Tian Xia Character Guide
Tian Xia Character Guide
Tian Xia Character Guide
LOST OMENS
Tian Xia
paizo.com/pathfinder PZO13002-HC Printed in China.
Character Guide
LOST OMENS
Tian Xia
Character Guide
AUTHORS
Table of Contents
Eren Ahn, Jeremy Blum, Logan Bonner, Alyx Bui, James
Case, Banana Chan, Rick Chia, Hiromi Cota, Dana Ebert,
Eleanor Ferron, Basheer Ghouse, John Godek III, Sen H.H.S.,
Joan Hong, Daniel Kwan, Jacky Leung, Jesse J. Leung, Monte
Lin, Jessie “Aki” Lo, Adam Ma, Ashley Moni, Collette Quach,
INTRODUCTION4
Christopher Rondeau, Joaquin Kyle “Makapatag” Saavedra,
Michael Sayre, Shahreena Shahrani, Kienna Shaw, Philip
Shen, Tan Shao Han, Mari Tokuda, Ruvaid Virk, Viditya BACKGROUNDS10
Voleti, Grady Wang, and Jay Zhang
Backgrounds�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10
DESIGN LEAD
James Case Rare Backgrounds�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12
DESIGNERS
Joshua Birdsong, Logan Bonner, James Case,
and Michael Sayre
MAGIC AND THE SPIRIT WORLD 14
DEVELOPMENT LEAD
Eleanor Ferron The Elements����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18
DEVELOPERS Dragon Champions of the Zodiac���������������������������������������������������������������������������21
Eleanor Ferron, Jason Keeley, Luis Loza,
and Landon Winkler
EDITING LEAD
Ianara Natividad
PEOPLES24
EDITORS Dokkaebi Goblin���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34
Felix Dritz, Patrick Hurley, Avi Kool, Priscilla Lagares, Lynne
M. Meyer, Zac Moran, Ianara Natividad, Solomon St. John, Hungerseed������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������36
and Simone D. Sallé
CULTURAL CONSULTATION
Kijimuna������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������38
Sen H.H.S., Joan Hong, Shahreena Shahrani,
and Tan Shao Han
Tian Kobold������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������40
COVER ARTIST Tian Leshy��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������42
Ekaterina Gordeeva
INTERIOR ARTISTS
Tian Lizardfolk������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������44
Mylene Bertrand, Yanis Cardin, Nicholas DeLuca,
Fabio Gorla, Sammy Khalid, Vira Linevych, Paulo Magalhães,
Tian Sprite��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46
Alexander Nanitchkov, Guilherme Nery, Arthur Oliveira,
and Sandra Posada Tsukumogami Poppet������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������48
ART DIRECTION Kitsune��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������50
Sonja Morris
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Nagaji������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������51
Adriana Gasperi
Samsaran����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������52
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Luis Loza Sarangay�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������58
PUBLISHER
Erik Mona
Paizo Inc.
15902 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE,
Unit B
Woodinville, WA 98072-4572
paizo.com
Tanuki������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������64
Wayang���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������70
Yaksha����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 76
Yaoguai����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
CHARACTER OPTIONS 88
Five-Breath Vanguard�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������90
Strategist Marshal��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������91
Spirit Warrior����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������92
Starlit Sentinel��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������94
Fan Dancer���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������98
Cooking�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������100
Medicine�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������106
Tian Innovation������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������110
Wuxia�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������112
Familiar Sage����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������116
Martial Arts�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������118
Companions and Familiars���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������122
Tian Equipment�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������126
Forest of
Koeh Lau ◊ Spirits AOKORI GULF
Bunkats
u River
EVDERGAZ CHASM
y River
in g Sk
Roar
SAPPH ◊ Mount Kumijinja
IRE SO
Ruins of Maiaji ◊ • Nokkaichi UND
City of Bone and Juniper ◊
AI HI
NT US
NS
OU IF
Mount Tsukiyo ◊
M AM
• Hokkoˉ shi
K
NIGHTFORD MOUNTAINS Jyito
Labyrinth of the Two Hells ◊
Spiritscar ◊ • Tsukiwa ChuYe OSOGEN GRASSLANDS
Menhu Suu ◊ Zi Ha CHUYOKAI FOREST
River
SANKYOˉ DAI
KE
agon
Shanguang • Tsering Springs ling Dr
LS
Craw
Pavilion of Falling Flowers ◊ MOUNTAINS
AN
• Kirahata
G
Numijaan
M
LAKE
OU
Sakakabe • TSUKISHIZUKU
KY
NT
AI
Ayajinbo
OJI
◊ Chotilema’s Boudoir
NS
NM
Grave of Moyoshi Shoda ◊
Xidao
OU
Qintong • Mewru •
r
SESERAGI
Rive
Sangpo-Jong
NT
Enganoka •
Kaoling FOREST
Tag
huri
AIN
ir
Wall of
yu
Seyt
• Lekshey
Wanshou
S
AY
Riv
Heaven War
er
A-
as hi R
SILVERMIST iver
M
Pobashabla •
AR
WOOD Rangdol • • Toduc Wa Yashabaru
New Oppara
Sak
ehiy
• Funako
aku
Jinin Linvarre Uruuknus •
Riv
er
Ilu
Akafuto •
Awahana
sh
Sea King’s Gorge
eR
• Vannisaria
iv
er
• Seidoyaji
Riv
Kamiteki Rive
Nightswallow’s Rest ◊ Okim •
Dhucharg Minkai Hiyosai •
er
r
ive ◊ Daigaki Castle ◊ City of Whistling Swords
gR
SEA OF EELS trin Hisuikarasu
ks • Todorokaze
Sil
Kwanlai
r
Dragon-Eel Port ◊
Tuunma
River
KIM ◊ Vale of Green Spears
Yin-Sichasi • Mallaru UM
OUN
TAI Kasai
N S • Wanshi
• Baakai Nagaiyamatsu •
KANGSHUR • Oda
ISLAND SORUI
River Mukinami
Pine KAIMUKO GULF
Black
GOSS
SPECTERWOOD WOOD
Zetang AOGAITO
Tianjing
AME
Shogokabe •
◊ Cradle of Immortality ISLAND
Goka Songbai
R MO
• Langkhu • Sze
Goka HEISONG BENCHU
FOREST BAY
UNTA
r
ive
gR
Xio
W
Go
lde
nR
ive
r • Anjing Hwanggot
◊ Ten Thousand Summer Palace
• Khitai
Temple of the Whispering Spider ◊ • Danjing
ERYIU FOREST
SHIBOBEKAS
He Ming Xiwu CHANG LIAO Haseong
tR un JUNGLE • Eongman Bog • Maecho
n Swea
Drago • Inahiyi
er
Riv
Iron Mountain ◊
Quain • Nanzhu MEIGUAN Gw
ang
ILL
S
H
LAKE AI
• Vannarak
Changdo Thap Samut • LO
M
SEE • Yuming ◊ Emperor’s Footprint KI
THI
NG Po Li
HIL • Jitai
LS Uthong •
Clicking Caverns ◊
• Kalibi
EI
L AN D
KUL
Zom Kullan
Xa Hoi Minata
Nagajor • Kutaban
TENGAH PULU
Embaral • Waunomani
Ocean Kashang ◊
BUKORANG
KAWAK’S GRAY GULF
RUN • Jainai
Thunderblood Peak ◊ Arung ◊
Rakarit
CHENLUN MOUNTAINS Valash Raj
AK
S • Buwayang Okaiyo
PE Ocean
Valashmai Jungle S AN
DI RENDAH PULU
SU
• Lahayusa
• Owairua
OLAKAPUNA
GOROYASA
WEAVER
You’re a skilled weaver, crafting your pieces either by hand
or by loom. Whether you revere yourself as an artist or not,
none can deny the beauty of your craft. However, the life of
a weaver isn’t the most exciting one, and your fingers itch for
an adventure.
Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to Dexterity or
Wisdom, and one is a free attribute boost. DABBAWALA
You’re trained in Crafting, and you’re trained in Basket
Weaving Lore, Tapestry Lore, or Textile Lore. You gain the
Specialty Crafting skill feat.
11
RARE BACKGROUNDS your life at a crucial moment. Perhaps you are mystically
Some backgrounds are so unusual that just having them bound by the red string of destiny, or perhaps your clash was
makes a character extraordinary. Rare backgrounds should preordained by the oracles of Po Li. Whatever the case, either
be chosen only after a discussion between the GM and the fate or your own will keeps you driving forward to fight with
other players as to whether one would apply for a particular them once more.
character in your group’s game. You and your GM work out who your rival is and how they
fit in to your story. You become trained in two Lore skills
BANISHED CELESTIAL related to your rival, which you and your GM choose.
RARE You gain two free attribute boosts; you choose one, and the
You were once something supernatural—a heavenly agent, GM chooses one to complement your rival. So long as you are
grim reaper, immortal phoenix, or demonic tyrant. For some not in the presence of your rival, you gain the Diehard general
reason, you’ve been forced to live in a mortal form. You might feat and a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against the
have been sealed by the holy power of a monk or cruelly doomed condition. When in the presence of your rival, you lose
betrayed and slain, but most likely, your superiors punished these benefits but gain a +1 circumstance bonus to attack rolls
you for your hubris. You can’t remember your previous life and damage. If your rival becomes your ally or a member of
very well, if you’re even aware you were once anything more your party, you gain the Diehard and save bonus benefits, as
than you currently are, but you aren’t completely forsaken by long as that’s the case.
the powers that once ruled your life. You often find a spark
of enlightenment in failure, as fate nudges you to correct the FAVORED
mistakes or tragedies that caused your unmaking. RARE
You gain two free attribute boosts. You choose one, and the You’re a trained, elegant artist or entertainer for the upper
GM chooses the other based on your past life. echelon of society. You might be a skilled crafter, a master
You’re trained in any one skill of your choice and any performer, a highly sought host or companion, an up-and-
one Lore skill of your choice. You gain the Enlightenment in coming political darling, or a fashionable courtesan, but you’ve
Adversity ability. gained the eye of a powerful political patron. Whether it’s the
Enlightenment in Adversity [reaction] (fortune); Frequency once pressure of your profession or your patron’s expectations,
per day; Trigger You critically fail a skill check with a skill whatever drove you to leave your current life behind for that
you gained from the banished celestial background; Effect of a chaotic adventurer’s must be worthy of breaking tradition.
The next time you attempt a skill check using the skill that Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to Intelligence
triggered this ability within the next minute, roll twice and or Charisma, and one is a free attribute boost.
take the higher result. You’re trained in Diplomacy, Performance, or Society.
You’re trained in a Lore skill of your choice. You gain the
EAGLE HUNTER Name Drop reaction. At the GM’s discretion, you can ask your
RARE patron for further assistance and favors, such as monetary or
You’re a hunter bonded to an eagle animal companion political support. You must keep your patron’s favor to avoid
since youth. You’ve trained your eagle to hunt with you, losing your benefits; what this entails is between you and
simultaneously becoming an extension of yourself and a trusted the GM but usually implies never publicly speaking or acting
partner you can rely on. The nomadic peoples of Hongal created against your patron’s wishes. If you offend your patron, you
this practice to hunt across their hardy terrain. You hunt small lose Name Drop until you reconcile with them.
game, typically foxes and hares, or participate in hunting events, Name Drop [reaction] (auditory, fortune); Frequency once per day;
drawing crowds of spectators. Perhaps it was the prospect of a Trigger You fail or critically fail a Deception, Diplomacy,
greater audience that called out to you, or maybe the promise of Intimidation, or Society check; Effect Reroll the skill check.
larger game outside of your usual hunting grounds. Who knows You must use the second result, even if it’s worse.
what lures a hunter toward adventure?
Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to Strength or WARDED BY KAMI
Wisdom, and one is a free attribute boost. RARE
You’re trained in Nature and Hunting Lore. You gain the Pet You’ve lived among kami, gaining a wellspring of spiritual
general feat and the Train Animal skill feat, but you can use power found deep within the Forest of Spirits. You’ve heard
these feats only to gain and train eagles. Your trained eagles many rumors of what lies beyond the safety of your home
can perform the Aid action when you attempt a Nature, and, for better or worse, they intrigue you. Whatever your
Perception, or Survival skill check. This benefit applies to only reasons for leaving, you’re still bound to whatever entity
you and other characters with the eagle hunter background. serves as your ward. Whether you return to the place of your
birth or find a new land to call home is up to you.
FATED RIVAL Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to Intelligence
RARE or Wisdom, and one is a free attribute boost.
You are bound in an adversarial relationship with another You’re trained in Occultism and Spirit Lore. You also gain
person or creature. You might have been close once, before a ward that binds you to a specific animal, plant, object,
everything went wrong, or they might have drastically altered or location of your choice. Once per day, you can spend an
12
Interact action to merge with your ward and heal Hit Points You’re trained in Astrology Lore. You also gain the
equal to your level. This action has the healing trait. ability to cast a divine innate spell, as determined by your
TIAN XIA
sign. The frequency with which you can cast this spell is
KAIJU STALKER listed below; cantrips can be used as often as you wish. As CHARACTER
RARE normal, you cast non-cantrip innate spells at the lowest GUIDE
The lands of Tian Xia can be as dangerous as they are beautiful, rank available to that spell, such as 2nd rank for water INTRODUCTION
and like any land, it calls for hunters. A normal hunter’s breathing, and cantrips are heightened to half your level.
game varies in size, with the deadliest quarries possessing Additionally, once during the prominent time for your sign BACKGROUNDS
venomous fangs or a ferocious bite. A monster hunter must (typically once per year), you can cast your sign’s spell
MAGIC AND
be prepared for more supernatural maladies and terrors. As a without expending its normal use. THE SPIRIT
kaiju stalker, you venture into the Wall of Heaven, Valashmai The Underworld Dragon (Intelligence): ignition; at will WORLD
Jungle, or another land where the bounties are much bigger. The Swordswoman (Dexterity): gale blast (Player Core 2
A mere scale or feather is your grandest trophy—the survival 246); at will THE ELEMENTS
of your community your ultimate prize. The Sea Dragon (Constitution): water breathing; once
ZODIAC
Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to Strength or per week
Dexterity, and one is a free attribute boost. The Swallow (Dexterity): jump; once per day PEOPLES
You’re trained in Athletics and gain one Athletics skill feat of The Ox (Strength): ant haul; once per day
your choice, best suited toward the style of hunting you prefer. The Sovereign Dragon (Charisma): command; once per day CHARACTER
OPTIONS
You’re trained in Kaiju Lore. When rolling a Recall The Ogre (Strength): fear; once per day
Knowledge check using Kaiju Lore and you have sight of one The Forest Dragon (Wisdom): tangle vine; at will TIAN
item that belongs to the kaiju you’re attempting to Recall The Blossom (Charisma): dizzying colors; once per day EQUIPMENT
Knowledge about, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to the The Dog (Constitution): clear mind; once per week
skill check. The item can range from a scale to slime, to a The Sky Dragon (Intelligence): bless; once per day GLOSSARY
& INDEX
footprint, or to crafted or harvested goods. The Archer (Dexterity): sure strike; once per day
ZODIAC BOUND
RARE
Fortune tellers and oracles claim that a person’s zodiac sign
influences their personality and fate, and while it might
not be true for all, it seems true for you. You were born
under a powerful manifestation of a specific constellation,
corresponding to a symbol of the zodiac. When you gain this
background, choose a specific constellation from those listed
below. Your associated constellation determines one of the
attribute boosts you gain and an innate spell. The list includes
benefits for the constellations of the Dragon Empires Zodiac,
but you might have been born under a different constellation
and gain different benefits as determined by the GM.
Choose two attribute boosts. One must be to the attribute
PROFESSIONAL LETTER WRITER
tied to your sign, and one is a free attribute boost.
13
Magic and the Spirit
World
The mortal world and the spirit world in Tian Xia are of another element, and spirits that embody all five.
separate yet integrated, different but alike in equal Yet another scholar might call the mortal world the
measures. Each influences the other, and to ignore one in familiar one and the spirit world strange, but a spirit
favor of another invites danger and disaster. Those who would describe the mortal world as equally strange.
strictly categorize the mortal world as “civilized” and And if our family and ancestors can become ghosts,
obsessed with order and the spirit world as “wild” and are they no longer human and now only purely spirit?
ridden with chaos can easily lose their way or become Think of the spirit world as a river and the mortal
oblivious to the problems and potential of either world. world as air. Wind can affect the movement of water,
and the movement of water can affect the air nearby.
