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Few sentient, open races have such an air of mystery as the Felbraug. Despite making their teachings and studies known to the world, there remains a pervading sense of mystery about them, a puzzle that can't be easily unravelled. While psionics and its craft is not unknown to Cobrin`Seil – in fact, the arts of it are rather common in some nations – the Felbraug nonetheless represent an oddity to all who research them. Blessed with psionics to a man, Felbraug claim descent from rats.
Personality
Felbraug are a varied race. They do not truly own to a hive mind, but it is said that their evolution approaches a day when they will be. Because of this, Felbraug are often understanding and open-minded, and rarely bigoted, at least in dealings with other Felbraug. Towards larger races, however, Felbraug can be quiet, standoffish, or even completely silent. Towards psions of other races, however, Felbraug tend to display a joyous, childish side that seems at odds with their normal reservation.
Physical Description
Felbraug share a great many physical traits with rats, such as a pair of prominent, canine teeth extending upwards on their lower jaws. Felbraug are short creatures, ranging from barely four feet tall to four foot six inches. They're also quite frail, and tend to weigh little. Their most striking feature is the presence of a tail – or rather, tails. Felbraug have a single, prehensile tail extending from their coccyx, and a triad of tails extending from the back of their heads. Their ears are long and thin, and composed of a rubbery material that is capable of stretching into full-sized, dish-like ears. Their hair tends to grow in three patches on their heads and usually holds two separate parts, which flow down and grow onto the tails. For this reason, it often look as if Felbraug all wear plaits. Felbraug men and women are almost indistinguishable; except when with child, female Felbraug have almost no breasts to speak of, nor any other distinguishing marks.
Relations
Felbraug typically do not relate well with Dwarves of most races; the stout refusal of dwarves to observe, accept, or trust magic or psionics grates with the Felbraug, and as both races are typically subterranean, they frequently conflict. The Felbraug do, however, associate well with Halflings, and many have claimed there to be common blood there. Elves and Felbraug often treat each other with bemused perplexion; a Felbraug cannot understand why such a free-spirited person cannot dance in the halls of the mind, and the elf cannot consider why such a free-thinking person chooses to live underground. Half-orcs, humans, half-elves and all other varied races tend to be regarded as just 'other races' by Felbraug. Humans, who are likely to become psions, tend to be treated with a degree of curiosity by the Felbraug, who often tutor human psions. Felbraug hate Githyanki, Illithid, and Cerebelith, and will typically attack them on sight (though not stupidly).
Alignment
Felbraug alignment varies. Those that turn to psionics are usually more neutral and introspective than others. However, Felbraug monastic orders are common, and in those nations, law is predominant over chaos. Yet again, however, the Felbraug find their culture often shattered in places – giving rise to barbaric Felbraug. Felbraug of all stripes, however, tend to respect the views of other Felbraug, and it is not uncommon for a Lawful Good Felbraug to give rise to a Chaotic Neutral child.
Religion
Felbraug are not strong with religion. That is not to say there is no god that Felbraug revere; that is just to say that there seems to be some great divine scarring across their racial mindset that will take many, many years to heal. They speak of times of the Requiem of the Empire, and the Coming of the Free Ones – but only rarely, and often on their deathbeds. Felbraug believe that all Felbraug are connected, and that where one life ends, another begins. Felbraug clerics and druids are not uncommon, however; Felbraug clerics tend to revere nature or war, or other forces of change.
Language
Felbraug, the language, is a somewhat simple subset of Goblin on the surface. However, the true language of Felbraug is in fact a threefold dialect; it has one language for names (chittering noises, where tone and pronunciation is as important as actual spelling), conversation with psionic creatures (a resonating type of tongue which can often be spoken simultaneous to another language), and conversation with nonpsionic characters – which is the closest they have to a goblin tongue. Speaking Felbraug is decidedly difficult, and few people can learn it without much serious study (and a bit of psionic potential, some claim).
Names
A Felbraug name consists of three to five syllables, separated by an apostrophe (which represents a pause in some dialects, a clicking sound in others), and ending with the name of the individual's clan, such as chek, tch, tck, tek, tuk, or uk. Sometimes the syllable oh- is added to the beginning of a name to designate an individual of great age and wisdom (For example, Ohchi'chek is a respected elder of the chek, or Teachers, tribe.) To show that a felbraug has gained great honor in his tribe, the syllable ti- is added before the name of the tribe (Rik'tik'tichek has distinguished himself in the Teachers tribe.) Only occasionally do Felbraug adopt nicknames, such as "Longsnout." Nicknames are most common among Felbraug who work closely with humans, since humans often have trouble pronouncing Felbraug names.
Adventurers
Felbraug are often very chaotic beings, free-spirited and wild. And at the same time, many Felbraug are simply lawful, predictable, simple beings that wish to establish order, or try themselves. Felbraug frequently adventure in lands where Illithid are known to roam, and hold a special hatred for those who would oppress free-minded beings with psionics.
Game Information
Felbraug Racial Traits
- +2 Dexterity, -2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Felbraug are alert and quick, but because they're smaller, they simply aren't as strong as larger creatures.
- Small: As small creatures, Felbraug receive a +1 size bonus to armour class, and a +1 size bonus to hit. They also receive a +4 to hide checks.
- Bite: Felbraug have a natural Bite attack that deals 1d4 damage.
- Self-augmentation: A Felbraug can spend a power point as a swift action to grant his natural weapons (including unarmed attacks) a +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls, and a +1d6 bonus on damage rolls for one round.
- Felbraug base speed is 20 feet.
- Darkvision: Felbraug can see in the dark up to 30 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and Felbraug can function just fine with no light at all.
- Automatic Languages: Common and Goblin. Bonus Languages: Half-orc, Dwarven, Draconic, Halfling, Gnomish and Infernal as bonus languages – Felbraug are often schooled in the languages of their enemies and other psionically touched beings.
- Naturally Psionic: Felbraug gain 2 bonus power points at 1st level. This benefit does not grant them the ability to manifest powers unless they gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
- Strong Stomach: A Felbraug suffers no penalty for eating spoiled or rotten food. A Felbraug can eat anything he can damage with his bite attack, and gain sustenance from it.
- Sustenance (Su): A Felbraug who spends a power point can subsist for a day without food or water.
- +2 racial bonus to Listen. Felbraug always treat Listen as a class skill. Felbraug have very keen ears.
- Racial Memory: A Felbraug can make any Knowledge check untrained, regardless of the DC of the check. A Felbraug receives a +2 racial bonus to Knowledge checks.
- Favoured Class: Psychic Warrior. A multiclass Felbraug's Psychic Warrior class does not count when determining whether he suffers an XP penalty for multiclassing. (see Experience for Multiclass Characters, PHB, page 56). The powers of the mind are easily reached and touched by the Felbraug.
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