The Khashadab, known to outsiders as a derivation of "Jackals," are a resilient and fiercely pragmatic species of hyena-headed humanoids. Their shaggy fur, sharp teeth, and imposing stature belie a cunning intellect and an unyielding commitment to their kin. Ascending from a unique system in the Outer Sphere (a "graveyard world" where atmospheric anomalies caused ships to fall from orbit), the Khashadab were thrust from a tribal, hunter-gatherer existence into the space age by salvaging advanced alien wreckage. They are masters of ambush, tactical feints, and psychological warfare, prioritizing efficient victory over pointless risk. For the Khashadab, honor is found in survival, and strength is absorbed from every challenge overcome.
Core Identity: Pragmatic Survival, Salvaged Wisdom, and Pack Loyalty Khashadab are fundamentally driven by practicality and a matter-of-fact approach to existence. They believe that any loss affects the entire pack (their social group), making waste of time, mercy, or cruelty equally immoral if it hinders victory. Their culture values strength, cunning, and the ability to adapt. They demonstrate affection through physical acts – hugging, punching, or even ritualistic "licking" of friends and kin. The traditional consumption of their dead (endocannibalism) is reinterpreted in Starfall as a reverence that extends to absorbing the essence or salvaged technology of respected foes or ancestors, turning components into art or weapons to bring their cunning or strength into the clan. For the Khashadab, every Yom is a resource to be harvested, every Dei a piece of technology to be repurposed, ensuring the pack's survival and growth.
YOU MIGHT...
Prioritize the survival and well-being of your pack above all else.
Seek out valuable salvage and resources in dangerous or forgotten places.
Use cunning tactics, ambushes, and psychological warfare to gain an advantage.
Absorb wisdom and strength from both allies and defeated foes.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Find your pragmatism ruthless or your customs unsettling.
Are wary of your reputation as fierce scavengers and ambush predators.
Seek your expertise in survival, tracking, or navigating dangerous territories.
Are impressed by your resilience and unwavering loyalty to your kin.
Physical Description
Khashadab are hyena-like humanoids, typically 6 to 7 feet tall, with women usually taller and stronger. They have short muzzles, sharp teeth, and large, expressive round ears. Their bodies are covered in shaggy fur, often in off-white, tan, or brown colors, with common spots or stripes. Their powerful builds and keen senses reflect their origins as hunter-scavengers.
Khashadab prefer functional, often patched-together clothing made from salvaged materials. They frequently adorn themselves with "relics" – bones or salvaged pieces of tech from favored relatives or respected foes, which they believe embody the cunning or strength of the original. Their voices are a mix of guttural growls, sharp barks, and distinctive, often chilling, cackles.
Society
Khashadab society is structured around semi-nomadic clans or "Ash-Packs" of 10 to 20 family groups, typically numbering 100 to 200 members. They are ruled by a council of female Khashadab, often selected from the elders of each family, known as Bonekeepers (who focus on interpreting salvaged ancestral data and cosmic omens) and Storytellers (who maintain an encyclopedic knowledge of clan history, regional lore, and galactic salvage opportunities).
Outer Sphere (Nomadic Caravans & Salvage Empires): This is the Khashadab's native domain, where their massive space caravans traverse the unpredictable Rift-lanes, seeking out fresh ship graveyards (often caused by lingering Rift-Storm Cataclysm anomalies or pre-Cataclysm derelicts) or contested zones ripe for scavenging. Their "wreck-cities" and "medinas" are built from adobe and salvaged scrap, forming bustling trading posts. They frequently work as scouts and mercenaries for other factions in the Resource Wars, valued for their survival skills, tenacity, and inventiveness. Their proximity to and interactions with the Automaton Concordance's older territories mean many Khashadab craft and equipment share similar designs to Robot Legion tech, fostering a strong, often mutually beneficial, relationship with independent Androids.
