The Liixak

The liixak (LEE-shauk; IPA: ˈli.ʃɔk) are known by various names in lands far from their jungle home. Typically known as cat-people or the jaguar-men, they star in tales of adventure where some unwary caravan is set upon by these savage beasts that burst from the shadows and carry off travelers to become a gruesome feast.

In truth, liixak are no more feral and cannibalistic than your average dwarf or elf. When human refugees fled from Chakha to the jungles, the liixak welcomed them, and over time they grew strong together as Aldeemah-Ruhl. Their numbers have dwindled since the Cataclysm and the Scourging of Ruhl, their ancestral capital, but a sizeable population still resides in the jungles.

Physical Description: In general, liixak are slender but muscular. They stand roughly a foot shorter than humans, but often appear even shorter due to a natural tendency to stoop. They have feline features, such as slitted eyes, catlike ears, short facial whiskers and a 2-to-5-foot tail. Their fur is soft and fine, often yellow-orange with black or brown rosettes from their head to their tail, down their back and sides. Other colorings, from red to brown to black, are not unheard-of.

Society: Historically, liixak were a hunter-gatherer society with strong democratic principles. Choice of hunting patterns and grazing lands were made by all adults, while other specific positions were "elected" for as long as needed, and such positions could always be recalled at any time. Ruhl was a yearly meeting place for trade and friendly competitions. Not everyone would show every year, but tribes would attempt to visit at least once every five years. Eventually, a year-round presence developed there and it became a labyrinth of crazy streets and crazier buildings. Aldeemah was patterned after it, but in a much more organized fashion.

Relations: Typically, liixak get along with all races. They have the least experience with dwarves, but a mutual respect exists nonetheless. They are much more likely to accept half-orcs and half-elves, as liixak see other humanoids as largely the same.

Alignment and Religion: The prototypical liixak is neutral good. Their mix of chaotic-leaning tribal and lawful-leaning democracy tend to cancel each other out. Their curious nature makes them lean good, as it's easier to sate curiosity without malice than it is with it.

Adventurers: Their hunter-gatherer background lends itself to being druids and rangers, the latter often using the Unseen Pouncer archetype. But there is also a strong tradition of wizards, barbarians and swashbucklers in their oral history that many modern liixak seek to emulate.

Names:

Male Names:

Female Names:

Liixak Racial Traits:

Ability Score Modifiers: +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom: Liixak are agile and curious, but sometimes lack common sense.
Type: Liixak are humanoid creatures with the liixak subtype. (Optional: you can give these the catfolk subtype, if you'd prefer.)
Size: Liixak are Medium creatures, and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base Speed: Liixak base speed is 30 feet.
Climber: Liixak have a Climb speed of 20 feet, and the +8 to Climb checks that comes with having a Climb speed.
Languages: Liixak begin play speaking Liixak and Common. Liixak with high Intelligence scores may choose to learn Draconic, Elven, Halfling, Sylvan, Treant and Woodsprite.
Cat's Luck: Once per day, when a liixak makes a Reflex saving throw, it can roll the saving throw twice and take the better result. It must decide to use this ability before attempting the saving throw.
Keen Senses: Liixak have a +2 racial bonus to Perception checks.
Quiet: Liixak have a +2 racial bonus to Stealth checks.
Low-Light Vision: Liixak can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
Clawed: A liixak has retractable claws in both their hands and their feet. When used as a part of an unarmed attack, these claws do 1d4 slashing damage, but otherwise behave as unarmed attacks and not like natural weapons. (For example, they provoke attacks of opportunity unless the liixak is a monk or has the Improved Unarmed Strike feat.)
Nimble Faller: Liixak land on their feet even when they take lethal damage from a fall. They also have a +1 racial bonus to their CMD vs. trip attempts.