THE SPIRIT WORLD Without water, the air becomes dry. Without air, the
Ask a dozen scholars what the spirit world entails, and water would exist in a void. Some beings live purely
one gets 24 informed opinions. One might categorize in water, while others live purely in air, but it’s also
the mortal world as flesh and blood and the spirit possible for one to step through the air into water
world as all other things under heaven, but there are if one knows where to look. If an air-breather isn’t
incarnate spirits and spirits who are obsessed with careful, one can drown in water, and a fish (a spirit)
blood and flesh. One might call the mortal world all who leaves the water dies gasping soon after.
that has been born, but spirits can be born from the Like reflections in the water, the spirit world can be
stone, river, trees, and even buildings. Another might seen as the extreme mirror of the mortal world in terms
call mortals those with a balance of the elements, but of emotion and thought. A grudge can be made manifest
there are mortals who lack one or have too much and last for centuries in the spirit world. Love can turn
14
into a physical feature of the land. Often what mortals things, even inanimate objects, have a kind of memory
find frightening in the spirit world is a manifestation of and sense of their surroundings. Because it “sleeps,” a
TIAN XIA
their fears and vices reflected back upon them. Those thing doesn’t really react to mortal life. Waking then
pure of heart and soul feel no fear, perhaps finding means the desire to engage with the mortal world, CHARACTER
beauty in the spirits instead. such as a teacup suddenly rousing and running away GUIDE
Scholars also agree that the spirit world tends from bad tea. Consequently, a spirit can also go back INTRODUCTION
to intersect with the extreme edges of the mortal to sleep. The oldest spirits—such as mountains,
world. A bloody battlefield quickly becomes whole forests, rivers—sleep often, only waking BACKGROUNDS
haunted by the victims of war. An overgrown when angered or disturbed and thus causing
MAGIC AND
forest, shrouded in mists and completely earthquakes, fires, and floods. Convincing THE SPIRIT
cut off from mortals, can awaken on its them to sleep again might require a large WORLD
own. Concentrating magical power into a sacrifice. Small things can wake up in
space might push it into the spirit world. similar ways, though due to their size THE ELEMENTS
Changes also happen in the other direction. and influence, they cause mostly harmless
ZODIAC
Cleansing a battlefield, returning it to a distractions, and a small offering usually
place of life with trees and wildflowers, lets appeases them. PEOPLES
the haunted dead sleep. A blessed saint can Further blending the line between
bring the beatific aspect of the spirit world worlds, mortals join the spirit world after CHARACTER
OPTIONS
to them, while a maliciously greedy scholar, death as ancestral spirits, ghosts, or the
sitting upon piles of gold and silver, can hungry and forgotten dead. This is why TIAN
summon an avaricious spirit. people must treat their dead ancestors EQUIPMENT
In this way, the spirit world and the mortal well, for these spirits can linger and
world influence each other. The haunted, perhaps even take an active part in day-to- GLOSSARY
& INDEX
bloody battlefield might create a pall over the PRAYER WHEEL day life. If treated poorly, the hungry dead
village nearby, causing a shadowed, haunted might haunt a family or leave altogether,
air to settle makes the villagers skittish, nervous, becoming the forgotten dead. Ancestor’s Day serves
and even ill. This cycle can further deepen, with the as an annual reminder for communities to not only
villagers becoming violent or even turning into a fallen clean the graves of their predecessors and leave an
yaoguai. In truly blessed places, the opposite cycle can offering to make sure their ancestors are satiated, but
develop. With a sense of peace and belonging, spirits also to leave something for those forgotten dead (and
might find themselves in accepted roles as guardians offer incense or food to Fumeiyoshi
of a city or temple or participants in industry as well). This gesture is both practical
or trade, blessing the people there with and a mercy; communities don’t want
knowledge and improving their skills the hungry dead haunting them and causing
and happiness. Such boons, in turn, misfortune.
bring people to the location in hopes of A mortal, however, doesn’t have to die to
fostering more prosperity and happiness. become a spirit. They can embody the purity
A shrine erected at a crossroad of an aspect so strongly that they transform
to leave offerings can keep the into a spirit. How does this change differ from
local spirit fed and happy, and it ascending or becoming an immortal?
might reciprocate by protecting While becoming a spirit is a kind of
travelers who take that path. immortality, ascending to heaven
Sometimes, the awakening turns the mortal into more of
of a spirit might come about themselves, with their thoughts,
from pure belief. A whole village feelings, and identity amplified. A
can think of a nearby ancient tree mortal becoming a spirit turns into
as a spirit and beg it to awaken to that singular aspect. For example,
fight bandits. When it roars to life the Butterfly Lovers aren’t
and chases away those brigands, butterflies, nor deities of love, but
which came first? The spirit or a symbol and manifestation of
the belief? To paraphrase a famous love itself. Love becomes their sole
poem, did the yaoguai already exist concern and nothing else. When
as that tree, or did the villagers spirits become mortal, such as the
dream up the idea of a yaoguai Great Flood, then the spirit takes
in the tree? Maybe it’s both. on all the nuances, differences, and
A thing “wakes” to its spirit contradictions of mortality. They
JESA
form when it begins to relate to might express love, but they now have
its environment like a mortal would. All other emotions—fear, hatred, happiness, jealousy,
15
hope, and so on—as well as thought and the ability the grain of the meat. A physician who can bring the
to change their minds and emotions to something else. terminally ill back from the edge of death might be
Spirits have modeled mortal behavior, such as viewed as a magician, as in the case of Qi Zhong,
founding cities in the spirit world—sometimes in god of medicine and of magic. Someone who achieves
isolated places like the Forest of Spirits, the Sea of mastery of a skill can therefore give the impression
Ghosts, Kwanlai, Wanshou, or Chu Ye, especially if of having divine and magical powers, and in fact, a
they wish to escape mortal influence. In other cases, practitioner might actually ascend because of that
spirits found cities within mortal cities, a reflection mastery.
that can be crossed over in one direction or both ways. For some, magic involves tapping into bits and
When mortals say a city feels more crowded than it pieces of leftover divinity, which has relevance
should, they’ve felt the presence of a spirit city. to the knowledge theory. After all, knowing and
Spirits of the city go about their business much as understanding these bits of divinity still require
mortals do. They work, trade and buy things, farm learning and insight. Immortals in heaven can
food, and assemble buildings. They play games. They manipulate the stuff of chaos to make impossible
argue and create communities. The difference is what things. Mortals can do similar feats, but under the
they value. While some spirits understand mortal constraints of mortal existence. Many arts in Tian
money, most value stories, art, emotions, magic, music, Xia seek to tap into the inherent divinity of the world,
entertainment, and novelty. Spirits have “invited” either externally or internally. Sages seek mystic
artists to their cities by surreptitiously opening portals power via precise control over the self. Alchemical
and luring, scaring, or pushing such mortals through. arts seek to purify the body of the impurities of age,
As long as the artist keeps their head straight, performs sin, and death through ingested tinctures or a carefully
as asked, and accepts payment (in leaves, old brushes, controlled diet. Magicians and imperial ministers call
or sometimes even gold), most return to the mortal on minor spirits to do their bidding, or find magic in
world unscathed. Most. divine chants and sutras. Some seek the direct favor of
the Celestial Court, performing acts of awe inspiring
MAGIC IN TIAN XIA piety in the hopes of pleasing heaven and receiving
The theories and practice of magic in Tian Xia is as gifts from the gods in return.
varied and syncretic as its philosophies and religions. Others understand magic as the adjustment of the
Some practitioners simply view magic as deep, amount of one or more particular elements within a
specialized knowledge. In fact, any expertise can person, place, or thing, as per Qi Zhong’s teachings.
resemble magic. The blacksmith who forges metal Each element is associated with a color, fluid or
both flexible and resilient might seemingly have material in a vessel, astrological positioning, physical
magical powers, especially if that metal lasts for ages positioning, and temperament. Each element affects
or withstands even divine powers. The butcher’s trade other elements in a chained cycle, so a magician
might be deemed mystical when their knife never must carefully adjust each one to achieve the proper
dulls because they can cut a perfect seam in between equilibrium. Such adherents can literally add the needed
element to the thing, feed a patient the related food,
add a symbolic detail to attract a deity’s blessing for
that element (such as adding a name or a prayer
on paper and wood), or employ countless other
means to adjust these elemental balances.
Lastly, magic can be seen as the ability to
manipulate the energy of a physical entity,
both within and without. Qi, the energy
that flows throughout the world, can be
manipulated, collected, and expelled from a
body, place, or thing. Too much expulsion
drains a body or vessel. Too much
pooling turns the qi sluggish and
difficult to manipulate. The use of
qi isn’t about leaving something
half-empty or half-full, or in
some kind of perfect, unchanging
equilibrium, because that leads
to stagnation. Instead, the key
to mastery is knowing when
to expel or pool qi, letting
a thing breathe like a
16
mortal does. A practitioner utilizes knowledge of feng levels will find themselves confronting the Celestial
shui, manipulating the body, utilizing pressure points, Court sooner rather than later.
TIAN XIA
prescribing certain foods, applying cold treatments and The dangers of magic present many reasons why
cold presses, and physical exercise to change the flow some magicians aim for the practice of cultivation first.
CHARACTER
of qi. For objects and physical spaces, qi manipulation By adapting the body to magic, perfecting the use of qi, GUIDE
requires the placement of plants and trees, rocks and adjusting one’s elemental tendencies, or transforming INTRODUCTION
walls, and even people to slowly pool or rapidly expel oneself to be closer to a divine ideal, a magician can
energy. limit magical spillover while improving and learning BACKGROUNDS
The average person treats someone who uses magic about their process—with the latter benefits proving
MAGIC AND
like any other expert in their field. Thus, practitioners useful for even mundane practitioners. Due to the THE SPIRIT
are as admired, feared, loathed, and loved as anyone rigor necessary to achieve such states, people might WORLD
with incredible skill. Some value expertise, and find magicians cold and distant, not realizing the
others feel threatened by it. A scholar can be equally cosmic consequences and side effects of their power. THE ELEMENTS
impressed by a magician as they are jealous of magical Magicians who want to affect change in the mortal
ZODIAC
knowledge. A farmer can be equally excited to find a world often use intermediaries. For political change,
magician capable of helping them through a period they advise monarchs toward action. Those who want PEOPLES
of drought as they can be fearful of magical power or to change the land itself might teach others how to
angered at not receiving more potent aid. A sovereign work their environments or engineer what they need. CHARACTER
OPTIONS
might invite a magician to their court to serve like And those who need to fight an evil will recruit heroes
any scholar or advisor, or they could consider such from the jianghu world of martial arts. TIAN
a figure an ambitious threat to their rule, filling their EQUIPMENT
bureaucracy instead with ignorant sycophants. Like
any who wield a sought-after skill or who command GLOSSARY
& INDEX
great power, magicians can find both positive and
negative attention in equal measure.
People thus tend to judge magicians by their ethical
and moral actions more than by their magic—or
perhaps magicians receive even more scrutiny because
of their magic. After all, the average person can’t
split a mountain, and their mistakes can’t make or
break a village. Lest a magician fall into the trap of
hubris, they should keep in mind that their power can
affect the spirit world just as potently. They might
not care about the village they just destroyed, but
the awakened spirits of that land, of the mountain
they split, might rise up to eliminate such a threat,
regardless of intentions. When a magician’s power
threatens heaven itself, the deities might strike down
the offending individual for their hubris.
How a magician crosses that line varies by context,
the temperament of the deity taking responsibility for
the transgression, and the attitude of said magician.
Yamatsumi might ignore someone invoking a volcano,
even if the eruption takes out a significant part of
the countryside, because the Mountain Lord sees
occasional volcanic destruction as desirable. Should
that magician demand dominion over volcanoes or
continue to cause destruction, however, Yamatsumi
might intervene. A favorite trick of Shizuru’s court,
especially by Yaezhing, is to ascend a disruptive
magician to celestial status, letting them fall into
the trap of pride—thinking themselves recognized
for their power—only for Yaezhing to immediately
punish them since they now fall under his purview.
Hei Feng and the dragons find this trick hilarious,
causing thunderstorms in the mortal world as a result.
Magicians who become too powerful risk controlling
gods themselves, and any who reaches such vaulted
17
The Elements
According to Tian legend, the scholar-god Qi Zhong THE ELEMENTAL CYCLE
was the first to understand the nature of the elemental Tian Xia elementalists believe that the power of
cycle, and it was he who introduced the people of elemental magic is derived not from the elements, but
Tian Xia to the power of the five elements: metal, from the ceaseless elemental cycle, an endless cosmic
wood, water, fire, and earth. Blessed with the rare gift process of generation and destruction that takes place
of elemental sight even before his rise to divinity, Qi between the elemental Planes of Wood, Fire, Earth,
Zhong saw the raw elemental energies of existence Metal, and Water. Key to this cycle is balance. While
in their purest forms. From his transmitted teachings imbalances might arise, they’re temporary; the natural
came the first understanding of the elements, an equilibrium of the five elements will rebalance itself
understanding that would shape Tian culture and over time. As each of these elements are simply key
tradition for centuries to come. phases in an ever-changing cycle, some elementalists
Notably, the Tian elemental system includes the prefer to refer to them as the Five Stages, to emphasize
elements of metal and wood. These two elemental planes their nature as agents of transition and change. In this
were largely cut off from the rest of their neighbors framework, two elemental cycles turn in counterpoint
for millennia, their importance neglected by much of to one another, one of growth and one of restraint.
Golarion. Some speculate that this philosophical belief in In the former, wood feeds fire, fire feeds earth, earth
the importance of these elements, as well as their eventual feeds metal, metal feeds water, and water feeds wood.
rebalancing, is what allowed Tian Xia’s elementalists to On the other hand, wood counters earth, earth
retain a connection to the elements of wood and metal. counters water, water counters fire, fire counters
With the reemergence of the Plane of Wood and Plane of metal, and metal counters wood. These cycles are seen
Metal, the practice of these elements is beginning to spread as natural processes, forces of nature balancing and
through Golarion as a whole once more, though Tian counterbalancing one another into eternity.
physicians, philosophers, and magicians remain among As the foundation of early Tian cosmology, the
the best trained to read and manipulate these energies elements served as the framework through which all
18
natural processes were viewed. Many pastoral societies cycle, it’s connected to the season of budding
categorized different seasons by their corresponding growth and young stalks reaching up toward the
TIAN XIA
“element”: spring was referred to as the Season of sun. The element of wood is one of action and
Wood, and summer as the Season of Fire. Each year is of expansion, of life and of purification. Those CHARACTER
also assigned an element, and the elements under which born under the element of wood are thought to be GUIDE
an individual was born—that is, the combination of sociable and adventurous but also capricious and INTRODUCTION
year-element and season-element—are traditionally short-tempered.
said to influence one’s personality. For example, those • Water is traditionally associated with the season BACKGROUNDS
born during an earth year might be stereotyped as of winter and the color black. In the harvest
MAGIC AND
gentle and steadfast people who usually work well cycle, it’s connected to the period of stillness after THE SPIRIT
with the meticulous and no-nonsense natures of those harvest when farmers wait for the cold of winter WORLD
born during a metal year. to pass while conserving energy and resources for
Unsurprisingly, Tian elementalists pay close attention to the next season’s planting. The element of water THE ELEMENTS
these associations, hiring geomancers, doctors, diviners, is one that calms and soothes, washing away
ZODIAC
and martial artists to best empower the elements of impurities and ailments. Those born under the
their choosing. Medicine, emotions, natural landmarks, element of water are thought to be gentle and PEOPLES
and constructed monuments can all affect the elemental wise but also indecisive and unassertive.
association of a landscape, and many Tian cities are • Fire is traditionally associated with the season of CHARACTER
OPTIONS
carefully built with these philosophies in mind. Elemental summer and the color red. In the harvest cycle,
practitioners often attempt to live in ways associated it’s connected to the period of flourishing and TIAN
with their connection to the elements. Kineticists of EQUIPMENT
water sometimes blindfold themselves to enhance their
hearing, a sense which is associated with their affiliated GLOSSARY
& INDEX
element. Meanwhile, those who magically manipulate
metal are often sought out for beauty tips and
moisturizing creams, as the element is
associated with the skin.
The elemental cycle has also
been historically projected
onto the process of dynastic
transition, a practice originating in
the Shu empire that has lasted into
the present. Rulers would become
associated with an element depending
on significant events that occur during their
reign. For example, an emperor who leads their nation
through a period of economic decline might become
associated with the element of metal. As the element
of metal feeds into the element of water, the ideal
next ruler should be one reminiscent of water: calm,
flexible, and wise. Potential successors to the throne
would leverage that expectation to their advantage,
trying to justify themselves as the ideal candidate—not
only in policy, but in elemental birthright.
A summary of the five Tian elements and their
associated traits is as follows.
• Metal is traditionally associated with the season
of autumn and the color white. In the harvest
cycle, it’s connected to the harvest season as well
as with the subsequent withering of unharvested
crops. The element of metal is one of restraint as
well as of decay or aging—the strength of steel
on one hand, the inevitable rust of iron on the
other. Those born under the element of metal are
thought to be steadfast and organized, but also
unbending and rigid.
• Wood is traditionally associated with the season
of spring and the color green. In the harvest
19
flowering when nature is in full bloom and crops elements as a natural analog to one’s body and mind. As
have grown to maturity. The element of fire is one the bodies and minds of living creatures can be mapped
that both warms and burns, as dynamic as it is onto the four base physical elements of earth, fire, water,
dangerous. Those born under the element of fire and air, as well as the fifth immaterial element of void,
are thought to be friendly and passionate but also element-based medicine is relatively common in Minkai.
headstrong and vindictive. Healers envision ailments as an imbalance of the body’s
• Earth is traditionally associated with the color vital elements, then tailor remedies accordingly. Under
yellow and the transition between each of the four this philosophy, the elements exist in a hierarchy of
seasons, the central axle upon which the wheel of importance, as follows.
the year turns. In the harvest cycle, it’s connected • Void represents pure immaterial energy, associated
to the planting of new seeds and the planning with creation and potential. In the body, the
that comes with it, the transition between crop element of void is connected to one’s thoughts and
cycles. The element of earth is one that sustains consciousness. In the mind, void is connected to
and stabilizes, that centers and unifies. Those creativity, invention, and one’s innate spirit. Some
born under the element of earth are thought to be Minkaian elementalists believe that void energy
practical and patient but also stubborn and prone keeps souls tethered to the physical bodies of
to overthinking. living creatures, an energy that ties the elemental
planes to one another.
Other Schools of Thought • Wind can never be confined and represents
The five-element cycle forms the main understanding of movement, freedom, and growth. In the body, the
the elements in Tian Xia, but many variations of the cycle element of wind is connected to one’s breath and
have appeared in different regions of the continent over respiratory system. In the mind, wind is associated
its long history. The Plane of Air, known to Tian scholars with the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom.
but typically not included within the elemental cycle, is • Fire is energetic, passionate, and consuming.
considered by many to consist of pure qi, cementing an In the body, the element of fire is connected to
association between breath and vital energy. The Silk one’s metabolism and digestive system. In the
Virtues sect of herbalists, dedicated to Qi Zhong, instead mind, fire is associated with one’s ambitions and
combine the elements of wood and air: this syncretic motivations.
element of wood is considered to be the vital essence of • Water flows where it’s directed, formless and fluid.
plants and trees, rather than a physical substance. In the body, the element of water is associated
Certain regions of the continent have developed their with blood and the circulatory system. In the
own elemental systems. In Minkai, elementalists see the mind, water is associated with the capriciousness
of emotion as well as one’s ability to adapt to new
environments or circumstances.
• Earth is stable and grounded, resistant to
change. In the body, the element of earth
is associated with flesh and bone. In the
mind, earth is associated with a basic sense
of sureness, confidence, and interiority:
one’s ability to hold their ground and stay
firm in their convictions.
In Vudra, the connection between
the elementalist and the elements is
particularly important. Vudrans
believe that the invisible element of
spirit flows throughout seemingly
empty space, connecting living
things to the elements and imparting
them with life. Thus, Vudrans identify
earth, fire, water, wind, and spirit as the
five elements. From spirit came breath—
and thus wind—and from wind came
energy, which birthed fire, then
water, then the earth. The element
of spirit is sometimes compared or
associated with the phenomenon
of sound—invisible and capable of
traveling through the material.
