Awakened Animal (Pf1)

STANDARD

Animals - awakened or not - gain the following traits. Exact RP varies according to size and speed, but RP cannot exceed 20). It is recommended to use any official statblock for your animal's species as a guideline for which traits it should have, as a player character.

Standard Racial Traits (2-13+ RP)

• Ability Score Modifiers (0 RP): Animals are hardy and savvy of the world they live in, but aren't naturally sapient species by humanoid standards. They gain +2 racial bonus to a physical ability score of their choice, +2 racial bonus to Wisdom, and –2 racial penalty to Intelligence.
• Size (RP varies): Animals come in a variety of sizes, depending on their species. The following four are the most common. If you are a different size category, talk with your GM to see if they'll allow it.
  • Large (7 RP) Large creatures gain a +2 size bonus to Strength and a –2 size penalty to Dexterity. Large races take a –1 size penalty to their AC, a –1 size penalty on attack rolls, a +1 bonus on combat maneuver checks and to their CMD, and a –4 size penalty on Stealth checks. A Large creature takes up a space that is 10 feet by 10 feet and has a reach of 5 feet.
  • Medium (0 RP) Medium races have no bonuses or penalties due to their size. A Medium creature has a space of 5 feet by 5 feet and a reach of 5 feet.
  • Small (0 RP) Small races gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks. Small races have a space of 5 feet by 5 feet and a reach of 5 feet.
  • Tiny (4 RP) Tiny creatures gain a +2 size bonus to Dexterity and a –2 size penalty to Strength. Tiny races gain a +2 size bonus to their AC, a +2 size bonus on attack rolls, a –2 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their CMD, and a +8 size bonus on Stealth checks. Tiny characters take up a space of 2-1/2 feet by 2-1/2 feet, so up to four of these characters can fit into a single square. Tiny races typically have a natural reach of 0 feet, meaning they can’t reach into adjacent squares. They must enter an opponent’s square to attack it in melee. This provokes an attack of opportunity from the opponent. Since they have no natural reach, they do not threaten the squares around them. Other creatures can move through those squares without provoking attacks of opportunity. Tiny creatures typically cannot flank an enemy.
• Type (0 RP): Animals are well... animals, and are of the Animal type. Animals who have been Awakened are instead Magical Beasts.
• Base Speed (RP Varies): Animals vary vastly in body plan, and can come with feet, fins, or wings. Choose your speeds according to whether your animal is grounded, arboreal, aquatic, or capable of flight. This trait can be taken multiple times - each time, choose a different base speed trait.
  • Normal Speed (0 RP) The race has a base speed of 30 feet.
    • Fast (1 RP) Prerequisites: Normal speed. Benefit: Members of this race gain a +10 foot bonus to their base speed. Special: This trait can be taken more than once, but each time it is, the cost increases by 1 RP. Its effects stack.
  • Climb (2 RP) Members of this race have a climb speed of 20 feet, and gain the +8 racial bonus on Climb checks that a climb speed normally grants.
    • Prehensile Tail (2 RP) Prerequisites: Climb speed. Members of this race have a long, flexible tail that can be used to carry objects. They cannot wield weapons with their tails, but they can retrieve small, stowed objects carried on their persons as a swift action.
  • Flight (4 RP) Members of this race have a fly speed of 30 feet with clumsy maneuverability. Special: This trait can be taken more than once. For each additional 2 RP spent, the race’s fly speed increases by +10 feet, and the maneuverability improves by one step.
  • Swim (2 RP) Members of this race have a swim speed of 30 feet and gain the +8 racial bonus on Swim checks that a swim speed normally grants. Creatures which have a swim speed but no normal speed cannot breath air, unless the Amphibious trait is taken.
    • Powerful Swimmer (1 RP) Prerequisites: Swim racial trait. Benefit: Members of this race receive a +10 foot bonus to their swim speed. Special: This trait can be taken twice. Its effects stack.
    • Amphibious (2 RP) Prerequisites: Swim racial trait. Benefit: Members of this race are amphibious and can breathe both air and water.
    • Hold Breath (1 RP)  Members of this race can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to four times their Constitution score before risking drowning or suffocating.
• Languages (0 RP): Members of this race start with their racial language only. Races without a racial language cannot take this array. Furthermore, choose up to four languages (except for Druidic or other secret languages), one of which must be Common (or Undercommon, if the race is native to the underground regions). Members of this race with high Intelligence scores can choose from any of these additional languages.

Offense Racial Traits

• Natural Weapons (1 RP): Pick one of a natural attacks. Members of this race receive one natural attack of the chosen type. The damage is based on the creature’s size. Special: This trait can be taken multiple times. Each time, pick a different natural attack. Claws, hooves/tentacles/wings, and talons may be taken twice.

Senses Racial Traits

• Low-Light Vision (1 RP) Members of this race can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.

