Hej-Kin

''Rising from the sands before you is a short, squat humanoid with a round, chubby face accented by a large nose and small slanted eyes. Its furry ears are small and pointed.''

Combat
Hej-kin prefer to ambush their enemies while supported by a powerful cleric or preserver. They prefer to use their phase ability to maneuver beneath their targets and then to burst forth from beneath the earth to strike with surprise. Psionics enhance their physical attacks.

Description
Hej-kin are a race of degenerate humanoids that spend their entire lives underground, dwelling in the Athasian underdark near suitable supplies of water. They are omnivores and subsist largely on a diet of small subterranean creatures and plants. Hej-kin are malevolent creatures that enjoy inflicting pain and fear on those who trespass on their caverns, blaming them for the damage that has been inflicted on the earth by the defilers.

Hej-kin language is a combination of sign and verbal communication, and their voices are low-pitched, resembling human mumbling. Few surface dwellers are able to learn the language. The color of their skin varies from red to light green, but their skin is always thick and very tough. Hej-kin live on average for 40 or 45 years.

Hej-Kin Society
Hej-kin do not create artificial tunnels or caves, as they consider the earth to be sacred. They will only occupy naturally-occurring subterranean formations, but they mark these as their property with curious runes on the cave walls.

Hej-kin clans are often led by earth clerics and preservers. Clerics rise highest in hej-kin society and are the only hej-kin who travel to the surface, usually investigating a disturbance that threatens the earth. Hejkin are never defilers.

Hej-kin are natural enemies to most other surface dwelling and subterranean races, due to the abuse and destruction of the earth perpetrated by these others. Hejkin clans will migrate to a new area every decade in order to avoid over-using the land on which they dwell.

Hej-Kin as Characters
Vicious and cowardly, most hej-kin prefer classes that augment their natural tendencies. A hej-kin‘s favored class is rogue.

Hej-kin characters possess the following racial traits.
 * -4 Str, +2 Wis, -2 Cha
 * Small: Hej-kin gain a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but they must use smaller weapons than humans use, and their lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters of those of a Medium character
 * Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
 * A hej-kin‘s base land speed is 20 feet. They may phase through rock and earth at a speed of 10 ft.
 * Darkvision 60 ft.
 * Racial Hit Dice: A hej-kin begins with 3 levels of humanoid (hej-kin), which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +3, Ref +1 and Will +1.
 * Racial Skills: A hej-kin‘s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Hide, Listen, Spot and Survival.
 * A hej-kin‘s humanoid levels give it 2 feats.
 * Weapon Proficiency: A hej-kin is proficient with its natural weapons and all simple weapons.
 * +1 natural armor bonus.
 * Natural Weapons: 2 claws (1d4).
 * Special Attacks (see above): Poison, psionics.
 * Special Qualities (see above): Phase.
 * Automatic Languages: Hej-kin. Bonus Languages: Anakore, Common, Gith, Elven, Tarek.
 * Favored Class: Rogue.
 * Level Adjustment: +1.