20
TIAN XIA
CHARACTER
GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUNDS
MAGIC AND
THE SPIRIT
WORLD
THE ELEMENTS
ZODIAC
PEOPLES
CHARACTER
OPTIONS
TIAN
EQUIPMENT
GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Dragon Champions
of the Zodiac
The fortunes and fates of the Dragon Empires are laid belonging to a mighty Grand House of the Zodiac and
bare to those who can interpret the stars and their drawing their powers from these constellations.
constellations. These stars guide all who dwell beneath
their light, gifting mortals the strength of the Zodiac THE UNDERWORLD
guardians. The Tian people widely use the Dragon DRAGON
Empires Zodiac to mark the progression of years, Legends say Tian Shen went to Nagajor and was
months, and hours with one of its 12 constellations, tasked to remove a many-headed serpent. The creature
though each nation can have a variation of the Zodiac terrorized Nagajor by boiling and poisoning rivers,
and its relation to their calendar and fortune. The creating toxic wastewater, and polluting the region
Oracular Council of Po Li uses the Zodiac to craft known as Kuanendya. Every time a head was cut
official state policies considered sacred by the Po Lian off the serpent, another would grow back. Tian Shen
populace. In Zi Ha, calendars are marked and guided beseeched the aid of an underworld dragon, who
by the Zodiac, and at the new moon of the Sky Dragon, brought the hero’s many wives through geysers from
brave adventurers trek the mighty Mount Tsukiyo. various parts of Tian Xia. His wives all pointed to the
The origins of the Dragon Empires Zodiac trace serpent’s body, marred with fresh, fearsome battle scars
back to whispered folk legends of the Dragon seemingly caused by a larger beast. Following his sage
Champions of the Zodiac and their founder, Tian wives’ advice, Tian Shen leapt onto the serpent’s heads,
Shen, who championed the 12 Impossible Trials of the playing an enchanting melody on a flute while dancing
Zodiac. The members of the clandestine society of the to soothe the serpent. He promised to defeat the larger
Dragon Champions of the Zodiac serve as incubators beast terrorizing the many-headed serpent, and in turn,
and protectors of Tian Xia’s greatest treasures, each it agreed to leave the land alone. Those born under this
21
constellation, also known as the Guardian, might be resolute, daring, and charismatic but are also known to
tenacious and foresighted but also secretive, brooding, be foolhardy, hot-tempered, and opportunistic.
and cold.
THE SEA DRAGON
THE SWORDSWOMAN Then, Tian Shen traveled to Xidao and was tasked to
Next, Tian Shen traveled to Songbai and was ordered to stop an invasion stemming from the vast depths of the
sow 100 wheat fields in one day to feed a village suffering Aya-Maru trench, a great, dangerous chasm spawning
from famine. A passing merchant swordswoman offered millions of monsters. With Tian Shen’s legendary might
500 unbreakable swords in exchange for providing and the aid of some powerful Xidaoan heroes, they
her bread for one year. Tian Shen heartily agreed and thwarted the fearsome creatures. However, the fighting
thanked the swordswoman for her generosity. Then, was so fierce, it caused huge waves to crash against
with great ingenuity and marvelous speed, he roped the the coast, flooding the towns above and widening the
500 swords to 100 imperial dragons, poking holes in foreboding Aya-Maru. Tian Shen heroically leapt into
bags with seeds and attaching one to each dragon’s tail. the waters to save the villagers before any drowned.
As the imperial dragons flew over the fields, the swords Those born under this constellation, also known
cut great furrows into the earth while the bags filled as Father Ocean, might be gracious, generous, and
those furrows with seeds. With the fields successfully vigorous but also tempestuous, brash, and fickle.
sowed, the village prospered. Those born under this
constellation, also known as the Warrior, might be THE SWALLOW
Afterward, Tian Shen found themself in Kwanlai and
was tasked to win a drinking contest against the god
Hei Feng. By secretly poking a hole in his own cup and
acting very drunk, Tian Shen won. In disbelief, Hei Feng
later investigated the cup and discovered the hero’s ploy.
Outraged, the storm god began chasing Tian Shen across
the nation. Tian Shen asked for help from three different
birds, each one teaching him how to fly, glide, and run
across the treetops to evade the angry god. Those born
under the Swallow might be alert, sociable, and agile but
also flighty, impetuous, and argumentative.
THE OX
Next, using their new wings, Tian Shen flew to Tang
Mai, a land whose people had a great affinity for
magic. He was tasked to retrieve the golden scepter
belonging to a master of magic, a founding sister tied
to storms. Outraged at Tian Shen’s attempted thievery,
the sister summoned an ox larger than any Tian Shen
had ever seen. The animal’s charge pushed the hero
so far back into the coast that he created a massive
trough that filled and became a river. He eventually
slammed into a rock face, causing large rocks to fall
and become freestanding protrusions in the ocean like
a beast’s jutting horns. Humbled, Tian Shen spent a
year under the sister’s magical apprenticeship before
she gave him the golden scepter. Those born under the
Ox, whom Tian-Tangs and Tian-Hwans call the Water
Buffalo, might be dependable, honest, and solid but
also inflexible, narrow-minded, and angry.
ELF
ELVES
In their escape from Earthfall, a group of elves followed
the oracle Jininsiel and her vision of a dawnsilver tree
to the forested heart of Tian Xia, where they founded
the nation of Jinin. These elves spent centuries in
protective isolation but have since opened their doors
24
to diplomatic relationships and cultural exchange with Those seeking knowledge brave frigid mountain
their neighbors. peaks and soaring cliffs to engage the attention of
TIAN XIA
Tian elves are unique from their distant cousins in metallic sky dragons, whose coils pierce the clouds.
other parts of Golarion, as they have a culture rooted Their wisdom is a great boon to any Tian with the CHARACTER
in ancient Avistani traditions and infused with cultural patience and strength of intellect to make sense of their GUIDE
practices learned from their neighbors in Tian Xia. Their cryptic musings. INTRODUCTION
physical appearances have attuned to a combination of Tian Xia’s myriad port communities make yearly
the continent’s native flora and rare imported flowers offerings to fickle sea dragons—masters of storms BACKGROUNDS
from Avistan that have long gone extinct elsewhere. and the open ocean—for safe passage through their
MAGIC AND
Flowers play a prominent role for Tian elves, with domains. Within the depths of Xidao, such dragons THE SPIRIT
blossoms used in important ceremonies, lauded in art, are directly revered as the former rulers of the realm’s WORLD
implemented in the names of sword fighting styles and many aquatic city-states.
grandmasters, and incorporated into cuisine. Due to Tians living on the wilderness’s edge take care not THE ELEMENTS
this intricate connection to nature, many people view to encroach upon the wooden domains minded by the
ZODIAC
elves as figures of ethereal beauty. formidable forest dragons, for these reclusive guardians
With thousands of years of time and energy spent punish trespassers with the expulsion of entire PEOPLES
honing expertise in the arts and sword fighting, elves in communities. Recently, people in the Valashmai Jungle,
Tian Xia are seen as masters of both blade and brush. Xa Hoi, Tang Mai, and Minata have grown bold, felling CHARACTER
OPTIONS
People all over the continent seek out elves for their greater swathes of protected forest with each passing
skills and knowledge, and elves are eager to learn what year. Dire rumors from these areas now speak of the TIAN
techniques and products have been developed elsewhere. disappearances of entire villages, swallowed overnight EQUIPMENT
Even in their isolationist period, these elves helped their by the jungle and a forest dragon’s wrath.
neighbors from behind the veil of protective illusions by Adventurers delving the lightless depths in search GLOSSARY
& INDEX
providing gifts of food, tools, and healing magic. This of valuables might instead find a covetous underworld
spirit of friendliness and community continues to be a dragon, fiery in breath and temperament. These dragons
core tenet of how Tian elves interact with other people. constantly plot to expand their hoards, and treasure
They strive to treat others with dignity and restraint, seekers can never be sure if they themselves aren’t a
and they practice cultural appreciation and exchange part of one of these plans. Underworld dragons are
with other nations. However, elves who have spent also surely behind the recent rumblings and volcanic
most of their lives in the sequestered borders of Jinin eruptions felt across Tian Xia, though the greater
or otherwise disconnected from the rest of Tian Xia design behind these events remains cloaked in shadow.
might accidentally mistake humans who seem familiar Benevolent or malicious, sociable or reclusive, most
for their ancestors, or assuming that one individual is imperial dragons demand total respect and unwavering
representative of an entire region. obeisance from their subjects. Guided by these magnificent
Elves continue to be an unusual sight in other Tian creatures, it’s no wonder that the nations of Tian Xia are
nations but have become more common over time, as known to the wider world as the Dragon Empires.
traveling to share and learn has been encouraged within
Jinin. Though they still pose a mysterious and slightly
standoffish presence to others, elves in Tian Xia feel a
deeper kinship to fellow Tian people than to other elven
cultures.
IMPERIAL DRAGONS
Since time immemorial, imperial dragons have guided
Tian Xia and its peoples under Shizuru’s divine
mandate. Unlike their cousins in the Inner Sea, many
imperial dragons have a vested interest in mortal
affairs. There are five distinct types of imperial dragons,
each with their own elemental affinity that represent
the five strengthening and counteracting forces: wood,
fire, earth, metal, and water.
Sovereign dragons of the earth still cleave to their
ancient responsibility as guides and guardians of the
Tian people and can be seen in mortal forms across
the continent’s many courts, as both advisor and
ruler. Notably, Xa Hoi boasts an unbroken lineage HALFLING
of sovereign dragon emperors, reaching back to its
founding six millennia ago.
25
HALFLINGS
Halflings are surprisingly rare in Tian Xia compared to Golarion’s other
continents. Academics have often debated why, though the legendary
Ruby Phoenix Hao Jin almost certainly had much to do with it. Ever
the preservationist, the sorceress sequestered away many settlements and
communities into her personal demiplane, the Hao Jin Tapestry. Most
of these settlements were small enclaves of oppressed minorities facing
expulsion or eradication during the tumultuous expansion and collapse of
the Lung Wa empire, which just so happened to include many halflings.
For much of the Age of Succession, the majority of Tian Xia’s halflings
lived in the tapestry and were arguably no longer residents of Tian Xia at
all. But times have changed. The tapestry fell apart, and Hao Jin relocated
many of the people living within it to an immense underground tunnel-
forest dragon ridden stone sphere known as Round Mountain. She then safely evacuated
those people by depositing Round Mountain back where it came from—the
Darklands under Bachuan.
Tian Xia’s halflings culturally radiate from this underground cosmopolitan
city (more specifically, from its entrance to the surface world in Po Li).
The largest populations now dwell in Bachuan and Tang Mai, but small
populations of halflings exist throughout Tian Xia, especially foreign
halflings in cities with access to the rest of Golarion, like Goka. Back when
they lived in the tapestry, halfling communities had found a societal niche
as farmers for the rest of the resettled people within the demiplane. They
carry this agrarian cultural backbone with them to this day, tempered with
an appreciation for diverse multicultural city-states and arcane magics that
comes from living a few millennia in a sorceress’s extra-dimensional vault.
They’re often found happily integrated into city centers and hinterlands
throughout the continent, eternally adaptive and enmeshed in vast support
sea dragon networks of friends adopted into found families.
They’ve also found a new societal niche now that they’ve returned to Tian
Xia—taming the Darklands. It isn’t uncommon to find pockets of halflings
in every corner of the continent where surface polities and institutions have
need to explore and embed themselves sustainably underground. Halflings
are still a rare sight to the everyday citizenry of developed Tian Xia, but
their ongoing history has made them far more common in the haunts and
journeys of adventurers, embedded in every frontier and visible practically
everywhere, if one knows to look.
HOBGOBLINS
The hobgoblins of Tian Xia have battled their way into a mighty nation.
Founded on the belief that efficiency and intelligence lead to power and
strong leadership, hobgoblins have carved out an influential presence both
sovereign dragon on Tian Xia’s surface and in the Darklands. Their expansion has slowed, but
extending their borders always remains on the minds of the ruling councils.
Despite their focus on war, the hobgoblin nations have stayed relatively
peaceful internally, due to their emphasis on order and the plethora of
guards that keep the law. On the outside, hobgoblin society can look like
a utopia for so-called “monstrous” ancestries. In reality, their prominent
surface nations are built on the backs of the people they conquer, creating a
sizable population of non-hobgoblins without citizenship or political rights
who are forced to work for the government.
The capital of Kaoling, Dhucharg, is the shining example of what most
hobgoblins feel cities should be. The capital provides an excellent model of
productivity with minor crime. The intelligent and robust bring guidance
to its citizens, and organized food pantries provide guaranteed sustenance
to hobgoblin citizenry. The Council of Nine’s rulings and decisions keep
the nation running like a well-oiled machine. After the extensive 12-
underworld dragon hour workday, the nightlife becomes vibrant as people shed their work
26
clothing to participate in revelry. Hobgoblins wear colorful clothes and
an assortment of jewelry to play cards, dance, and eat at local restaurants
TIAN XIA
and gambling houses.
Yet, Kaolingan hobgoblins are brutal. Even breaking the simplest laws
CHARACTER
could lead to a public execution or violent punishment based on the justice GUIDE
system, allowing no room for error. Even petty theft can result in flogging INTRODUCTION
that leaves people incapacitated for weeks. The Ministry of Blood, a temple
to Yaezhing, created a ceremony for those convicted of high crimes, to the BACKGROUNDS
applause of hobgoblin citizens. Despite the public adulation for this harsh
MAGIC AND
punishment, most private citizens try to resolve problems themselves rather THE SPIRIT
than involve the law. WORLD
Tian hobgoblins who live in the underground city of Rahk Lo find their
way to the surface through tunnels leading into Kaoling and Shanguang. hobgoblin THE ELEMENTS
These hobgoblins keep a friendly disposition to their non-hobgoblin
ZODIAC
neighbors, and their efficient expansion focuses on an explorer’s mindset
rather than a conqueror’s. Their emphasis on survival in harsh situations PEOPLES
sees them inclined to cooperate with strangers rather than compete—
however, they’re still dangerous and deadly toward anyone they see as an CHARACTER
OPTIONS
obstacle to that survival.
Hobgoblins have a long list of enemies, especially among the border TIAN
nations whom they war with. They particularly dislike Jinin and desire EQUIPMENT
the dawnsilver veins within that nation’s borders. Recently, Kaoling even
assaulted the border of Zi Ha, earning them backlash from nearly every GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Tian nation. Despite this aggressive attitude, Kaoling has found allies
among some of Tian Xia’s merchant companies, who sell Kaolingan-made
arms and armor to the rest of the world.
HUMANS
Humans are everywhere. They thrive throughout Tian Xia, reaching every Kitsune
corner of the continent and making up the majority of most nations’
populations. Humans are so populous and diverse that it can be hard to
pin down shared cultural values, customs, or universal traditions. They’ve
spread so far and been the dominant force in so many projects of statecraft
that they essentially have no remaining shared ancestral identity.
Nonetheless, their influence can be felt in powerful ways throughout Tian
Xia. Beyond culture, values, and rituals, the needs and capacities of the
human body have shaped the flow of all civilization on the continent as
surely as mountains divert rivers. Time in a day is measured around when
humans wake and sleep, calendars are built around human food crops and
human-habitable biomes, and practically all languages on Tian Xia have
been constructed such that humans can speak and write them. Every road,
every door, and every tool is built to fit or diverge from the universal fulcrum
of human hands, human feet, human eyes and ears and teeth. naga
The one major exception to this continental hegemony can be found in the
south. Nagajor historically barred humans from its borders for thousands of
years, and the Valashmai Jungle is, to this day, almost completely untouched
by human hands. The deep jungles and swamps of southern Tian Xia have
resisted human occupancy through a serendipitous alliance of organized
arms and roaming kaiju hunting grounds. Though even this shall not last—
humans have started to settle in the Nagajor Empire now that the borders
have been opened, and many human expeditions have reached deep into the
heart of the ancient Valashai Empire. It’s less a question of “if” humanity
will finally settle every coastline of Tian Xia, and more “when.”
The continent’s eight native human ethnicities are collectively known
as Tian. Tian-Dans, Tian-Tangs, and Tian-Hwans are primarily associated
with their homelands: Xa Hoi, Tang Mai, and Hwanggot, respectively. Each
nation is a shard of the imperial core of ancient Lung Wa, their peoples
all subtle reflections of each other. Tian-Las, Tian-Sings, Tian-Mins, and nagaji
27
Tian-Yaes range farther afield to the steppes of Hongal JOROGUMO
to the north, the wandering isles of Minata to the In Shenmen, locals share stories of monsters and
southeast, the eastern subcontinent of Minkai, and dark magic that inhabit the land—most commonly of
the desert of Shanguang. Their relative isolation from the part-humanoid and part-spider creatures called
central Tian Xia has bred deeper diversities and cultural jorogumo who live hidden beneath the ground and
drift. The dusky-skinned Tian-Shus are the most in the darkest corners. They weave webs of silk and
populous of all and found throughout the continent. dark illusions, using their beauty and charm to entice
Foreigners abound in Tian Xia as well, and that travelers and other victims. Prey are taken for food or
means foreign humans. Travelers from throughout used in rituals to conjure more dark magic and spirits.
Golarion find themselves on the continent, especially Occasionally, they suffer an even more terrible fate,
in port cities like Goka, with historic enclaves of becoming live incubators for the jorogumo’s young. The
Vudrani settlers in Nagajor and all manner of northern origins of jorogumo have long been up for debate. Some
travelers from Avistan and Casmaron settling in the tales state that they’re corrupted fey creatures; others
north via the Crown of the World. The nation of say they’re followers of Norgorber who ascended to
Linvarre, founded by a group of orphaned Taldan their current form. For most in Shenmen, their presence
warriors, in many ways exemplifies Tian Xia’s history is completely supernatural and unexplained.
of immigration, as it has significant populations of Jorogumo are solitary creatures but still consider
mixed-ancestry humans and traditions that blend Tian themselves part of specific “broods,” and so
and Avistani practices. jorogumo society can be likened to a web
of interconnected estates and fiefdoms,
ruled from a silken throne by a singular
leader who has proven themself to
be the strongest of them all. This
leadership is often challenged, and
a jorogumo who’s both physical
and mentally strong can try to oust
the current leader and win over the
seat of power. Whatever happens
in the contest—be it a battle of arms,
magic, or wits—jorogumo always
publicly respect the outcome. Vengeful
resentment or opportunistic schemes are
best left to private matters.
Jorogumo have been seen performing rituals near
waterfalls, using a twisted form of druidic magic and
sacrifice to strengthen their magical powers and bind spirits
to their will. While some claim Norgorber or Lamashtu
as their main patron deity, the amount of dedication any
individual jorogumo has to either varies. Some wholly
devote themselves to a deity, while others see religious rites
as a cultural practice rather than a matter of faith.
