Pterrans of the Hinterlands

As I said before, I never played Dark Sun before the 4^th edition of Dungeons and Dragons. I just knew about the campaign settings through pictures and few friends that actually played it. But since I read the Dark Sun Campaign Setting book for D&D 4^th I became fascinated with the setting. I read both the original campaign setting and the expanded one. I also read a couple of supplements, and I am planning on reading all of them as soon as I can.

One of the things that I missed about the newest edition of the Dark Sun setting was a particular character race which has a strong connection with the setting in my opinion. The pterrans are a race of spiritual people with strong ties to the spirits of Athas. They are reptilian humanoids that revere the Earth Mother and follow paths to protect the world and the living creatures. Just recently they have made contact with the people from the Tyr Region, and they believe they will have an important role in future events regarding the destiny of Athas.

The following adaptation was made based in diverse sources including official and unofficial materials about the Pterrans. Feel free to give any suggestions and ideas to make this adaptation better. You can download a PDF version at the end of the post.

Pterrans

Native to the Hinterlands, these reptilian humanoids have strong ties with the spirits of Athas.

Racial Traits

Average Height: 5’ – 6’ 6’’

Average Weight: 180 – 220 lb

Ability Scores: +2 Wisdom; +2 Strength or Intelligence

Size: Medium

Speed: 6 Squares

Vision: Normal

Languages: Pterran, Common

Skill Bonuses: +2 Nature, +2 Endurance

Tail Balance: Whenever an attack would knock you prone, you can make a saving throw to avoid falling prone.
Psychic Mind: You gain +1 Racial bonus to your Will defense.

Life Path: You gain training in one additional skill from your class skills list.

Gift of the Earthmother: You gain the Gift of the Earth Mother power.

Gift of the Earth Mother                              Pterran Racial Power

You call for the Earthmother to give you strength when most needed.

Encounter ● Healing Immediate Reaction                            Personal Trigger: You are hit by an attack.

Effect: You regain a number of hit points equal to 5 + one-half your level and can make a saving throw against one affect that a save can end.

Reptilian humanoids native to the Hinterlands, east of the Ringing Mountains, the Pterrans are a rare view in the Tablelands. However, recent premonitions by the Shamans of their tribes have instigated them to venture to the lands beyond the Forest Ridge. Pterrans have a strong tie with the primal spirits of Athas, and revere an entity they call Earth Mother. Each Pterran must chose a Life Path once they reach adulthood, being the three major ones the Path of the Warrior, the Path of the Druid and the Path of the Psionicist.

Play a Pterran if you want…

● to play a tribal, spiritual and brave character with strong ties with the life of Athas;

● to be a hero that has a part in a prophecy of your people;

● to be a member of a race that favors the shaman, druid, barbarian, ardent and warden classes.

Physical Qualities

Pterrans are reptilian humanoids a little taller than humans. They have scaly skins similar do alligators and the color of their scales range from dark yellow to black, passing through various tones of brown, their scales often form patterns which usually distinguish them between families. They have a muscular build compared to humans as well. Their two arms end in three-fingered, talon-clawed hands with opposable thumbs and are slightly longer than human arms. The legs of the pterrans are slightly smaller than would one would expect and end in three-toed feet. They also have two shoulder stumps, remnants of wings they possessed long ago, and a finlike growth juts out at the back of their heads. Their snouts are beaklike and long, giving them a resemblance of birdlike creatures.

Tribal life has made them used to wear clothing made from leather of their prey and decorative bone pieces, like necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings. They are very connected to the reverence of primal spirits, and often carry totems and paint themselves ritualistic.

Pterrans don’t live quite as much as humans do. They mature quickly, reaching adulthood at about 16 years, and rarely live past the age of 60.

Playing a Pterran

Pterrans are a race of spiritualized and brave individuals. They worship the Earth Mother, a representation of the spirit of Athas itself. Their devotion is rooted deeply in their culture and social life. The life of a pterran is marked by a series of rituals and ceremonies related to their devotion.

At the age of 16 every pterran chooses a life path. The three main life paths are the Path of the Warrior, the Path of the Druid and the Path of the Psionicist, though lesser life paths exist as well.

The path with most followers is the Path of the Warrior. Pterrans of that path become de the tribe protectors, generals of war and weapon makers. Pterrans that choose the Path of the Druid play an important role in their society. These individuals entertain the worship of the Earth Mother and instill in their people the customs of daily celebrations to the Earth. They are also the most revered of pterran people and are looked as holy men and women. The Path of the Psionicist is the major path that has fewer candidates each generation, although recently their numbers are growing. Most Psionicists are bureaucrats, scholars and diplomats. Many are interested in studying languages and history, and a small number seek knowledge through experience, going in adventures to learn about the creations of the Earth Mother.

Pterrans are new to the life of the people in the Tyr Region. They are not accustomed to the culture and life-style of the region, but they are open-minded and do not judge people too quickly. They remain subdued and guarded around people they do not trust. Among other pterrans and trusted friends, though, most pterrans are open and caring. Their respect for the spirits of Athas is deep and creatures that openly destroy the land and show disrespect to other living beings are seen with suspicion.  Because of that, arcanists that use the life force as a source of power conflicts with their beliefs. Pterrans will cautiously tolerate preserving magic, if the difference is explained to them.

Pterrans are usually optimistic and celebrate the gifts the Earth Mother has given them (life, family, friends, food, water). They always can find something to be grateful for, and never forget to thank the Earth Mother for that every day.

Pterran Characteristics: Tribal, spiritualistic, optimistic, good humored, brave, mystical, insightful, accepting, curious, driven

Names: Pterrans usually have three part names. Their first name comes from their families. The second name is a personal descriptive term rather than an abstract word. Their last name is chosen when they chose their life path, representing the journey they will have ahead. Few Athasians understand this, however, and call their pterran companions by their family names.

Family Names: Ptellac, Aandu, Caril, Dsar, Everin, Illik, Myril, Odten, Qwes, Pex, Ristu, Ssuri, Tilla, Xandu

Personal Names: Airson, Darksun, Suntail, Goldeye, Coldeye, Onesight, Terrorclaw, Greenscale, Spiritally, Lifehearth

Life Path Names: The Warrior, The Druid, The Psionicist, The Brave, The Wise, The Mystic, The Spear, The Staff, The Sage

Pterran Backgrounds:

Here are background elements for pterrans.

Prophesized Champion: The druids of your tribe saw you in their visions and said that you will have an important role in the events that will happen in the Tyr Region. Although not sure what the future holds to you, you decided to meet you destiny headlong and ventured to the tablelands, farther than anyone in your tribe has ever gone. Will the visions of the elders in your tribe come true, or are they just wild dreams?

Earth Mother Missionary: You come from a family of druids and shamans. You forebears have served the Earth Mother and now you serve her too. You have heard of other children that do not know of their mother and seek to aid them in the path of discovery. You do not force them to believe in your faith, but you try to show them that the Earth Mother is kind and caring to the children that respect the life of Athas. Will you be able to show the people of the Tablelands the wisdom and love they are entitled to if they embrace your beliefs, or will you lose your faith when you see the atrocities of the City-States?

Curious Sage: You studied and learned all you could about life and the creatures around you, but there was little to learn about the world beyond the Ringing Mountains. You decided that there would be you who would gather such knowledge to pass to future generations of pterrans. You will explore new places, meet other children of the Earth Mother and learn with them. Will you find the knowledge you are looking for or will the curiosity be your doom?


Pterrans - Dark Sun Race Adaptation