Source Core Rulebook pg. 51 4.0
The Tuken are small, resilient humanoids who embody cheerful resourcefulness and a deep connection to the land and its hidden pathways, traveling the galaxy as keen observers and vibrant storytellers. Originating from Plyswer, a world in the Cly System of the Outer Sphere, Tuken have always been survivors and innovators. Plyswer's unique celestial phenomenon—its star having a bright and a dim half during the planet's revolutions—creates distinct light and dark seasons. During the light season, system inhabitants tend to exemplify their best character traits; however, during the dark season, they seem to become their worst selves. This constant shift has instilled in the Tuken a profound appreciation for adaptability and the wisdom gained from navigating both literal and metaphorical darkness. Their history is one of constant adaptation, learning to thrive by understanding the subtle shifts in their environment and making the most of what little they found. This has honed their senses and instilled in them a profound appreciation for every discovery and every shared tale.
Tuken value pragmatism, community, and the wisdom gained from experience. They are natural communicators, using their warm expressions and grounded demeanor to convey both resilience and a subtle, knowing humor. They often see themselves as the galaxy's humble guides and chroniclers, believing that by observing and sharing, they contribute to a greater understanding of the cosmos's intricate and often challenging nature, including its dualistic aspects.
If you want a character who is grounded, adaptable, possess keen observational skills, and expresses themselves through practical artistry and compelling narratives of survival and discovery, you should play a Tuken.
YOU MIGHT...
Spend hours tracking subtle environmental changes or sifting through discarded technology for useful components.
Express your resilience and optimism through a cheerful demeanor, even in tough situations, understanding that darkness is temporary.
Seek out new pathways and hidden resources, believing there's always a way to thrive, even when things seem bleak.
Be a natural guide or scout, using your intimate knowledge of terrain and resourcefulness to aid others, especially during challenging times.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Underestimate your strength and resilience due to your small stature.
Are surprised by your cheerful outlook despite a seemingly hard life, especially if they know of Plyswer's dark season.
Rely on your practical skills for navigation, scavenging, or finding hidden caches.
Are intrigued by your stories, especially those detailing survival against the odds and navigating the light and dark aspects of existence.
Physical Description
Tuken are small, resilient humanoids, typically standing around 3 feet tall, with sturdy, compact builds. Their skin is a rich, cinnamon-colored hue, often with subtle variations that hint at their connection to earthy tones. Their most distinctive features are their broad, calloused feet, designed for traversing diverse terrains, often adorned with tufts of curly, light brown hair that can also appear on their forearms and the back of their necks. Their faces are expressive, characterized by bright, observant eyes and a cheerful yet subtly hardened expression that speaks of a life of travel and overcoming challenges.
Tuken wear practical, modest clothing, often made from salvaged materials or natural fibers, reflecting their resourcefulness. These garments are usually multi-layered and designed for durability and comfort during long journeys. While they may not have vibrant plumage like some avian species, their personal items and tools are often adorned with intricate, earthy carvings or small, polished stones, serving as a subtle form of artistry and a way to honor their discoveries.
Society
Tuken society is highly communal and often nomadic, structured around extended family units or "Way-Clans" that traverse the galaxy in small, self-sufficient convoys. On their homeworld of Plyswer, communities are fluid, forming temporary settlements around newly discovered resource veins or safe havens from Mana-storms, before moving on when resources dwindle. This constant movement has fostered a deep sense of interdependence and adaptability.
The light and dark seasons of Plyswer significantly influence Tuken culture. During the light season, communities flourish with open-hearted generosity, collaborative projects, and vibrant storytelling. Tuken exemplify their virtues of cheerfulness, optimism, and community spirit. However, the dark season brings out more challenging traits; while Tuken strive to maintain their core values, tensions can rise, resourcefulness can turn to desperate hoarding, and humor can become more biting. This cyclical challenge has made them exceptionally resilient and empathetic, understanding the dual nature of all beings. They have developed intricate social mechanisms and rituals to navigate the dark season, emphasizing mutual support and shared burdens to prevent their worst selves from taking over.
Tuken value practical skills, resourcefulness, and the ability to contribute to the group's survival. They are experts at scavenging, finding value in discarded materials, and navigating treacherous environments. Their keen senses make them excellent trackers and pathfinders. Storytelling is a central pillar of their culture, serving not just as entertainment but as a vital means of passing down survival knowledge, historical accounts of their journeys, and lessons learned from past challenges, including how to endure the dark seasons. These stories are often accompanied by intricate carvings on salvaged materials or by the creation of practical, yet beautiful, tools.
