Apsara (race)

Apsar are powerful good aligned merfolk-like entities who dwell in the astral sea. Few ever visit the material plane, except for the avenging apsar. This extra-planar policeman has the specialized task of tracking down psionic criminals who flee to aquatic realms. Most avenging apsars are either in pursuit of a specific felon, or patrolling an area in hopes of locating one. Many will use their metamorphosis ability to go undercover; often posing as a common seafolk in order to get close to their mark unnoticed. It is often during these undercover encounters that apsara come about.

Apsaras are the descendants of apsar (usually avenging apsars) and seafolk. While not always lawful or good, they do have an innate tendency towards these alignments. Natural psionic talent also encourages them to take up psionic classes. Apsara heritage can actually hide for generations, with a child suddenly unveiling a cross-dimensional love affair in ages past. The majority of apsaras seem to be female, though males are not unheard of. Most parents, despite the prejudice against planars in general, look upon the birth of an apsara as a good omen, especially if it is a male child. A young apsara male is often referred to as a “golden child,” and will likely have great expectations laid upon him.

**Physical Description:** Apsaras retain much of the visage of their extraplanar parent, including golden scales, pointed ears, dark hair, and lack of a nose. However, they also lack the pelvic fins and yellow stripes that are characteristic of full- blooded apsar. Aside from these characteristics, it would be easy to mistake an apsara for a seafolk at a distance.

**Society:** Most apsara grew up cautious around others and sometimes misunderstood, though never to the hateful extent many of the drylander bloodlines are. Even those raised by understanding seafolk parents could not escape their strangeness, or the curiosity (or even fear) that their unique nature sometimes provoked. Many apsara even suffered prejudice, something that deeply hurts their psychology since most have an inherent bent towards empathy and justice for others.

Apsaras rarely have societies of their own, preferring instead to integrate into small communities within seafolk society, or just assimilating into seafolk culture entirely. Some even use their metamorphosis ability to blend in seamlessly. Very few apsara have siblings who are also apsara. As a result, most apsara will often gravitate towards others of their kind.

**Relations:** Apsara, despite their seafolk ancestry, do not typically feel a strong draw to their kin but instead felt a stronger bond with other planars. Many apsara enjoy the company of planars and other races of goodly or alien origin such as morgens and mogogols. However, because they are branded as planars, relations with the core races, even among the seafolk, are somewhat strained and littered with prejudice and suspicion.

**Alignment and Religion:** Though many apsara are good in nature, thanks in a large part to their astral ancestors, not all are. Some apsara fall into the trap of evil, corrupted perhaps by experience or the counsel and aid of an evil god. Most apsara, however, avoid this path and a few even received direct counsel from their apsar ancestor or a creature in their service. These individuals are the apsara most likely to manifest the stereotypical virtues of an avenging apsar.

**Adventurers:** Apsaras gravitate towards classes that can dispense divine or psionic justice such as the paladin or the psychic warrior. However, their seafolk heritage allows them some measure of diversity, and apsaras can be found adventuring for all manner of reasons, as well as assuming nearly any class that suits their goals.

**Names:** Apsara names are typically in accordance with seafolk traditions. A few are named for their Apsar heritage and these are listed below.

**Male Names:** Arito, Belto, Cerno, Cronway, Erat, Ilamo, Maudrim, Okro, Turim, Wyro, Zaigo.

**Female Names:** Arka, Arsinon, Daveen, Drinmi, Imesa, Maszoey, Nijen, Nirama, Ondri, Valti

## **APSARA RACIAL TRAITS**

* **+2 Charisma, +2 Dexterity:** Apsaras are charming and graceful.
* **Racial Buoyancy:** -0, **Depth Tolerance:** 1,000 feet
* **Medium:** Apsaras are Medium creatures and have no bonus or penalty due to size.
* **Type:** Planars are outsiders with the native and aquatic subtypes.
* **Darkvision:** All planars have Darkvision up to 60 feet.
* **Hydro-respiration:** The respiration organs of planars require water instead of oxygen. While the planar can avoid suffocation by absorbing water from the humidity in the air while on land, areas of low humidity will cause the planar to suffocate.
* **Very Fast Swim Speed:** Apsaras have a base swim speed of 50 feet.
* **Sea-strider:** Apsaras have a base land speed of 5 feet.
* **Merfolk:** Apsaras have the merfolk subtype in addition to planar.
* **Psi-Like Ability:** Apsaras can use *minor metamorphosis* once per day as a psi-like ability (manifester level equals the apsara’s class level).
* **Celestial Resistance:** Apsaras have acid resistance 5, cold resistance 5, and electricity resistance 5.
* **Languages:** Apsaras begin play speaking Common and Celestial. Apsaras with high Intelligence scores can choose any language that is also available to seafolk.