen is to a chenlian. Therefore, although important, Jin Luen is only consulted on matters of knowledge and secrets. When one wants to know, one asks Jin Luen. Besides, the god cares little about the people and only answers them because it suits him to seek knowledge. Although the god himself is blind, his clerics do not have to be so. However, particularly devoted followers do blind themselves and in return it is believed that they gain the ability to delve deeper in the sensanminsir. Jin Luen is True Neutral and grants access to the fate, knowledge, mind and oracle domains. Jin Luen's favored weapon is the sickle and his symbol is similar to Chun Wen's, except that the woman's face is opened to reveal a black and expressionless man's visage. It might be interesting to note that in the god's symbol, as opposed to the chanlians, the darker face is underneath. It symbolizes that Jin Luen can delve into darker lore than any mortal could.

Language

Chenlians have their own language that uses the common alphabet, although slightly altered. Acting as counselors in foreign countries means that many chenlians will also speak at least one other language. Also, many have found useful to be able to deliver secret messages (by investing in the Bluff skill).

Names

A chenlian name is usually composed of a family name and a given name. The family name is put in front of the given name. It consists of one or two syllables followed by the word "Wu". The given name is also made of one or two syllables. Sometimes, the same syllable is used, but that is mostly for female names.

Common syllables used for names are: Bai, Cai, Cao, Chen, Chi, Cui, Den, Du, Fan, Fen, Gao, Guan, Han, He, Hu, Huan, Jian, Li, Lian, Liao, Lin, Liu, Lu, Luo, Ma, Pan, Pen, Lu, Qian, Son, Sun, Tan, Wan, Wen, Xie, Xu, Yan, Ye, Yuan, Zan, Zao, Zen and Zou.
Thus, a typical male and female name could be Zan Wu Liu Den and Chen Wu Fen Fen.

Adventurers

An adventuring chenlian could be a yolin seeking a better life or a mogoi escapee. However, a normal chenlian could also seek to put his ability to the service of a certain cause, or to try and get richer by following the shorter, but more dangerous path.

CHENLIAN
• No stats adjustment. Chenlians do not have any particular physical strength or weakness. Mentally, they trust as much feelings and instinct than reason and logic.
• Medium: As Medium creatures, chenlians have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• A chenlian base land speed is 30 feet.
• Lansen: The lansen is much more aware and analytical than the main self. When a chenlian chooses to reverts to his lansen and act under its influence, he gains a +2 to all Intelligence- and Wisdom-based skill checks. The blindness of the lansen must be taken into account. Changing visage is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
• Dual Alignment: A chenlian effectively has two alignments, although the primary alignment is mainly used. However, should it proved to be more advantageous, a chenlian can shift its alignment by switching between his main self and his lansen in order to accommodate or thwart certain effects, like a spell for example.
• Sensanminsir: Only when a chenlian reverts to his lansen can he enter the trance and deep think. Even if the main self and the lansen shares the same memories, the main self has absolutely no idea about what's going on during the sensanminsir. This trance last for about 1 hour during which time the chenlian is considered flat-footed. At the end of the trance, if it was not interrupted, a special Gather Information check is made (with a DC decided by the DM based on the current complexity of the situation). A bard can use bardic knowledge instead of Gather Information if it proves more advantageous. On a success, more information is discovered and a better understanding of the situation can be achieved. A normal lansen will state the facts as they are, usually with little bias. A mogoi's lansen will state the facts so that they best suit its alignment, even using deception or not telling all the truth if necessary. The lansen always speak as if under the influence of a zone of truth spell except that it cannot tell any lies at all. That restriction also applies when the lansen conveys the knowledge to the main self even if spoken in the mind.
• +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells with an alignment descriptor.
• +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks at all times and +2 on Gather Information checks when deep thinking.
• Automatic Languages: Common and Chenlian. Bonus Languages: based on campaign availability.
• Favored Class: Expert or Rogue. A multiclass chenlian's expert or rogue class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing.
• Level adjustment is 0.

