Adapted from Ganzi - Archive of Nethys and Ganzi- Pathfinder Wiki
In the vast and unpredictable Starfall Galaxy, where the very fabric of reality can fray and the raw energies of the Rift churn, some individuals are born touched by this primal, untamable force. These are the Ganzi, children of chaos, whose blood crackles with the promise of radical change and the raw power of creation unshackled.
While some Ganzi are born of mortals who mingled with the inchoate beings of the Rift-zones, and some are descended from those who navigated that chaotic void, many others are born in places where the material plane frays toward chaos – perhaps near a powerful, unstable Mana-well, or in the wake of a rogue A.I. Construct's reality-bending experiments. Whatever their roots, all Ganzi share the same potent, unpredictable essence.
More than any other cosmic scions, Ganzi are prone to appearing in otherwise stolid and unremarkable bloodlines. While this is sometimes cause for scandal in less open-minded communities, most Ganzi children grow up as happy and loved as any other child. Ganzi children often exhibit irrepressible energy and good-natured mischief. A few even grow out of these tendencies eventually, channeling their chaotic impulses into creative or innovative pursuits.
If you want a character that channels the spontaneous and the unpredictable, that defies categorization while still finding commonality with other nonconformists, you should play a ganzi.
YOU MIGHT...
Express your individuality through daring fashion and other unconventional personal choices.
Behave in dramatic or exuberant ways and refuse to get discouraged easily by setbacks.
Look for creative or unique solutions to problems, especially those that defy conventional logic.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Expect you to behave unpredictably or impulsively, perhaps with a touch of playful mischief.
Fear that you possess Mana-magic or abilities beyond your control, or that you might unwittingly cause a Rift-rupture.
Assume you're related to Rift-Entities or other chaotic cosmic beings.
Physical Description
While Ganzi resemble other members of their ancestry, it's rare for chaos to manifest with any degree of subtlety. No two Ganzi are wholly alike and there are no universal traits, yet there is more commonality among Ganzi than a layperson might expect. While some Ganzi have links to other creatures of chaos, like certain Rift-Entities or unpredictable Cosmic Wanderers, and some to no known beings, a narrow majority manifest as "Rift-kin" Ganzi. Whether actually related to Rift-Entities or not, these Ganzi often possess serpentine tails with iridescent scales and ethereal feathers, as well as patches of shimmering scales and feathers in other places. Bilateral symmetry of such features is ubiquitous, despite their chaotic origins, a strange echo of underlying cosmic laws.
Given their dramatic physical features, most Ganzi are accustomed to drawing attention. Some lean into this, dressing in daring outfits and developing exuberant personalities, while the more introverted use concealing clothing to hide their heritage. Regardless of social preferences, many Ganzi share a passion for works of craft or artistry; Ganzi often seek out unique craftworks as fashion statements, from Mana-infused bracelets to shimmering necklaces to chaotic brooches.
Society
As a highly individualistic and geographically scattered heritage, Ganzi have few widespread traditions. The most common, though, is the heart-name. While Ganzi are no more likely than others to take issue with their gift-name (as Ganzi call given names), the vast majority of Ganzi choose names for themselves, selecting or inventing names that better describe their true selves. Some use their gift- and heart-names interchangeably; some share a name only with close friends or lovers; and some discard their gift-name entirely. Heart-names aren't static, and a Ganzi might change their heart-name a day or a decade later, reflecting their ever-evolving nature.
Beliefs
Unsurprisingly, Ganzi lean heavily towards chaos, favoring philosophies that embrace freedom and individuality. This is hardly universal, however—even a few rigid Commission uniforms might accommodate a feathered serpentine tail. Likewise, many Ganzi find themselves suited to the service of concepts like the unpredictable Rift Phenomenon, the boundless freedom of the Cosmic Wanderer, and other powers that value individuality and constant change.
Popular Edicts: Express your true self, embrace change, seek creative solutions.
Popular Anathema: Allow others to dictate your identity, become stagnant, fear the unpredictable.
Ganzi Mechanics
Ganzi Heritage
Your blood is touched by primal chaos, often from the Rift or a powerful Rift-Entity. You gain the ganzi trait in addition to the traits from your ancestry. You gain resistance to a single damage type equal to half your level; at the beginning of each day, determine randomly whether this resistance applies to force, void, or psychic damage. You also gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against effects that would cause you to gain the controlled condition. You can choose from ganzi feats and feats from your ancestry whenever you gain an ancestry feat.
Ganzi Ancestry Feats (1st Level)
The following feats are available to ganzi characters.
Chaos Gaze (Feat 1)
Ganzi You have unusual sensory abilities passed down from your chaotic forebears, allowing you to perceive the subtle distortions of the Rift. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to detect illusions or perceive creatures with the Rift-taint trait.
Chaotic Tail (Feat 1)
Ganzi You have a tail that serves as a potent weapon, sometimes lashing out with unpredictable energy. You gain a tail unarmed Strike that deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage, has the agile, finesse, and unarmed traits, and is in the brawling weapon group. Once per day, when you hit with your tail Strike, you can choose to have it deal 1d4 additional force, void, or psychic damage (randomly determined).
