Skral

Dwürden of the Underearth

The Skral live in the deepest caverns and subterranean realms of the Underearth. It is uncommon for the Dwürden Skral to venture to the surface. If there are sub-race of Dwürden that could be considered as wholly Evil, the Skral would be that group. Those that know of the Skral know of their tempers, their hungers, and their treachery. It was the Skral that turned on their Dwürden kin during the greatEylfāe wars of ages gone. To this day it is not known what the foul race was paid but more and more it is believed that their actions were freely given.

Physiology

The shortest and most gracile of the Dwürden races, Skral average just below four feet in height, making them well adapted to the small tunnels and warrens of the Underearth. Skral Dark Vision is unsurpassed among the Dwürden races. The Skral appear as dark-skinned Dwürden of slight build. Their eyes are pale white, but not blank like those of the Nar.

The Skrals’ most striking quality is their supernatural ability to blend with their natural rock surroundings when standing still. Unlike the Nar, the Skral do not benefit from Od-Sight.

Psychology

The Skral are chaotic and Evil. They are unable to maintain large communities or long alliances. One of the few circumstances when Skral are able to work together toward a common goal is against the Nar, their hated Underearth kin. The Skral hatred for the Dwürden Nar is nothing short of pathological. For this reason, the Skral and Nar cannot exist together. There are many “reasons” given for this relationship but few add up. It is possible that the war began within the fevered imagination of one Skral mind and blossomed outward from there.

Each Skral views itself as a loner and is suspicious of all others, Skral and otherwise.

Culture

The Dwürden Skral seem to be embroiled in constant battle with the Dwürden Nar and Drûl Neylfèrahl. The source of the Skral andDrûl conflict is unclear. The few Skral communities that exist are built like fortresses. These are rarely abandoned except for the gathering of food and resources. The Skral maintain few alliances with other Underrealms. Some Skral have limited business contacts with the trustworthy Mor, but all others are met with a guarded hostility. The Mor as a race detest the Skral, but deal with them occasionally to gain access to rare gems and minerals. Unlike the Nar, who feel blind without the comfort of their Od-Sight, the Skral are more likely to venture toward the surface.

Many Skral communities maintain a wall of carved names listing all the enemies of the people. Capture or killing of named persons is encouraged and sometimes rewarded (rf. Magic). There are many ways of getting ones name on the walls, but mostly anyone that wants someone dead may chisel the name freely. Though Skral society has few rules, an important exception states that if you kill the person who put your name on the wall then your name may be removed, but not before. This exchange is referred to as Korm Dach(i.e., Assassin’s Duel).

Language

Most Dwürden Skral are familiar with the languages of local subterranean races. Under most circumstances, no Dwürden Skral will know (or have heard of) Yrūn languages. The base Skral language is called Skwurn.

Magic

Magic use is despised within Skral culture. Those who practice the arts in or near Skral communities are named “enemies of the state”.

Characters

Dwürden Skral are appropriate player characters.

Template

The basic template for Dwürden Skral characters is 75 CPs. This template includes:

Advantages

  • Health +1 (BASp15) 10
  • Acute Senses: Vision +2 (BASp35) 4
  • Chameleon: Extended (Normal, Dark Vision) +4 (BASp41) 241
  • Damage Resistance: Tough Skin +1 (BASp47) 3
  • Dark Vision: Color — (BASp47) 302
  • Extended Lifespan +2 (BASp53) 4
  • Radiation Tolerance (Od) /50 (BASp79) 25
  • Silence +4 (BASp85) 20
  • Talent (Dwürden Skral)† — (BASp89) 5

† BASp89 Talent (Dwürden Skral); Includes the skills: Area Knowledge (Specific Region) (BASp176), Climbing (BASp183), Gesture (BASp198), Hiking (BASp200), Stealth (BASp222), and Survival (Underearth) (BASp224)
1 BASp41 Chameleon: Extended; 20 pts (Base, 4 Levels) +20% (Extended, Dark Vision) = 24 pts
2 BASp47 Dark Vision: Color; 25 pts (Base) +20% (Color Vision) = 30 pts

Total = 125 CPs

Disadvantages

  • Basic Move -1 (BASp17) -5
  • Size Modifier -1 (BASp19) -0
  • Appearance: Ugly — (BASp21) -8
  • Bad Temper — (BASp124) -10
  • Callous — (BASp125) -5
  • Intolerance (Dwürden Nar) — (BASp140) -5
  • Intolerance (Drûl Neylfèrahl) — (BASp140) -5
  • Loner — (BASp142) -5
  • Magic Susceptibility +2 (BASp143) -6
  • Quirk: Habits or Expressions (Do not shave beards) — (BASp164) -1

Total = -50 CPs

Options

A selection from the following template options are appropriate.

Advantages

  • Absolute Direction — (BASp34) 5
  • Arm DX +1 (BASp40) 16
  • Damage Resistance: Tough Skin† +2 (BASp46) 31
  • Danger Sense — (BASp47) 15
  • Flexibility — (BASp56) 5
  • Hard to Kill +1 (BASp58) 2
  • Protected Sense (Dark Vision) — (BASp78) 5
  • Resistant: Very Common (Poison) +2 (BASp81) 15
  • Silence +3 (BASp85) 15
  • Perks: Sanitized Metabolism — (BASp101) 1

† Trait is reserved for elder Dwürden Skral
1 BASp46 Damage Resistance: Tough Skin; 6 pts (Base, 2 Levels) -3 pts (Difference from Damage Resistance) = 3 pts

Disadvantages

  • Skinny — (BASp18) -5
  • Addiction (Urg Grüm) — (BASp122) -151
  • Compulsive Behavior: Lying — (BASp129) -15
  • Greed — (BASp137) -15
  • Semi-Upright — (BASp153) -5
  • Stubbornness — (BASp157) -5

1 BASp122 Addiction (Urg Grüm); -10 pts (Expensive) -10 (Incapacitating) +5 (Legal) = -15 pts