I guess that's it.
Rerecros
06-29-07, 08:57 PM Very interesting and well developed race :)
But 'm not sure about the gather info check for the Sensanminsir. Gather information requres interrogating people getting on their good side or playing bad cop. Sensanminsir sounds more like a knowledge check, and can make any type of knowledge check even untrained.
MCage
06-29-07, 08:58 PM I like the Flavour of the race, and the dual alignment ability but im a tad confused on what exactly the Sensanminsir does, is it supposed to be just a buffed out Gather info check or is that gather info check supposed to reveal something different entirely.

(ive been up for 60 hours sorry if i totaly missed the point of that ability)
tristevoix
06-30-07, 06:17 AM Eh, thanks! :D

Right! I don't know if you guys have read Dune and/or know about the mentats? Well, as far as I remember at least, these guys are like living computers with a mind able to calculate loads or probable events and deductions and such. Thus they can plan and counter-plan and then again. So, that's sort of the idea behind deep thinking. I chose Gather Information because I liked the name better, mainly. During the sensanminsir, the chenlian gathers all known information and applies it to a particular event upon which he his thinking and then tries to deduce something or come up with a plan or solution to a problem.

I guess the put off for Gather Information is that it is a Charisma-based check, which I admit makes little sense in regards to the ability. Knowledge checks would seem more appropriate, with some chenlians being specialized in certain areas of thinking and all. But I think I had a more generalized approach in mind.

For the players, deep thinking would allow their character to come up with a solution when the players have no idea, to deduce something from recent developments when they have no clue, or to come up with a plan that the enemy might least expect. Stuff like that. I guess it could be tricky to adjudicate which Knowledge check would be appropriate to come up with the best plan to take on the orcs, to try and find out why the opposing knights are not charging yet, what's the most likely way the assassin will strike at the queen, or why are the White Hooded Monks so intent on possessing the cubic zirconia.

