Ssurran

Combat
When it comes to battle, ssurrans are vicious, disorganized and somewhat cowardly. They prefer to maneuver their opponents into positions of disadvantage and will strike from ambush whenever possible. Ssurrans would rather attack with superior numbers and have been known to flee from battles that they might have won simply because they have believed themselves to be outnumbered. For the ssurrans, the ideal battle is one where you and a large amount of your fellows strike from ambush, surprise the foe and over-run him with sheer numbers. Victorious ssurrans have been known to strip the corpses of the fallen, scarring or otherwise marking the dead as food, for later consumption.

Ssurrans strike with dreadfully sharp claws and a savage, snapping bite. Those of a more civilized bent arm themselves with whatever weapons they can find and deal solid, brutal blows with these. Impalers, macahuitl and spears are all popular arms with the ssurrans.

Description
Ssurrans are a race of reptilian humanoids that roam the Tablelands, trading, raiding and hunting that which does not hunt them. Standing up to 6 feet tall, they are a hardy species that have adapted to deal with Athas‘ unforgiving climate. In the region of the Scorched Plateau, their natural resistance to extremes of heat has allowed them to stake their claim over the immediate environs of Lava Gorge, where the majority of other races simply cannot venture. Ruled over by their priests, ssurrans hold ancient beliefs in strange gods and have a reputation for barbarism that is perhaps a little undeserved.

Ssurrans range from 4 to 6 feet in height, weighing anything from 180 to 225 pounds. They are reptilian, even crocodilian in appearance, with pronounced toothy snouts, scales and a long tail. A ssurran‘s mouth seems perpetually curved in a slight, sly smile. The ssurran tail is not prehensile and is used for balance, posture and communication.

Ssurran Society
The ssurrans are tribal in nature, roaming in groups of related families. At times these groups can dwindle in size, particularly after a lean spell, but tribes have also been known to band together for common purpose, forming vast hordes that last for as long as need – or firm leadership – binds them. The harsh conditions of life on Athas have driven many ssurrans to live the lives of raiders, taking by force what they cannot gain by other means. The more fortunate and enterprising tribes have turned to trade as a way of life, forging more productive relationships with the other peoples of their region.

Whatever their major pastime, all ssurran tribes are natural scavengers and hunter-gatherers. A typical ssurran is laden down under patchwork armor, assorted bric-a-brac and battered trade goods, and armed with a bizarre assortment of weaponry from across the Tablelands. Ssurrans are hunted for their young by some. Ssurrans raised from the egg can be trained as guards, scouts, and gladiators, and are valued in the city-states of the south. Ssurrans are strict carnivores, and some of their kind are reported to enjoy the flavor of halfling flesh over others (apparently they find it soft and sweet, but with a piquant after-taste…).

Ssurrans as Characters
The civilized ssurran‘s favored class is cleric. They tend either to follow fire, sun or magma, seeing themselves as blessed by these elements. The more primitive among their kind follow tribal gods that are in reality Spirits of the Lands from across the face of Athas. Although they would never use the word, the druid is the favored class for these more primitive ssurran.
 * +4 Str, -2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Cha.
 * Medium size. Ssurrans have neither benefits nor penalties due to size.
 * Ssurran base speed is 30 feet.
 * Darkvision out to 60 feet.
 * Racial Hit Dice: Ssurran characters start with three levels of monstrous humanoid, which gives them 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +3, and base save bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3.
 * Racial Skills: A ssurran‘s monstrous humanoid Hit Dice give it (2 + Intelligence modifier) x6 skill points and their class skills are Appraise, Craft, Handle Animal, Profession, Ride and Survival.
 * A ssurran‘s monstrous humanoid levels give it two feats.
 * Weapon Proficiency: A ssurran is proficient with all simple and martial weapons.
 * +3 natural armor bonus.
 * Natural weapons: 2 claws (1d4), bite (1d4).
 * Special Qualities: Heat tolerance.
 * Automatic Languages: Common, Ssurran. Bonus Languages: Elven, Gith, Halfling, Pterran, Thri-Kreen, Yuan-Ti.
 * Favored Class: Cleric or Druid.
 * Level Adjustment +1.