The termen
looked too, well, elfy to make good weapon smiths, but Gunner vouched for them.
He was our Master Smith, so we went where he sent us. When good, squared,
dwarven work gave way to rounded, flowing, tubes that looked as if eroded by an
underground river, I knew we had reached the terman warren. The
chittering crowd that greeted us was a motley mix of sizes. The little
ones were the most common. No bigger than a gnome, and if anything more
spindly, with those four arms waving about. They took the tools and
ingots we brought and loaded them on those giant termites they ride.
We left our gear and passed through a cordon of their warriors, tall as a good sized dwarf, but slim behind their big shields and lances that looked to awkward for a tunnel like this. They smelled like wine gone to vinegar. We were received by one of their princes. You could mistake him for an elf in a dark tunnel. He carried himself like he was used to being obeyed, and with all four of his hands on the hilts of dwarf-made weapons, I was not about to comment on his elfyness. He was flanked by some sort of holy man and another with a flute and drum. He greeted us formally, then bade us move quickly, for we were just beneath an elven outpost and there had been clashes recently. As if in explanation, he cocked his head whimsically, and showed us a shard of dark wood with elven script inscribed before popping it in his mouth.
I could tell we were walking up a slight incline for about a mile when the whole column suddenly halted. A phalanx of those guys with the big shields moved to block the tunnel ahead where a band of elves had broken in. We watched as the elvish bowmen became a blur behind the tide of arrows that washed down the tunnel. The big shields of the termen sprouted elven arrow shafts like the quills of a hedgehog. When the barrage of arrows proved ineffective, those prissy little elf swordsmen attacked. The long lances of the termen suddenly made sense, for not a single elf could come to grips with a terman in line. When the elf swordsmen pulled back, I knew what was coming. Sure enough, a brace of elven mages sprouted fire between upraised hands in a blinding flare of light.
A sudden blast of sound echoed through the tunnels from the flute player behind us, a shrill note that made me instinctively cover my ears. Darkness descended once more as the fires died when the mages recoiled from the noise lost concentration on their spells. Just then, that holy man chanted in his chirping voice and a wall of earth grew from the tunnel floor. Not in front of the elves as you might expect, but behind them. Trapped elves! It does a dwarven heart good. I looked at my mates and our hammers came out. But as we moved forward, on of those little termen ahead restrained us and said we must halt and watch. Just as I had decided on showing this little runt what happens to anything coming between a dwarf and an elf in need of thumping, an acrid smell almost floored me.
One after another, those big warriors spouted off. Gouts of acid shot from their heads like so many little black dragons, and the elves clawed at the wall of earth as the flesh sizzled off of their bones. I was suddenly very happy to be arming these people. This was the use that dwarven steel was forged for. I almost felt bad for the thrice-damned elves…almost…
-Thorbald Thunderfoot, My Time Among The Termen.
Termen ate their way to sentience. They
sprung from humble termites that consumed the mage-wrought wooden palaces of
the elves. Their form evolved over time, with bodies becoming a blend of
insect and elf. Although the magic of the elves spurred their evolution,
to elves they are little more than vermin. It was the dwarves that first
brought knowledge of other civilizations to the termen and taught them the art
of metal smithing. In many lands the tunnels of dwarves and termen
intersect, leading to agreements on mutual defense.
Termen have
four arms and two legs, large opaline eyes, and prominent antennae. They have
faces that are generally hard to read by other races, because they convey a
wide variety of emotions with simple tilts, nods or bobs of the head and the
inclination of antennae. Their flesh ranges from cream to light green in
color, with a reddish hue to areas where the cuticle is thicker like the head,
chest, and forearms. In the warm humidity of their home tunnels they were
minimal clothing, but may be found heavily swathed in flowing robes when moving
through the outer world.
Everywhere and
nowhere
Warrens of
tunnels extend through the soil of many lands, but few will have seen
them. Colonies can be found in deep forests within the boles of huge
trees or rising high above the savanna in towers of clay.
Insular and
Secretive
Termen are fanatically loyal to their colony mates. This may at times be
transferred to groups they join outside the colony. Conflict may arise
when they expect such loyalty to be returned. Colonies usually engage in
constant border skirmishes, but whole colonies will at times march to
war. These massive armies can take over other colonies or destroy whole
cities of humanoids. They get along well with dwarves and gnomes. Elves and
evil humanoids are hated foes. Of course treants are not fond of termen!