Fortunately for most of Tian Xia, most jorogumo
don’t seem to care about the happenings in anything
outside of Shenmen. They keep an extremely strong hold
on what they have, using their magic to protect their
lands above Yin-Sichasi. Many jorogumo have a close
relationship with the dark spirits in Shenmen, calling on
them to terrorize the land and anyone who tries to take
it away from them. The fact that no such retaliation has
occurred in the wake of Linvarre’s recent encroachment
into their territory has left many outside observers leery.
For all their predatory nature and loner tendencies,
JOROGUMO
jorogumo are notably open to dealings with other
ancestries. Those daring and desperate enough can
prove themselves to jorogumo. If they can gain a
brood’s favor, typically through a show of strength
or power, they can form a temporary alliance, and
solidifying such an alliance is one of the few instances
28
when jorogumo are willing to leave Shenmen. Tengu are the one exception.
Jorogumo and tengu have feuded with one another for generations; while
TIAN XIA
jorogumo often keep a broad-minded eye on travelers for the perfect prey,
when they see a tengu in their lands, their only goal is to kill.
CHARACTER
GUIDE
KITSUNE INTRODUCTION
It’s hard to know how many kitsune reside in Tian Xia—and that’s by
design. Kitsune have a long and storied history of marginalization and BACKGROUNDS
oppression inflicted by the many empires that span Tian Xia’s history
MAGIC AND
books. This history goes hand in hand with their shapechanging abilities. THE SPIRIT
The more kitsune hide, the more they’re treated as outsiders, and the more WORLD
they’re ostracized, the more they hide.
As a result, kitsune suffuse Tian Xia in a subtle and ever-flowing culture oni THE ELEMENTS
that mimics their host communities. Kitsune are, in many ways, human.
ZODIAC
They’re also elf, tengu, amurrun, nagaji, and on and on, both lifelong
members of existing clades and also something more: something hidden PEOPLES
and disciplined, an arm’s length apart. Kitsune embedded in societies of
other humanoids are often just as ignorant about their greater community CHARACTER
OPTIONS
as everyone else is. They know their immediate families, they might know a
few kitsune family friends, and they know how to spot another kitsune in TIAN
public, but that’s it—otherwise, they’re just like anybody else. EQUIPMENT
Not all kitsune have embedded themselves in societies of other
humanoids, delving into lifelong shapechanging regimes. Some locations GLOSSARY
& INDEX
in Tian Xia have large populations of kitsune who live openly, with full
integration (or simple majorities) in local society. The first and most famous
is the Forest of Spirits, bordering Minkai in northern Tian Xia. Controlled
by kami, the forest has always been hostile to civilization and civilization’s
humanoid agents, unless those agents happen to have skilled negotiators, a suli
role kitsune are well suited for. Kitsune have always had strong ties to the
spirit world, and kitsune clans in the forest found themselves a prosperous
niche maintaining the delicate balance between kami and outlander, forest
and road. The Spirit Road itself is an important highway through the forest
that would quickly fall apart without its kitsune keepers.
Behind the Forest of Spirits, the second largest population of kitsune
living openly are the kitsune clans in Kwanlai. War and invasion have
wracked Kwanlai’s complex history, and the tengu clans quickly found
value in the shapechanging capabilities of kitsune agents to act as
smugglers and spies. After the tremendous assistance kitsune provided
against the constant invasions from Wanshou, the five major tengu clans
lavished glory and gifts upon the kitsune clans, exalting them as a major
player in the nation’s local politics. Kwanlai’s capital of Hisuikarasu has
the largest population of kitsune to openly live within the boundaries of
any humanoid nation to date. tengu
NAGAS
Nagas are brightly colored serpents with humanoid faces and no limbs.
Typically between 10 and 16 feet long, these imposing beings can weigh in
excess of 300 pounds, and they possess natural magic that allows them to
compensate for their lack of digits—however, the limitations of these spells
mean they often rely on limbed servants and allies to perform tasks beyond
their capabilities, like construction.
The vast majority of nagas live in the kingdoms of Nagajor. Ancient
beyond reckoning, nagas have inhabited the land since pre-history and
rule kingdoms as varied as any region of Golarion. Common traits include
matriarchy, the veneration of naga deities, deference to nagas as legal or
ceremonial nobility, and a tendency toward hermitage. Whether or not a
given naga has any wealth, authority, subordinates, or titles, they’re due all
the respect of royalty. Those who wish to establish a nation in Nagajor are ysoki
29
expected to find a naga to serve as its monarch, even if in high regard, which is reflected in their tendency
only in a ceremonial role. toward matriarchal societies and their ambitious desire
Nagas who have wealth often become astrologers, to better themselves. Devotion to Nalinivati isn’t just
seers, and arcanists, amassing vast stores of knowledge prayer, it’s everyday living culture. Nagaji religious
over the centuries. Across Golarion, however, many practice is holistic, and one can find nagaji anywhere
nagas choose to live as ascetic hermits, forfeiting praying at sunrise, blessing food with sprinkled water,
money, servants, and luxury to guard some ruin, and paying respect at thresholds to places of knowledge
sanctify a landmark, or simply study the stars for and magic before entering. Specific ritual times, types
decades on end. These nagas are often repositories of offerings, construction of shrines, and more are
of forgotten lore, their long life spans and keen passed down through generations and slightly differ
memories preserving secrets long forgotten by the by household tradition. Even nagaji who don’t worship
rest of Golarion. Such hermits might be virtuous or Nalinivati will never damage books and never pass salt
villainous, and they’re often the only nagas outsiders by hand, like their mothers taught them.
to Nagajor will ever meet. Nagaji families are diverse with no separation
In the rest of Tian Xia, nagas are largely defined between various nagaji-kind. They’re polyamorous,
by those hermits, meaning nagas are often viewed believing a healthy brood contains many for protecting,
as secretive, isolationist mystics. Even visitors to teaching, and growing. They don’t have words for
Nagajor generally deal with nagaji instead of nagas. cousin because the members of a single generation are
As such, meeting an influential naga is often a surprise all seen as siblings. A traveling nagaji can often find a
to foreigners. The reality of urbane, social, educated relative to stay with. While family is very important,
nagas with attendants, shrines, or palaces clashes with blood relations only complicate their quick tempers.
ideas of isolated asceticism. Among the politically Feuding communities usually find themselves connected
influential of Tian Xia, the royalty of nagas and the by some relationship, and even that small connection
perceived divinity of their mandate is emphasized demands familial respect in times of conflict.
instead. Nagas—who are distant and unlikely to Art plays a large role in connecting sprawling nagaji
contest the characterization—are portrayed as communities. Nagaji waste nothing, even using their
absolute, unquestionable sovereigns who embody the shed skin as materials. They personalize their homes
essence of good rulership, as believed by the local and wardrobes with the beautiful, molted patterns of
cultures who venerate them. For such politicians, their friends and family, signaling common relations to
meeting nagas who are deeply detached from their others. It’s customary for elders to gift their shed skin
satrapies can be quite a shock. to younger generations so that they might protect and
brighten the lives of these youths even after death.
NAGAJI
Nagaji strongly believe that to keep the wheels of ONI
civilization turning, a strong foundation must be built Unlike most ancestries and peoples within Tian Xia,
and maintained. They’re among those proud builders oni aren’t quite born so much as made. Spirits can
who take their expertise very seriously, regarding hard be created as divine protectors of elements in nature
labor as the most righteous form of serving the world. that can’t protect themselves, after which they become
Many nagaji take pride in being farmers, builders, kami. When a kami fails at its sacred task, whether
chefs, healers, and guards. deliberately or not, they can be corrupted by envy, rage,
Nagaji are an ambitious people. Stemming from or despair, retreating from incorporeality into the realm
their deep devotion to Nalinivati, they pursue of the physical and all its delights. They permanently
knowledge to share with each other, encouraging the take on humanoid forms and become oni.
young to explore, join other cultures, and bring back As a result, oni don’t have a culture as one would
what others might be lacking. This outlook leads to expect from other humanoid ancestries—they don’t
guilds forming between nagaji groups to innovate form families or pass down language, rituals, or values.
labor. While outsiders might assume this culture of Instead, they have a shared origin, and it’s a shared
sharing would lead to a more unified people, nagaji origin of dissonance with their original noble purposes.
remain prideful and picky about tradition—nagaji Oni tend to form within the world in places with a high
love to learn, but hate having their hometown methods concentration of spirits, materializing as bitter and
proven worse. One village’s technique might differ in angry and with a plan. They’re usually violent, selfish,
such a way that hostility breaks out when a foreign and more than capable of using their shapechanging
child is sent to study there. This hostility might not abilities to manipulate other creatures and insert
always be violent, but internal family politics knot and themselves into positions of trust and authority. As
stew. The dust usually settles eventually, as the greater a result, oni are generally malicious invaders, either
good is always the priority. working alone or in groups to undermine local societies
As strong devotees of Nalinivati, their naga goddess and get what they want (often in some combination of
creator, nagaji hold her teachings of family and respect hedonistic pleasures and social power).
30
Oni can be found throughout Tian Xia, usually and rituals, Tians will express their deep admiration for
in places that humans have difficulty accessing and their ancestors’ bravery and sacrifice in defense of the
TIAN XIA
settling. They’re common in places of great spiritual land against the unholy horde, sharing how they teach
power—many oni live within the Forest of Spirits their youths to remember their sacred duties through CHARACTER
between Minkai and Hongal, and a faction of night folk songs and tales of ancestral heroes. GUIDE
oni occupy the Yjae sky city ruins over the Wall of In Minata, travelers might hear stories of INTRODUCTION
Heaven. Oni warlords have also occupied the southern mysterious, ethereal beings inhabiting a magnificent,
Chenlun Mountains in the Valashmai region, forming a hidden mountaintop city, known as Angakasapurna. BACKGROUNDS
cluster of bandit states that hoard ancient artifacts as These beings, known regionally as orang bunian, are
MAGIC AND
mutual deterrence and raid the surrounding lowlands described as elegantly dressed otherworldly beings THE SPIRIT
for wealth. whose appearances resemble humans. Few residents WORLD
Sometimes, oni can be found in places that humans know that the orang bunian are, in fact, jann who
have settled. For example, Chu Ye was once a human live atop a mountain in tall, fortified buildings that THE ELEMENTS
border province of Lung Wa famed for its healers that pierce the sky. Near the bottom of the mountain live
ZODIAC
was then fully conquered by oni in the continent-wide their mortal descendants, sulis, who carefully guard
chaos that followed the fall of the Lung Wa empire. the land against intruders. Orang bunian protect their PEOPLES
After a year of butchery, a sort of order was restored beloved children and refuge by covering the island in
by the void oni Tsuneni, the new shogun of Chu Ye. thick mists and illusions. For that reason, sulis who CHARACTER
OPTIONS
The human population continues to deplete under their decide to venture beyond the island find themselves
overlords’ tyrannical rule, and oni forces push out to unable to return. Some spend the rest of their lives TIAN
regularly invade neighbors like Hongal. wandering the isles in search of clues that might EQUIPMENT
Not all oni have warlike tendencies, most famously someday lead them home.
those of Hao Jin’s returned Tapestry People. While GLOSSARY
& INDEX
they still lived on the demiplane, they’d managed
to completely integrate into the multicultural
communities inside Hao Jin’s Tapestry. Now that these
peoples have been returned to Tian Xia in Bachuan, the
oni of Round Mountain continue to defy expectations
by working with their fellow returned compatriots in
boisterous cooperation.
PLANAR SCIONS
Tales of supernatural beings from other planes abound
in Tian Xia’s oral narratives. Many families whose
children manifest wondrous, supernatural powers,
such as halos and jewel-toned eyes, are often eager
to recite (or spin) tales hearkening the adventures
and exploits of their godly, celestial ancestors.
Humbler families claim, when asked, that their
children merely received the blessings accrued
by their ancestors, whose devotion and service
pleased the gods. Other families whose children
manifest uncommon or seemingly fiendish traits,
such as small horns, a tail, or large claws, cast
blame on their ancestors for having incurred
the wrath of gods or evil spirits. Regardless
of the source of their perceived blessing or
curse—whether it be the gods, demons, spirits,
or ancestors—Tian locals generally believe that VANARA
supernatural and spiritual beings not only once
walked, lived, loved, and fought in the land in the
distant past, but that they continue still to guide
and influence mortal lives.
Travelers visiting Tianjing will note its residents’
devoted communication with their ancestors and
likely observe Tians generously offering daily food, gifts,
and prayers in thanks for their ancestors’ continuing
care and guidance. If asked about their familial customs
31
TENGU
For centuries, those tengu who stayed “in the roost” of their ancestral
homeland of Kwanlai lived as mistreated and exploited inhabitants of the
powerful Lung Wa empire. Through policy and intense force, Imperial Lung
Wa worked to crush local tengu culture. Thus, unlike the migrating tengu
diaspora across Golarion who display a level of cultural flexibility and
readily adopt local customs, those who remained in Kwanlai hold to their
heritage and traditions with tenacity.
The tengu of Kwanlai have a rich culture of passing memories from
one generation to another through stories and song. They remember the
cruelty of Lung Wa and even the names, faces, and specific acts of barbarity
certain members of the Lung Wa elite enacted upon them through history.
tian-dan Bold, geometric patterns are dyed onto the fabric they use for their clothes.
Ancient melodies played on a 13-string zither dance through the air at
gatherings and festivals. They still cook the tender bamboo shoots from the
Vale of Green Spears, the earthy aromas wafting from every home during
the full moon. Their houses rise into the air on tall, wooden stilts with
staircases winding around to the top.
One thing Kwanlai and diaspora tengu share is that they form incredibly
close communities. Families take care of each other’s children and raise them
together in a creche. No individual is ever alone. Aid can always be found
at hand in a tengu neighborhood. With their long history of oppression in
the Lung Wa empire, they’re happy to welcome anyone of any background
into the fold.
Tengu who remain in Kwanlai work to overcome their generational
trauma from their past with Lung Wa. As a result, they chafe under too
much governmental oversight, whether at home or on the world stage.
tian-yae Though such tengu are more law-abiding and lawful than their diaspora
brethren, they still have a strong anti-authoritarian streak. It doesn’t take
many rules and regulations to spark rebellion. They have no qualms about
bringing in contraband, “liberating” taxes from local provincial leaders, or
leaving artistic representations of their displeasure on government buildings
in protest. Despite their history, tengu in Kwanlai see themselves as a young
nation with much to prove, so they’re passionate and enthusiastic about
participating in the politics of Tian Xia as a whole.
VANARAS
As vanaras embark on personal journeys of enlightenment, some have
inevitably found their path veering eastward from Vudra, across the Embaral
Ocean, and toward the Dragon Empires. Goka’s nature as a port city and
revolving door for varying peoples and philosophies makes it a magnet for
curious vanaras. The city’s thrill of competition has enticed many to set up
tian-hwan shop as teahouse owners, innkeepers, professional gamblers, or any other
profession that might provide the opportunity to speak with as diverse
a crowd of travelers as possible to gain new insight—and if problematic
visitors offer the chance for a vanara to teach a lesson with a well-devised
prank, then so much the better.
Yet, the hustle and bustle of the city isn’t ideal for all vanaras looking to
expand their horizons, and many seek a more solitary experience amid the
indomitable Wall of Heaven. Just as Ragdya eventually found wisdom on the
peak of Bahmenu, so do these vanaras believe they might find the answers
they seek among the temples, peaks, and valleys of this mountain range.
Whether at shrines of Ragdya, Irori, or other deities that offer wisdom,
vanaras living on the Wall are often found in pairs, walking together on
their journey.
Vanaras with a healthy wanderlust travel throughout Tian Xia, though
most tend to avoid Nagajor on the basis of their historical relationship
tian-min with the naga empire. Quain draws vanaras who seek answers on the path
32
to becoming a true martial arts master. One group of vanaras is said to
have taken up permanent residence within the Eryiu Forest. In Lingshen,
TIAN XIA
the tale of a vanara who reached the highest echelon of nobility before
being sculpted into a terra-cotta statue has inspired communities of vanaras
CHARACTER
striving to join the great warrior hero. Vanaras in the Forest of Spirits have GUIDE
sought the wisdom and perspectives of kami. Even some lahkgyan vanaras INTRODUCTION
have tried to find solace in nations where more wicked powers reign, away
from traditional communities. BACKGROUNDS
Vanaras are inevitably compared with Sun Wukong, a practice that
MAGIC AND
causes no small amount of chagrin. Though they hold no malice toward the THE SPIRIT
monkey king, his tendency for chaotic pranks is the exact type of reckless WORLD
behavior that vanaras attempt to distance themselves from in their journey.
This association means that traveling vanaras often experience biased THE ELEMENTS
treatment from many who assume them to be troublemakers. Most vanaras tian-la ZODIAC
work diligently to avoid these labels and instead try to display their love of
community and endless desire to learn. PEOPLES
Time has seen some Tian vanaras with altered features. Some have fur
and hair colors of black or pale reds, and the aquatically inclined vanaras CHARACTER
OPTIONS
of Minata have become identifiable through their distinctly shaped and
decorated noses. TIAN
EQUIPMENT
YSOKI
Within Tian Xia, the nation of Diguo-Dashu is one of the largest gatherings GLOSSARY
& INDEX
of ratfolk in the world, with innumerable clans banding together for
survival while also competing among themselves for the Darklands’ limited
resources. Many ysoki have similar patterns of black fur and red eyes, but
the ratfolk of Tian Xia boast a wide range of earthen tones to their fur.
Years of adaptation and a need to climb the unpredictable caverns of the tian-shu
Darklands have given these ysoki exceptionally strong and dexterous claws
that help aid them in tasks requiring delicate precision. This combination
of natural talent and cultivated wit have shaped ysoki into some of Tian
Xia’s greatest strategists, inventors, artists, doctors, and (perhaps most
notoriously) thieves.
A focus on success stems from the strong drive within their social circles.
Ysoki pride themselves on having a clear goal and achieving it. A clan of
several hundred ratfolk intent on mining ore will hold tremendous respect for
a clan of 10–20 who task themselves with discovering new ways to harvest
material—and it’s extremely common for alliances to form among several
clans who can benefit from each other’s strengths. Self-expression is heavily
valued, and these mutual alliances allow for individuals to shift between clans
more closely aligned to their interests without losing all ties to their family.