They respect the resilience of the Nomad-Kin, often finding common ground in their shared experiences of survival and community, though Tuken value observation and knowledge over raw survival. They are intrigued by the Ysoki's tinkering prowess, seeing it as a complementary form of resourcefulness. While cautious of the Rift's chaotic nature, Tuken are driven by curiosity to understand its patterns and find new pathways through its unpredictable currents, often observing from a safe distance.
The Riftstorm Cataclysm was a period of immense upheaval for the Tuken, forcing many of their established Way-Clans to scatter further across the galaxy in search of stable ground and new resources. They view the Cataclysm as a testament to the galaxy's inherent unpredictability, reinforcing their philosophy of constant adaptation and resilience. They observe the Automatons with a quiet fascination, seeing them as a stark example of extreme adaptation and fragmented purpose, and often seek to understand their origins through salvaged data or shared narratives.
Societies Across the Spheres
Tuken society rarely forms grand, visible structures. Instead, they thrive in tightly-knit enclaves, often integrated into or concealed within the territories of other species, primarily humans. Their decentralized nature allows them to weather galactic upheavals with surprising flexibility.
Inner Sphere (Scouts & Resource Finders):
In the Inner Sphere, Tuken often operate as independent scouts and resource finders for various factions, using their keen senses and knowledge of hidden pathways to locate valuable minerals, forgotten caches, or optimal trade routes. They are valued for their reliability and their ability to operate discreetly in complex urban or industrial environments.Outer Sphere (Wayfinders & Trade Negotiators): Tuken in the Outer Sphere are often at the forefront of establishing new trade routes between disparate systems, leveraging their adaptability and knack for finding safe passages. They act as skilled negotiators, building trust through their honest demeanor and practical approach. They might form long-term relationships with Tanyon-Unin or Nomad-Kin convoys, sharing knowledge of resources and safe travel.
Frontier (Hardened Explorers & Survival Guides):
The most resilient Tuken venture into the uncharted Frontier, drawn by the promise of untouched resources and the challenge of extreme environments. Here, they act as "Survival Guides," meticulously documenting their findings, contributing to the collective knowledge of their Way-Clans, and often developing unique, improvised technologies from salvaged Maelstrom remnants.
Beliefs
Tuken beliefs are deeply rooted in the principles of resilience, adaptation, and the interconnectedness of all things within the cosmic landscape. They do not typically worship specific deities, but rather revere the "Great Cycle of Sustenance" – the continuous process of growth, decay, and rebirth that provides resources and challenges alike. They believe that every creature and every object has a purpose, and that understanding this purpose is key to survival and harmony.
They hold a profound respect for the "Whispers of the Earth," the subtle energies and signs that guide them to resources and warn them of danger. They see the Riftstorm Cataclysm as a harsh, yet ultimately transformative, part of the Great Cycle, a reminder that even destruction can lead to new opportunities for life and adaptation. They believe that by sharing their experiences and knowledge, they help the galaxy to navigate its unpredictable nature.
Popular Edicts: Adapt to change, find value in the discarded, share resources with your kin, observe and learn from the environment, tell true stories. Popular Anathema: Waste resources, hoard knowledge, abandon your community, act with reckless disregard for your surroundings, spread false narratives.
Tuken Mechanics
Hit Points: 6
Size: Small
Speed: 25 feet
Ability Boosts: Dexterity, Wisdom, and one Free Ability Boost.
Ability Flaw: Strength.
Languages: Common, Tuken. You can learn additional languages equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access.
Keen Senses (Ground & Hidden): Your senses are sharp, allowing you to make out small details about concealed or even invisible creatures, and to notice subtle changes in the ground. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus when using the Seek action to find hidden or undetected creatures within 30 feet of you. When you target an opponent that is concealed from you or hidden from you, reduce the DC of the flat check to 3 for a concealed target or 9 for a hidden one. Additionally, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to notice traps or hidden pathways on the ground.
Traits: Humanoid, Tuken
Tuken Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following Tuken heritages.
Gutsy Tuken: You are courageous and have a knack for getting out of trouble. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against fear effects. If you succeed at a saving throw against a fear effect, you get a critical success instead.
