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The hushen were once ruishishen. When the ruishishen could not return to the spirit lands, they turned their back on their heavenly duties. But not all ruishishen felt this way. Those who did not began to search for another way to return to the spirit lands or to keep on the mission to protect the mortal realm. The largest tribe who felt this way was the Hushen. Other ruishishen who felt the same joined the Hushen.
A special naming ceremony affirmed their mandate that they would hunt infernals and rogue spirits. All ruishishen who participated were given the name “Hushen”. The ceremony transformed every participant into the new hushen race. Their tiger-like appearance they took as a sign of the favor of the heavens. After the ceremony, the Hushen separated. Some joined the empire, while others went north and south.
Those that went north never found what they were looking for, but stayed to protect those lands. Those that went south found a war brewing between the never-human naga and the garuda. The lands of the mortal realm were being defiled. The garuda attempted to destroy the never-human naga faction in the area and their tainted ruins and artifacts. They only grudgingly accepted the hushen as allies.
The two races together built a glorious city from which to combat the naga. Exposure to tainted artifacts corrupted a large number of the hushen over time. These tainted hushen escaped, and became known as the Rakasha, the “Corrupted Ones”. These rakasha gained great powers.
The remaining hushen performed a great ceremony to slow the corruption overtaking their people. Their leader gave his life gladly to keep his people from this corruption. To this day, the hushen still fight the naga and the Rakasha in a losing war. Their great city, now nameless, long ago fell into obscurity in the depths of the jungle.
Personality
The hushen are proud and aggressive. They would rather act than ponder a problem and they would rather fight than argue. When a hushen’s temper gets the better of him or he smells blood he ind himself in the throes of the blood frenzy. A hushen may come out of the blood frenzy to find he has wounded or killed a friend or family member.
They are short-tempered, but boisterous, liking a good fight, or a good party. They love the simple pleasures such as feasting, drinking, wrestling, good and truthful stories, sleeping under the stars, and finding a spouse. They can have a quiet and deep appreciation for art, poetry, and song. They just leave those things to others and do what they do best. After all, they believe in being true to one’s self.
Physical Description
Hushen stand between 6 and 7 feet tall and weigh between 180 and 250 pounds. They are covered in short brownish-orange or brownish-red fur with clearly feline face: a lat, pronounced snout, catlike nose, narrow, slitted pupils, and prominent teeth. They have a musky scent similar to their ruishishen cousins. They see scars as markings to take pride in. Hushen will delightedly share every part of the story behind anyone of their scars. Scars can become marks of shame: when a hushen finds himself exiled his tribe shows him why.
They have a lifespan similar to that of humans, though they mature at a faster rate.
Relations
Hushen have little prolonged contact with non-hushen as they keep themselves busy on their hunts. Many races try not to have much to do with the intimidating hushen, seeing them as a menace that one hopes will move along on its own without having to be prodded. Their service as demon and monster hunters is appreciated, but most prefer they leave as soon as the job is done. The hushen realize this. It rarely bothers them. They are predators and most others resemble prey.
Hushen find the company of mandragorans and the verrik to be comfortable. Though they have little in common with these more patient races, they each can have strength that the other lacks. Humans are interesting, if fickle. Dahren are seen as an enigma: they pay well enough when they are on your side; just watch out when they are not. Faen are amusing, but too troublesome. The untrustworthy bakemono are should probably be hunted to extinction. Sanesaram are a stubborn lot, but they were the first to acknowledge and appreciate the hushen contributions.
The qahngol are a proud people, but anyone that ekes out a living too long in inhospitable terrain just can’t be right in the head. Goushen are too blindly loyal to trust easily. Yueren and shenxue are even more of a mystery than the dahren. Naga and garuda don’t recognize the good they could do together if they would only cooperate, but the hushen understand why the garuda, won’t trust the snakes.
Outlook
The hushen were the first to hunt demons. The hushen continued to hunt malevolent ghosts, fight devils, trick infernals, and wrestle demons. They are very proud of this heritage. They won’t let anyone forget it, either.
Hushen Lands
The semi nomadic hushen can be found in many areas. They settle in areas infested with infernals and monsters to destroy these creatures. Once done, the hushen pick up and move on. Where there is a hopelessly strong and powerful taint, the hushen may make more permanent settlements, knowing that their duty keeps them there well beyond their lifespan.
Religion
Many practice religion or follow a personal philosophy. They take much from the lessons imparted by the introspective faiths, but the hushen do not call themselves true followers. Overall, hushen don’t allow matters of religion to sway them away from their duty.
Languages
Hushen from the north speak Northern Hushen, a dialect of the rashida language with terms and concepts from the qahngol and sanesaram, It has many exacting names for different things. The Southern Hushen dialect has strong mandragoran and garudan influences. Hushen of other nations speak that nation's language. All hushen use a simple, one-handed sign language that is often taught to demon hunters.