Cheers!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tristevoix 06-29-07, 08:43 PM	This is a race I posted here a long time ago and the only one I found in my old files out of the few races I had previously posted (the cyausas, the shinos, the sangs d'ogre, and the ustecs). I thought I might post it again... My inspiration came from a bad guy in an old anime called (at least in French) Goldorak, as well as Mr Spock, the Mentats in Dune, and a couple more things I've heard of but cannot remember the source. I also sort of based the naming stuff on Chinese (hope that won't offend anyone or such). CHENLIANS General description Chenlians are a tall and proud people, human-like in appearance, but with a few distinctions. Their skin is of a grayish hue and their hair tends towards deep blue or green and is very soft. Their eyes are large and usually match their hair. They only have four long fingers, as if the third and fourth fingers of a human hand had merged together. Chenlians call this finger the wunulan and it is a custom to let its nail grow long. It is a thick nail well suited for artistic creativity. Important chenlians have richly decorated wunulans whilst others either are forbidden to decorate it (like the yolins and the jisunjis) or must cut the nail due to the nature of their work. However, the most striking feature of the chenlians is the long scar-like line that runs from the tip of their forehead to just under their chin. At a certain point in their life, they become naturally able to rip open their face in order to reveal their lansen, or other self. This does not require the use of the hands, is quite painless and there is no blood. It is as if their main face was but a mask. Each chenlian has a hidden visage that is revealed when he splits his face. This visage is usually pretty similar to the main one, except that it looks and sounds as if it was of the opposite sex and has a paler skin, pitch-black eyes and is blind. When acting under the influence of his lansen, a chenlian keeps all of his memories and knowledge and is in fact much the same person, except that he sees the world a bit differently. Indeed, the hidden visage is of a different alignment, always one step closer to neutrality (a partially neutral or True Neutral alignment becomes or remains True Neutral, and a non-neutral alignment becomes partially neutral). The lansen is a toned-down version of the chanlian's personality. It is colder, more composed, detached and emotionless. It is believed that the lansen makes better decisions since its neutrality leaves it detached from biased point of views. Chenlians will therefore revert to their lansen to better judge and analyze complicated or difficult situations. However, exceptions exist. Mogois, or deviants, are chenlians that have a lansen drastically different from their main self. A mogoi's lansen's alignment is never neutral and therefore must be either LG, LE, CG or CE. It generally tends to be as opposed to the main alignment as possible. A mogoi's lansen is not toned-down. It is the main self, but with very different views of things. Like every other chenlians, mogois will tend to trust more their lansen when it comes to important decisions. Moreover, the lansen has the ability to enter a special trance, the sensanminsir, or deep thinking meditation. During this trance, the lansen analyzes a problem or situation and seeks to uncover more information about it. This information either comes from some connection with an ancestral memory or an ability to see in the mind what was apparently forgotten. Some intuitive or logical deductions are then applied and the lansen finally comes up with a better understanding of whatever it was thinking about. However, whenever a lansen speaks, it must do so within the jensinjir, or the truth restriction. A lansen cannot lie, although it is not compelled to say everything. Because of that, chenlians tend to be very good at side-stepping the truth. Mogois are even better by necessity. Chenlians children cannot reveal their lansen at all. This traumatic experience only manifests itself at puberty. This period is critical for them and adults become especially attentive and understanding. It is important to keep watch on the youth, for it is during this period that the mogois shape themselves. The shock of suddenly having to try and re-understand the world with a different set of values can be too much for some. Usually, a chenlian learns to accept his lansen within a year and by then can safely reveal it. It then takes a few more years to understand it fully. This is normally achieved mainly at school where young chenlians learn how to enter the sensanminsir and to deep think. Mogois are often discovered at that stage and are dealt with accordingly. However, some manage to fool the system as they quickly realize they are different and develop strategies to adapt themselves and avoid detection. One peculiarity about the chenlians is a punishment they can inflict that no one else can. The sirsin is a ritual that locks away one of the visages, be it the main self or the lansen (usually the guilty or evil one). A locked visage cannot be used anymore leaving the chenlian with whatever face is left. This sentence is very shameful and sometimes considered worse than death. It is usually preferred to death by the authority, though, and is applied to criminals and especially mogois. Locking away the lansen creates a yolin, a chenlian that can no more deep think. These people are consider to be little more than slaves and are used as such. Sometimes, however, it is the main self that must be locked away. The blind lansen that remains is called a jisunji. These people