This push for personal discovery has resulted in ysoki worshipping a tian-sing
range of deities. Faith is viewed as a transaction, rather than something
to settle the spirit. All ysoki are aware of how Lao Shu Po’s legacy frames
their people in a negative light. Wary of being judged by association, ysoki
often refer to her instead as the Great Grandmother. Most ysoki leave small
offerings at shrines that appear familial in nature regardless of their personal
beliefs, subtly expressing reverence to their eccentric Great Grandmother in
a way that respectfully encourages her followers to direct their mischief at
another home.
Ysoki have a tendency to be intolerant of those who they believe
squander their good fortune. Wasteful behaviors are considered insulting
and belittling to those around them, which can make it difficult to build
trust with other cultures who might be spoiled from living with abundance.
Still, though ysoki can find it difficult to trust outsiders, they form bonds of
deep kinship with any they call friends. Friendship is held in high regard,
and the very act of betrayal against friends or family can result in being
outcast (or attacked) by all ysoki communities. tian-tang
33
Dokkaebi Goblin
The dokkaebi goblins native to Tian Xia, found especially GOBLIN ANCESTRY FEATS
in Hwanggot, are an idiosyncratic people as strange as The following ancestry feats are available to goblins.
the creatures of old ghost stories, yet simultaneously so
common you could buy dinner from one. Dokkaebi have 1ST LEVEL
an intrinsic affinity for illusion-based magic, but use
most of their talents to prank others. DOKKAEBI FIRE FEAT 1
Dokkaebi are artisans at heart. They specialize in pottery, GOBLIN
both decorative and utilitarian, sought by aristocrats and Prerequisites dokkaebi goblin heritage
commonfolk alike. There’s a very simple reason why You can create illusory wisps of ghostly blue flame. You can
Tian goblins developed such an interest in pottery: cast ignition as an innate occult cantrip at will. A cantrip is
the infamous goblin love for fermented foods. heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded
Where Avistani goblins delight in pickling anything up. Your Dokkaebi Fire is purely illusory; while it emits light,
and everything, dokkaebi prefer long fermentation, it deals mental damage instead of fire damage (so it can’t light
sometimes beyond what others might find palatable. objects on fire or affect mindless creatures), and it has the
More information on goblins in general can be found illusion and mental traits instead of the fire trait.
on pages 54–57 of Player Core. Special If you have the Burn It! feat, its effects apply to
your dokkaebi fire even though it deals mental damage—
GOBLIN HERITAGE dokkaebi consider these flames as real as any mortal fire,
Goblins in Tian Xia have access to the following heritage. and so they are.
5TH LEVEL
13TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
TIAN
BLOOD MUST HAVE BLOOD FEAT 9 EQUIPMENT
HUNGERSEED
You tap into a bottomless hunger for carnage. You can cast blood GLOSSARY
& INDEX
vendetta and share life as 2nd-rank primal spells, each once per
day as 2nd-rank divine innate spells, each once per day.
13TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
GNOME HERITAGE
Gnomes in Tian Xia have access to the following heritage.
1ST LEVEL
FISHEYE FEAT 1
GNOME
Prerequisites kijimuna gnome heritage
Frequency once per day
You can gain the magic of the seas by eating your favorite seafood. This gives
you an advantage when diving, escaping notice after pilfering a valuable artifact
from a local warlord, moving through poisonous fumes, or sleeping next to a
particularly gassy adventuring partner. If you eat the left eye of a fish, you gain
the Breath Control feat for the next hour, and that feat’s benefits apply against
effects that have the olfactory trait in addition to those that have the inhaled
38
trait. As this feat is temporary, you can’t use it as a prerequisite for a permanent Other Relations
character option like a feat or access to a spell. With surprisingly close relationships, the
TIAN XIA
elves of Jinin and kijimuna gnomes bond
5TH LEVEL over their love of nature and commonly
CHARACTER
form adventuring parties together. Their GUIDE
BRINY BEVERAGE FEAT 5 dispositions for travel and creating INTRODUCTION
GNOME new settlements often means that
Prerequisites kijimuna gnome heritage tengu and gnomes, especially their BACKGROUNDS
You can survive off the sea as well as gain insight from its waters. You can drink various diaspora, forge close bonds and
MAGIC AND
saltwater and quench your thirst as though it’s freshwater. In addition, once per communities. The nomadic Tian-Las and THE SPIRIT
day, you can take a gulp of seawater using an Interact action to gain imprecise rugged Mutabi-qi of Shanguang also WORLD
wavesense with a range of 20 feet, which lasts for 1 minute. This wavesense share a mutual respect with the daring
functions only within the body of water you drank from. kijimuna gnomes. THE ELEMENTS
The innate drive for adventure and
ZODIAC
9TH LEVEL new experiences often leads gnomes
to be curious, meddlesome, and PEOPLES
SCARLET STRANDS FEAT 9 mischievous, putting them at odds
GNOME with the secretive, cautious people CHARACTER
OPTIONS
Prerequisites kijimuna gnome heritage of the floating city of Yjae. Anywhere
The innate magic in your blood turns your signature crimson tresses into more with strict laws or rigid thinking tends TIAN
than just a stylish coiffure. If you pluck three strands of your bright red hair to have strained relationships with the EQUIPMENT
and spend 1 minute braiding them together, they magically transform into a restless, wandering, and often chaotic
strong, 50-foot, crimson rope. This rope can hold 1,000 pounds—great for lashing nature of kijimuna gnomes. GLOSSARY
& INDEX
down sails in a storm, rappelling down a cliff to a hidden treasure, or tying up a
Minkaian criminal with a sizable bounty on her head. You can have only one hair
rope in existence at a time; if you braid a second, your first rope unravels back
into three hairs.
Your hairs can also form a net to catch fish or foes. Once per day, you can
cast 4th-rank web (Player Core 2 255) as an innate primal spell, which takes
the form of a crimson fishing net. You must have a hand free to pluck a few
strands of your hair that you throw as part of the spell. The hairs regrow when
the spell ends.
13TH LEVEL
KOBOLD HERITAGES
Kobolds in Tian Xia have access to the following heritages.
13TH LEVEL
5TH LEVEL
13TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
LIZARDFOLK ANCESTRY
FEATS
The following ancestry feats are available to lizardfolk.
1ST LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
Gandharva (Uncommon)
You’re descended from the self-proclaimed musicians, poets, and dancers of the
gods, with a body that’s part humanoid and part horse or bird. If you gain wings,
they come in many different brilliant colors. Due to your celestial connection,
the tradition of any spells or magical abilities you gain from a sprite heritage
or ancestry feat is divine instead of its normal tradition. You become trained
in Performance (or another skill of your choice if you’re already trained in
Performance), and you can cast summon instrument as a divine innate cantrip.
Kanchil (Uncommon)
You have the head of a mouse deer and hooves instead of feet, with a
reputation for being clever and persuasive—able to get yourself out
of sticky situations with wordplay and a bit of luck. You become
trained in Deception (or another skill if you were already
trained in Deception). You gain a +1 circumstance bonus
to Deception checks to Lie when specifically attempting
to avoid danger or punishment (such as trying to
convince a dragon not to eat you), to Deception DCs
against Sense Motive checks to uncover such lies, and
to initiative rolls when you roll Deception for initiative.
Leungli (Uncommon)
You have the head of a goldfish or carp and scales
that come in an auspicious combination of stark white,
black, orange, red, and gold. If you gain wings, they
appear much like the wispy hairs of a dragon. You
DIJIANG gain a swim Speed of 10 feet and the amphibious
trait. Like all creatures with the amphibious trait,
you can breathe both water and air.
46
SPRITE ANCESTRY FEATS New Sprite Sparks
The following ancestry feats are available to sprites with ties to Tian Xia, though The Sprite’s Spark feat (Ancestry Guide
TIAN XIA
some have since become common across Golarion. The Corgi Mount feat 130) lets sprites fling magical blasts
(Ancestry Guide 129–130) is uncommon in Tian Xia. as an unarmed attack, with a damage
CHARACTER
type based on their heritage. Dijiang, GUIDE
1ST LEVEL gandharva, kanchil, and leungli sprites INTRODUCTION
with Sprite’s Spark gain the following
CHARMED SLEEP FEAT 1 unarmed attacks. Each has the trait BACKGROUNDS
SPRITE associated with the damage type,
MAGIC AND
When you sleep, you turn into an inanimate object a little smaller than a human’s except for the leungli’s surging splash, THE SPIRIT
thumb—easily overlooked and carried. Being in your Charmed Sleep counts as setting which has the water trait. WORLD
up a disguise for the Impersonate use of Deception (except that you Impersonate Dijiang primordial pulse (spirit)
an object instead of a creature), it gives you a +4 status bonus to Deception checks Gandharva celestial song (sonic) THE ELEMENTS
to prevent others from seeing through your disguise, and you add your level even Kanchil puzzling bolt (mental)
ZODIAC
if you’re untrained. While in your Charmed Sleep, you can be picked up and carried Leungli surging splash
as easily as any small object. This effect immediately ends as soon as you wake. (bludgeoning) PEOPLES
17TH LEVEL
ANCESTRY FEATS
The following ancestry feats are available to poppets.
1ST LEVEL
9TH LEVEL
13TH LEVEL
You Might...
• Be single-minded toward a goal to complete the
next step of your enlightenment.
• Have a deep sense of curiosity for other people and
their perspectives.
• Take things at a slower pace, putting things off until
the next cycle of reincarnation.
Others Probably...
• Think that you’re very knowledgeable and wise.
• Assume that you’re deeply spiritual and detached
from worldly matters.
• Consider you immortal and envy your ability to
reincarnate.
Physical Description
Samsarans reflect the diversity of whatever ancestry they
had in their first mortal life cycle, and only upon their
first rebirth do they take on the unique features of their
kind. The reincarnation cycle gives samsarans blue skin
tones, often in a pale shade but ranging to the deepest
midnight navy as well. They have pupilless eyes that are
typically pallid in coloration, comparable to the moon.
Samsarans also have transparent and colorless blood,
resembling crystal clear water.
When samsarans die, they reincarnate as a baby born
to a humanoid couple of non-samsaran ancestry, often in
MOUNTAINEER SAMSARAN the area a particular samsaran held the most affinity for
in their previous life cycle. While they might share some
features with their previous incarnation, the similarity
52
is more like the shared appearances between a parent and child rather than Rarity
identical duplication. Samsarans age at the same rate as humans, and unless Uncommon
TIAN XIA
they succumb to unnatural causes of death, they die of old age at 100 years Common in Zi Ha, Po Li, and Goka
old. Children born to samsarans live their first life cycle as the mortal ancestry
CHARACTER
their parents had and will take on the unique skin color and eyes of other Hit Points GUIDE
samsarans only after their first death. 8 INTRODUCTION
SAMSARAN HERITAGES
A samsaran’s past lives can bear great influence on
their current incarnation. Choose one of the following
samsaran heritages at 1st level.
Healer Samsaran
In seeking enlightenment, your past incarnations have
wandered away from the ancestral homelands of Zi Ha,
exploring the different nations of Tian Xia and elsewhere
in Golarion. Your past incarnations had dangerous
encounters while traveling, and you frequently have
flashbacks to healing wounds. You become trained in
Medicine. If you would automatically become trained in
Medicine (from your background or class, for example),
you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. When
you use Medicine to Treat Wounds on yourself, you can
use your special techniques to add your level to the Hit
Points you regain from the treatment.
Mountaineer Samsaran
Your past incarnations dwelled in the caves on the
snowcapped mountains of Tian Xia, so your body has
become adept at surviving frigid storms. You gain cold
resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1). You treat
environmental cold effects as if they were one step less
ORACULAR SAMSARAN
extreme (incredible cold becomes extreme, extreme cold
becomes severe, and so on).
54
Oracular Samsaran Samsaran Misconceptions
Your past lives have provided heightened insight to the spiritual world The samsarans’ reincarnation cycle
TIAN XIA
and current and future events, as history repeats itself. Choose arcane, is an object of fascination for many
divine, or occult. You gain one cantrip from that magical tradition’s spell people. Those seeking eternal life
CHARACTER
list. You can Cast this Spell as an innate spell at will, as a spell of your ask samsarans what the key is to GUIDE
chosen tradition. A cantrip is heightened to a spell rank equal to half your constant reincarnation, and some INTRODUCTION
level rounded up. even try to emulate samsaran
lifestyles in the hopes of becoming BACKGROUNDS
Sanctuary Samsaran samsaran themselves. There’s also
MAGIC AND
Your past incarnations were reborn in sanctuaries in northern Zi Ha, and you the assumption that samsarans are THE SPIRIT
have recollections of being trained to concentrate and focus for long periods all highly spiritual and wise, and WORLD
of time. Your hazy flashbacks also reveal useful scripture in the books your people often seek them out for advice
past lives had eagerly consumed. You gain the Tap the Past action. without much regard for their actual THE ELEMENTS
Tap the Past [free-action] (fortune) Frequency once per day; Trigger You’re about to expertise or knowledge. A small
ZODIAC
attempt a check to Recall Knowledge; Effect You concentrate on the glimpses handful, upon learning about the
of a previous life to find a memory of a tome or an applicable lesson from healing abilities of samsaran blood, PEOPLES
your past. You roll a second time and use the higher result. If you roll a believe that getting their hands on
critical failure, you get a failure instead. If you roll a success, you get a critical a samsaran’s blood will gift them CHARACTER
OPTIONS
success instead. immortality.
TIAN
Wilderness Samsaran EQUIPMENT
Your preceding lives have been reborn in various remote environments
away from major settlements in Tian Xia and beyond. Your past GLOSSARY
& INDEX
manifestations have had to learn how to survive on their own, and you
recall this will to survive while possessing very little resources. You
become trained in Survival. If you would automatically become trained
in Survival (from your background or class, for example), you instead
become trained in a skill of your choice. You can ignore difficult terrain
from trees, foliage, and undergrowth.
ANCESTRY FEATS
At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an additional
ancestry feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th
levels). As a samsaran, you select from among the following ancestry
feats.
1ST LEVEL
9TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
You Might…
• Show off your head gem to loved ones but hide it
from those that you don’t trust.
• Exalt a warrior culture that focuses on protecting
what’s yours as well as the forests and lands around
your settlements.
• Be overly protective of those you care about, even to
violent ends.
Others Probably…
• Are circumspect about the topic of your head gem,
either out of empathetic respect or scheming greed.
• Trust your word when you say you would protect
the ones you love.
• Underestimate just how gentle you can be when it
comes to those you care for.
Physical Description
Sarangay are tall warriors with humanoid bodies that
almost always have naturally heavy builds. They average
at about 6 to 7 feet tall and have visibly muscular
physiques—sarangay very often describe humans and
similarly built ancestries as “slender” due to the difference
between their typical figures. Their eyes are black orbs with
white crescents for pupils. They have large, clawed hands,
while their legs end in hooves that have the capacity to
topple trees. Sarangay reach adulthood when their horns
reach 2 feet in length. Their jewelry tends to include large
horn platings, nose rings, and excessively large bangles
made of gold common in the forests where sarangay live.
From birth, every sarangay has a giant gleaming
stone upon their brow known as their head gem, which
houses their soul. When sarangay choose a partner, they
switch their head gems with each other and are in love
for the rest of their lives. Unsurprisingly, sarangay are
belligerent against anyone who would steal these gems.
Unfortunately, the size, quality, and rarity of the head
FULL MOON SARANGAY gems give them a staggering market value, and their
spiritual associations attract unscrupulous magicians.
58
Callous nobles of Tian Xia love to carve such gems into decorations or Rarity
display the gems upon their desks and in their lavish living areas. Rare
TIAN XIA
Society Hit Points CHARACTER
Sarangay are strong individually, but together, they’re considered unbeatable. 8 GUIDE
Most sarangay communities are small villages deep within the forests, but INTRODUCTION
they demonstrate the same amount of diversity as the other ancestries of Tian Size
Xia. These settlements are built out of houses that can be easily destroyed and Medium BACKGROUNDS
remade; these residences can be moved with the shifting seasons and tides, to
MAGIC AND
avoid invaders and other threats, and to uphold the proper geomancy of a Attribute Boosts THE SPIRIT
village. The center of a village is always the house of the village chief, usually Strength WORLD
known as the datu, or sometimes ratu. The datu’s house is known as the kraton, Charisma
a large multi-storied palace made of the best hardwood, lacquered and oiled, Free THE ELEMENTS
making it less disposable than the other houses.
ZODIAC
The datu is surrounded in their daily lives by their closest companions, Attribute Flaws
usually either their own kin or a coterie of vassals who are indebted to the datu Wisdom PEOPLES
and are obliged to fight as the datu’s own warband of faithful knights. Those
sarangay related to the datu are often known as nobles, and they can take on Languages CHARACTER
OPTIONS
any profession of their liking. The rest of the village is made up of commoners Common
who do a large amount of the work for the village. They render a part of Additional languages equal to your TIAN
their labor to the datu in return for the protection and prestige of the datu’s Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). EQUIPMENT
stewardship. This hierarchy isn’t mandated by some divinity, but rather out of Choose from Empyreal, Fey, Nagaji,
respect for a worthy leader. Datu who are deemed unworthy by the rest of the Petran, Pyric, Sussuran, Thalassic, GLOSSARY
& INDEX
village are often overthrown by the concerted efforts of the commoners, who Yaksha, and any other languages to
then choose a better datu, who can even come from their own ranks. which you have access (such as the
Sarangay hold their gleaming head gems in the highest regard, for the gems languages prevalent in your region).
are said to contain their souls and all their memories. If a sarangay’s gem
is destroyed, it can regrow through the help of a shaman’s ritual, but the Traits
gem-less sarangay falls into a state of dreamless stupor until then. Entire Humanoid
warbands are formed in villages to protect against poachers and adventurers Sarangay
who would steal head gems to achieve untold riches.
Sarangay usually have names that are two to three syllables long and that Horns
are usually one or two words, depending on the cadence. They tend to have Your powerful horns are formidable
consonants paired together to create hard yet regal sounds that exalt the weapons. You have a horns unarmed
ancient tongue and names of their ancestors. attack that deals 1d6 piercing damage
Sample Names: Dakal, Davvun, Karatallu, Kasta, Kunnasi, Makkan Vulan, and has the shove trait. Your horns are
Mangi Yavu, Mappia, Nallutu, Ngatta, Nikanni, Sikamu, Tadday, Tullung, in the brawling group.
