Tul'k

''This creature is a gaunt, bony humanoid the size of a half-giant. Its scalp is utterly without hair, showing sunbleached bone protruding through the top of its head. Its skin is ashen grey, with fine black body-hair and its eyes are dark, regarding you from beneath beetling brows.''

Combat
Tul'ks do not relish combat but display unexpected cunning when forced into battle. They prefer to strike from ambush, using their native rocky terrain to their advantage, striking from higher ground wherever possible.

Some tul'ks will use weaponry, but most prefer to strike with their bony claws when closing to melee. A tul'k may also slam an opponent with a ferocious head-butt, which may stun unfortunate targets, leaving them open for further attacks from the tul'ks.

Description
Tul'ks are primitive, psionic humanoids that roam the mountains and hills of Athas, eking out a living where they can. Timid and withdrawn, tul'ks rarely come into conflict with other races but make cunning foes when this does occur.

Tul'k society is tribal, and their language is very basic, consisting largely of grunts, growls and hand gestures. Hand signals are generally used in battle.

Tul'k Society
The tale of the tul'ks is a sad one, for although they appear as and live the lives of primitive humanoids, they were not always thus. Once, the tul'ks were elves of the Dune Stalker tribe, famed throughout the eastern Tablelands. The strange powers of the mysterious Pristine Tower altered the tribe in the distant past, however, transforming them into tul'ks. Now the degenerate remains of the Dune Stalkers make their homes where they can, yet are still tormented by the vestigial memories of the people that they once were.

The largest and strongest males dominate Tul'k society – offspring of males other than the dominant one are exiled from the clan when they reach maturity (unless they are able to challenge the dominant male and steal his place). In general, tul'ks are reclusive, even timid, and will only attack other humanoids in order to gain food. Amongst a tul'k's favorite foods are z'tal, erdlu and Athasian rocs.

Tul'ks as Characters
Tul'ks seldom take up the adventuring life, being generally too apprehensive to venture too far from their homes. Those that do have a natural affinity for the fighting arts, which is unsurprising, given their great Strength. Some find an affinity for the Way, but the tul'ks' degenerate minds make pursuit of the psionic arts difficult.

Tul'k characters possess the following racial traits.
 * +6 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Con, -2 Int, +2 Wis, -2 Cha
 * Large size. –1 penalty to Armor Class, -1 penalty on attack rolls, -4 penalty on Hide checks, +4 bonus on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits double those of Medium characters.
 * Space/Reach: 10 feet/10 feet.
 * A tul'k's base land speed is 40 feet.
 * Darkvision out to 60 feet.
 * Racial Hit Dice: A tul'k begins with 5 levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 5d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +5, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +4 and Will +4.
 * Racial Skills: A tul'k's monstrous humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 8 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Search, Spot and Survival.
 * A tul'k's monstrous humanoid levels give it 2 feats.
 * Weapon Proficiency: A tul'k is proficient with all simple weapons.
 * +3 natural armor bonus.
 * Natural Weapons: 2 claws (1d6), 1 slam (1d6).
 * Special Attacks (see above): Psionics, stunning.
 * Automatic Languages: Tul'k. Bonus Languages: Elven.
 * Favored Class: Fighter.
 * Level Adjustment: +1.