Rift-Whisper Wings (Feat 1)
Ganzi You possess small, weak wings that are subtly influenced by the energies of the Rift, aiding in balance and granting a slight lift. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks to Balance or when attempting to avoid falling.
Ganzi Ancestry Feats (5th Level)
Skillful Tail (Ganzi) (Feat 5)
Ganzi
Prerequisites: Chaotic Tail You have a tail or similar body part that is always willing to lend a hand (so to speak). You can perform simple manipulate actions with your tail, such as opening an unlocked door or picking up an object weighing 1 Bulk or less within your reach.
Ganzi Ancestry Feats (13th Level)
Chaotic Tail Whip (Feat 13)
Ganzi
Prerequisites: Skillful Tail (Ganzi) Your tail can bedevil your foes with unpredictable bursts of energy. As a 1-action activity, you can make a tail Strike against a creature. On a hit, in addition to damage, the target must succeed at a Fortitude save against your class DC or spell DC (whichever is higher) or be slowed 1 for 1 round. On a critical hit, they are also stupefied 1 for 1 round. You can use this once per encounter.
Here are a few adventure hooks tailored to appeal specifically to a Ganzi player character, leveraging their intrinsic connection to chaos, their love for unpredictability, and their unique perspective within the Starfall Galaxy.
Adventure Hooks for Ganzi Player Characters
1. The Paradoxical Pattern of the Stellar Clockwork
Hook: A newly discovered, ancient Vaelen "Stellar Clockwork" – a colossal, intricate orbital mechanism designed to precisely regulate a distant star's Mana-output – has begun to malfunction. Instead of predictable, chaotic breakdowns, its errors are manifesting as perfectly symmetrical, yet utterly illogical, temporal glitches and energy surges that defy all known laws of physics. The Aphorites and Cerebral Nexuses who have attempted to fix it are driven to frustration by its "ordered chaos," as their logical approaches only exacerbate the problem. The Ganzi PC, whose own essence is touched by primal chaos, begins to perceive a strange, almost artistic, rhythm in the malfunction – a pattern that only makes sense because it's nonsensical. The Commission is desperate to stabilize the Clockwork, as its erratic behavior is threatening to destabilize nearby trade routes and Mana-harvesting operations. They reluctantly seek the PC, believing only a mind that embraces the illogical can understand and perhaps "re-tune" this bizarre, chaotic machine.
Ganzi Appeal: This hook is a direct challenge to the Ganzi's core nature. The "ordered chaos" of the Stellar Clockwork would be both fascinating and deeply compelling, appealing to their love for the unpredictable and their ability to find solutions outside conventional logic. It offers a chance to prove that chaos isn't always destructive, and that their unique perspective can bring harmony where rigid order fails.
2. The Grand Galactic Heist of the Unstable Relic
Hook: A legendary, highly unstable Rift-Relic – a pre-Rift artifact rumored to be capable of spontaneously generating localized Rift-phenomena – is being transported through a heavily guarded, but notoriously predictable, Commission convoy. The relic itself is a shimmering, constantly shifting object that defies containment, and its unpredictable bursts of energy make it a nightmare for standard security protocols. A flamboyant, eccentric Chassos art collector, who values unique and dangerous pieces, or a shadowy faction of Grakken anarchists, who want to unleash its chaos, seeks the Ganzi PC. They need the PC's unique ability to thrive in unpredictable situations, their mischievous creativity, and their potential to subtly manipulate chaotic energies to either steal the relic (for the collector) or ensure its "liberation" (for the anarchists). The mission will involve navigating highly structured security with utterly chaotic methods, creating diversions, and embracing the unpredictable nature of the relic itself.
Ganzi Appeal: This hook is tailor-made for a Ganzi's love of dramatic flair, playful mischief, and unconventional problem-solving. The highly predictable security of the convoy offers a perfect canvas for their chaotic methods, and the unstable relic itself would be a thrilling companion. The choice of client (eccentric collector vs. anarchists) offers a compelling moral dilemma.
3. The Rift-Zone's Living Canvas
Hook: A newly emergent Rift-zone in the Frontier is not just chaotic; it's manifesting as a constantly shifting, vibrant, and utterly bizarre "living canvas" of reality. Colors bleed into sound, gravity shifts whimsically, and ephemeral, beautiful Rift-Entities dance through impossible landscapes. However, this beautiful chaos is also subtly drawing the life force from nearby, stable ecosystems, threatening to turn them into static, lifeless art. The Ganzi PC, whose essence resonates with the Rift, feels an intense, almost artistic, connection to this phenomenon, perhaps experiencing visions of themselves as part of the "art." A Prismeni who finds the uncontrolled beauty both alluring and terrifying, or an Ardande who senses the slow death of the surrounding flora, seeks the PC's help. The mission: venture into the Living Canvas, understand the "artist" behind this phenomenon (a powerful Rift-Entity or a collective of them), and find a way to either guide its artistic expression to be less destructive or to "contain" the canvas without destroying its inherent beauty and chaotic life.
Ganzi Appeal: This hook appeals to the Ganzi's artistic and creative side, framing the Rift's chaos as a form of expression. It allows them to immerse themselves in a truly unpredictable environment where their chaotic nature is an asset. The challenge lies in finding a solution that respects the inherent chaos while preventing harm, forcing them to balance their love for unpredictability with a sense of responsibility.
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