Uzzin, Vulu Vvuga
Head Gem
Beliefs Upon your brow is a gem that houses
Despite their inherent occult powers, sarangay are very attuned to the forces your soul. When casting any spell or
of nature and the rhythms of wild places. They particularly hold the moon, ritual to return you to life, your intact
which they call Ama Vulan—Father Moon—in the highest regard. Sarangay head gem can be substituted for your
believe their horns represent the moon in its crescent phase, and their head body. While you can freely remove
gem is the moon at its fullest. During the full moon, sarangay perform intricate your head gem, it’s typically impossible
rituals to earn merit and favor from Father Moon, whom they believe to be for another creature to forcibly remove
their First Ancestor. Other than Father Moon and Mother Earth, they pay or destroy your head gem unless you’re
proper reverence to the thousand little gods who live in the leaves, in the killed or permanently incapacitated
droplets of water, in the embers of a bonfire. Sarangay believe that nature is first; at the GM’s discretion, powerful
inherently divine and alive, living much like they do. magic or abilities can circumvent this
Popular Edicts protect what’s yours, seek to understand the duality of the earth and restriction. If your head gem is removed
moon, spend time enjoying the rhythms of nature or destroyed, it can be regrown using
Popular Anathema betray a worthy leader, remove your head gem without good cause a day-long ritual. When this occurs,
any remains of the previous gem
SARANGAY HERITAGES immediately crumble to dust.
Sarangay have existed throughout Tian Xia for ages, and their clans are
named for the phases of the moon. Choose one of the following sarangay
heritages at 1st level.
59
Full Moon Sarangay so too do you conjoin the dark from the bright, the red
You were raised in a shamanic tradition transcending a from the blue, the wind from the sea. Your ancestors
single sarangay community or heritage. You spent your were tall and burly with shiny black fur, light spots or
youth under the guidance of a shaman elder, who taught markings, and short, tightly curved horns. You become
you to commune with spirits in the hope that you’ll one trained in two Lore skills of your choice, and you gain
day use that knowledge to advise and guide your people. a +1 circumstance bonus to Recall Knowledge checks
Those from your tradition are priests or shamans who using those skills.
channel the spirits and see things others can’t. You gain an
ancestry attribute boost to Wisdom instead of Strength, New Moon Sarangay
and you gain an attribute flaw in Constitution instead of Some people call you a dwarf sarangay and your kind
Wisdom. You gain the Folk Healer ancestry feat. “hiding ones.” Others whisper you go out with the
moon when the moon “goes hunting”—a common folk
Half Moon Sarangay saying for when the new moon vanishes from the sky.
You come from one of many traveling communities Your elusive ancestors built their lodgings in the shade
that migrate seasonally along Tian Xia’s vast rivers and of bamboo thickets, and your ancestral communities
mountains, bringing news and tidings to villages along valued caution and independence, passing down the
their path. Your people connect sarangay communities knowledge of walking lightly and moving like smoke
to one another across vast distances and are symbolized through bamboo. Your ancestors had dark brown or
by the half moon, which conjoins the light and dark; gray fur with white markings and a V-shaped pair of
flat, triangular horns. Your size is Small instead of
Medium. You gain 10 Hit Points from your ancestry
instead of 8 and gain a +2 circumstance bonus to
Athletics checks to Shove.
5TH LEVEL
9TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
Society
Tanuki know that, among the many people of Golarion,
they’re underdogs, possessing neither the mastery of the
heavens that tengu command nor the divine favor that
kitsune enjoy. All things considered, tanuki know they
have to support each other, building tight communities
VIRTUOUS TANUKI where everyone knows each other’s names. These
communities tend to exist on the outskirts of villages,
64
often in abandoned warehouses or farms or else near temples and other Rarity
public buildings. When tanuki societies overlap with those of other peoples, Uncommon
TIAN XIA
they usually function unseen with their own codes of honor, rarely noticed Tanuki are common in Minkai, the
by those in power. Forest of Spirits, and Goka.
CHARACTER
Tanuki love celebration and will hold any number of parties for even the GUIDE
smallest accomplishments—a project such as building a new bridge might Hit Points INTRODUCTION
have a kick-off ceremony, a toast when the plans are decided, a morale lunch 10
when the workers have assembled, a banquet upon finishing the bridge, and BACKGROUNDS
a festival to dance over the bridge when it opens to the public. This proclivity Size MAGIC AND
is sometimes brought up as a reason for why tanuki endeavors tend to take Small THE SPIRIT
an interminably long time (with some failing spectacularly along the way), WORLD
but tanuki feel that it’s important to celebrate what small victories they can. Speed
Besides, the community bonds forged among the participants are as much a 25 feet THE ELEMENTS
part of the project as the actual building itself.
ZODIAC
Tanuki tend toward unglamorous names with functional meanings, such Attribute Boosts
as those that describe a tanuki’s birth order or the weather or season on Constitution PEOPLES
the day they were born. Tanuki surnames tend to be similar, describing Charisma
either their family’s profession or location in a town. These conventions Free CHARACTER
OPTIONS
make tanuki names feel relatively old-fashioned, though some avant-garde
tanuki give their children (or themself) a grandiose name in defiance of their Attribute Flaw TIAN
traditional station. Wisdom EQUIPMENT
Sample Names: Ame, Chiyo, Chosuke, Hinata, Mari, Nao, Saya, Taro, Terao,
Rei, Ichiro, Jiro, Saburo, Shiro, Satsuki, Mutsu, Nanami, Hazuki Languages GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Common
Beliefs Tanuki
Tanuki count no member of the Celestial Court among their own—a fact Additional languages equal to your
they see as further evidence that they have to stick up for each other since Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive).
there’s no tanuki deity looking out for them—but they find themselves Choose from Elven, Fey, Gnomish,
drawn toward gods such as Kofusachi, whose boisterous and compassionate Goblin, Kitsune, Tengu, and any other
approach to life they consider aspirational. Though tanuki hold deep languages to which you have access
reverence toward the moon, they tend not to worship Tsukiyo, knowing (such as the languages prevalent in
he finds loud worship agitating, and they take care to not invoke his name your region).
or imagery during harvest moon or lunar new year celebrations to ensure
their cheers and belly drums don’t draw his attention. Tanuki with Inner Traits
Sea cultural traditions tend to revere Cayden Cailean, seeing the blood of a Humanoid
tanuki in his commoner status (and drunken accomplishments), with some Tanuki
tanuki statues even depicting Cayden with a big belly and leaf atop his head
to suggest that he was simply a tanuki in human form, tricking the Avistani Change Shape
even to this day. [one-action] (concentrate, polymorph, primal,
Tanuki generally use their powers to humble the rich and snobby; at the tanuki) You can transform into a
very least, they create illusions with no more evil in their hearts than a simple mundane raccoon dog, using the
joke (or a free meal taken from one who can afford it), rather than acting out statistics of pest form. This is a
of malice. However, there are some tanuki do harbor resentment, which can specific raccoon dog form that’s
take root and fester in their hearts. These tanuki turn to cruel ends, known for the same age and body type as
all manner of nefarious deeds, chief among them cooking their enemies into your true form and has roughly
soups or stews once they’ve finished tricking them. analogous physical traits, such as
Popular Edicts Choose excitement over stability, let bygones be bygones, make hair color. Using Change Shape
your community laugh counts as creating a disguise for the
Popular Anathema Feel entitled to social status, prank one of lower means than Impersonate use of Deception. You
yourself, wallow in your failures lose any unarmed Strikes you gained
from a tanuki heritage or ancestry feat
TANUKI HERITAGES in this form. You can remain in your
A tanuki’s heritage reflects a unique virtue that beats in the tanuki’s heart. raccoon dog form indefinitely, and you
Choose one of the following tanuki heritages at 1st level. can shift back to your tanuki form by
using this action again.
Ascetic Tanuki
It’s said your round form is the result of calmness and restraint, not indulgence.
You gain scent as an imprecise sense with a range of 30 feet. The GM will
65
usually double the range if you’re downwind from Effect Realizing that discretion is the better part of valor,
something you’re trying to smell or halve the range if you opt to put some distance between you and a threat.
you’re upwind. In addition, you gain a +2 circumstance You gain the fleeing condition until the beginning of your
bonus to Perception checks whenever you’re trying to next turn, and you Stride.
locate food, drink, or a consumable item that’s ingested
(such as a potion or elixir) using your scent. Steadfast Tanuki
Your pride in your true tanuki form knows no bounds.
Even-tempered Tanuki You gain your choice of Everyday Form or Teakettle
You’re possessed of a serenity uncommon to other tanuki, Form as a bonus ancestry feat.
who always seem to be flying off the handle. You gain a
+1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against emotion Virtuous Tanuki
effects. If you roll a success at a saving throw against Many tanuki carry a gourd of alcohol to remind themselves
an emotion effect, you get a critical success instead, but to act with virtue, and by these standards, you’re quite
when you roll a failure at a saving throw against an virtuous indeed. You gain poison resistance equal to half
emotion effect, you get a critical failure instead. your level (minimum 1). You can eat and drink things
when you’re sickened. You can’t become incapacitated by
Courageous Tanuki conventional alcohol if you don’t wish to be.
Your heart beats with the courage of those who came
before you, giving you the kind of bravery only a TANUKI ANCESTRY FEATS
tanuki can demonstrate. Whenever you gain the fleeing At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an
condition, you also gain a +10-foot circumstance bonus additional ancestry feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th,
to your Speeds that lasts as long as you’re fleeing. When 9th, 13th, and 17th levels). As a tanuki, you choose from
you have the fleeing condition, instead of having to spend among the following ancestry feats.
all your actions trying to escape, you can act normally
for one action but must still spend the remainder of your 1ST LEVEL
actions fleeing. You also gain the Tactical Retreat ability.
Tactical Retreat [reaction] (emotion, fear, mental, tanuki) Trigger You EVERYDAY FORM FEAT 1
gain the frightened condition; Frequency once per hour; TANUKI
There’s nothing better than being a tanuki, but sometimes you
need a less conspicuous form when going into the big city
or other crowded places. When you Change Shape, you can
assume the form of a common Small or Medium humanoid
ancestry prevalent where you grew up, typically human. This
everyday form is a specific form with the same age and body
type as your true tanuki form and has roughly analogous
physical traits, such as hair color.
13TH LEVEL
Others Probably...
• Consider you creative and seek to commission you as
an artisan or appraiser.
• Fail to understand your people’s motives and distant
struggles.
• Whisper frightful rumors about
your origins and attribute
curses to your presence.
Physical Description
The rigors of an interplanar struggle and life on or near
the seas of Tian Xia grant many wayangs wiry frames,
and many carry themselves with a gravitas that belies their
small stature. Despite long journeys under cloudless skies,
wayangs’ skin (ranging from ivory white to duskwood
black) doesn’t sunburn easily, a blessing attributed to the
darkness’s love for its children. Thick shadows flit and
dance almost like a second layer of skin upon wayang
bodies, sheltering them from the sun’s glare. Wayangs
SHADOW OF THE WANDERER further decorate their skin with intricate patterns of paint,
which non-wayangs often misinterpret as scarification or
tattoos. With concentration and training, wayangs can
70
move their shadows independently of their body, an ability that both warriors Rarity
and storytellers use to great effect, either in aiding their ambushes or illustrating Uncommon
TIAN XIA
their performances. Wayangs tend to grow their hair long, construct elaborate
headdresses of shell and horn to hold their hair up in immaculate hairstyles, and Hit Points CHARACTER
favor long scarves or shawls over their shoulders. 8 GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
Society Size
Wayang society encompasses many tensions between communal and Small BACKGROUNDS
individualistic behaviors. While wayangs organize themselves into collectives
MAGIC AND
modeled after agrarian villages or seafaring crews where everyone has to do their Speed THE SPIRIT
part for the shared betterment, hermits and iconoclasts are also afforded special 25 feet WORLD
places in wayang society. While individual wayang villages or ships might look
to their leaders for direction in everyday matters, these leaders in turn also look Attribute Boosts THE ELEMENTS
to solitary gurus and unconventional visionaries for guidance and inspiration. Dexterity
ZODIAC
The wayang political universe is composed of multiple overlapping mandalas, Charisma
concentrations of influence around central charismatic and powerful figures, such Free PEOPLES
as experienced chieftains, ingenious artisans, or intrepid captains. In turn, these
individual concentrations cohere around yet other figures famed for righteousness Attribute Flaw CHARACTER
OPTIONS
or wisdom, such as sagacious teachers, virtuous princes, or masterful occultists. Constitution
This approach to social power is useful for organizing diverse diasporas scattered TIAN
across islands and planes; each collective practices sufficient independence to Languages EQUIPMENT
pursue their own journeys while retaining enough interdependence to respond to Common
others’ calls for help and friendship. Shadowtongue GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Wayang interactions with other communities usually take place as visiting Wayang
artisans bearing handcrafted goods of precious materials and exquisite quality. Additional languages equal to your
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these items also provide potent supernatural Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive).
protection against fiends and undead. Despite the high demand, wayangs don’t Choose from D’ziriak, Diabolic,
sell them, but instead offer them freely only to those blessed by shadows, such as Minatan, Nagaji, Thalassic, Vudran,
particular sorcerer bloodlines. Wayang emissaries use these gifts to aid potential Yaksha, and any other languages to
allies and strengthen them against other forces of darkness. In time, many also which you have access (such as the
hope to instruct their newfound friends in the secrets of the Dissolution and call languages prevalent in your region).
upon their strength to overcome the Desecration.
Wayang names combine Tian-Sing, Minatan, and Vudrani elements, hints to Traits
the vast distances they’ve traveled. Names also tend toward the allegorically Humanoid
evocative, alluding to the names of places, gods, ancestors, and lineages. Few Shadow
wayangs named after gods adhere to those deities’ teachings, however, a fact Wayang
that’s infuriating to etymologists and theologians. Such supernatural names are
instead chosen for their prestige and power, not piety—a practical decision for Darkvision
outsiders seeking protection and power in an unusual land. You can see in darkness and dim light
Sample Names: Putri Rubah Hebat, Hakim Gunung Api, Raja Ribut Hitam, just as well as you can see in bright
Adik Musang light.
Beliefs
It’s common for a people with such long histories of alliances and respect for
community to abide respectfully within society. Wayang society also has positive
perceptions toward less pragmatic individuals; many resourceful wayang
explorers and artisans embrace attitudes of curiosity and free-spiritedness. Life
in darkness teaches the value of skepticism while discouraging moral absolutism
or extremism. Wayangs are seldom cruel, perhaps as conscious rejections of
the Desecration. Though few champion great causes, many practice quiet
benevolence and empathy for those also suffering from oppression or cruelty.
Wayang religion is largely syncretic, incorporating Iroran austerities of
meditation and self-mastery, Sangpotshi and Pharasman metaphysics of
planar transmigration, and beliefs in the Netherworld’s indigenous spirits and
ancestors. Gods are generally seen as tutelary spirits who can help individual
supplicants gain supernatural power. In particular, many invoke Lao Shu Po,
whom wayangs call Sister Mousedeer. Her cleverness and ability to outmaneuver
more powerful divinities and repurpose their power proves especially inspiring
71
to anti-colonial efforts. Ascetics seeking power and spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell rank equal to
wisdom also emulate Ragdya and Diomazul. Notably, half your level rounded up.
despite valuing community and civilization, few worship
Abadar due to his place in condemning the Netherworld Shadow of the Sailor
to Zon-Kuthon’s debasement. Ironically, some fallen Your shadow flits across the surface of the water, and so do
wayangs have become Kuthite adherents and now strive you. You can walk on the surface of still water and other
to capture and torment their former fellows. non-damaging liquids, moving at half your normal Speed.
Popular Edicts act selflessly toward your community, make You can attempt to walk along the surface of flowing water
powerful allies, reject the Desecration of darkness, seek as well, still moving at half Speed, but to do so, you must
inspiration for your art succeed at an Acrobatics check to Balance using the DC
Popular Anathema cause a creature unnecessary pain, make of a Swim check to move through the water; on a failure,
compromises in the pursuit of freedom, sell your creations you fall into the water. This Acrobatics check doesn’t use
without concern, talk openly about the Dissolution an action.
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 13
LEVEL 17
You Might...
• Have sworn vows to safeguard little-known rural
communities or remote wildernesses.
• Be stoic yet not unfeeling, accepting others’ burdens to
make sense of your own identity.
• Inordinately enjoy puns and wordplay, being so
familiar with carefully worded vows.
Others Probably...
• Gain amusement from trying to trick you into agreeing
to promises to do chores or petty favors.
• Assume you to be tireless and self-sacrificing and
expect you to never complain about responsibilities.
• Disdain you as simpleminded and unsophisticated and
assume you have little interest in etiquette or fashion.
1ST LEVEL
9TH LEVEL
17TH LEVEL
Physical Description
A yaoguai’s original form can be virtually anything. It’s
faster to conclude that if something exists, so long as it
basks in the perfect conditions for enough time—usually
on the scale of thousands of years—it might just become
a yaoguai. Yaoguai inherit a wide range of features based
on their pre-awakened form; a yaoguai born of animals
might have fur or pointed ears; one derived from an
object might have stone- or metal-like skin. Due to their
wild appearances, many adventuring yaoguai travel by
night, which invites suspicion. Thus, shapeshifting into
a humanoid form is one of the many arts yaoguai
practice meticulously, even if all they can achieve is
a form that retains many of their yaoguai features.
Some yaoguai prefer such a form. Perhaps
they’re confident that they have nothing
to hide or they like the ease of access
to their yaoguai powers in this
incomplete form. Others aim
to perfect their humanoid
form until they become
indistinguishable from any other humanoid creature.
Many yaoguai are born adults, though their
humanoid forms can be of any apparent age. The
average life span of yaoguai, in general, is often a
reflection of their power. The most powerful yaoguai
can easily challenge the life span of dragons, living
up to several thousand years, if not becoming agelessly
BORN OF ANIMAL immortal. Rumors abound, therefore, that yaoguai might
have ruled much of Tian Xia once upon a time.
82
Society Rarity
Roughly three types of yaoguai exist: those who stick with other yaoguai, Rare
TIAN XIA
those who hop in and out of non-yaoguai societies, and those who live among
other societies in disguise. Yaoguai who keep to themselves might be solitary Hit Points CHARACTER
with a small number of associates who live a good distance away. Yaoguai 8 GUIDE
of similar origins might share a domicile and consider themselves part of a INTRODUCTION
found family, with the most senior member acting as the parental or older Size
sibling figure. Some groups have more of a master-student or ruler-retainer Medium BACKGROUNDS
dynamic, particularly if the leading yaoguai is significantly more powerful.