are taken into special institutes where they spend the rest of their life in the sensanminsir. The mijincar, the chenlians' secret police, uses these jisunjis to predict events and calculate difficult probabilities. It is also believed, but not proven, that the mijincar always seek evil jisunjis for their ability to come up with devious plans. Relations Because of the sensanminsir and the jensinjir, chenlians tend to make very good counselors and are readily trusted to act as judges or witnesses in foreign nations that are aware of the chenlians' nature. They usually sell their services at a high price and if a ruler cannot pay in gold or goods, then slaves will do. Chenlians are very elitists within their own land and see other races as inferior. They try to remain neutral in any conflict, preferring to support both sides or none at all. Although they mainly act as advisors and negotiators, chenlians are not above trying to have a say in the ruling of other countries. They will usually subtly influence events so that conflicts will be avoided or resolved without them being involved at all, but according to their own desires. They also try to always slightly favor their people. Strangers do not often realize that the chenlians are schemers and manipulators for two main reasons. Firstly, many believe wrongly the jensinjir also applies to the main self, and secondly, the chenlians' deep thinking ability allows them to devise plans usually too subtle for others. Alignment The typical chenlian tends to be Lawful Neutral with a True Neutral lansen. Deep thinking will bring the facts as they truly are, without any bias whatsoever. It is then left to the chenlian to interpret them according to the law. The typical mogoi tends to be Lawful Neutral with a Chaotic Evil lansen. Needless to say, such an individual can be very destructive. Deep thinking will still bring the facts, but the Chaotic Evil nature of the lansen will twist them in the worst possible manner, always within the jensinjir. The chenlian will then interpret them according to the law and the wrong people might very well suffer the consequences. These are not absolutes, however. Although they have two alignments, chenlians are still pretty much committed to their main alignment. The lansen is just that, another self used to analyze. Therefore, a LG chenlian, for example, could still be a paladin even if sometimes he might become NG (or LN). Whatever facts are brought to him, he will act upon them as a paladin. That does not hold true for the mogois. Progression in certain alignment restricted classes and prestige classes is forbidden for them. A mogoi's lansen is very committed to its own alignment and whatever it discovers will be twisted. For example, let's assume the previous chenlian paladin is a mogoi with a LE lansen. Whatever the lansen produces as deductions will tend to serve its evil alignment. If the paladin uses this information, he might end up serving evil. Religion Chenlians have two main deities: Chun Wen and Jin Luen. Chun Wen is the Lady in the Shadow, the Wise Whisper, the Voice of Reason. She is the main deity of the chenlians. She is the counselor, the shadow next to everyone that whispers the right or wisest thing to do, but she is also a deceiver. Chun Wen is not straightforward and is difficult to fathom. She was the one who dictated the laws, but is the first to bend them. She was responsible of having freed her brother Jin Luen from the confinement of the chenlians' mind, but she is also the one who created the sirsin. She teaches nothing, but her followers can learn from her actions and that is why many are sent into the world to stand in the shadow of other rulers. Chun Wen is perceived by the chenlians as Lawful Neutral and grants access to the following domains: law, luck, pact, trickery. Her favored weapon is the dagger and her symbol is a white woman's face with the chenlian's scar. It is said to be very difficult to bring out the right expression on Chun Wen's visage when creating a holy symbol. Minor quarrels over this simple matter have led to the creation of lesser but more extreme factions within the clergy, like the Harpies, the Mockers, and the Sphinxes, for example. Jin Luen is the Lord of Secrets, the One Who Knows, the Blind Truth. He is to Chun Wen what the lansen is to a chenlian. Therefore, although important, Jin Luen is only consulted on matters of knowledge and secrets. When one wants to know, one asks Jin Luen. Besides, the god cares little about the people and only answers them because it suits him to seek knowledge. Although the god himself is blind, his clerics do not have to be so. However, particularly devoted followers do blind themselves and in return it is believed that they gain the ability to delve deeper in the sensanminsir. Jin Luen is True Neutral and grants access to the fate, knowledge, mind and oracle domains. Jin Luen's favored weapon is the sickle and his symbol is similar to Chun Wen's, except that the woman's face is opened to reveal a black and expressionless man's visage. It might be interesting to note that in the god's symbol, as opposed to the chanlians, the darker face is underneath. It symbolizes that Jin Luen can delve into darker lore than any mortal could. Language Chenlians have their own language that uses the common alphabet, although slightly altered. Acting as counselors in foreign countries means that many chenlians will also speak at least one other language. Also, many have found useful to be able to deliver secret messages (by investing in the Bluff skill). Names A chenlian name is usually composed of a family name and a given name. The family name is put in front of the given name. It