Inner Sphere (Discreet Scavengers & Underworld Operatives): In the highly regulated Inner Sphere, Khashadab are a discreet and often overlooked presence. They operate as efficient, if sometimes illicit, scavengers in the underbellies of vast ecumenopolises, recycling discarded tech or finding lost schematics. They might hire out as security for less savory patrons, or act as hired blades for ambitious cabals or corporations, valuing the regular payment and new opportunities for valuable salvage over rigid adherence to any external law. Their reputation as intimidating, brutal combatants often earns them a wide berth.
Frontier (Rift-Graveyard Hunters & Frontier Guides): The most daring Khashadab venture into the Frontier, drawn by the promise of pristine, undisturbed wreckage within dangerous Rift-Burgs or the unpredictable depths of the Maelstrom. They view the chaotic energies of the Rift as a grand, unpredictable source of new materials and esoteric knowledge. They can be hired as guides through treacherous Rift-currents, their ability to quickly adapt both new ideas and unstable technologies into their way of life making them surprisingly resilient against Rift-Taint.
Connection to the Rift and Scavenged Might
The Khashadab have an unsentimental, matter-of-fact approach to the Rift, viewing it as another dangerous, yet resource-rich, environment. Their ancient beliefs, which once saw falling ships as gifts from gods, have evolved to see the chaotic fallout of the Rift-Storm Cataclysm as a cosmic test—a chance to gain riches and wisdom from the wreckage, with the looming threat of succumbing to greed and losing their traditional pragmatism. They often leverage its raw, unpredictable Mana through their jury-rigged technologies, turning unstable energies into temporary, potent effects.
Their survival skills and adaptability to alien technology allow them to repurpose even Rift-Tainted components into functional (if sometimes volatile) gear. Their renowned "unbreakable" resilience is partly a result of their long history of surviving extreme conditions and leveraging every scrap for defense. While they do not traditionally practice magic, their Bonekeepers may employ complex technological rituals, incorporating ancient salvaged data and psychic echoes from the Rift to commune with ancestral "ghosts" in the machine.
Beliefs
Khashadab beliefs are centered on practicality and a matter-of-fact approach to existence. They believe that any loss affects the entire pack (their social group), making waste of time, mercy, or cruelty equally immoral if it hinders victory. Their culture values strength, cunning, and the ability to adapt. They often keep a bone or a salvaged piece of tech from a favorite relative or respected foe, calling upon it for advice or strength.
They believe every Yom is a resource to be harvested, every Dei a piece of technology to be repurposed, ensuring the pack's survival and growth. The chaotic fallout of the Rift-Storm Cataclysm is seen as a cosmic test—a chance to gain riches and wisdom from the wreckage.
Popular Edicts: Prioritize pack survival, salvage all resources, adapt to any challenge, prove your strength, honor your ancestors (by absorbing their essence/tech).
Popular Anathema: Waste resources, act without pragmatism, betray the pack, show weakness, succumb to sentimentality.
Khashadab Mechanics
Khashadab are a Humanoid, Khashadab ancestry.
Hit Points: 8
Size: Medium
Speed: 25 feet
Ability Boosts: Strength, Intelligence, and one Free Ability Boost.
Ability Flaw: Wisdom.
Languages: Common, Khashadab. You can learn additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from Draconic, Elven, Fey, Iruxi, Necril, Orcish (Grolak), and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
Senses: Low-Light Vision (You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.)
Bite: Your sharp teeth and powerful jaws are fearsome weapons. You have a jaws unarmed attack that deals 1d6 piercing damage. Your jaws are in the brawling group.
Khashadab Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following Khashadab heritages.
Scrap-Shifter Khashadab (Ant Khashadab adaptation): You're a smaller, nimbler Khashadab, about 3 feet tall, often mistaken for a Grakken. You're adept at blending into mechanical environments or urban sprawl. Your size is Small instead of Medium. You are trained in Deception (or another skill if you were already trained in Deception). You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Deception checks to Lie when specifically claiming innocence or to avoid suspicion when near salvaged tech, to Deception DCs against Sense Motive checks to uncover such lies, and to initiative checks when you roll Deception for initiative.