OPTIONAL

You may take additional traits in the following categories, if desired, to achieve the traits of your animal's species. Any traits taken must - in conjunction with the final RP cost of the standard traits - total 20 or less.

Defense Racial Traits

• Desert Runner (2 RP) Members of this race receive a +4 racial bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion, as well as any other ill effects from running, forced marches, starvation, thirst, and hot or cold environments.
• Hardy (3 RP) Prerequisites: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Constitution. Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.
• Healthy (2 RP) Prerequisites: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Constitution. Benefit: Members of this race gain a +4 bonus on Fortitude saves against disease and poison, including magical diseases.
• Natural Armor (2 RP). Many animals have thick fur or scales which protect them from harm. These animals gain +1 natural armor.
  • Improved Natural Armor (1 RP) Prerequisites: Natural armor racial trait. Benefit: Members of this race gain a +1 natural armor bonus. Special: This racial trait can be taken multiple times. Each additional time you take this trait, increase its cost by 1 RP. Its effects stack.
• Stability (1 RP) Members of this race receive a +4 racial bonus to their CMD when resisting bull rush or trip attempts while standing on the ground.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

• Camouflage (1 RP) Benefit: Choose a ranger favored terrain type. Members of this race gain a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks while within that terrain type.
• Curiosity (4 RP) Members of this race are naturally inquisitive about the world around them. They gain a +4 bonus on Diplomacy checks to gather information, and Knowledge (history) and Knowledge (local) become class skills for them. If they choose a class that has either of these Knowledge skills as class skills, they gain a +2 racial bonus on those skills instead.
• Nimble Attacks (2 RP) Members of this race receive Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat.
• Nimble Faller (2 RP) Prerequisites: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity. Benefit: Members of this race land on their feet even when they take lethal damage from a fall. Furthermore, they gain a +1 bonus to their CMD against trip attempts.
• Quick Reactions (2 RP) Members of this race receive Improved Initiative as a bonus feat.
• Sneaky (5 RP) Benefit: Members of this race gain a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks.
• Stalker (1 RP) Perception and Stealth are always class skills for members of this race.

Movement Racial Traits

• Burrow (3 RP) Prerequisites: Normal speed. Benefit: Members of this race gain a burrow speed of 20 feet. Special: This trait can be taken twice. The second time it is taken, the burrow speed increases to 30 feet.
• Fleet-Footed (3 RP) Prerequisites: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity. Benefit: Members of this race receive Run as a bonus feat and a +2 racial bonus on initiative checks.
• Gliding Wings (3 RP) Members of this race take no damage from falling (as if subject to a constant non-magical feather fall spell). While in midair, members of this race can move up to 5 feet in any horizontal direction for every 1 foot they fall, at a speed of 60 feet per round. A member of a race with gliding wings cannot gain height with these wings alone; it merely coasts in other directions as it falls. If subjected to a strong wind or any other effect that causes a creature with gliding wings to rise, it can take advantage of the updraft to increase the distance it can glide.
• Jumper (2 RP) Prerequisites: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity. Benefit: Members of this race are always considered to have a running start when making Acrobatics checks to jump.
• Mountaineer (1 RP) Prerequisites: None. Benefit: Members of this race are immune to altitude sickness and do not lose their Dexterity bonus to AC when making Climb checks or Acrobatics checks to cross narrow or slippery surfaces.
• Sprinter (1 RP) Prerequisites: Normal speed. Benefit: Members of this race gain a +10 foot racial bonus to their speed when using the charge, run, or withdraw actions.
• Vestigial Wings (2 RP) Members of this race have wings that do not provide the lift required for actual flight, but do have enough power to aid flight attained by some other method, and grant a +4 racial bonus on Fly checks.

Offense Racial Traits

• Ferocity (4 RP) Members of this race gain the following extraordinary ability: If the hit points of a member of this race fall below 0 but it is not yet dead, it can continue to fight. If it does, it is staggered, and loses 1 hit point each round. It still dies when its hit points reach a negative amount equal to its Constitution score.
• Relentless (1 RP) Members of this race gain a +2 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to bull rush or overrun an opponent. This bonus only applies while both the member of this race and its opponent are standing on the ground.
• Swarming (1 or 2 RP) Prerequisites: Medium or smaller size. Benefit: Members of this race are used to living and fighting communally with other members of their race. Up to two members of this race can share the same square at the same time. If two members of this race that are occupying the same square attack the same foe, they are considered to be flanking that foe as if they were in two opposite squares. Special: If the race is Small or smaller, this trait costs 1 RP. If the race is Medium, it costs 2 RP.
• Toxic (1 RP) Members of this race gain the following extraordinary ability: A number of times per day equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1/day), a member of this race can envenom a weapon that it wields with its toxic saliva or blood (using blood requires the creature to be injured when it uses this ability). Applying venom in this way is a swift action. When you take this trait, choose one of the following venoms.
      Life-Stealing Venom: Injury; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the user’s Hit Dice + the user’s Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1 Con; cure 1 save.
      Paralytic Venom: Injury; save Fort DC 10 + the 1/2 user’s Hit Dice + the user’s Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 1 save.
      Weakening Venom: Injury; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the user’s Hit Dice + the user’s Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save.

