Rastipede

Rastipedes were modeled (loosely) as humanoid/vermin (ant) tauric creatures (see Monster Manual II).

Also see:  Rastipede Monster Class

Medium Monstrous Humanoid

Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)

Initiative: +0

Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)

Armor Class: 17 (+7 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 17

Base Attack/Grapple: +3 / +3

Attack: Longspear +3 melee (1d8/x3), or claw +3 melee (1d4), or masterwork composite longbow +4 ranged (1d8)

Full Attack: Longspear +3 melee (1d8/x3), or 2 claws +3 melee (1d4), or masterwork composite longbow +4 ranged (1d8)

Space/Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.

Special Attacks: —

Special Qualities: Ambidexterity, Darkvision 60 ft., Scent, Spelljamming Talent

Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +5

Abilities: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 10

Skills: Bluff +4, Diplomacy +8^*, Escape Artist +2^*, Knowledge (arcana) +2, Knowledge (history) +2, Sense Motive +4

Feats: Iron Will, Point Blank Shot

Environment: Any

Organization: Solitary, pair, clutch (3-6), swarm (7-14), or nest (50-300 plus 100% noncombatants)

Challenge Rating: 2

Treasure: Standard

Alignment: Often neutral

Advancement: By character class

Level Adjustment: +3

The creature's lower half is six feet long and eight-legged. Its upper body is humanoid in shape, with a head—adorned with large, compound eyes and a pair of long, whiplike antennae—and two arms. Its entire body is covered by a hard, chitinous exoskeleton.

Rastipedes are best known across the spheres as traders and merchants. They commonly employ crews and hire ships to transport goods back and forth across wildspace, usually turning a profit with every voyage. They are hardworking in all their dealings.

Rastipedes speak Rastipede, Common, Dwarven, and Elven.

Combat

Rastipedes are inherently peaceful and avoid combat whenever possible—their great movement rate allows them to avoid many unpleasant encounters. However, they are not cowardly. They can, and do, use the full range of weapons usable by humans. They attempt to keep enemies at range, preferring custom made longbows. When combat gets to melee range, their hard chitinous armor allows them to make attacks with their claws.

Ambidexterity (Ex): Rastipedes use both hands as their primary hand. When wielding two weapons, if either is considered light, the penalties for two-weapon fighting are reduced by 2 each. Also, neither both attacks use full Strength bonus (if any) to damage.

Spelljamming Talent (Su): When operating a spelljammer helm that is based on the pilot's spellcasting level, a rastipede adds its Int bonus (or +5, whichever is lower) to its spellcasting level for the purpose of determining the ship's Tactical Rating (TR).

Skills: An additional two points were spent on the rastipedes Speak Language skill, which they consider a class skill regardless of class. * Rastipedes receive a +2 racial bonus on Appraise and Diplomacy checks. They also receive a +2 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks because their bodies are fully double-jointed.

Feats: ** Rastipedes can take the Two-Weapon Fighting feat even if they do not meet the requirements, due to their Ambidexterity.

Rastipede Society

Rastipedes are born from eggs laid by the queen. Their secluded, underground nests contain 100-600 individuals, half of which can't fight. Members of a nest grow up with a strong sense of duty to the rest of the community, and take part in educating the young in mathematics and Rastipede literature, which is quite extensive.

Rastipedes often spend their first decade of life underground, away from the sun. It is after this time that some choose go leave the nest for adventure.

Rastipedes as Characters

Rastipede characters possess the following racial traits.

• +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence.
• Size Medium.
• Quadrupeds have 1 1/2 times the carrying capacity of Medium characters.
• A rastipedes base land speed is 40 feet.
• Darkvision out to 60 feet.
• Racial Hit Dice: A rastipede begins with three levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +3, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3.
• Racial Skills: A rastipede's monstrous humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1). Its class skills are Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Knowledge (history), Sense Motive, and Speak Language. Rastipedes have a +2 racial bonus on Appraise, Diplomacy and Escape Artist checks.
• Racial Feats: A rastipede's monstrous humanoid levels give it two feats.
• Weapon Proficiency: A rastipede is proficient with all bows and all simple weapons.
• +7 natural armor bonus.
• Natural Attacks: 2 claws (1d4).
• Special Qualities (see above): Ambidexterity, Spelljamming Talent, Scent.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Rastipede. Bonus Languages: Any.
• Favored Class: Wizard.
• Level adjustment +3.

In the Spheres

With their primary interest being trade, it was natural for rastipedes to become the favored henchmen of the arcane (mercane). Most characters seeking an arcane will find themselves dealing with a rastipede go-between.