Void-Dweller Khashadab (Cave Khashadab adaptation): Storytellers spin ancient tales claiming that Khashadab lived in deep space caverns and asteroid hollows before most of your kind ventured to more populated systems. You're a throwback to these ancients, with a broad chest and markings that resemble short black slashes instead of spots. Your eyes are developed to see perfectly in the dark, a valuable advantage to your clan. You gain darkvision.
Quadrupedal Khashadab (Dog Khashadab adaptation): You're a nimble-bodied Khashadab with a powerful, almost quadrupedal build. Though you typically move like a quadruped, you can still stand and fight like a biped, allowing you to use all equipment normally. If you have both hands free, you can increase your Speed to 30 feet as you run on all fours.
Alpha Khashadab (Great Khashadab adaptation): You're an imposing, powerful Khashadab, with tawny fur and brown spots on your hide. You gain 10 Hit Points from your ancestry instead of 8 and gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Athletics checks to Reposition, Shove, or Trip.
Pheromone-Whisperer Khashadab (Sweetbreath Khashadab adaptation): You're a striped, pale-furred Khashadab with oddly pleasant pheromones, which you can use to subtly influence others. You are trained in Diplomacy (or another skill if you were already trained in Diplomacy). You also gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to Make an Impression if the target can detect your pheromones.
Cold-Forged Khashadab (Winter Khashadab adaptation): You're a hardy Khashadab covered in thick, tufted fur that makes you able to survive in the harsh cold of deep space or frozen worlds. You gain cold resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1). You treat environmental cold effects as if they were one step less extreme (incredible cold becomes extreme, extreme cold becomes severe, and so on).
Rift-Touched Khashadab (Witch Khashadab adaptation): You're a shaggy, dark-furred Khashadab capable of making some truly uncanny, almost psychic, sounds. You can cast the figment cantrip as an occult innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded up. In addition, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to Create a Diversion and Impersonate when using only your voice.
Khashadab Ancestry Feats
You can select Khashadab ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Ask the Relic (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: You keep a salvaged component or bone from a favored ancestor or respected foe, which you can call upon for advice. Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes performing a ritualistic consultation with your relic. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to a single Recall Knowledge check, which must be made within the next hour.
Crunch (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: Your jaws can crush bone and bite through armor. When you make a successful Bite unarmed attack, you can attempt to Grapple the target as a free action.
Scavenger Drone Companion (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: You have trained a small, salvaged drone to assist you. You gain a drone animal companion (use the stat block for a familiar, but it is technological instead of an animal, and you can only take it as a companion, not a familiar).
Khashadab Lore (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: You paid close attention to the senior hunters and scavengers in your clan to learn their tricks and the best salvage routes. You gain training in Khashadab Lore. If you were already trained in Khashadab Lore, you instead become an expert.
Khashadab Weapon Familiarity (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: You gain access to all uncommon weapons with the khashadab trait (e.g., jury-rigged energy saws, salvaged blast cannons, bone-club flails).
Pack Hunter (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: You were taught how to hunt as part of a pack. When you are flanking an enemy with at least one ally, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your attack rolls against that enemy.
Sensitive Nose (Common, Khashadab) Feat 1: Your large black nose isn't just for show. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to Track by scent.
5th Level Feats
Absorb Cunning (Uncommon, Khashadab) Feat 5: You consume a piece of a defeated enemy (typically a salvaged component or organic remains), absorbing their essence or knowledge. Once per day, after you defeat a creature of at least your level, you can spend 10 minutes to consume a part of it. You gain a +1 status bonus to a skill check of your choice (chosen when you consume the part) for 1 hour.
