Benitsuru

Benitsuru are the mystical guardians of the shore and sky. While they prefer wading in shallow streams and quiet lakes, they will occasionally venture to the ocean’s edge to satisfy hunger or curiosity. Though not the only avian race in the Cerulean Seas world (there are also the squawks from the Indigo Ice campaign setting), they are the only standard player race at home on land, in water, and in the air. They use this unique talent to stay out of harm’s way, deliver long distance messages, and to get a unique view of their watery world.

**Physical Description:** The benitsuru stands nearly 5 feet tall and appears much like a large crane or stork with a human face. It has mostly white plumage, with black feathers on its long neck, chin, near the bottom of its wing, and on the top of its head. A shock of scarlet plumes create a mask around its human-like eyes. It has small, clawed hands where its primary feathers begin (where the alula is located for most winged birds). Its legs are long, black, stork-like and terminate in webbed feet. Similar to many seabirds, a benitsuru’s feathers are waterproof. Although its plumage and body shape is superficially that of a crane’s, its body also subtly incorporates aspects of both ducks and cormorants. Consequently, it is able to dive and swim fairly well, though this is not its best means of locomotion.

Males and females appear remarkably similar, usually only outwardly distinguishable by their voice, of which the female has a higher pitch. Benitsuru mate only once or twice in their life, and typically 1-3 six-inch-long golden eggs result. Hatchlings grow quickly, reaching maturity in about 10 years. The red eye feathers emerge around this time. These red feathers can also help determine the age of a benitsuru. An elderly benitsuru often has a face full of crimson feathers, without any white or black remaining.

**Society**: Benitsuru are generally a peaceful and cheerful people. Many might think their smile to be an immutable facial feature if they haven’t seen a member of this race in a dire or desperate situation. Even in the heat of combat, if there is hope for victory, the benitsuru will remain calm and grinning.

The benitsuru often see themselves as emissaries of peace and hope. It is quite common for a benitsuru to act as a mediator or an ambassador. Despite this and their frail frame, benitsuru are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. When pressed, they will not back down from a fight, and have even been known to be great military leaders during times of terrible imbalance.

**Relations:** Currently the benitsuru are not on the good side of the dragon emperor, as most are considered hanran. The benitsuru, who prefer freshwater environs, believe that the emperor can be persuaded to give up his eternal siege against these waters. Benitsuru typically get along with anyone who looks favorably on a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

As a kamigei, benitsuru are expected to bring balance to their surroundings by many of the other races. Many consider killing a benitsuru to be an evil act that is sure to bring misfortune. Regardless, there are still plenty of races, especially among the emperor’s forces, that view the benitsuru as arrogant trouble makers. These races will not hesitate to clip the benitsuru’s wings before it can escape.

**Alignment and Religion:** Most benitsuru are good aligned, with a few neutrally aligned members. Many worship powers of nature, philosophical doctrines, or the kamigei. Evil benitsuru are exceedingly rare, and are usually outcasts for some other reason such as a curse or deformity.

**Adventurers:** Benitsuru most often adventure to maintain peace or balance in their homeland. A few adventure to satisfy their curiosity or thirst for adventure. Others are just trying to spread good will throughout the land.

Most adventuring benitsuru become clerics, kahunas, or sirens. A few will take up the path of wizard, sorcerer, ninja or rogue. Warriors among this race are quite uncommon, as they seldom have the fortitude for one-on-one combat.

**Names:** Benitsuru tend to have long, genderless, poetic names that often become shortened by those they adventure with. Typical names include “That which dances in the reeds, quiet and golden, wisdom in the waving wind,” “Fallen snow on the autumn lake, ephemeral, immemorial, until the chill bears ice,” and “The leaf circles the sky, twirling, climbing, yet always finding its rest upon the water.”

## **BENITSURU RACIAL TRAITS**

* **+ 2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Constitution, -2 Strength:** Benitsuru are quick in both form and wit, but have extremely frail bodies and hollow bones.
* **Racial Buoyancy:** -25A, **Depth Tolerance:** 300 feet
* **Kamigei:** Benitsuru have the lesser kamigei subtype, as described at the beginning of this chapter.
* **Medium:** Benitsuru are Medium-sized creatures.
* **Slow Swim Speed:** Benitsuru have a base swim speed of 20 feet.
* **Landwalker:** Benitsuru have a base land speed of 30 feet.
* **Flight:** Benitsuru have a fly speed of 60 feet (average).
* **Mystical Assault:** At character creation, pick one of the following energy types that correspond to one of the two mystical elements that the kamigei has ties to: acid (rain), cold (air), electricity (metal), sonic (wood), or steam (fire). Lesser kamigei gain the following supernatural ability: Once per day as a swift action, a member of this race can call on the elemental power lurking in its veins to shroud its limbs in the energy type that corresponds to its chosen mystical element. Unarmed strikes with its limbs (or attacks with weapons held by these limbs) deal an extra point of damage of the appropriate energy type. This lasts for 1 round per character level. The creature may end the effects of its mystical assault early as a free action.
* **Energy Resistance:** At character creation, pick one of the following energy types that correspond to one of the two mystical elements that the kamigei has ties to: acid (rain), cold (air), electricity (metal), sonic (wood), or steam (fire). The lesser kamigei gains energy resistance 5 for that energy type.
* **Nature’s Insight:** Lesser kamigei gain a +2 racial bonus to Knowledge (Nature) skill checks.
* **Lungs:** Benitsuru can breathe air indefinitely, just like an anthromorph with the same quality.
* **Twin Waters:** Benitsuru can consume both salt and freshwater without ill affect.
* **Eternal Hope:** Benitsuru gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against fear and despair effects. Also, once per day, after a natural roll of 1 on a d20 roll, benitsuru may reroll and use the second result.
* **Weather Savvy:** Benitsuru are so in tune with the air and sky they can easily sense the slightest change in atmospheric conditions. They can spend a full-round action to predict the weather in an area for the next 24 hours. This prediction is always accurate, but cannot account for spells or supernatural effects that might alter the forecast.
* **Languages:** Benitsuru begin play speaking Common and Kamigei. Benitsuru with high Intelligence scores can choose any of the following: Aquan, Ceti, Glacian, Celestial, Draconic, Goi, Hanran, Imperial, and Yokai.