Adventuring
Termen
Termen are usually loathe to leave their colony. Most will never see the
light of day. Exceptional individuals, usually males, but sometimes
females are pushed to leave the colony in order to establish a heroic
reputation and learn the skills to challenge for the right to become Royal
caste and lead a colony.
Cultural Details
Alignment. Termen tend to be neutral, the concepts of good and evil are
something they often find difficult to reconcile with their first moral
imperative: Do what benefits the colony. They are usually lawful because they
have been reared in the strict discipline of the colony. Individuals may vary,
especially when away from the structure of the colony.
Religion. Each large colony forms its own deity. A terman worships the spirit of his home community as a goddess, with the queen its high priestess. The one deity all termen worship is Termes the Swarm King, who represents the whole species and is shared by all colonies.
Religion. Each large colony forms its own deity. A terman worships the spirit of his home community as a goddess, with the queen its high priestess. The one deity all termen worship is Termes the Swarm King, who represents the whole species and is shared by all colonies.
Terman Names
Both male and female termen have names composed of three parts: a personal name, the name of their birth colony and a caste name.
Personal name: Zza, Kreel, Djm, Maa
Both male and female termen have names composed of three parts: a personal name, the name of their birth colony and a caste name.
Personal name: Zza, Kreel, Djm, Maa
Colony names: Khopt,!zil, Ka’chri, Zrikriri, Xsifu
Caste name: Kra’en, Barz, Ghuum, Mbun, Tiz
Example: Zza Khopt Kra’en
Terman Traits
Your character has certain abilities in common with all other termen.
Your character has certain abilities in common with all other termen.
Ability Score Increase. Charisma score increases by 1
Age. Most termen grow slowly. They are not considered adults until age 30, and may live over 300 years. Some kings and queens have been known to live to be 500 or more. The exception to this is termen workers, who are mature by age 15 and rarely live more than 100 years.
Size. Termen workers are small, between 3 and 4 feet tall and less than 40 pounds. All other castes are Medium, between four and a half and five and a half feet tall and slim of build.
Speed. Your walking speed is 25 feet
Chitin. Termen have +1 to armor class due to their hardened cuticle
Multiple limbs.
Termen have four arms. Each arm is strong enough to wield a light weapon on it's own, but they have to use two arms for shields and other weapons. They need all four arms to wield a weapon with the Heavy or Two-handed property.
When they wield a weapon with the Versatile property they can use the damage value in parentheses. When Termen engage in Two-weapon fighting, they can use melee weapons wielded in one or two hands.
Age. Most termen grow slowly. They are not considered adults until age 30, and may live over 300 years. Some kings and queens have been known to live to be 500 or more. The exception to this is termen workers, who are mature by age 15 and rarely live more than 100 years.
Size. Termen workers are small, between 3 and 4 feet tall and less than 40 pounds. All other castes are Medium, between four and a half and five and a half feet tall and slim of build.
Speed. Your walking speed is 25 feet
Chitin. Termen have +1 to armor class due to their hardened cuticle
Multiple limbs.
Termen have four arms. Each arm is strong enough to wield a light weapon on it's own, but they have to use two arms for shields and other weapons. They need all four arms to wield a weapon with the Heavy or Two-handed property.
When they wield a weapon with the Versatile property they can use the damage value in parentheses. When Termen engage in Two-weapon fighting, they can use melee weapons wielded in one or two hands.
Gut microbes. The delicate balance of gut microbes renders them
at disadvantage to saves vs consumed poisons.
Trophallaxis. You may cast the spell Goodberry as a
first level spell 1/day. This represents the advantagious microbes you can
cough up and share with others or spread on your own wounds as a healing
poultice.
Temptation of wood. Your culture dictates that you may not own items made of wood unless covered in metal or leather. It is just too hard to keep from nibbling on them.
Temptation of wood. Your culture dictates that you may not own items made of wood unless covered in metal or leather. It is just too hard to keep from nibbling on them.
Antennae. You gain proficiency in perception for checks
involving scent or vibration (not vision)
Blindsight. 20ft
Languages. Common, Dwarven
Castes
Born of magic, the strict castes that define terman society are all defined by the arcane. The castes of termen are as different in appearance and ability as the subraces of other cultures.