Hillock Tuken: Your ancestors were accustomed to life in sheltered, unassuming communities. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks to Hide and Sneak while in natural, uneven, or obstructed terrain.
Nomadic Tuken: You have a natural wanderlust and adaptability, always seeking new horizons. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Survival checks when Foraging or Subsisting, and your Speed increases by 5 feet when traveling overland.
Twilight Tuken: Your ancestors performed many secret acts under the concealing cover of dusk, or adapted to the dim light of asteroid interiors. You gain low-light vision.
Well-Traveled Tuken: Your family has experienced many diverse cultures. You are trained in one Lore skill of your choice, and you become an expert in that Lore skill at 5th level.
Tuken Ancestry Feats
You can select Tuken ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Tuken Lore (General):(Tuken) You are well-versed in the history and traditions of your people. You gain training in Tuken Lore. If you were already trained in Tuken Lore, you instead become an expert.
Nimble Dodge [reaction] (Tuken): Trigger A creature targets you with a melee or ranged attack, and you can see the attacker. You nimbly dodge out of the way. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against the triggering attack.
Resourceful Scavenger (Tuken): You have a knack for finding useful items in unexpected places. Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes searching a discarded area (such as a junkyard, abandoned ship, or battlefield) to find a common item of 1st level or lower. This item cannot be a consumable.
Shared Luck (General): Your luck extends to your allies. Once per day, when an ally within 30 feet fails a saving throw, you can use your reaction to allow them to reroll the save, using your saving throw modifier instead of their own.
Sure-Footed (General): You are accustomed to navigating difficult terrain. You ignore difficult terrain caused by rubble, stairs, or uneven ground.
Unassuming Demeanor (General): You are skilled at blending into the background. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Deception checks to Impersonate or create a Diversion.
5th Level Feats
Adroit Dodger (General): Prerequisites Nimble Dodge. Your dodging becomes even more skilled. When you use Nimble Dodge, the circumstance bonus to AC increases to +3.
Always Prepared Feat 5 (Tuken): You have a knack for having just what you need. Once per day, you can produce a common item of 2nd level or lower from your belongings, as if you had purchased it. This item cannot be a consumable.
Distracting Shadows (General): You can use your small stature to your advantage, slipping between enemies. When you move through an enemy's space, that enemy is flat-footed against your next attack.
Talented Hedonist (General): Your pursuit of comfort and joy can be surprisingly effective. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to checks to Subsist and to any skill check made to gain a comfortable or luxurious lifestyle.
Underfoot (General): You are skilled at getting underfoot in a fight. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your AC when you are adjacent to a creature that is at least two sizes larger than you.
9th Level Feats
Hidden Pathway Feat 9 (Tuken): Prerequisites Keen Senses (Ground & Hidden). You have an uncanny ability to find secret routes and bypass obstacles. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to find secret doors or hidden passages, and to Survival checks to find paths through difficult terrain.
Lucky Break (General): Your luck has saved you from dire consequences more than once. Once per day, when you roll a critical failure on a saving throw, you treat it as a normal failure instead.
Resilient Optimism Feat 9 (Tuken): Your unwavering optimism provides you with significant mental fortitude. You gain resistance 5 to mental damage.
Way-Clan Lore Feat 9 (Tuken): You are an esteemed member of your Way-Clan, privy to its deepest secrets and most vital survival strategies. You become an expert in Tuken Lore. If you were already an expert, you become a master.
13th Level Feats
Incredible Luck (General): Your luck is truly extraordinary. Once per day, when you roll a natural 1 on any check, you can reroll the check. You must use the result of the second roll, even if it is worse. This is a fortune effect.
Unyielding Spirit Feat 13 (Tuken): Your spirit is indomitable. Once per day, when you are reduced to 0 Hit Points by an attack or effect, you can choose to remain conscious with 1 Hit Point instead. You are then immune to further damage from that specific attack or effect.
Whispers of Fortune Feat 13 (Tuken): You can subconsciously manipulate the subtle energies of the Rift to influence outcomes. Once per day, you can force a creature within 30 feet to reroll a single d20 roll it just made. It must use the result of the second roll. This is a fortune effect.
17th Level Feats
Cosmic Resilience Feat 17 (Tuken): Your experiences navigating the galaxy's most unpredictable regions have hardened your spirit. You gain resistance 5 to all damage from environmental hazards (such as extreme temperatures, radiation, or vacuum).
