Gluthari
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Gluthari possess semi-amorphous bodies composed of dense, heat-reactive bio-gel, supported by a flexible internal lattice that allows them to shift size and manifest additional limbs. At their center lies a glowing lumen nucleus, functioning as both brain and metabolic engine, pulsing with neural and emotional activity. Their pigment-sensitive, bioluminescent outer membrane enables expressive color shifts and regulates temperature. Though their forms ripple and flow in unsettling ways, they must maintain internal cohesion, preventing extreme compression or true shapelessness. While they often adopt humanoid shapes for the comfort of others, their natural and most restful state is more blob-like and fluid. Their perception is fully distributed, relying on light sensitivity, vibration, and tactile mapping rather than fixed sensory organs. Facial features appear wherever convenient, shifting in response to context rather than remaining in a set location. For locomotion, Gluthari rely exclusively on using limb-like protrusions they manifest from their lower body. These legs can vary in number and structure depending on their current form, allowing them to adapt their gait for stability, speed, or terrain. Unlike many amorphous beings, Gluthari do not glide or ooze; all movement is anchored through purposeful, articulated steps.
Biological Traits
Amorphic Form: Gluthari are composed of dense, structured bio-gel tissue capable of reconfiguring itself, allowing them to shift between Small, Average, and Large size categories, effectively gaining the basic benefits of the Growth or Reduction spells through a non-magical biological process. Additionally, they can manifest extra limbs beyond their natural four; however, each additional limb beyond this imposes a cumulative –4 penalty to Endurance for the duration of its manifestation. Shifting size or manifesting or retracting a limb requires a full-round action. Whenever a limb is disabled or destroyed, it continues to count toward the cumulative manifestation penalty until the Gluthari takes Medical Leave, regardless of how many limbs are currently manifested.
Ancestral Recall: Gluthari possess genetically encoded memories, granting them a form of ancestral recall. Each individual is born with echoes of prior generations; fragments of a collective memory that must be interpreted and understood on a personal level. A number of times per day equal to their level, a Gluthari may add +50 to a Knowledge check as they tap into this inherited wisdom.
Core Lumen: At the center of each Gluthari is a bioluminescent nucleus, often called the lumen core, which houses their cognitive and energetic center. While calculating health add the Sensory Vitals and Torso health pools together into a single pool. Any attack or effect that would affect one instead targets the combined pool. Whenever a Gluthari would gain a heroic injury, they only roll on the Sensory Vitals chart.
Flexible Lattice Network: The flowing membrane that envelops a Gluthari offers enhanced protection against blunt-force trauma, granting +50 Resistance (Crushing). However, its high permeability leaves them vulnerable to toxins and puncture-based attacks, resulting in a vulnerability to both Piercing and Poison damage.
Glow Field: The bioluminescence of a Gluthari emits an aura of dim light within a 3 meter radius. By using a partial action and concentrating, the Gluthari can suppress this aura for the duration of the concentration.
Unstable Biology: The physiology of a Gluthari is alien and highly fluid, making medical treatment and study particularly challenging. All Biology and Medicine checks made on a Gluthari are treated as one difficulty category higher. Additionally, Gluthari suffer a –15 penalty to Fortitude, but whenever they make a check under Endurance, they may reroll the result although they must keep the second roll.
Genetics and Reproduction
Gluthari do not reproduce through traditional means but instead emerge fully formed from chrysalis-pods known as emberwombs, grown in carefully cultivated biocysts maintained by elder Gluthari. These pods develop over decades, weaving together ambient energy, trace parental nanogenes, and memory-rich bio-gel harvested from previous generations. When the pod reaches maturity, a new Gluthari awakens, infused with fragmented ancestral knowledge and emotional resonance. They are not born in the biological sense but kindled; brought into being through ritual, memory, and living essence. Each one a continuation of a lineage that flows more like a river than a tree.
Growth Rate & Stages
The formation of a Gluthari within an emberwomb typically takes between 25 and 40 years, depending on environmental conditions and the emotional resonance of the surrounding community. The process cannot be rushed; forcing growth risks fracturing the memory-web or destabilizing the lumen core. Most Gluthari consider 30 years the ideal gestation which is believed to produce the most balanced individuals, harmonizing inherited memory with the most unique identity. Once kindled, a Gluthari is fully sentient within days, though it may take years to sort and interpret the ancestral echoes carried within its form.