Senses Racial Traits

• Darkvision 60 Feet (2 RP)  Members of this race can see in the dark up to 60 feet. This trait can be taken a second time for an additional 1 RP, which increases the Darkvision to 120 feet.
• Low-Light Vision (1 RP) Members of this race can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
• Scent (4 RP) Members of this race gain the scent ability.

Awakened animals are very similar in appearance to the animals they once were. From a glance, it is difficult for humanoids to tell an awakened animal apart from others of its species. On closer inspection, most humanoids notice something different about the eyes and movements of an awakened animal. The awakened animal carries themself in a way that is self-aware, and even those who don't know that the animal is awakened feel that difference. Often awakened animals take on the practice of wearing clothing and other adornments, and using tools, which truly make their awakened nature obvious.

Animals recognize awakened animals instantly and react with trepidation at first. If welcomed, eventually the animal will settle and approach the awakened animal. It takes a long time for an animal to be truly comfortable around its awakened brethren, but over time it can happen.

Traumatic awakenings sometimes create stunning visual differences in an awakened animal. There are tales of awakened bears with flame-red fur and birds with ghostly feathers.

Awakened animals are rare enough and separate enough that few find themselves traveling together, let alone making their own societies. Awakened animals often settle into the societies that are close by, integrating in disguise as a “typical” animal or overtly as craftspeople and laborers. While an awakened animal may decide that humanoid society is not for them, those that stay do not find much trouble in adapting. Most places in Golarion have seen enough that people get over their initial shock at seeing a talking house cat or songbird quickly.

Awakened animals who have turned their back on “civilized” life tend to create animal societies that they are the natural rulers and leaders of. They use their intelligence to create order and structure that animals of their type wouldn't otherwise be able to do. There are tales in Ustalav of large wolf packs made of several combined packs led by an awakened wolf. The pack roams the countryside, protecting villages from incursions of undead. In Isger, merchants tell tales of bears who attack caravans, but do only enough damage to steal the goods before leaving.

There are also rumors of a city full of awakened animals in Iobaria named Roam. Most awakened animals hear about it at some point in their lives. Some think of it as a fanciful dream, but many do attempt to find it. Roam is said to be the true home of all awakened animals, a place where their intellect and wild spirits are equally welcome.

Beliefs

Awakened animals tend to see the world through a lens of natural order. Those who are unsettled by humans or have been traumatized by them typically live within nature, while those driven by curiosity or structure seek to find a place in the more ordered and rule-bound nature of humanoid society.

There is no uniform religion among awakened animals, but it is unsurprising that gods with domains in the natural world, like Gozreh, are popular. There are small groups of awakened animals who worship destructive gods such as Lamashtu and Rovagug. Those who were awakened by a companion might adopt that companion's outlook, and possibly adopt that companion's religion as well.

Popular Edicts explore your newfound sentience, enjoy the creature comforts of humanoid civilization; often other edicts related to your animal side, such as “keep the pack together” for a canine or “always wash your food” for a raccoon
Popular Anathema revert to purely animalistic behaviors

Names

Animals use their senses to identify others instead of names, so their relationship with naming tends to reflect that. They might give friends nicknames that correspond to vivid feelings and sensory information. They often do this for themselves as well, only straying from these conventions if they are using a name they were given as a pet or companion or if they are trying to follow the conventions of the society around them. Sometimes they blend their instinctual approach with a more conventional name to create something bombastic and proud.

Sample Names: Redfur, Snarling Eye, King Halfhorn, Blacknose, Jewelmouth, Queen Scale, Yellowbeak, Bigclaw, Grinning Maw, Scowl

Avians: Raptors such as eagles, hawks, and owls—as well as more bizarre fliers—tend to develop aloof, detached personalities, while smaller individuals are often more social and high-strung. Awakened avian animals keenly observe the world around them—often understanding it much better than their demure natures might imply— and are adept at inferring others’ desires, motives, and intentions. These intelligent flyers are shrewdly calculating and opportunistic, especially when it comes to ensuring their own survival. Awakened birds can often be found high above a fracas, coldly deciding on the best course of action, and only entering a fray when it’s in their best interest or that of their friends.