Affliction Resistance (Common, Khashadab) Feat 5: Your diverse diet of salvaged materials and various organics has strengthened you against diseases and poisons. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude saves against disease and poison.
Distant Cackle (Common, Khashadab) Feat 5: Prerequisites Rift-Touched Khashadab heritage. It takes a very brave person to enter the chaotic territories where you dwell. You can extend the range of your Create a Diversion attempts by 10 feet.
Salvage Adaptation (Common, Khashadab) Feat 5: It's said that the left-side components of a hyena's prey are particularly resilient. You gain resistance 1 to persistent damage (physical, energy, or poison).
Pack Stalker (Common, Khashadab) Feat 5: Prerequisites Expert in Stealth. Ambushes are an honored Khashadab tradition. When you successfully use the Ambush activity, your allies gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their attack rolls against the ambushed target until the end of their next turn.
Rabid Sprint (Common, Flourish, Khashadab) Feat 5: Prerequisites Quadrupedal Khashadab heritage. You run on all fours as fast as you can. You can Stride three times, and you gain a +10-foot status bonus to your Speed during these Strides. This counts as two actions.
Regenerative Consumption (Common, Khashadab) Feat 5: It's said that the right-side components of a hyena's prey can heal. Once per day, you can consume a small piece of salvaged organic or technological material as a single action. You regain 1d8 Hit Points.
9th Level Feats
Ambush Hunter (Common, Khashadab) Feat 9: You are always searching for the perfect opportunity to ambush your enemies. When you roll initiative, if you are undetected by any enemies, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your initiative roll.
Scent of Opportunity (Common, Khashadab) Feat 9: Prerequisites Pheromone-Whisperer Khashadab heritage. You smell of honey and savory things. When you successfully Make an Impression on a creature, that creature is flat-footed against your next attack roll against it.
Ancestral Data (Common, Khashadab) Feat 9: You carry salvaged data cores or bone-relics of your ancestors with you, and you can access them for counsel. Once per day, you can spend 1 minute to commune with your ancestral data. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to a single Recall Knowledge check, and you can treat your proficiency as expert for that check, even if you are only trained.
Laughing Khashadab (Common, Khashadab) Feat 9: Prerequisites Master in Intimidation. Your sinister giggle is a sound of warning and threat. When you successfully Demoralize a creature, they become frightened 2 instead of frightened 1.
13th Level Feats
Ancestor's Fury (Common, Khashadab) Feat 13: You transform into an enormous, otherworldly hyena-like construct, fueled by salvaged power. Once per day, as a 2-action activity, you can become enlarged and gain temporary Hit Points equal to your level for 1 minute. While enlarged, your Bite unarmed attack deals an additional 1d6 damage.
Bonekeeper's Bane (Common, Khashadab) Feat 13: Whenever an enemy starts its turn adjacent to you, it must attempt a Will saving throw against your class DC or spell DC, whichever is highest. On a failure, it takes 1d4 mental damage as it perceives faint whispers of your salvaged ancestors.
First to Salvage, First to Strike (Common, Khashadab) Feat 17: Whenever you successfully Strike a creature that has not acted in the first round of combat, that creature is off-guard until the end of your next turn.
17th Level Feats
Impaling Relic (Common, Khashadab) Feat 17: Once per day, you can cast impaling spike as a 7th-rank innate occult spell, except the spike is made of salvaged metal or bone instead of cold iron.
Legendary Laugh (Common, Khashadab) Feat 17: Prerequisites Laughing Khashadab. Your laughter echoes in the minds of your enemies. When you successfully Demoralize a creature, you can cause them to become sickened 1 in addition to the frightened condition. This sickened condition is a mental effect.