Names
Except the Radakesh and the Rakasha, all hushen consider their race the same as their tribe. The only difference between tribe and family is how a hushen addresses immediate family, such as parents, siblings, and grandparents. All other hushen are cousins. When it comes to personal names, the hushen are the same as the ruishishen.
Male Names
Chronosht, Hrasharn, Hrolfeng, Krinshar, Weiramon.
Female Names
Colavaer, Hrellet, Kivestra, Sorrel.
Adventurers
Hushen take up violent careers to put their great strength to good use. Hushen adventure for the love of the hunt and to destroy the monsters plaguing the world, they also adventure for power, so they can ind and kill even stronger prey.
Favored Drink: Water or strong spirits and ale; Favored Food: Meat; Favored Weapon: Swords and axes.
Hushen Racial Traits
Hushen possess the following racial traits.
- +2 Strength, +2 Charisma, -2 Intelligence: Hushen are stronger than their ruishishen cousins and have a predisposition to innate magic, but rather unimaginative in their approach to solving problems.
- Humanoid: Hushen have the humanoid (ruishishen) type and subtype.
- Medium: Hushen are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Normal Speed: Hushen have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Low-Light Vision: Hushen can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
- Intimidating: Hushen receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate skill checks.
- Keen Senses: Hushen receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.
- Natural Hunter: Hushen receive a +2 racial bonus on Stealth and Survival skill checks.
- Blood Frenzy: Hushen have difficulty disengaging from combat when blood is spilled. They find it difficult to retreat from battle. When engaged in deadly combat, the hushen must make a Will save (DC 15) to disengage and stop fighting. Else he continues to fight. He may attempt to save each round. The hushen does not become reckless, but continues to fight as he normally does, channeling his rage. If there are no more enemies present, the hushen must engage allies if he does not make his save; though he may choose to inflict nonlethal damage instead of lethal.
- Languages: Rushen begin play speaking Common, simple sign, and one other: Rashida, Northern Hushen or Southern Hushen. Hushen with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
- Racial Levels: A hushen can take levels in hushen paragon to further develop his racial qualities.
The Hushen Paragon
Hushen can take up to six levels in hushen paragon at any time. Not all hushen take racial levels; and of those who do, not all take all six of them.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: The hushen paragon’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Stealth (Dex), and Survival (Wis).
Skill Points: 2 + Intelligence modifier.
Class Features
Table: The Hushen Paragon| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Natural Armor Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +0 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Silent Hunter, +1 Strength | +1 |
| 2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | +0 | +1 Dexterity, Scent | +1 |
| 3 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Bite, Claws | +1 |
| 4 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 Srength, +1 Dexterity | +2 |
| 5 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Grab, Rake | +2 |
| 6 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +2 | +2 Constitution, Pounce | +2 |
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Hushen with levels only in hushen paragon are proficient with all simple weapons, light armor, and shields (but not tower shields).
Natural Armor Bonus (Ex)
At 1st level, the hushen paragon gains a +1 natural armor bonus. At 4th level, this bonus increases by +1.
Silent Hunter (Ex)
At 1st level, a hushen paragon reduces the penalty for using Stealth while moving by 5 and can make Stealth checks while running at a -20 penalty (this number includes the penalty reduction from this ability).
Scent (Ex)
At 2nd level, a hushen paragon gains the scent special ability (see Pathinder® Roleplaying Game Bestiary™).
Bite (Ex)
At 3rd level, a hushen paragon gains a bite attack. This attack is considered a primary attack (unless he is also attacking with claws or weapons, in which case it is a secondary attack) and is made at the hushen 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 hushen paragon’s Strength modifier (1/2 if is a secondary attack).
Claws (Ex)
At 3rd level, a hushen paragon gains two claw attacks. These claw attacks are considered primary attacks (unless he is also attacking with weapons, in which case they are secondary attacks) and are made at the hushen paragon’s full base attack bonus (-5 if they are secondary attacks). The claw attacks deal 1d8 points of slashing damage plus the hushen paragon’s Strength modifier (1/2 if they are secondary attacks).
Grab (Ex)
At 5th level, the hushen paragon gains the grab special attack. If the hushen paragon hits with a claw 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 hushen paragon. The hushen paragon has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use his claws to hold his opponent. If he chooses to do the latter, the hushen 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 hushen paragon receives a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
Rake (Ex)
At 5th level, the hushen paragon gains the rake special attack. In addition to the options available to all grapplers, a hushen paragon gains two free claw attacks that he can use only against a grappled foe. These claw attacks are made at the full base attack bonus and deal 1d8 points of slashing damage plus the hushen paragon’s Strength modifier).
Pounce (Ex)
At 6th level, the hushen paragon gains the pounce special attack. If the hushen paragon charges an opponent, he can make a full attack (including two rake attacks as long as he is not attacking with a weapon, is not wearing any footwear, or has one hand free).