Geodan Ancestry: The Enduring Architects of the Starfall Galaxy

 Adapted from Dwarf- MTG Wiki, Dwarf - Pathfinder Wiki and Dwarf Ancestry- Archives of Nethys

The Geodans, known to other species as Dwarves, are a resolute and enduring people whose history is forged in the very bedrock of the Starfall Galaxy. They ascended from the Inner Sphere long before the cataclysmic Rift-Storm tore through the cosmos, establishing themselves as consummate builders and relentless explorers. Their civilization is founded upon the unbreakable principles of industry, craftsmanship, and territorial expansion. They are driven by a deep-seated desire to master their environment and carve enduring legacies into the void.

Core Identity: Builders, Miners, and Industrial Architects

Geodans are defined by their unyielding will and their innate talent for construction, engineering, and resource extraction. They view the galaxy not as a hostile void, but as a vast quarry of raw materials and untapped potential, waiting to be shaped by their prodigious skill. Every rock face holds a secret, every gas giant a resource, and every derelict a salvage opportunity. Their ambition drives them to excavate, forge, and construct monuments to their industrious spirit, from subterranean city-fortresses to colossal orbital shipyards. The concept of the Dei pack and the Yom resonates with them as a tangible measure of raw material and labor, a fundamental unit of their meticulous economic calculations.

Societies Across the Spheres

Geodan society is fundamentally organized into powerful Industrial Guilds. These guilds are not merely trade associations; they are the bedrock of Geodan civilization, coordinating every aspect of their existence – from government and military to economic production for entire star systems. A single Grand Guild might oversee an entire Cluster, its directives shaping the lives of billions.

• Inner Sphere: Within the Inner Sphere, Geodan guilds hold immense sway over mining operations, deep-space construction, and heavy manufacturing. Their presence is often unseen, buried deep within planetary crusts or at the heart of asteroid belts, where their massive industrial complexes churn out the raw materials and infrastructure that underpin the Inner Sphere's ecumenopolises. While pragmatic, their traditional adherence to guild law can sometimes clash with the flexible (and often corrupt) policies of the Commission. Their initial expansion involved meticulously mapping and exploiting valuable resource worlds, establishing vast mining networks.

• Outer Sphere: In the fragmented and often chaotic Outer Sphere, Geodan settlements are fortresses of industry. Geodan Guilds have sent out countless expeditionary forces into this region, many of whom never returned, swallowed by the void's dangers. Those that endure are often isolated, self-sufficient strongholds, fiercely defending their mining claims or forge-worlds from rival factions. They are less concerned with broad political alliances and more with securing vital resources and expanding their industrial might, often engaging in fierce, protracted Resource Wars.

• The Frontier: The most audacious Geodan explorers and wildcat miners venture into the uncharted Frontier. These are the true pioneers, establishing solitary outposts in dangerous new systems, seeking veins of rare minerals, or remnants of ancient technology hidden in uncharted space. Life here is brutal, demanding constant innovation and unwavering resilience against the unknown.

Connection to the Rift and Technology

Geodans are not typically arcane users, but their mastery of engineering and their inherent connection to the geological currents of worlds make them uniquely attuned to the physical manifestations of the Rift. They understand the structural integrity of reality and the weak points where the Rift bleeds through. Their Rift-Drives are robust and meticulously maintained, designed for deep penetration and reliable extraction, even if they lack the finesse of a Vaelen Rift-Navigator. They are less concerned with the psychic nuances of Mana and more with harnessing its raw, physical power for their industrial processes or for reinforcing their formidable defenses.

The Rift-Storm Cataclysm was a stark reminder of the universe's unpredictable forces. While it devastated many of their surface installations, the inherent resilience of their subterranean fortresses and deep-space foundries allowed many Geodan strongholds to weather the storm, emerging scarred but unbroken. This event only reinforced their belief in self-reliance and the enduring strength of crafted structures.

Unique Geodan Traits

Geodan culture is characterized by unwavering loyalty to their guild, meticulous record-keeping, and a profound respect for expertise and earned seniority. They are pragmatic, stern, and value deeds over words. Their Guilds function as governments, militaries, and economic engines, ensuring that every Geodan contributes to the collective prosperity and defense. While seemingly insular, they are capable of forging formidable, if often temporary, alliances when their industrial interests align. The stories of Geodan resilience, their vast subterranean cities, and their relentless drive to build and explore are deeply etched into the legends of the Starfall Galaxy, a testament to a species that finds its freedom and purpose in the enduring strength of their creations.

Geodan Mechanics

Humanoid

Dwarf

Source Core Rulebook pg. 35 4.0

• Hit Points: 10

• Size: Medium

• Speed: 20 feet

• Ability Boosts: Constitution, Wisdom, and one Free Ability Boost.

• Ability Flaw: Charisma.

• Languages: Common, Geodan 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 (such as the languages prevalent in your region).

Geodan Heritages

At 1st level, choose one of the following Geodan heritages.

• Deep Geodan: You are accustomed to the deep places of space and rock. You gain darkvision.

• Forgeborn Geodan: Your lineage is tied to the great foundries and their intense heat. You gain resistance 1 to fire.

• Stonelore Geodan: You have an intuitive understanding of stone and metal structures. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to identify items made of stone or metal, or to Recall Knowledge about geological features or subterranean architecture.

• Surface Geodan: Your ancestors adapted to life outside deep caverns, under the open void or on rugged planetary surfaces. You gain a +5-foot status bonus to your Speed, but you do not gain darkvision from your Geodan ancestry.

• Trade Guilder Geodan: Your heritage is steeped in mercantile traditions and the flow of resources. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks when bartering or negotiating trade agreements.

Geodan Ancestry Feats

You can select Geodan ancestry feats from the following options.

• 1st Level Feats

  • Hefty Hauler (General): You can carry more. Increase your Bulk limit by 2.

  • Rock Solid (General): Your sturdy build makes you difficult to move. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your Fortitude saves against being Shoved or Tripped.

  • Stone Sense (General): You are accustomed to the vibrations through rock. You gain imprecise tremorsense out to 10 feet while you are touching stone or metal.

  • Tinker's Eye (General): You have a knack for intricate devices. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to Repair items.

• 5th Level Feats

  • Defensive Stance (General): When you use the Guard action, your circumstance bonus to AC increases to +3 against one chosen foe.

  • Guild Architect (General): Your understanding of structures is profound. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to identify structural weaknesses or to Recall Knowledge about complex engineering.

  • Resourceful Prospector (General): You have an uncanny ability to find valuable materials. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Survival checks to Forage or Society checks to Seek out rare goods.

• 9th Level Feats

  • Ancient Engineering (General): You can discern the workings of ancient, even alien, technology. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Recall Knowledge checks about ancient technological artifacts or forgotten engineering principles.

  • Unwavering Loyalty (General): Your conviction is unbreakable. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Will saves against effects that would force you to betray your allies or your guild.

• 13th Level Feats

  • Master Builder (General): Your construction skills are legendary. When you Craft or Repair an item, you can do so in half the usual time.

  • Temporal Resonance Adaptation (General): You have learned to attune yourself to temporal distortions. You gain a +1 status bonus to saves against time dilation effects caused by the Rift or unstable Metronomes.

• 17th Level Feats

  • Indomitable Stronghold (General): When you are defending a fixed, constructed position, you gain resistance 5 to all damage. This resistance applies even if the structure is destroyed, for 1 round.