consists of one or two syllables followed by the word "Wu". The given name is also made of one or two syllables. Sometimes, the same syllable is used, but that is mostly for female names. Common syllables used for names are: Bai, Cai, Cao, Chen, Chi, Cui, Den, Du, Fan, Fen, Gao, Guan, Han, He, Hu, Huan, Jian, Li, Lian, Liao, Lin, Liu, Lu, Luo, Ma, Pan, Pen, Lu, Qian, Son, Sun, Tan, Wan, Wen, Xie, Xu, Yan, Ye, Yuan, Zan, Zao, Zen and Zou. Thus, a typical male and female name could be Zan Wu Liu Den and Chen Wu Fen Fen. Adventurers An adventuring chenlian could be a yolin seeking a better life or a mogoi escapee. However, a normal chenlian could also seek to put his ability to the service of a certain cause, or to try and get richer by following the shorter, but more dangerous path. CHENLIAN • No stats adjustment. Chenlians do not have any particular physical strength or weakness. Mentally, they trust as much feelings and instinct than reason and logic. • Medium: As Medium creatures, chenlians have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size. • A chenlian base land speed is 30 feet. • Lansen: The lansen is much more aware and analytical than the main self. When a chenlian chooses to reverts to his lansen and act under its influence, he gains a +2 to all Intelligence- and Wisdom-based skill checks. The blindness of the lansen must be taken into account. Changing visage is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. • Dual Alignment: A chenlian effectively has two alignments, although the primary alignment is mainly used. However, should it proved to be more advantageous, a chenlian can shift its alignment by switching between his main self and his lansen in order to accommodate or thwart certain effects, like a spell for example. • Sensanminsir: Only when a chenlian reverts to his lansen can he enter the trance and deep think. Even if the main self and the lansen shares the same memories, the main self has absolutely no idea about what's going on during the sensanminsir. This trance last for about 1 hour during which time the chenlian is considered flat-footed. At the end of the trance, if it was not interrupted, a special Gather Information check is made (with a DC decided by the DM based on the current complexity of the situation). A bard can use bardic knowledge instead of Gather Information if it proves more advantageous. On a success, more information is discovered and a better understanding of the situation can be achieved. A normal lansen will state the facts as they are, usually with little bias. A mogoi's lansen will state the facts so that they best suit its alignment, even using deception or not telling all the truth if necessary. The lansen always speak as if under the influence of a zone of truth spell except that it cannot tell any lies at all. That restriction also applies when the lansen conveys the knowledge to the main self even if spoken in the mind. • +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells with an alignment descriptor. • +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks at all times and +2 on Gather Information checks when deep thinking. • Automatic Languages: Common and Chenlian. Bonus Languages: based on campaign availability. • Favored Class: Expert or Rogue. A multiclass chenlian's expert or rogue class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing. • Level adjustment is 0. I guess that's it.
Rerecros 06-29-07, 08:57 PM	Very interesting and well developed race :) But 'm not sure about the gather info check for the Sensanminsir. Gather information requres interrogating people getting on their good side or playing bad cop. Sensanminsir sounds more like a knowledge check, and can make any type of knowledge check even untrained.
MCage 06-29-07, 08:58 PM	I like the Flavour of the race, and the dual alignment ability but im a tad confused on what exactly the Sensanminsir does, is it supposed to be just a buffed out Gather info check or is that gather info check supposed to reveal something different entirely. (ive been up for 60 hours sorry if i totaly missed the point of that ability)
tristevoix 06-30-07, 06:17 AM	Eh, thanks! :D Right! I don't know if you guys have read Dune and/or know about the mentats? Well, as far as I remember at least, these guys are like living computers with a mind able to calculate loads or probable events and deductions and such. Thus they can plan and counter-plan and then again. So, that's sort of the idea behind deep thinking. I chose Gather Information because I liked the name better, mainly. During the sensanminsir, the chenlian gathers all known information and applies it to a particular event upon which he his thinking and then tries to deduce something or come up with a plan or solution to a problem. I guess the put off for Gather Information is that it is a Charisma-based check, which I admit makes little sense in regards to the ability. Knowledge checks would seem more appropriate, with some chenlians being specialized in certain areas of thinking and all. But I think I had a more generalized approach in mind. For the players, deep thinking would allow their character to come up with a solution when the players have no idea, to deduce something from recent developments when they have no clue, or to come up with a plan that the enemy might least expect. Stuff like that. I guess it could be tricky to adjudicate which Knowledge check would be appropriate to come up with the best plan to take on the orcs, to try and find out why the opposing knights are not charging yet, what's the most likely way the assassin will strike at the queen, or why are the White Hooded Monks so intent on possessing the cubic zirconia. Cheers!