Alternate Racial Traits:

Camouflage: Some liixak have hides that blend exceptionally well into their jungle surroundings. Their racial bonus to Stealth checks increases to +6 while they are in jungle terrain. This replaces Cat's Luck.
Natural Fighter: Some liixak are born with longer, more deadly claws. And they know how to use them. They treat their claws as primary natural weapons. This replaces Keen Senses and Quiet.
Night Eyes: Rather than being aware of their surroundings, some liixak have enhanced vision. They gain Darkvision with a range of 60ft. This replaces Low-Light Vision and Keen Senses.
Sudden Swiftness: Some liixak lack fine grace, but more than make up for it in speed. Once per hour, as a swift action, they can double their movement speed for one round. This replaces Nimble Faller and Quiet.
Twitchy Tail: Rarely, a liixak is born with a "twitchy" tail. With some practice, they can train it to be prehensile, able to carry small objects. They cannot wield weapons with their tails, but they can retrieve small, stowed objects carried on their persons as a swift action. This replaces Quiet.
Distracted Focus: Some liixak show less skill in some areas, but more in another. They can replace the Quiet trait with a +2 racial bonus to any other Dexterity- or Strength-based skill. And/or they may replace the Keen Senses trait with a +2 racial bonus to any Intelligence-, Charisma- or Wisdom-based skill.

Alternate Favored Class Bonuses:

Alchemist	Gain 1/6 of a new discovery.
Barbarian	Add 1 to the barbarian's Fast Movement bonus. In combat this has no effect unless the barbarian has selected this reward 5 times (or another increment of 5); a speed of 34 feet is effectively the same as a speed of 30 feet, for example.
Bard	Add +1/2 to the bard's bardic knowledge bonus.
Bloodrager	Add 1 to the bloodrager's Fast Movement bonus. In combat this has no effect unless the bloodrager has selected this reward 5 times (or another increment of 5); a speed of 34 feet is effectively the same as a speed of 30 feet, for example.
Cavalier	Add +1/4 to the cavalier's banner bonus.
Cleric	Select one domain power granted at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the cleric's Wisdom modifier. The cleric adds 1/2 to the number of uses per day of that domain power.
Druid	Add 1 hit point to the druid's animal companion. If the druid ever replaces their animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Fighter	Add 1 to the fighter's CMD when resisting a trip or dirty trick attempt.
Gunslinger	Add +1/3 on critical hit confirmation rolls made with firearms (maximum bonus of +5). This bonus does not stack with Critical Focus.
Hunter	Gain 1/6 of a bonus teamwork feat.
Inquisitor	Add +1/2 to the inquisitor's track bonus.
Magus	Add one of the following weapon special abilities to the list of weapon special abilities that may be added to the magus's weapon via use of the arcane pool: allying, conductive, corrosive, corrosive burst, defending, ghost touch, menacing, merciful, mighty cleaving, vicious. Once an ability has been selected with this reward, it cannot be changed.
Magus	OR: Gain 1/6 of a new magus arcana.
Monk	Add 1 to the monk's base land speed. In combat this option has no effect unless the monk has selected it five times (or another increment of five). This bonus stacks with the monk's fast movement class feature and applies under the same conditions as that feature.
Oracle	Add one spell known from the oracle spell list. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the oracle can cast.
Paladin	Add +1/2 hit point to the paladin's lay on hands ability (whether using it to heal or harm).
Ranger	Add +1/4 to a single existing favored enemy bonus (maximum bonus +1 per favored enemy).
Rogue	Add a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks to feint and Sleight of Hand checks to pickpocket.
Shaman	Add +1/6 to the shaman's class level for the purpose of determining the effects of one hex.
Shifter	Add a +1/2 bonus on wild empathy checks to influence animals and magical beasts that are feline or normally encountered in jungles.
Sorcerer	Select 1 bloodline power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the sorcerer's Charisma modifier. The sorcerer adds +1/2 to the number of uses per day of that bloodline power.
Summoner	Add 1 hit point to the summoner's eidolon.
Warpriest	Add +1/2 to the number of times per day the warpriest can use blessings, but he can use these additional blessings on only those from the Animal, Chaos, Darkness, Plant, Sun or Trickery domains.
Witch	Add one spell from the witch spell list to the witch's familiar. This spell must be at least one level lower than the highest-level spell she can cast. If the witch ever replaces her familiar, the new familiar knows these bonus spells.
Wizard	Select one arcane school power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the wizard's Intelligence modifier. The wizard adds +1/2 to the number of uses per day of that arcane school power.

