Thri-Kreen Slayer (Character Kit)

== Thri-Kreen Slayer ==
Perhaps the greatest threat to the elves of Athas is the thri- kreen. These insectoid hunters love the taste of elf flesh, and they prey upon the desert runners whenever the opportunity presents itself. In order to combat the threat posed by the fast, strong, and cunning thri-kreen, a special class of desert runner has developedthe thri-kreen slayer. A thri-kreen slayer is a multiclassed fighter/psioni- cist who devotes him- or herself to becoming an expert hunter and fighter of the dread insect-men.
Wearing armor consisting of pieces of a thri-kreens hard exoskeleton shell, slayers train in ways to best com- bat the hulking insect-men. They study the fighting styles and habits of the thri-kreen, learning all they can about their deadly adversaries. Slayers are taught to hate the thri-kreen with all their hearts so that the innermost fury in their hearts can be fully tapped. Conversely, they are also taught to admire the thri-kreenappreciating their tireless natures and their hunters hearts. Only through understanding and a certain respect can a slayer hope to survive the challenge of a thri-kreen warrior.
When thri-kreen slayers join adventuring parties, they do so as part of their continuing training or to satisfy the bouts of wanderlust that often come upon the elves of Athas. Even away from their tribes, slayers take their roles and responsibilities very seriously. They actively seek out thri-kreen during combat, only turning toward other ene- mies when all thri-kreen have been defeated or when a much greater danger presents itself.
Recommended Tribal Affiliation: Thri-kreen slayers can be found among most of the elf tribes wandering the
Tablelands, though the Wind Dancers and the Sky Singers actively seek to develop these rare and special warriors.
Role: These slayers defend their tribes from thri-kreen hunting packs. They know what signs to look for to deter- mine if thri-kreen are in the area. They know how to throw a hunting pack off the trail. When a battle is inevitable, thri-kreen slayers know the most effective ways to kill the insect-men. These warriors are the champions of their tribes, for they alone seem invincible before the enemies that haunt all elven nightmares.
Slayers tend to be loners, operating independently of their tribes for long periods of time. A tribe may not see its slayers for weeks on end, but the elves know that they are out in the wastes watching for the approach of the deadly insect-men. The slayers must warn the tribe of an impending attack, to lead any battles against the thri- kreen, and to safely move the tribe out of danger.
Slayers are extremely confident (though some con- sider them mad in their arrogance). Armed with an arse- nal of weapons and always ready to leap into battle against a thri-kreen, a slayer is as a formidable foe. Using psionics and fighting skills to best advantage, slayers are among the most fearsome elf opponents anyone (thri- kreen or otherwise) will ever meet. Interestingly enough, there are instances of slayers having worked with thri- kreen as part of an adventuring group, but these relation- ships are often volatile and extremely fragile, for neither elf nor thri-kreen trusts the other.
== Weapon Proficiencies ==
Members of this kit must take the long bow, long sword, and one thri-kreen weapon (either a chatkcha or gythka) among their initial weapon proficiency selections.
== Nonweapon Proficiencies ==
The proficiencies for the thri-kreen slayer are as follows.
== Bonus Proficiencies: Rejuvenation. ==
== Required Proficiencies: Survival (sandy wastes or other). ==
== Recommended (General): Direction sense, lan- guages (thri-kreen). ==
== Recommended (Psionicist): Harness subconscious, meditative focus. ==
== Recommended (Warrior): Tracking, weapon- smithing. ==
Equipment: A thri-kreen slayer receives a bone long sword and a long bow crafted for the character by mem- bers of his or her tribe, as well as a set of thri-kreen-shell armor (AC 5).
== Special Benefits ==
In addition to the bonus rejuvenation proficiency, slayers gain a +4 bonus to attack rolls when fighting thri-kreen, and a +2 bonus to damage rolls. A slayer can attack with two weapons without penalty to his or her attack rolls, though all other restric- tions for two-weapon attacks apply (see Players Hand- book, Chapter Nine).
== Special Hindrances ==
The enmity that slayers feel toward the thri-kreen causes them to suffer a -4 penalty on all encounter reactions with the hated race. Thri- kreen slayers must attack thri-kreen if such foes are pre- sent during combat. They may only change targets once all thri-kreen have been defeated or if an obviously more dangerous opponent reveals itself. In addition, because of the image they present, slayers are often targeted by those seeking to prove their own skills or who are looking to make a quick reputation. They must always be on guard for attacks by those who want to prove their own tough- ness against such worthy foes.
Wealth Options: Thri-kreen slayers start play with 3d4x30 cp as well as the weapons and armor mentioned above.