Undines

Overview

  Undines are humanoid who trace their ancestry to creatures from the Plane of Water. Even at first glance, one notices the potency of their ancestry, for an undine’s very flesh mimics the color of lakes, seas, and oceans. Whether they have the blood of marids or water mephits as their kin, all undines define themselves through their ancestry. They perceive their individual differences as gifts and explore the supernatural aspects of their unique heritage to the fullest.   The undines are a proud race and show little outward fear. While good-natured and somewhat playful among their own kind, they behave with slightly more reserve and seriousness in the company of non-undines. They have excellent emotional control, and can edge their tempers from calm to raging and back again within but a few minutes. While some might dub their behavior erratic, undines are simply a bit more outwardly melodramatic than most races. Certainly, they are not moody and do not become angered, excited, or otherwise emotional without provocation. As close friends, some find them overly possessive, though they are also extremely protective of those they care about.   Undines tend to settle near water, usually in warmer climates. Though land-dwellers, they spend a fair amount of time in the water. For this reason, most dress sparsely, wearing only enough clothing to protect themselves from the elements, and few wear shoes. They avoid wearing jewelry around their necks and keep their hair slicked back and tied into tight knots. This prevents hair or other objects from becoming a distraction or hindrance while swimming. Similarly, undines pursuing martial classes choose weapons that they can wield efficiently on land as well as in water.

Physical Description

  Undines display a wide variation of skin tones, ranging from pale turquoise to deep blue to sea green. An undine’s straight, thick hair tends to be of a similar, yet slightly darker color than her skin. All have limpid blue eyes. Physically, undines most resemble humans, and their physiques show human diversity in regard to overall height and body type. Aside from their coloration, their most racially defining traits remain their fin-like ears and webbed hands and feet.  

Society

  Undines define themselves as a unique race and are capable of producing undine offspring. While they remain able to interbreed with humans, they tend to keep to themselves, and form small, reclusive communities near bodies of water, or in some cases, floating settlements. A typical undine community lives under the guidance of a small council comprising officials appointed by consensus. Council positions can be held indefinitely, though a community unhappy with the performance of a council member can call for her resignation.  

Race Relations

  Undines hold no biases or prejudices toward any particular races. Their communities rely primarily on trade, giving them ample opportunity to interact with a diverse range of outsiders and foreigners. They have no qualms about establishing neighborhoods within the settlements of other races, provided adequate respect is given to both the undines and any nearby bodies of water. Still, in such instances, a given undine community does what it can to retain its autonomy.   Undines get along quite well with elves and gnomes. Often these races share protective duties over forested lakes and streams. Similarly, they interact favorably with good or neutral aquatic humanoids, sharing many common interests. They barter most freely with humans and dwarves for resources such as metal and cloth.  

Stats and Meta Information

Ability Score Racial Traits: Undines are both perceptive and agile, but tend to adapt rather than match force with force. They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, and –2 Strength.
Type: Undines are outsiders with the native subtype.
Size: Undines are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base Speed: Undines have a base speed of 30 feet on land. They also have a swim speed of 30 feet, can move in water without making Swim checks, and always treat Swim as a class skill.
Languages: Undines begin play speaking Common and Aquan. Undines with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Auran, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Ignan, and Terran.
Energy Resistance: Undines have cold resistance 10.
Spell-Like Ability (Sp): Undines can use hydraulic push 1/day (caster level equals the undine’s level).
Water Affinity: undine sorcerers with the elemental (water) bloodline treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer spells and class abilities. undine clerics with the Water domain cast their Water domain powers and spells at +1 caster level.
Darkvision: Undines can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
Friends of the Sea: Once per day, as a standard action an Undine can touch any number of targets to grant them a swim speed of 30 feet for 1 minute per hit dice the Undine possesses. If the Undine possesses the Amphibious racial trait, the targets also gain the aquatic subtype for the duration  

Alternate Elemental Heritages

Vapor Undine (Mistsoul)

Typical Alignment NG
Ability Modifiers +2 Con, +2 Wis, –2 Int
Alternate Spell-Like Ability Mistsouls gain obscuring mist as a spell-like ability.
Alternate Spellcasting Affinity Mistsouls gain their water affinity for sorcerers with the dreamspun bloodline and spellcasters with the Repose domain.   Soothing and insightful, mistsoul undines move through the world with airy resilience and earnest action. With gentle spirits and contemplative minds, mistsouls are drawn to the more mystic aspects of their element. Their ephemeral, vaporous natures can allow them to lull others into a dreamlike state, or facilitate a peaceful transition into the next life. They tend to seek out places where ideological and political struggles converge. Physically, mistsouls have rounded features and graceful deliberation in their movement. They prefer soft, high-quality garments of neutral or earth tones and simple jewelry chosen for significance rather than expense.  

Frost Undine (Rimesoul)

Typical Alignment LN
Ability Modifiers +2 Dex, +2 Int, –2 Cha
Alternate Spell-Like Ability Mistsouls gain chill touch as a spell-like ability.
Alternate Spellcasting Affinity Rimsouls gain their water affinity for sorcerers with the boreal bloodline and spellcasters with the Ice subdomain.   Rimesoul undines are distant and imperious, aloof in their intellect and hesitant to change their ways. Like their ice-coated ancestors, rimesouls represent the solidification of change. They have precise, ordered minds that take well to individual pursuits. Rimesouls often choose to live in sparsely populated areas. When they do live in cities, they prefer areas of disciplined culture. In appearance, rimesouls are frequently pale, sometimes with translucent or blue-tinged skin. Rimesouls usually dress in crisp, understated fashions that present an impression of austerity.