Liixak Archetype: Unseen Pouncer (Ranger)

With few roads through the jungle, the Unseen Pouncer has many advantages over an invading foe.

Favored Terrain: At 1st level, the unseen pouncer has gained a keen awareness of the land itself. She gains the Favored Terrain ability and must choose a terrain. At 5th level and every five levels thereafter, she chooses a new terrain and increases one of her terrains' bonuses by +2.
- This modifies the ranger's Favored Terrain ability.
Sneak Attack: An unseen pouncer is trained to catch enemies unawares, and she is able to deal more damage when she does. At 3rd level, she gains Sneak Attack, as the rogue ability.
- The unseen pouncer's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the uneen pouncer flanks her target. This additional damage is 1d6 at 3rd level, and increases by 1d6 every three levels thereafter. Should the unseen pouncer score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this additional damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
- With a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (like a sap, whip, or unarmed strike), an unseen pouncer can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty.
- The unseen pouncer must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An unseen pouncer cannot use sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment.
- This ability replaces a ranger's Favored Enemy.
Quarry: At 11th level, an unseen pouncer can, as a standard action, denote one target within her line of sight as her quarry. Whenever she is following the tracks of her quarry, an unseen pouncer can take 10 on her Survival skill checks while moving at normal speed, without penalty. In addition, she gains a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls made against her quarry, and all critical threats against her quarry are automatically confirmed. An unseen pouncer can have no more than one quarry at a time. She can dismiss this effect at any time as a free action, but she cannot select a new quarry target for 24 hours. If the unseen pouncer sees proof that her quarry is dead, she can select a new quarry target after 1 hour.
- This modifies the ranger's Quarry ability.
Instant Quarry: At 13th level, when an unseen pouncer deals sneak attack damage to a target, she may spend an immediate action to designate that target as her Quarry, provided she can do so (hasn't selected a Quarry within 24 hours, or within 1 hour if previous Quarry died).
Improved Quarry: At 19th level, the unseen pouncer's ability to hunt her quarry improves. She can now have two quarries at the same time, and can take 20 while using Survival to track a quarry, while moving at normal speed without penalty. Her insight bonus to attack a quarry increases to +4. If a quarry is killed or dismissed, she can select a new one after 10 minutes have passed.
- This modifies the ranger's Improved Quarry ability.
Quarry Master: At 20th level, the unseen pouncer becomes a master at capturing or killing her quarry. She can always move at full speed while using Survival to follow tracks without penalty. As a standard action, she can make a single attack against one of her quarries at her full attack bonus, choosing one of the following effects: kill, knock unconscious for 1d4 hours, or paralyze for 2d6 rounds. If the attack succeeds, the target takes damage normally and must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or suffer the additional effect. The DC for this save is 10 + 1/2 the unseen pouncer's level + the unseen pouncer's Wisdom modifier. Whether or not the target succeeds, it cannot be targeted by this ability again (by any unseen pouncer) for 24 hours.

[ Display entire Unseen Pouncer progression table ]

Level	Abilities	Sneak Attack damage
1st	1st favored terrain, track, wild empathy	—
2nd	Combat style feat	—
3rd	Sneak attack, Endurance	1d6
4th	Hunter's bond	1d6
5th	2nd favored terrain	1d6
6th	Sneak attack improves, combat style feat	2d6
7th	Woodland stride	2d6
8th	Swift tracker	2d6
9th	Sneak attack improves, evasion	3d6
10th	3rd favored terrain, combat style feat	3d6
11th	Quarry	3d6
12th	Sneak attack improves, camoflage	4d6
13th	Instant quarry	4d6
14th	Combat style feat	4d6
15th	Sneak attack improves, 4th favored terrain	5d6
16th	Improved evasion	5d6
17th	Hide in plain sight	5d6
18th	Sneak attack improves, combat style feat	6d6
19th	Improved quarry	6d6
20th	5th favored terrain, quarry master	6d6

Liixak Archetype: Spirited Claw (Swashbuckler)

The Spirited Claw embodies the passion, daring and panache of the liixak swashbucklers of legend.