In combat, avian animals enjoy taking opponents by surprise, favoring training as rogues and ninjas, though they may also enjoy a bard’s ability to soar above the fray and inspire with their songs and majestic screeches. In these capacities, the birds often use their winged stealth to their advantage, taking cover in trees and then striking quickly and silently. Awakened avian animals use their natural weapons, but often with a twist—devious awakened flyers have been known to drop smoke shot, chain shot, and even bombs on unsuspecting enemies.

Land Mammals (Large): Relishing their brute size and strength, large mammals—such as bison, lions, and rhinoceroses—tend to divide along predator/prey lines. Herbivores tend to be generally docile but easily spooked or enraged, while predators are aggressive and cunning, constantly seeking social dominance. Whether they’re among cowering villagers or in a raiding party, these animals love to tell stories of their physical prowess, and awakened large animals tend to be the worst kind of braggadocios.

In combat, most large animals gravitate toward brash, volatile tactics, becoming barbarians or fighters who enjoy wading into battle before thinking. The exceptions are those hunters like the great cats that rely on stealth and tracking, who are just as likely to become rogues or rangers as they are to become barbarians. Some large mammals, however, have been known to become samurai, replacing their natural affinity for recklessness with precision and discipline.

Large mammals recognize the value in using their natural weapons, and augment those weapons in any way they can. For a rhinoceros, that might mean sharpening its deadly horn, while a lion might tip its claws with poison and a bison might overrun its enemies with spiked chainmail affixed to its chest.

Land Mammals (Small and Medium): Encompassing perhaps the widest variety of species—including creatures like cheetahs, hyenas, ponies, and weasels—Small and Medium mammals tend to adopt mischievous, resourceful personalities when awakened. Used to living in vast ecosystems full of larger predators, these creatures are accustomed to using any advantage they have, banding together with allies or manipulating others to serve their own designs.

In battle, these animals tend to be smart and savvy, shrewd at observing situations and determining whether it would be most advantageous to fight or run. Those animals who prefer combat to diplomacy tend to value speed and stealth, thus making barbarians and rogues natural choices, yet the natural curiosity of many smaller animals may also lead them to the study of magic, from wizardry to druidism, which brings their own environments under their control. These creatures tend to be opportunistic, perpetually on the lookout for interesting magic items to help augment their natural abilities.

Aquatic Animals: Often as mysterious as the depths in which they live, ocean dwellers are predisposed to developing deep, philosophical personalities when awakened. The reflective natures of animals such as giant squid, whales, and dolphins typically manifest in one of two ways: they either find majesty in nature or adopt a religion. Once awakened, aquatic animals also tend to be the most creative and artistic group of creatures.

Of all awakened creatures, aquatic animals are the most likely to become clerics or paladins—or cult leaders, for that matter. Aquatic animals who eschew religion may instead pursue training as druids or bards, or crave the intellectual stimulation of wizardry. In battle, aquatic animals prefer to rely on the gifts their personal beliefs provide, casting divine spells or weaving intricate battle songs and spells. As a rule, aquatic animals eschew combat and fight only when necessary for survival unless an enemy threatens something the animal holds sacred. Because they so dislike combat, aquatic animals rarely alter their natural weapons.

Primates: Perhaps the most human in their perspectives, augmented primates such as monkeys, baboons, and gorillas tend to have a wide range of personalities. Most are highly social and communicative, though this does not always make them great allies as they form intense attachments, manipulate others, and vie for dominance. Perhaps reflecting their impulsive personalities, primates generally pursue whatever paths seem appropriate in any given moment, and are likely to multiclass, training as anything from barbarians, fighters, rangers, and rogues, to exotic callings such as gunslingers and even magi. Those smaller primates used to traveling quickly through trees make great burglars and sailors, while gorillas and chimpanzees make better mercenaries and berserkers, charging into foes with terrifying force. The weapons primates wield also run the gamut. A gorilla might choose an enormous club, a chimpanzee a two-handed sword that lets him take advantage of his tremendous strength, and a monkey a hand crossbow or blunderbuss.

Reptiles: From the lizard to the constrictor snake to the ankylosaurus, awakened reptiles tend to be haughty and disdainful toward others. They eschew company whenever possible, preferring instead to be alone with their increasingly complex thoughts. Although their gruff exteriors can be off-putting, once an adventurer has earned an awakened reptile’s friendship, it lasts for a lifetime.

When they are forced to pursue a discipline, smaller reptiles favor esoteric orders and studies, perhaps becoming druids, oracles, or even witches, while larger reptiles—such as dinosaurs—are often content to remain savagely effective barbarians. Poisonous creatures might become rogues, ninjas, and assassins, supplementing their own poisons with those of others. Though not necessarily evil, reptiles often retain predatory streaks that can seem cruel to others, and some crave violence and the thrill of the hunt over all. In combat, as in most things, reptiles rarely show anger or passion, instead pursuing their goals with cold, emotionless drive, their expressions nearly impossible for other creatures to read.