The Scourge of the Skies: Ganselvolk.

 Ganselvolk.

"Let no fear in your heart grow so immense as the fear for large birds." -Xorrb, initiate seer of the orb keepers of the indigo spire.

 
A Ganselvolk raider swooping at a victim.

 
     Ganselvolk are human sized birds with nasty attitudes and fully functional digits. They are, along with most other birds, despised among civilized people. They originate from a distant, frigid, northern land called Honkheim which some of them claim is disappearing somehow. Many Ganselvolk have left their lands and taken up the age old professions of piracy and raiding. They have a well earned reputation for hot-headedness and bullying, especially in groups. Other, more temperate Ganselvolk, have banded together as flying caravaneers... only occasionally pillaging when opportune. They are seen as obnoxious and loud by others and are scarcely welcomed into more refined places or anywhere that requires a modicum of decorum.
    Ganselvolk can fly... sometimes. Their wings aren't large enough to actually support their weight so they need a little encouragement to hold themselves aloft. They also have the unique capacity to achieve feats that would normally be beyond their physical powers, in so far as they are properly confident that they can do it. This strange group-psychic phenomenon is most often observed when gaggles of Ganselvolk aggressively "psych-up" each other by means of encouraging bro-talk and light punches to each others chests. Once sufficiently encouraged, a group of Ganselvolk can take flight and maintain altitude as long as they keep noisily honking at each other. Similarly, they have displayed feats of strength and pain tolerance that defies explanation.  
    They are both made and undone by their confidence though. The first sign of doubt in a group can send shock-waves of panic and despair throughout. This may be why no Ganselvolk army has ever experienced anything more than brief success in war.  
 
    Detested: Ganselvolk suffer a -2 to all reaction rolls with people they do not already have a solid relationship with.
    Flight of confidence: Given enough encouragement, a Ganselvolk can fly for 1 turn. 120' (40') Usually this will require 6 people bro-ing out and pumping up the Ganselvolk. If other humanoids (non-Ganselvolk) are psyching up a Ganselvolk for flying, the Ganselvolk must Fail a wisdom check for it to work. Beyond 1 turn, further encouragement will be needed from other Ganselvolk flying in formation. They can not fly in heavy armor or with a heavy load.
    Long neck: They can bend and extend their neck about 3' and are able to reach most of their bodies with their beaks. They also have a vicious peck and can do so in combat for 1-4 damage. 
    Psych-up: Ganselvolk may perform great physical feats. They may temporarily increase their strength, dexterity, or constitution scores for 1 turn. doing so allso grants them an equal amount of temporary hitpoints. They can not use this ability as a reaction to taking damage, and must choose to do so on their turn.To do so, they must also lower their wisdom on a point-for-point basis. Physical bonus lasts the full turn, the wisdom penalty lasts for the rest of the day. They need to have at least one other person as a witness to their deed to use this ability.
    The other flight of confidence: If things aren't going so well in combat, Ganselvolk have a tenancy to panic and flee, shedding feathers in the process. Any situation where a monster or hireling would need to roll a morale/loyalty check( a team-mate falls, half of the team falls, etc), A Ganselvolk must do so as well. On a failed roll they will flee the situation. They gain confidence as they level, starting at 7 morale and increasing by one every 3 levels
    Ganselvolk may be fighters, thieves, or magic-users.
            

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