If the Gluthari kindling process is rushed, whether through artificial acceleration, unstable biocyst environments, or emotional discord among nearby Gluthari, the resulting being is often unstable in both form and mind. These prematurely awakened Gluthari are called Ashborn and may suffer from fractured memory webs, experiencing ancestral echoes as intrusive thoughts, hallucinations, or emotional surges that are difficult to control. Physically, Ashborn often have difficulty maintaining cohesion: their bodies ripple erratically, limbs form unpredictably, and their lumen cores may flicker or pulse with volatile intensity, risking collapse under stress.
Though not always dangerous, Ashborn are often socially marginalized and viewed with a mix of pity and fear. They are sometimes guided into secluded roles where their instability poses less risk. However, a rare few manage to stabilize over time, developing unique insights into Gluthari memory and form. Among certain philosophical orders, an Ashborn who masters their instability is revered as a "Forged Flame", a symbol of chaos tamed and identity reclaimed.
Ecology and Habitats
The Gluthari thrive in the mist-wreathed temperate isles of Endeavour, where rugged coastlines meet verdant forests and ever-shifting tides whisper ancient secrets. Their amorphic forms shimmer softly beneath canopies dappled with amber sunlight, blending seamlessly with the warm hues of autumn leaves and worn stones. These isles’ moderate climate, rich in ambient energy and subtle elemental flux, nurtures the delicate biocysts that birth new Gluthari and sustains the radiant glow coursing through their bodies. In turn, the Gluthari serve as living conduits of the isles’ latent vitality. They often serve as Wildspeakers and Wyldings molding the very environment with their shifting forms, fostering symbiotic relationships with luminous fungi, phosphorescent flora, and the ever-humming currents that ripple through the archipelago’s hidden veins.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Gluthari maintain a primarily bio-absorptive diet, drawing essential nutrients and ambient energies from carefully cultivated mineral-rich soils and purified water sources. Supplementing this, they consume specially grown phosphorescent fungi and nutrient-dense lichens, cultivated in communal gardens, which enhance their bioluminescent vitality and support the metabolic demands of their mutable forms. Meals are regarded as deliberate, almost ritualistic occasions. They bring moments of quiet reflection and energy exchange that reinforce both individual well-being and their profound bond with the temperate isles they inhabit.
Traveling Gluthari can safely consume foreign foods without issue but require periodic supplements of phosphorescent matter to sustain their bioluminescence. Without this essential nourishment, a Gluthari gradually loses its vibrant coloration and experiences a noticeable decline in vitality.
Traveling Gluthari can safely consume foreign foods without issue but require periodic supplements of phosphorescent matter to sustain their bioluminescence. Without this essential nourishment, a Gluthari gradually loses its vibrant coloration and experiences a noticeable decline in vitality.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Thermalscale Vision: Focusing on the infrared side of the light spectrum. It allows for vision based on heat sources. Thermalscale is the closest to darkvision one can get without magical assistance. Visual arc 120 degrees.
Thermalscale Vision
Characters with thermalscale vision can see through certain objects. If a creature of the heat or flesh types is behind cover they may still be "visible". If the target is not trying to hide you must roll a Challenging Success, if the target is attempting to hide you must roll 3 more successes than they do on thier hide or move silently check.
If the creature or object is the fire type reduce the number of successes needed by 2
Light Level | Visual Penalty | Max Visual Range | Information |
---|---|---|---|
Very Bright (8000+ lux) | -116 | 100 meters | Prolonged exposure can cause permanent blindness |
Bright (4000-7999 lux) | -46 | 500 meters | Prolonged exposure can cause permanent blindness |
Daylight (2000-3999 lux) | none | 1km | None |
Well Lit (500-1999 lux) | +3 | 2km | None |
Dim (1-499 lux) | +12 | 2km | None |
Dark (>1lux) | +12 | 2km | None |
Pitch Dark (0 lux) | -9 | 750 meters | None |
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Racial Hit Die: 1d6+1
Size Category: Average
Size Category: Average
Subraces
Gluthari, Ashborn
Gluthari, Ashborn
Lifespan
650 years
Average Height
1.5 m
Average Weight
80 kg
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
A variety of reds and oranges
Geographic Distribution
Strength: -2
Endurance: -5
Intellect: +2
Perception: +5
Foresight: +4
Magic: 0
Beauty: +2
Rhetoric: 0