Born of magic, the strict castes that define terman society are all defined by the arcane. The castes of termen are as different in appearance and ability as the subraces of other cultures.
~~Terman
Alchemist [Wizard] are perhaps the finest makers of potions among all of
the races. Their antipathy for elves has made termen hesitant to learn
the classical schools of magic, and their alliance with dwarves did little to
spread a culture of learned spell casters among them. But the natural reliance
of their termite ancestor’s on germ lines of internal symbionts has resulted in
the uncanny ability of some termen to combine the properties of extracts and
harness microbes to produce magical effects. The natural skill of social
insects with complex systems makes them master manipulators of the magic
properties of certain crystals. They can be respected as great healers,
but most often they are feared for their warping of microbes to produce
spell-effects like the dreaded Contageon or harness all but invisible phages to
Disintegrate the hardest of substances.
Intelligence +1
Size: Medium
~~Termidon or Termen Defenders [Eldritch
Knight] pride themselves on their physical prowess and skill with weapons, but
they hold well executed attacks with the spell-like abilities in the highest
esteem. They strive for efficient, not showy, means of destroying the
enemies of their hive. They make use of auto-alchemy to alter their
biology. This caste possesses a feature unique among termen, a glandular
opening in the middle of the forehead above the eyes. As they rise in
levels they learn to produce a variety of acids, adhesives, poisons, and
gasses.
Constitution +1
Size: Medium
~~Tocsins [Bard] are the heralds of
terman society, jovial and wise. Sound is the glue that holds a hive
together. Hive songs sooth or alarm a colony, and spread information.
When danger threatens, the sonic ability of a Tocsin can be a terrible
weapon.
Intelligence +1
Size: Medium
~~Swarm
Lords [Druid] keep the hive clear of vermin, often by enlisting the aid of
creatures to fight by their side. Because they
have such strong ties to their primal nature, they have been known to change
their very shape to that of the creatures that share their warrens. The
most powerful Swarm Lords can disassociate into the form of the deadliest
swarms. This primal bond makes them unpredictable and quick to anger.
Size: Medium
~~Theros [Ranger] scout far flung tunnel
systems with their insect compaions for threats from the outside world.
Strength +1
Size: Medium
~~Terrarch
[Cleric/Earth] are the most important element in terman society after the Queen
and King. They are responsible for directing hordes of common termen,
wielding powerful earth magic in the excavation and construction of the
nest. Their pride of place often shows in their arrogance, but they are
natural leaders and skilled at commanding groups.
Wisdom +1
Size: Medium
~~Slavers
(Rogues, Assasins) catch members of other races and intelligent monsters.
They make use of various fungal extracts and poisons to charm them to
augment the workforce and military of the colony.
Dexterity +1
Size: Medium
~~Archons or
Royal Termen [Paladin] are the heart of any colony. Princes and
Princesses are the caste most likely encountered in the outside world. They are
regulary cast out from their birth colonies to prove themselves before
attracting a retinue and either starting a new colony or competing for the
chance to lead and established colony. Sometimes the most heroic members
of the other castes can become Royal Termen and lead colonies if they gain a
reputation for greatness and attract followers. It is the hope of all
exceptional Termen to someday rule a colony, but only the best will make
it. The character of a colony is often dictated by the personality of its
king.
Charisma +1
Size: Medium
~~Minions or
Workers (Rogues) are physically small, but perform most of the day to day
functions within a colony. They are integral to everything from construction
and maintenance, to defense.
Advanced Tremor
Sense: By tapping on a solid surface for 15 minutes with antennae, workers can
"see" in an area describes by a cone (10' long x 5' high). They
can only visualize what is physically connected to the solid surface (they miss
the beholders!)
Dexterity +1
Size: Small
Size: Small
~~Metal
Smith [Fighter] are outcasts among their own kind. While all termen
benefit from the products of metallurgy, the scents and sounds are so
off-putting that smithies can only be found in the outskirts of colonies.
Many are counted as dwarf-friends, and as a group have come to resemble their
dwarven tutors to better implement their techniques. Although they are
not regarded as innovative by even dwarf standards, their attention to minute
details and ability to integrate crystalline or organic elements into their work
is highly respected. Just don't expect wooden hafted weapons!
Strength +1
Size: Medium
Arch-enemies! Termen-vs-Formians
Formian:©2011-2015 TechnologicIce
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