Goushen

This hardy warrior race descends from the tian gou, the foo dog spirits. When they were given mortal form, they put the weapons and tools of mankind to good use fighting a great evil. Today, they are fiercely dedicated to the continued protection of their lands.

Goushen split into two camps: one continues to cling to the past and rely upon their ancestral orders, the other one tries to forge an evolving cultural and racial identity without the interference of other races, such as the dahren. Neither faction makes friends of the other races easily. All goushen prefer the company of their own kind. They get along with the dahren. They can be arrogant, or can put on a rare show of kindness and hospitality towards others races that they come to rely upon and know well.

There are two subspecies of the goushen: those of the empire and another race in the lands of Mandrasengal. The latter developed differently from their goushen counterparts. They call themselves fukushen. Fukushen believe that the mandragorans uplifted them to their present state and accord them a great deal of respect.

Personality

Goushen believe themselves superior to other races and often act in such a manner. They value their reputations, quickly taking insult to prove that they are not weak and to save face in public. All goushen boast of their combat and hunting prowess, even if not in such a profession. They are overly courteous to the dahren. They can show a dark, bestial side, but try to never do so outside of battle.

Physical Description

The fukushen appear as depicted in Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved; however, the goushen have a different appearance. The goushen are humanoids covered in a short coat of fur that ranges in color from red to brown and grey to black. They have large and pointed ears, and somewhat barrel-chested. They have a pronounced snout with a flat nose. Manes of slightly darker hair surround the heads of males and females alike. However, fukushen are leaner than their imperial counterparts, and have long, narrow snouts.

Relations

Goushen and fukushen look upon other races with suspicion and arrogance. The fukushen hold a special reverence for the mandragorans just as the goushen do the dahren.

Outlook

Goushen believe in order. They follow distinct regimens within their own lives. They usually live in a strict hierarchy with clearly deined leaders. Military life suits them well.

Goushen Lands

When the goushen first came, they had no home of their own. They prefer to live in communities, and adapt well to urban life. They are seldom found in the countryside.

Religion

Fukushen follow the major faiths of their region. Their religious ceremonies are showier than the services of others practicing the same faith. Dream superstitions are often present in their worship.

Languages

Goushen are familiar with the languages of the empire, particularly dahren and Common (Yuxian). Fukushen speak Mandrasengali.

Names

Goushen names are much as described in the original fukushen entry, but the names themselves are spoken in the tongues of the lands they inhabit. Examples follow:

Male Names

An Chywan the Deadly, Guo Fei the Dedicated, Kan Sung of the Flaming Fist, Hang Tou of the Red Tooth, or Wang Zhin the Sharp.

Female Names

Ai Zhyun the Wanderer, Da Ting of the Silken Path, Syung Hwa the Tracker, Tan Pei the Dreamwatcher, or Yu Ming the Wise.

Adventurers

Many goushen seek the life of an adventurer. Such a lifestyle affords them the opportunity to increase their wealth and station.

Favored Drink: Ales; Favored Food: Meat; Favored Weapon: Swords (dao for goushen; khopeshes for fukushen).


Goushen Racial Traits

Goushen possess the following racial traits.

  • +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence: Goushen are both tough and wise, but not too bright.
  • Humanoid: Goushen have the humanoid (Goushen) type and subtype.
  • Medium: Goushen are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Normal Speed: Goushen have a base speed of 30 feet
  • Low-light Vision: A goushen can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination, retaining the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
  • Feral Instinct: Goushen receive a +2 racial bonus on Survival skill checks.
  • Keen Scent: Goushen can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. A goshen begins play with the scent special ability (see Pathinder® Roleplaying Game Bestiary™).
  • Languages: Goushen begin play speaking Common and dahren. Fukushen begin play speaking Mandrasengali. Goushen of either variety with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
  • Racial Levels: A goushen can take levels in goushen paragon to further develop his racial qualities.

The Goushen Paragon

Goushen can take up to six levels in goushen paragon at any time. Not all goushen take racial levels; and of those who do, not all take all six of them.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Skills: The goushen paragon’s class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

Skill Points: 2 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Features

Table: The Goushen Paragon
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Natural Armor Bonus
1 +0 +2 +2 +0 Bite, Weapon Focus (bite) +0
2 +1 +3 +3 +0 Grab, +1 Strength +0
3 +2 +3 +3 +1 Savage Grapple, +1 Constitution +1
4 +3 +4 +4 +1 Weapon Specialization (bite) +1
5 +3 +4 +4 +1 Improved Savage Grapple, +1 Strength +2
6 +4 +5 +5 +2 Improved Critical (bite), Savage Grapple Mastery, +1 Constitution +2

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Goushen with levels only in goushen paragon are proficient with all simple weapons, light armor, and shields (but not tower shields).

Bite (Ex)

At 1st level, the goushen paragon gains a bite attack. This attack is considered a primary attack (unless he is also attacking with weapons, in which case it is a secondary attack) and is made at the goushen paragon’s full base attack bonus (-5 if it is a secondary attack). The bite attack deals 1d6 points of slashing or piercing damage plus the goushen paragon’s Strength modifier (1/2 if is a secondary attack).

Weapon Focus (bite) (Ex)

At 1st level, the goushen paragon gains Weapon Focus (bite) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Grab (Ex)

At 2nd level, the goushen paragon gains the grab special attack. If the goushen paragon hits with a bite attack, he deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. This only works against opponents at least one size category smaller than the goushen paragon (until he gains Savage Grapple Mastery at 6th level). The goushen paragon has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its mouth to hold his opponent. If he chooses to do the latter, the goushen paragon takes a -20 penalty on his CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition himself.

Because of the grab special attack the goushen paragon receives a +4 bonus on combat maneuver check made to start and maintain a grapple.

Natural Armor Bonus (Ex)

At 3rd level, the goushen paragon gains a +1 natural armor bonus. At 5th level, this bonus increases by +1.

Savage Grapple (Ex)

At 3rd level, the goushen paragon takes only half the normal penalties to Dexterity, attack rolls, and combat maneuver checks when he has the grappled condition. He can make an attack of opportunity against creatures trying to grapple him even if they possess the Improved Grapple feat or the grab special attack. If he hits with this attack of opportunity, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus to his CMD against the grapple attempt. He cannot make these attacks of opportunity once a grapple has succeeded.

Weapon Specialization (bite) (Ex)

At 4th level, the goushen paragon gains Weapon Specialization (bite) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Improved Savage Grapple (Ex)

At 5th level, the goushen paragon takes no penalties to Dexterity, attack rolls, and combat maneuver checks when he has the grappled condition. He also is treated as one size larger than his actual size when determining whether he can be grappled using the grab special attack or swallowed by another creature.

Improved Critical (bite) (Ex)

At 6th level, the goushen paragon gains Improved Critical (bite) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Savage Grapple Mastery (Ex)

At 6th level, the goushen paragon treats his goushen paragon level as his base attack bonus (plus the BAB from his other classes) when determining his CMB. He also is treated as one size larger than his actual size when determining what creatures he can grapple with the grab special attack.

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