MAGIC AND
Yaoguai who dip in and out of other cultures are often tricksters who Speed THE SPIRIT
prank the communities they frequent. As bothersome and malicious activity 25 feet WORLD
draws attention, most yaoguai groups wisely keep their pranks helpful or
tasteful to ensure their longevity. The pranks in such cases might consist of Attribute Boosts THE ELEMENTS
completing tasks or punching up at a local despot. Unfortunately, there are Charisma
ZODIAC
always powerful entities willing to sponsor yaoguai with evil intent, which Constitution
such yaoguai take as permission to rob and attack settlements without Free PEOPLES
abandon. These infamous stories are the reason why yaoguai bounty hunting
is a booming industry in Tian Xia and why yaoguai who live in non-yaoguai Attribute Flaw CHARACTER
OPTIONS
communities go to extreme lengths to keep a low profile. Often, these yaoguai Intelligence
live by themselves, in pairs, or in trios at most, as they fear numbers might TIAN
betray their safety. Languages EQUIPMENT
Yaoguai who spontaneously come to be typically pick their own name, Common
which might cheekily refer to their natural form. Other yaoguai gain a Additional languages equal to your GLOSSARY
& INDEX
name by what others call them, often a nickname that stems from a specific Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive).
ability, physical trait, or a particular event or action that made them known. Choose from Aklo, Draconic, Elven,
These naming schemes can feel like a trap for many yaoguai, however, as it Fey, Kitsune, Naga, Sakvroth, Tengu,
accentuates their yaoguai nature rather than their experience or personality. Ysoki, and any other languages to
Being bestowed a name that is unrelated to being yaoguai, or is uniquely which you have access (such as the
theirs, identifies them as an individual and is a considerable honor for many, languages prevalent in your region).
even more than titles or wealth. For some, restoring a lost or disgraced name
is the desired equivalent. Traits
Sample Names: “Lamplight” Deng (lamp), Geomi (spider), Mindeulle Humanoid
(dandelion), Qing Yeliu (green snake), Qiu Haitang (pogonia), Sekiko (stone) Yaoguai
Born of Item
You were an object until the moon breathed life into
you. Choose one Lore skill related to what kind of tool
you were; for instance, Cooking Lore for a cleaver or
Farming Lore for a rake. You become trained in this skill.
• Humanoid Form You retain memories of the
tasks you performed as an object. You gain a +1
circumstance bonus to the Lore skill you obtained
through this heritage.
• Yaoguai Form Your time as a mindless object makes
it harder to affect you mentally. If you roll a success
on a mental effect, you gain a critical success instead.
Born of Vegetation
You were a plant or fungi until the rain gifted you a
mind. You gain your choice of the plant or fungus trait.
• Humanoid Form With fresh vegetation, you can
better aid those in need. You gain a +1 circumstance
bonus to Medicine checks to Administer First Aid.
• Yaoguai Form When anyone uses the Medicine skill to
Treat your Wounds, add your level to the Hit Points
BORN OF VEGETATION you regain from that treatment. Additionally, the
creature attempting the check gains a +1 circumstance
84
bonus if you have the plant trait and are in bright light, or the fungus trait Yaoguai Motives
and are in darkness. A yaoguai’s heritage often informs
TIAN XIA
what they hope to achieve. Plant and
ANCESTRY FEATS animal yaoguai might seek to become
CHARACTER
At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an additional ancestry fully human or humanoid, or at least GUIDE
feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th levels). As a yaoguai, find a way to peacefully live among INTRODUCTION
you select from among the following ancestry feats. humanity. Yaoguai who spawned
from objects and nature often desire BACKGROUNDS
1ST LEVEL respect and appreciate those who
MAGIC AND
treasure their presence. The banished THE SPIRIT
CRAWLING FORM FEAT 1 celestials are either looking to WORLD
YAOGUAI consolidate their power as yaoguai or
Prerequisites born of animal or born of celestial heritage something powerful enough to return THE ELEMENTS
You can transform into a small animal or celestial creature to scurry and spy. You them to their celestial form.
ZODIAC
can Change Shape to assume a crawling form. While in crawling form, you gain the
effect of a 1st-rank pest form, except you can transform only into a shape matching PEOPLES
your heritage; for example, if you were once were a wolf, you turn into a wolf puppy.
CHARACTER
OPTIONS
MORPHIC STRIKE FEAT 1
YAOGUAI TIAN
You can lash out with a portion of your previous self. You gain EQUIPMENT
a melee unarmed Strike depending on your heritage, described
below. You can use this unarmed Strike in either your humanoid GLOSSARY
& INDEX
form or your yaoguai form. These Strikes are in the brawling
group. Like other unarmed attacks, you can improve this
attack with handwraps of mighty blows.
• Animal [one-action] claw (agile, finesse), Damage 1d6 slashing
• Celestial [one-action] spirit touch (magical, sanctified, spirit),
Damage 1d4 spirit
• Elements [one-action] elemental current (magical), Damage 1d4; this
ability deals the same damage type and gains the same elemental
traits of the cantrip you gained from your heritage
• Object [one-action] striking surface (sweep), Damage 1d8 bludgeoning or slashing
(chosen when you gain this feat)
• Vegetation [one-action] root (reach), Damage 1d6 bludgeoning
TRANSCENDENT
DEFLECTION [reaction] FEAT 10
ARCHETYPE
Prerequisites Spirit Warrior
Dedication
Frequency once per 10 minutes
Trigger An enemy within your reach would damage you or
your ally with an attack.
Requirements You’re wielding a one-handed, agile, or finesse
melee weapon.
You charge your weapon with spiritual energy and intercept
the attack. The weapon becomes broken, and the target is
unharmed by the attack. If you’re carrying another one-
handed, agile, or finesse melee weapon, you can immediately
Swap it for the broken weapon.
93
Starlit Sentinel
Though the zodiac is known throughout Tian Xia for SPECIAL SENTINEL TECHNIQUE FEAT 4
subtly watching over the continent, sometimes the 12 ARCHETYPE
constellations find more direct action necessary. When a Prerequisite Starlit Sentinel Dedication
grave threat arises, a zodiac constellation might shine on You can channel the power of your constellation into a unique
an everyday student or worker, granting them the power technique. You gain either the luminous stardust healing or
to transform into a powerful alter ego to repel those shining starlight attack focus spell, which you can cast only in
threats. Though most of these starlit sentinels act covertly sentinel form. When you gain this feat, decide a name for your
when the world is asleep, some become well known either technique, which becomes the spell’s incantation.
as urban legends or outright celebrities, though usually If you don’t already have one, you gain a focus pool of
only as their alter ego. Some might find themselves pulled 1 Focus Point, which you can Refocus by spending 10 minutes
between the dual pressures of an unassuming civilian outside of your sentinel form to reflect on the values of your
identity working in a market by day, and the defender constellation. Starlit sentinel focus spells are arcane spells. You
of that same market from rampaging oni or qi-stealing become trained in spell attack modifier and spell DC, and your
jiang-shi under the light of the stars. Due to a quartet of spellcasting ability for these spells is Charisma.
well-known female sentinels operating out of Goka, many Special You can take this feat a second time, gaining the focus
have come to believe that the zodiac chooses only girls as spell that you didn’t gain the first time.
its champions, but the heavens care little for such mortal
concerns and are equally likely to grant their power to MAJESTIC PROCLAMATION [two-actions] FEAT 8
those of any gender. Starlit sentinels are rare, even in Tian ARCHETYPE
Xia, and individual sentinels are unique; a new sentinel Prerequisite Starlit Sentinel Dedication
empowered by a given constellation won’t awaken as long Requirement You’re in your sentinel form.
as the previous sentinel of that constellation is active. You announce your name to your enemies, bringing your
constellation to bear in a blinding display. Attempt to
STARLIT SENTINEL DEDICATION FEAT 2 Demoralize all enemies within 30 feet. Demoralize loses the
RARE ARCHETYPE DEDICATION auditory trait and gains the visual trait when used this way. In
You’ve been chosen by one of the constellations of the Tian addition to the regular effects of Demoralize, enemies become
Xia zodiac. You gain a transformation seal: a mundane-seeming dazzled for 1 minute on a successful check (and also blinded for
item of light Bulk, such as a ring, brooch, or key, that has the 1 round on a critical success).
arcane trait. If your seal is ever lost or destroyed, you can gain a You can use Majestic Proclamation as a single action if
replacement by spending 1 week of downtime in introspection your previous action was Starlit Transformation.
to reconnect with your constellation. You, and only you, can
transform into your sentinel form by Activating the seal. BLADE OF THE HEART [one-action] FEAT 10
Activate—Starlit Transformation [one-action] (arcane) Frequency once ARCHETYPE EMOTION
per hour; Effects Light swirls around you, transforming your Prerequisite Starlit Sentinel Dedication
armor, clothing, and a single weapon in your possession into The bonds of the heart are stronger than any steel, more
a specific alternate outfit. While your equipment might look powerful than any magic. You plunge your transformed
dramatically different, it functions as normal. If someone weapon into the heart of a willing adjacent ally, where it phases
attempts to discern your identity, they must use a Seek harmlessly into their body. As you pull the weapon out, your
action to attempt a Perception check against your Deception ally’s heart inscribes one of the following weapon property
DC, as if you were using the Impersonate action. Your runes on your weapon: corrosive, flaming, frost, shock,
Deception DC against such attempts is 20 + your proficiency thundering, or vitalizing. The first time you use Blade of the
modifier instead of the normal DC. Unlike with Impersonate, Heart with a given ally, the GM should decide which rune best
you don’t have to attempt a Deception check to interact with represents your shared relationship (such as elegant frost for a
someone to conceal your identity—a check happens only if respected mentor or brash thundering for a boisterous sparring
someone else specifically tries to uncover it. You remain in partner); thereafter, each time you use Blade of the Heart with
your sentinel form for 10 minutes or until you use Starlit that ally, you draw the same rune. This rune lasts for as long as
Transformation again to change back to your normal form. you remain in sentinel form and counts toward your maximum
While you’re in sentinel form, your transformed limit of runes as normal.
weapon shines with starlight and gains a +1 status bonus At 16th level, you draw the greater version of the rune
to damage rolls with the weapon. You can fling bolts of instead.
starlight from your weapon with a Strike action, using your
melee attack modifier with the weapon. These bolts deal 1d4 DESPERATE WISH FEAT 12
force damage, have a range of 60 feet, are affected by your ARCHETYPE
weapon runes, and have the arcane and force traits. Prerequisite Starlit Sentinel Dedication
94
You call out a desperate wish to the stars to save a
friend. You gain breath of life as an innate arcane spell,
TIAN XIA
which you can cast once per day only while in sentinel form.
Interceding in such a direct way temporarily exhausts your
CHARACTER
constellation’s magic, causing you to revert from your sentinel form GUIDE
once the spell is cast. INTRODUCTION
ZODIAC
Focus Spells
PEOPLES
LUMINOUS STARDUST HEALING [two-actions] FOCUS 2
RARE CONCENTRATE HEALING MANIPULATE SPIRIT
CHARACTER
OPTIONS
Range 30 feet; Targets 1 creature
You scatter twinkling sparks from your sentinel weapon, replenishing your allies’ TIAN
fighting spirit and driving out evil. The target regains 16 Hit Points. If they were EQUIPMENT
affected by a possession effect, you attempt to counteract the effect, casting out the
possessing entity on a success and preventing them from possessing the target again GLOSSARY
& INDEX
for 1 week. If you fail, the entity is immune to being cast out by this spell for 1 week,
though you can still heal the target as normal.
Heightened +1 The amount of healing increases by 8.
DC of the recipient’s level (in the case of especially well- Prepare Elemental Medicine. The GM decides that bog PEOPLES
known or obscure afflictions, the GM should apply an rot is an affliction caused by an excess of earth because
adjustment to lower or increase the DC, respectively). As the disease vector is damp feet and, therefore, that an CHARACTER
OPTIONS
the minute qualities of the patient’s condition can change elemental preparation associated with metal, wood, or
on a day-to-day basis, you must attempt a new check to water can be used to treat the disease. Fumbus rolls a TIAN
prepare elemental medicine each day you treat a patient, critical success, so the GM tells him this information and EQUIPMENT
even if the affliction you’re treating doesn’t change. You recommends that a water element preparation would be
can diagnose and treat up to 6 creatures during your daily best for Harsk. With this information, Fumbus decides to GLOSSARY
& INDEX
preparations, making a separate check for each patient. prepare a sesame seed tea for Harsk (as sesame seeds are
Critical Success You accurately diagnose your patient. The black and, therefore, associated with water), granting the
GM decides the elemental imbalance causing the patient’s dwarf a +2 circumstance bonus to his save.
symptoms (which elements, as well as whether it’s in The next day, Harsk is looking better but hasn’t
excess or deficiency) and then, using the information from completely recovered from the bog rot. Fumbus decides
the Pei Zing Elemental Associations table, notifies you to continue his treatment and attempts another check
what element of medicine is needed to remedy it. With this to assess and treat Harsk’s condition. Unfortunately,
information, you then accurately identify the elemental a natural 1 results in a critical failure. The GM
property of a given ingredient, and then use it to prepare informs Fumbus that although he’s on the right track
an excellent elemental medicine that grants the recipient a by attempting to treat bog rot with an elemental
+2 circumstance bonus to saves against the affliction. preparation involving wood, the spinach that Fumbus
Success As critical success, but the bonus is +1.
Failure You fail to diagnose your patient. The GM doesn’t
tell you what elemental imbalance is causing the
patient’s symptoms, and therefore, you can’t prepare an
elemental medicine.
Critical Failure You misdiagnose your patient. The GM decides
the elemental imbalance causing the patient’s symptoms
and then tells you a different, false diagnosis or notifies
you that the elemental ingredient you’re attempting to
treat the symptoms with is actually incorrect. Either
way, your mistaken treatment imposes a –1 circumstance
penalty to saves against the affliction.
Example
During their journey through the waterlogged lands of
Wanshou, Fumbus discovers that his companion Harsk
is fighting off a case of bog rot. He attempts a check to
107
Integrating is using is actually a fire ingredient, as its dominant characteristic is that it’s
Traditional Medicine bitter (Fumbus assumed it was associated with wood because it was green).
The Pei Zing Elemental Associations This medicine is no good for Harsk’s earth excess affliction, and it imposes
table draws heavily on real-world a –1 circumstance penalty to the poor dwarf’s save.
traditions of herbal medicine. If you’re
knowledgeable about this type of Preemptive Medication
treatment, feel free to let it guide either Since the effects of elemental medicine last for a whole day after consumption,
your suggestions about elemental you can take it preemptively. If you’re attending a party where the host is
afflictions to your players or your known to poison their guests with toad tears, you can take medication before
choices about what ingredients might the meal to gain a bonus to saving throws against wood-deficiency afflictions
be associated with what element. (if you succeed at your check, the GM might tell you that toad tears affect the
However, feel free to improvise and to eyes, draining your mental faculties and your ability to respond in anger). So
let your players enjoy describing their long as the medicine is active, it improves your chances against the poison,
rationale for elemental associations regardless of when you’re exposed to the affliction.
of various ingredients—Golarion is a
huge fantasy land filled with all sorts MEDICAL SKILL FEATS
of ingredients that don’t exist in the This section presents skill feats tied to Tian Xia’s medical practices that any
real world, leaving plenty of room to character can master, regardless of their ancestry or class. Characters from
make up elemental associations of Tian Xia have access to these feats, though some practices are seen more
your own. Perhaps herbs that grow on frequently in individual nations or regions.
the side of volcanic Mount Kumijinja
are associated with fire, a leaf from ACUPUNCTURIST FEAT 1
the great tree of the Valashmai Jungle DOWNTIME GENERAL MANIPULATE SKILL
is associated with wood, or a flower Prerequisites trained in Medicine; Access Tian Xia origin
blessed by priests of Qi Zhong might be You’ve studied the routes by which qi flows through the body. The needles stored
perfectly balanced in all five elements! in your healer’s tools can manipulate its flow and improve health when applied to
specific meridian points. You spend a day studying an ally to attempt a Medicine
check to improve their qi against a standard DC for your ally’s level. The ally is
then immune to all uses of Acupuncturist for 1 week.
Critical Success You grant your ally the choice of a +2
circumstance bonus to one downtime activity skill
check within the next week, or the ability to roll
twice on their next saving throw within the next
week against an affliction and take the higher
result; this is a fortune effect.
Success You grant your ally a +1 circumstance
bonus to one downtime activity skill check
within the next week.
Critical Failure Your ally takes a –1 circumstance
penalty to all downtime activity skill checks within
the next week.
MARTIAL ARTS
FEATS
This section includes new feats for both the
monk class and the martial artist archetype.
Monk Feats
RUSHING GOAT STANCE [one-action] FEAT 1
MONK STANCE
Requirements You’re unarmored.
You enter the stance of an unruly goat, lowering your body PHOENIX DANCE
and preparing to butt heads with your foes. The only Strikes
you can make are ramming horn attacks. These strikes deal
119
Real-World Martial Arts to Deception checks to Feint and a +2 circumstance bonus to your Perception DC to
The styles and philosophies in this resist an opponent’s Feint attempt.
section are neither exhaustive nor
prescriptive. After all, in the nation of ADVANCED MONASTIC WEAPONRY FEAT 6
Quain alone, it’s often said “There are MONK
more martial techniques than stars in Prerequisites Monastic Weaponry
the sky—and they all think they shine Your rigorous training regimen allows you to wield complex weaponry with ease.
the brightest.” If you’re inspired to For the purposes of proficiency, you treat advanced monk weapons as if they were
create your own martial art, we do our martial monk weapons.
best to give you the feats you need
to do so. A martial artist who’s adept MOMENTOUS CHARGE [two-actions] FEAT 6
at blocking and parrying will likely MONK
find great value in feats like Crane Prerequisites Rushing Goat Stance
Stance (Player Core 2 118) and Deflect Requirements You’re in Rushing Goat Stance.
Projectile (Player Core 2 121). The You rush into your enemies with great and reckless force. You Climb, Stride, or
Whirling Throw feat (Player Core 2 123) Leap, then make a ramming horn Strike. On a success, the target of the Strike is
is a great choice for players looking to pushed up to 10 feet directly away from you. On a critical success, the target is also
emulate judo throws, and Tiger Style stunned 1.
wushu can be depicted with the aptly
named Tiger Slash (Player Core 2 123). KAIJU STANCE [one-action] FEAT 8
Choose the feats that emulate the UNCOMMON MONK POLYMORPH STANCE
moves you’re most excited about and Access You’ve encountered a kaiju and survived.
create your own legendary martial art! Requirements You’re unarmored.