Spirited Claws: A spirited claw can treat his claws as a one-handed piercing melee weapon for the purposes of the swashbuckler's finesse and all feats and class abilities that refer to such a weapon. He must not be carrying a weapon or shield in his off hand to gain this benefit.
- This ability alters swashbuckler finesse.
Expert Claws: At 4th level, a spirited claw can use his Dexterity modifier instead of his Strength modifier on melee damage rolls when using his swashbuckler finesse. This replaces the bonus feat a swashbuckler gains at 4th level.
Deeds: A spirited claw gains the following deeds:
- Magic Claws: At 3rd level, while he has at least 1 panache point, a spirited claw's claws are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistance. At 7th level, his claws count as silver and cold iron. At 19th level, the claws count as adamantine for overcoming damage reduction and hardness.
  - This replaces the menacing swordplay, bleeding wound and stunning stab deeds, and pushes the swashbuckler's grace deed to 11th level.
- Whirlwind of Claws: At 7th level, a spirited claw can sweep through his enemies in a whirlwind of claws. As a full-round action, he can spend 1 panache point to move up to his speed. He can make attacks against creatures within his reach during this movement, up to the number of attacks he's entitled to with a full attack. Each attack is made at his highest attack bonus, and must target a different creature. This movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal.
  - This deed replaces the superior feint and targeted strike deeds.

[ Display entire Spirited Claw progression table ]

Level	Abilities	Deeds
1st	Panache, swashbuckler finesse	Derring-do, dodging panache, opportune parry and riposte
2nd	Charmed life 3/day	—
3rd	Nimble +1	Kip up, magic claws, precise strike, swashbuckler initiative
4th	Expert Claws	—
5th	Swashbuckler weapon training +1	—
6th	Charmed life 4/day	—
7th	Nimble +2	Magic claws (silver/cold iron), whirlwind of claws
8th	Bonus feat	—
9th	Swashbuckler weapon training +2	—
10th	Charmed life 5/day	—
11th	Nimble +3	Evasive, subtle blade, swashbuckler's grace
12th	Bonus feat	—
13th	Swashbuckler weapon training +3	—
14th	Charmed life 6/day	—
15th	Nimble +4	Dizzying defense, swashbuckler's edge
16th	Bonus feat	—
17th	Swashbuckler weapon training +4	—
18th	Charmed life 7/day	—
19th	Nimble +5	Cheat death, deadly stab, magic claws (adamantine)
20th	Bonus feat, swashbuckler weapon mastery	—

Random Starting Ages
Adulthood	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
16 years	+1d6	+1d8	+2d8

Aging Effects
Middle Age¹	Old²	Venerable³	Maximum Age
40 years	60 years	80 years	+2d20 years
1. At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. 2. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. 3. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Random Height and Weight
Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	4ft 10in	+2d8in	120 lbs	×6 lbs
Female	4ft 5in	+2d8in	85 lbs	×6 lbs

Liixak Race Traits

Unshaken

You have seen things that cannot be unseen, but it has strengthened your mind.

You gain +1 trait bonus to Will saves.

Aid Focus

When you put your mind to it, you can be pretty helpful!

Three times a day, you can focus your attention on an Aid Another action. If you successfully perform it, you grant a +4 bonus instead of the normal +2. If you fail, you still grant a +1 bonus. But if your failure was on a natural 1, it causes you to give a -2 penalty instead.

Improved Focus

You have put even more focus into a focused skill.

You gain a +1 trait bonus to a skill of your choice. You cannot take this trait if you do not have the Keen Senses, Quiet, or Distracted Focus racial trait(s), and the skill chosen must be one improved by the racial trait(s) you have. In addition, the skill you choose is always considered a class skill for you.

Deft Claw

You are trained in disarming opponents with false claws.

You are proficient with the tekko-kagi, and you gain a +1 trait bonus when using it to perform a disarm or sunder combat maneuver.

THE LIIXAK