Here are a few adventure hooks designed to appeal to a Khashadab Player Character, leveraging their unique traits, pack loyalty, and pragmatic approach to survival within the Starfall Galaxy:
Adventure Hooks for Khashadab Player Characters
The Contested Graveyard World:
Hook: A newly discovered "graveyard world" in the Outer Sphere, rich with the wreckage of pre-Cataclysm starships and ancient Automaton husks, has become a hotly contested zone. Several factions, including Grolak Marauder Hordes and Ysoki scavenger crews, are locked in a brutal Resource War over its valuable salvage. The Khashadab PC's Ash-Pack desperately needs the resources from this world to survive a harsh stellar winter or to rebuild after a recent setback. The PC is tasked with securing a vital piece of the wreckage, or even driving out rival scavengers through cunning ambushes and psychological warfare.
Khashadab Appeal: This hook is a perfect fit for a Khashadab's core identity. The PC would be driven by pack loyalty and the allure of valuable salvage. Their Pack Hunter and Ambush Hunter feats would be crucial for outmaneuvering rivals, while Crunch could be used to tear through defenses. The opportunity to Absorb Cunning or Regenerative Consumption from defeated foes or salvaged tech would be a strong motivator.
The Bonekeeper's Dire Omen:
Hook: A revered Bonekeeper within the PC's Ash-Pack has interpreted a series of unsettling omens from salvaged ancestral data, indicating a looming threat to the pack's survival. This threat might be a Rift-Tainted plague spreading through their current territory, a predatory Scarred entity hunting their scouts, or a subtle manipulation by a powerful Lashunta or Vaelen faction seeking to exploit their resources. The Bonekeeper sends the PC on a perilous quest to find a specific "Impaling Relic" or a forgotten piece of "Ancestral Data" that holds the key to averting disaster.
Khashadab Appeal: This hook appeals to their reverence for salvaged wisdom and their unyielding commitment to their kin. The PC would be motivated to protect their pack, using their Ask the Relic and Ancestral Data feats to gain crucial insights. Their Rift-Touched Khashadab heritage (if applicable) might help them navigate the planar influences, and their pragmatic nature would ensure they take the most efficient (and possibly ruthless) path to victory.
The Inner Sphere's "Uncivilized" Solution:
Hook: A highly sensitive Commission operation in the Inner Sphere, perhaps a covert extraction or a sabotage mission against a rival corporation, is failing due to the target's impenetrable security and the "civilized" limitations of the Commission's own agents. Desperate, a pragmatic (and perhaps morally flexible) Human or Android contact seeks out the Khashadab PC, offering a substantial reward of rare components and secure passage. They need a team willing to employ "unconventional" (i.e., brutal, cunning, and highly efficient) tactics, like psychological warfare and precision ambushes, to achieve the objective.
Khashadab Appeal: This hook offers a chance for the Khashadab to leverage their intimidating reputation and pragmatic combat skills in a high-stakes, high-reward scenario. The PC would use Laughing Khashadab to demoralize foes, Pack Stalker to set up devastating ambushes, and First to Salvage, First to Strike to gain an immediate advantage. The disdain for "civilized" rules and the promise of valuable salvage would be highly appealing.
The Rift-Lane's Hidden Cache:
Hook: An ancient, unstable Rift-lane is rumored to contain a hidden cache of pre-Cataclysm technology, lost during the early days of the Rift-Storm Cataclysm. The cache is said to be filled with rare components, advanced schematics, or even a prototype Rift-tech device. The Khashadab PC, driven by their insatiable curiosity and love of tinkering, is part of an expedition to retrieve the cache. However, the Rift-lane is highly volatile, filled with temporal distortions, minor Scaleglitch entities, and the remnants of other failed expeditions.
Khashadab Appeal: This hook is a perfect fit for the Khashadab's love of technology and their willingness to brave danger for a valuable find. The PC would use their Salvage Adaptation, Tinkering, and Ingenuity (from their Ysoki connection if any, or general resourcefulness) to navigate the treacherous Rift-lane, bypass ancient security, and salvage the technology. Their ability to work quickly and adapt to unexpected problems would be constantly tested, and the lure of new gadgets would be a powerful motivator.
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