Master Wayfinder Feat 17 (Tuken): Prerequisites Hidden Pathway. Your ability to navigate and find resources is legendary. You always know your precise location and the general direction of any known landmark or resource cache within 100 miles, even without visual cues. You can also Subsist for up to 10 creatures in any environment, regardless of its severity, and can do so in half the usual time.
Here are a few adventure hooks designed to appeal to Tuken Player Characters, leveraging their unique traits, homeworld lore, and cultural values:
Adventure Hooks for Tuken Player Characters
The Shifting Path of the Whispering Stones:
Hook: A Way-Clan elder or a trusted contact approaches the Tuken PC with a dire message. A series of ancient, naturally occurring Mana-crystal formations on a newly discovered asteroid field (or a remote region of the Frontier) have begun to shift unpredictably, disrupting established trade routes and causing strange temporal echoes. These "Whispering Stones" are said to be vital to the local ecosystem and possibly hold ancient knowledge.
Tuken Appeal: This hook directly plays into the Tuken's connection to "Whispers of the Earth," their keen senses for hidden pathways, and their role as wayfinders and chroniclers. The PC would be tasked with navigating the unstable terrain, identifying the cause of the disruption (perhaps a rogue Rift-entity, a greedy corporation trying to exploit the Mana, or even a fragmented Automaton trying to "fix" the flow), and finding a way to stabilize the area, all while meticulously documenting their findings for their Way-Clan. The dual nature of the shifting stones could also resonate with Plyswer's light/dark seasons.
Salvage of the Sunken Spire:
Hook: Rumors surface of a derelict, pre-Cataclysm Vaelen starship, the Aetherial Spire, recently unearthed on a desolate, resource-rich moon in the Outer Sphere. It's rumored to contain not only valuable lost technology but also fragmented data from the Aether-Synapse. However, the moon's environment mimics Plyswer's dark season, inducing paranoia and aggressive behavior in those who stay too long.
Tuken Appeal: This hook combines the Tuken's scavenging expertise with their pragmatic understanding of dualistic environments. The PC would be invaluable for navigating the dangerous, psychologically taxing environment and identifying useful salvage. Their inherent resilience and ability to maintain their cheerful demeanor even in bleak situations would be tested. They might encounter traumatized Vaelen remnants or even newly spawned Automatons within the Spire, leading to opportunities for empathy and understanding.
The Lost Way-Clan of the Blighted Bloom:
Hook: A distress signal, faint and ancient, is picked up – it's a unique Tuken signal, one associated with a Way-Clan believed lost during the Riftstorm Cataclysm. The signal originates from deep within a heavily Maelstrom-tainted region of the Frontier, near a "Blighted Rift-Bloom" – a portal that has become unstable and dangerous. The last message speaks of a desperate attempt to "contain the darkness."
Tuken Appeal: This is a deeply personal hook. The Tuken PC would feel a strong pull to find their lost kin, driven by their sense of community and the desire to understand the Cataclysm's full impact. Their skills as hardened explorers and survival guides would be paramount. They would need to navigate the volatile Rift-zone, potentially encountering Scaleglitch creatures or Maelstrom-Scars, and discover what happened to the Way-Clan – perhaps they found a way to mitigate the Rift's influence, or perhaps they succumbed to its darker aspects, mirroring Plyswer's dark season. The PC might need to make difficult choices about preserving or ending a corrupted lineage.
The Great Exchange of Tales:
Hook: A renowned galactic archivist (perhaps a Mnemosyn or a scholarly Human) is organizing a grand "Exchange of Tales" – a gathering where various ancestries share their unique histories, survival strategies, and cultural narratives. They specifically seek a Tuken Way-Clan representative to share their experiences of adapting to Plyswer's light and dark seasons and their philosophy of finding value in discarded resources. However, a rival faction (perhaps a corporate entity seeking to exploit the Tuken's resourcefulness, or a group that believes in rigid, unchanging histories) attempts to sabotage the event or steal the Tuken's unique knowledge.
Tuken Appeal: This hook focuses on the Tuken's role as storytellers and chroniclers, their value for shared knowledge, and their pragmatic approach to diplomacy. The PC would be a central figure, representing their people and navigating social complexities. They would need to use their keen perception to uncover the saboteurs and their resourcefulness to protect their cultural heritage, potentially forming alliances with other ancestries who value open exchange.
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