Your encounter with one of the rare forces of nature known as kaiju has imbued you
with knowledge of a martial art that allows you to emulate a fraction of their power.
When you enter Kaiju Stance, you become Large and are clumsy
1. The only Strikes you can make are shattering earth attacks.
These strikes deal 1d8 bludgeoning damage, are in the brawling
group, and have the backswing, fatal d12, reach, and unarmed
traits. On a critical success with a shattering earth attack, all
creatures other than you that are within 10 feet of the target,
including the target itself, take 1 point of bludgeoning splash
damage per weapon damage die.
While in Kaiju Stance, you ignore difficult terrain.
Sundaflora
UNCOMMON
Sundafloras are friendly, bipedal creatures with
brightly colored, overlapping waves of petal-like
scales covering most of their body. Though rare to
find, they’re most common in the artificial garden
landscapes of Goka, usually seen waltzing around
SUNDAFLORA the grounds with their hands clasped together,
giving off a pensive appearance.
122
Size Small from the provinces of Hongal down to middle Tian Xia in
Melee [one-action] claws (agile), Damage 1d6 slashing the regions of Quain and Po Li. Here, herds of hundreds, if
TIAN XIA
Melee [one-action] clubbed tail, Damage 1d8 bludgeoning not thousands, have established themselves as nomads who
Str +2, Dex +3, Con +1, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +1 have trekked from one end of the continent to the other
CHARACTER
Hit Points 6 as an unchanging tide of nature. Naturally, this resilience GUIDE
Skill Performance has led to their incorporation into these regions’ steeds and INTRODUCTION
Senses low-light vision, scent (imprecise, 30 feet) livestock, despite their inherent foul stench.
Speed 20 feet, swim 15 feet Size Large BACKGROUNDS
Support Benefit Your sundaflora inspires your allies with its Melee [one-action] hoof (agile), Damage 1d6 bludgeoning
MAGIC AND
calm demeanor and agile steps. Choose one ally within 30 feet Melee [one-action] horn, Damage 1d8 piercing THE SPIRIT
of your sundaflora. They gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their Str +3, Dex +2, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0 WORLD
next attack roll to Strike a foe within your sundaflora’s reach. Hit Points 8
The bonus lasts until the first time your ally uses it or until the Skill Survival THE ELEMENTS
beginning of your next turn, whichever comes first. Senses low-light vision, scent (imprecise, 30 feet)
ZODIAC
Advanced Maneuver Flower Dance Speed 40 feet
Special mount PEOPLES
FLOWER DANCE [two-actions] Support Benefit The next creature to make a melee attack
MOVE VISUAL against the yzobu or its rider before the start of your next CHARACTER
OPTIONS
The sundaflora stands tall on its hind legs and begins to wave and turn is overwhelmed by the creature’s terrible stench and
dance, showing off its dazzling beauty to distract your attackers. must attempt a Fortitude save. This DC is equal to your class TIAN
It attempts to Feint the target creature, using its Performance DC or spell DC, whichever is higher. On a failure, the attacker EQUIPMENT
skill instead of Deception. If successful (or critically successful), takes a –2 circumstance penalty to its attack roll. This ability
the target is off-guard to you, rather than to your sundaflora. has the olfactory trait. GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Advanced Maneuver Raging Stampede
Tikar Urchinpad
Tikar urchinpads are curious creatures that look similar RAGING STAMPEDE [two-actions]
to jellyfish, have heads that resemble a floating plant The yzobu Strides and then makes a horn Strike. If the Strike
or pad, and make use of their slimy tendrils to consume hits, the target is pushed 10 feet.
creatures that attempt to rest on the urchinpad’s head.
Tikar urchinpads tend to float about in still water, soaking
in the warmth of sunlight, not a care in the world. To
the untrained eye, they appear only as a myriad of small,
colorful squares sprawled out across a round pad, forming
silhouettes of shapes that dazzle across the water’s surface.
Size Small or Medium
Melee [one-action] tendril (agile, finesse), Damage 1d6 slashing
Str +2, Dex +3, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0
Hit Points 6
Skill Stealth
Senses scent (precise, 10 feet)
Speed 10 feet, swim 40 feet
Support Benefit Your tikar urchinpad attempts to wrap its
tendrils around your foe’s limbs, pulling it off balance. Until
the end of your next turn, as long as you’re adjacent to your
urchinpad, if you attempt to Shove or Trip an opponent and
roll a critical failure, you get a failure instead.
Advanced Maneuver Wrapping Tendrils
Yzobu
Yzobus (Pathfinder Bestiary 3 300) are large equines
abundant through the northeastern regions of Tian Xia,
123
FAMILIARS Versatile Form: The crafted body of your familiar allows
From calligraphy wyrms to elemental wisps, familiars you to make adjustments to it when required. Once per
are magical creatures bound to a master through day, you can spend 10 minutes to change one familiar or
supernatural means. master ability your familiar possesses. To select this ability,
Characters of Tian Xia origin have access to the following your familiar must be a construct, and you must be at least
specific familiars (Player Core 2 170) and familiar abilities. trained in Crafting.
KINNARS
UNCOMMON CELESTIAL
Required Number of Abilities 6
Granted Abilities darkvision,
independent, lifelink, manual
dexterity, speech
Dazzling Show [two-actions] (move, visual)
Frequency once per minute; Effect Your kinnara
flashes his brilliant feathers. Each creature within a
30-foot emanation must attempt a Will save against
your class DC or spell DC, whichever is higher, or be
dazzled for 2 rounds.
Soul Bond Your kinnars’ spirits are intrinsically linked. While
they’re two beings, they’re still considered a single creature,
act as a single creature, use normal familiar statistics, and
are subject to all of the normal effects that come with being
a single creature. Their linked spirits allow them to stave off
attacks against their mind. If your kinnars are subjected to a
mental effect that allows a saving throw, they roll twice and
take the higher result; this is a fortune effect.
Vina Song [two-actions] (auditory, concentrate, divine, incapacitation,
mental) Frequency once per hour, see below; Effect Your
KINNARS
kinnari elegantly plays her instrument. Each creature within
a 30-foot emanation must attempt a Will save against your
class DC or spell DC, whichever is higher, or be fascinated for
124
1 round. A kinnar can use this ability again on the next round SHIKIGAMI
to continue the song and force affected creatures to attempt CONSTRUCT
TIAN XIA
another Will save; on a failure, a creature is fascinated for an Required Number of Abilities 6
additional round. Once the kinnar stops playing, they can’t use Granted Abilities construct, flier, kindling, play dead, tough,
CHARACTER
this ability again for 1 hour. A creature that succeeds at any versatile form GUIDE
save or has its fascination broken is temporarily immune to Flatten Your familiar can flatten itself to the width of a sheet INTRODUCTION
that kinnar’s Vina Song for 24 hours. Kinnars are of paper, easily fitting through the smallest of cracks and
immune to this ability. gaps. So long as a door or other obstacle has a gap that can BACKGROUNDS
fit a sheet of paper, your familiar can move through it without
MAGIC AND
Lantern Wisps needing to Squeeze. THE SPIRIT
Lantern wisps appear as colorful, hand-made Mass-Produced If your shikigami dies, you can rebind WORLD
lanterns aimlessly floating around in the its spirit to another paper doll during your next
dark of the night, seemingly always with daily preparations. THE ELEMENTS
its flame lit in full. They house harmless, Seal-Bearer During your daily preparations,
ZODIAC
little wisps that have settled into forgotten you can inscribe a symbol or seal upon your
children’s playthings. shikigami that corresponds to the air, earth, PEOPLES
fire, metal, water, or wood element.
LANTERN WISP If you use the shikigami’s kindling CHARACTER
OPTIONS
CONSTRUCT ability that day, it applies to
Required Number of Abilities 6 a spell that deals damage TIAN
Granted Abilities construct, flier, with the relevant trait to the EQUIPMENT
kindling, resistance (fire and chosen element, instead of
cold), tough only the fire trait. GLOSSARY
& INDEX
Stunning Flare [one-action] (fire, light,
magical) Frequency once per 10 minutes; Tapir Sage
Effect Your lantern wisp unleashes a large burst Tapir sages are intelligent creatures
of flame, casting an unnaturally bright light. Each that desire to protect the natural world. They
PAPER FAMILIARS
creature within a 15-foot emanation must attempt carry large rattan baskets on their backs.
a Fortitude save against your class DC or spell DC, whichever
is higher, or be blinded for 1 round and then dazzled for 2 TAPIR SAGE
rounds after. UNCOMMON BEAST
Required Number of Abilities 6
Makhluk Wayang Granted Abilities darkvision, kinspeech, speech, toolbearer, valet
Makhluk wayangs are shadow puppets, pieces of show and Pot of Tea (healing) Your tapir sage is trained in the art of
tell made animate, carrying no more than the personalities herbal medication and can prepare a pot of healing tea. Once
they were crafted to inhabit. Unlike the wayang people, your per day, your familiar can spend 10 minutes to brew fine
familiar is a shadowy incorporeal being without a body tea leaves and herbs. The tapir sage must focus on the tea
of its own. A makhluk wayang possesses a simple puppet during this time—if it performs any other action, the tea is
made of leather or, sometimes, from thick parchment. ruined, though the tapir sage can start over again. Once the
pot of tea is brewed, the tapir sage can serve two cups of tea
MAKHLUK WAYANG with each of the below actions; each time, it gives 1 cup to
CONSTRUCT an adjacent ally, and it drinks 1 cup itself. The three infusions
Required Number of Abilities 8 must be poured and offered in order (for example, the tapir
Granted Abilities construct, manual dexterity, play dead, speech, sage can’t serve the second infusion until it has served the
tough, versatile form first). The tea remains good for 1 hour after brewing; if not
Shadow Projection [one-action] (shadow) Your makhluk wayang projects drunk by this point, the pot goes cold, and any remaining tea
its shadow into a larger silhouette of itself, allowing it to grasp loses its power.
things outside of its obvious reach. It increases its reach to • First Infusion [two-actions] The infusion restores a number of Hit
10 feet for the purposes of taking non-hostile Interact actions Points equal to 1d8 times half your level (minimum 1d8) and
until the end of your turn. grants a +4 circumstance bonus to the next saving throw
against disease or poison attempted within 24 hours.
Shikigami • Second Infusion [two-actions] The infusion restores a number of
Shikigami are small spirits typically summoned and Hit Points equal to 1d4 times half your level (minimum
bound to a paper figure, so confined to carry out the 1d4) and grants a +2 circumstance bonus to the next
deeds and embody the will of their masters. More often saving throw against disease or poison attempted within
than not, the naivete of these amateur practitioners of 24 hours.
esoteric magics means they’ll find themselves at the • Third Infusion [two-actions] The infusion grants temporary Hit
mercy of their own shikigami. Points equal to your level for 1 hour.
125
Tian Equipment
Weapon Traits Countless conflicts, struggles, and perils shaped the arms and armor found
The following weapon traits are used throughout Tian Xia. These items are an integral thread in the tapestry of the
in the weapons presented here but rise and fall of empires. Some weapons evolved from simple hunting and
don’t appear in Player Core. agricultural implements; others were crafted specifically for battle and
Brace: A brace weapon is bloodshed. Across Tian Xia, arms and armor serve not only combative
effective at damaging moving functions but also carry diverse symbolic weight. In some regions, blades
opponents. When you Ready to like the katana or sword cane also serve as symbols of status and power
Strike an opponent that moves associated with social class, while others, like the khakkhara or trident,
within your reach, until the start carry religious connotations.
of your next turn, Strikes with the Trade and travel have ensured each item can be found anywhere on the
brace weapon deal an additional 2 continent. Characters of Tian Xia origin have access to the weapons on the
precision damage for each weapon Tian Melee Weapons and Tian Ranged Weapons tables.
damage die it has. • Regional variations of weapons like the kalis, kris, karambit, and
Fatal Aim: It’s possible tekko-kagi are found in Minata, Nagajor, Tang Mai, and the
to hold the stock of this EAGLE-TALON CUDGEL Valashmai Jungle.
weapon under one arm so you can • Weapons like the tetsubo, katana, naginata, wakizashi, kusarigama, and
fire it with a single hand as long starknife are found in Chu Ye and Minkai.
as the other hand isn’t holding a • Regional variations of weapons like the longsword (often locally called a
weapon, shield, or anything else you jian), zhuazhi bang, shuan ji, liuyedao, and nodachi are found in Hongal,
would need to move and position, Po Li, Quain, Tianjing, and Xa Hoi.
to ensure the weapon doesn’t slip • Weapons like the sukgung and gakgung are found in Hwanggot.
out from under your arm. However, if • Weapons introduced from Avistan, such as the falcata, main-gauche, and
you use both hands, the weapon can rapier are found in Linvarre.
make fatal attacks. When you wield Most common adventuring items in Pathfinder Player Core can also be
the weapon in two hands, it gains the found across Tian Xia. They might take different forms, like a writing set with
fatal trait with the listed damage die. a brush and inkstone instead of a quill and inkpot, scrolls made of strips of
Holding the weapon underarm stably bamboo, and religious symbols and texts featuring local iconography.
enough to fire is significantly more
complicated than just releasing one New Weapons
hand from the weapon, so to switch Liuyedao (Willow-Leaf Saber): The liuyedao, or willow-leaf saber, is a
between the two grips, you must do common, one-handed military saber with a moderately curved blade designed
so with an Interact action rather than for slashing and chopping attacks.
Releasing or as part of reloading. Shuan Ji (Double-Sided Halberd): The shuan ji is a polearm featuring a long
Razing: Razing weapons are spear point on one end and two crescent-shaped blades that allow the wielder
particularly good at damaging objects, to strike with either side of the weapon.
structures, and vehicles. Whenever you Tetsubo: The tetsubo is a war club constructed out of heavy wood shod with
deal damage to an object (including iron studs, designed for smashing through armor and defenses. A tetsubo made
shields and animated objects), entirely out of metal might also be referred to as a kanabo.
structure, or vehicle with a razing Zhuazhi Bang (Eagle-Talon Cudgel): This niche close-combat weapon
weapon, the object takes an amount of resembles a flail with articulated talons used to hook onto an opponent’s
additional damage equal to double the clothing or armor.
number of weapon damage dice.
Tengu: An item with this trait is Magic Items
created and used by tengu. Tian Xia features a variety of magic items only possible thanks to the crafting
techniques and materials found on the continent. Characters of Tian Xia
origin don’t automatically gain access to any uncommon or rarer items.
are commonly used by those who worship an orochi, raiding in exchange. You can make up to eight Strikes with a –2
and threatening settlements to obtain sacrifices for the beast penalty, each against a different target within 30 feet. For
in hopes of being granted some modicum of its power. each Strike you choose to make, you take 1d6 piercing
Activate—Serpent’s Kiss [three-actions] (concentrate) Frequency damage. Each attack counts toward your multiple attack
once per day; Effect You use your urumi as an effigy with penalty, but don’t increase your penalty until you’ve made
which to call upon an orochi’s power, offering your blood all your attacks.
127
TIAN RANGED WEAPONS
Simple Weapons Price Damage Range Reload Bulk Hands Group Weapon Traits
Heavy crossbow 4 gp 1d10 P 120 ft. 2 2 2 Crossbow —
Martial Weapons Price Damage Range Reload Bulk Hands Group Weapon Traits
Chakram 5 sp 1d8 S 20 ft 1 L 1 Knife Thrown 20 ft.
Composite Longbow (level 1) 20 gp 1d8 P 100 ft. 0 2 1+ Bow Deadly d10, propulsive,
volley 30 ft.
Gakgung 2 gp 1d6 P 100 ft. 0 1 1+ Bow Deadly d8, monk,
propulsive
Shortbow 3 gp 1d6 P 60 ft. 0 1 1+ Bow Deadly d10
Sukgung (level 1) 7 gp 1d8 P 200 ft. 1 1 Crossbow Fatal aim d12
Uncommon Martial Weapons Price Damage Range Reload Bulk Hands Group Weapon Traits
Shuriken 1 cp 1d4 P 20 ft. 0 — 1 Dart Agile, monk, thrown
Uncommon Advanced Weapons Price Damage Range Reload Bulk Hands Group Weapon Traits
Daikyu 8 gp 1d8 P 80 ft 0 2 1+ Bow Forceful, propulsive
Hongali hornbow (level 1) 11 gp 1d8 P 40 ft. 0 2 1+ Bow Deadly d6, propulsive
Repeating crossbow 15 gp 1d8 P 120 ft. 0 1 2 Crossbow Repeating
CELESTIAL PEACHWOOD SWORD ITEM 17 blood of its creator, imbuing violent intent within its crimson
RARE HOLY MAGICAL VITALITY curves. When you critically succeed at a Strike made with a
Price 15,000 gp deathseeker, the target feels the blade’s unbridled bloodlust
Usage held in 1 hand; Bulk L trying to consume it and must attempt a DC 24 Will save; this
From blade to pommel, this sword is carved from a branch effect has the incapacitation trait.
of the now-extinct celestial peach tree. The blade of this Critical Success The target is unaffected and is temporarily
+3 greater striking holy vitalizing peachwood (page 129) immune for 24 hours.
shortsword has ancient runes that can permanently destroy Success The target takes an additional 1 persistent bleed
the most powerful undead—if you are willing to pay the price. damage, and the DC for recovering from persistent bleed
An undead creature of 12th level or lower that takes damage is 17, or 12 with particularly effective assistance.
damage from a Strike with the sword takes 10d6 vitality Failure As success, except the target is also confused for 1
damage with a DC 35 basic Fortitude save. This damage is round. It gets a flat check to recover from this confusion
separate from the Strike itself and isn’t included in any effect when it critically succeeds at a Strike against another
based on the Strike’s damage. creature or reduces another living being to 0 Hit Points,
Activate—Violent Exorcism [reaction] (concentrate) Frequency once but not when it takes damage.
per day; Trigger You critically hit an undead creature with Critical Failure As success, except the target is also confused
the sword; Effect The creature must succeed at a DC 35 for 3 rounds. It gets a flat check to recover from this
Fortitude save or be destroyed. If the undead fails its saving confusion when it critically succeeds at a Strike against
throw and is destroyed, you suffer a backlash, taking 1d6 another creature or reduces another living being to 0 Hit
void damage per level of the destroyed undead. Points, but not when it takes damage.
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