New Races

for Mystara
by Ron Carney

Lupin personalities range widely, but most tend to be

From the loyal to friends and somewhat rude to strangers, testing

their tolerance. They are usually of good alignment,

Savage Coast though some are neutral, and a few are evil.
The lupins of Renardy have two native languages.
Renardois is spoken by all but the lowest classes in
The following races are found on the Savage Coast, a Renardy. The lupin racial language, known as Lupin, con-
region far to the west of the Known World region of sists of barks and howls. This language is spoken mostly
Mystara. The information here has been updated from by peasants in Renardy.
the original text, which was originally published for Lupins have lowlight vision and can thus see twice as
AD&D 2nd Edition. For more information, see the far as a human in poor lighting conditions. They also
Savage Coast campaign setting. have excellent senses of smell and hearing, as well as spe-
cial instincts, which give them several
Lupins special abilities: scent, detecting invisi-
Lupins are furred humanoids ble or ethereal beings, blind-fighting,
with dog-like heads. Descended from detecting noises and identifying were-
a nomadic culture, they now make up creatures.
the vast majority of the population of When confronted with invisi-
Renardy (on the Savage Coast). Some ble creatures, a lupin receives a
lupins even live in Herath and the Savage +4 bonus to the spot check
Baronies, but elsewhere they are rare. (DMG, p.78) made for detection.
Lupins are built much like humans, and A lupin automatically gets a spot
their eyes resemble human eyes, with irises check (with the bonus) when an
of blue, brown, or green. They also have invisible creature approaches with-
short tails, about 2 feet long. A lupin's in 10 feet and for every round the
limbs are human in appearance, invisible being remains that near.
though the hands are furred on the The lupin does not automatically
back and have dark, leathery palms, know where the invisible creature
and the feet are furred on top and is, just that it is nearby; locating it
have leathery soles. requires other clues. A lupin also has
Their short fur ranges from tan to black, with rare the same chances to detect the presence of ethereal crea-
instances of white. An individual lupin's fur is usually one tures, such as ghosts, phase spiders, or someone wearing
color, perhaps with some small touches of another lighter armor of etherealness. The lupin recognizes the difference
color around the muzzle, hands, and feet, but a few indi- between ethereal things and simply invisible ones but
viduals have spots. Like humans, lupins have compara- gains no special attack or defense capabilities against
tively long hair on their heads. This is often a shade ethereal beings.
darker than the lupin's body fur, though it turns gray or Lupin characters automatically gain the blindfighting
white with age. Lupins usually wear their hair long and feat for free. They also have the scent ability and can use
straight, though braids are not unusual. it to follow trails and locate creatures attempting to hide
Lupins with pure white coats are often natural spell- from the lupin by scent alone, making them excellent
casters. Those gifted in this way are nearly always adopt- trackers. Lupins can recognize the smell of a person or
ed by mages or priests and taught the appropriate craft. creature they have encountered before. Perfumes or

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strong odors in the area can give the lupin a -1 to -4 ethereal creature approaches within 10 feet of
penalty to this ability, depending on the strength of the the Lupin and every round the creature remains
odors (see DMG, p.81). within 10 ft.
Lupins also have an instinctual hatred of lycan- • Scent: Lupins have the scent ability as described
thropes, and a lupin ranger almost always chooses lycan- in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 81.
thrope as her favored enemy. A lupin always recognizes a • Acute Hearing: +4 racial bonus to Listen.
lycanthrope in any of its forms. • Sensitivity: -2 penalty to all saves versus smell
A lupin also has a +4 racial bonus to listen checks. and sound-based attacks.
Because of their acute senses, lupins receive a -2 penalty on • Natural Weapons: An unarmed Lupin may bite
their saving throws against attacks based on odor (such as for 1d4 piercing damage.
those made by ghasts or stinking cloud spells) or sound • Wolfsbane: Lupins are highly susceptible to
(such as a banshee's wail or a harpy's song). wolfsbane and receive a -2 to save against its poi-
Wolfsbane repels lupins. The substance is even more sonous effects.
poisonous to them than it is to humans. Lupins suffer the • Hatred of Lycanthropes: A Lupin can always rec-
normal damage from poisoning, but are penalized by -2 ognize a lycanthrope in any of its forms.
for all saving throws against it. Fortunately, a Lupin’s • Automatic Languages: Common and Lupin (or
keen sense of smell usually alerts her to the presence of Renardois)
wolfsbane before ingestion. • Bonus Languages: Any Savage Coast languages.
For more information see the Savage Coast campaign • Favored Class: Ranger.
setting.
Rakastas
Lupin Racial Traits Rakastas are feline humanoids. Bellayne (on the
• Size: Medium. Savage Coast) is populated mostly by rakastas, split
• Base Speed: 30ft. between the settled town dwellers and the nomads who
• Ability Adjustment: +1 Str, +1 Con, -1 Int, -1 Wis. carry on rakastan ancient traditions. Rakastan culture is
• Lowlight Vision: Can see twice as far as a human unique, somewhat mystical, and concerned primarily
in poor lighting conditions. with battle and honor. Some members of this race dwell
• Blindfighting: Lupins automatically have all the in Herath, but they are rare in other states.
benefits of the Blindfighting feat. A rakasta looks like a furry human with the head of a
• Detect Invisible and Ethereal Creatures: +4 cat. Its short fur is usually soft and ranges in color from
racial bonus to sense invisible and ethereal crea- light tan to dark brown. Many rakastas have a darker hue
tures. Roll automatically when any invisible or on the ears and muzzle. Some specimens have white high-
lights at the ears and muzzle instead or even white or dark
patches at the extremities (feet, hands, and tail). Older
Savage Coast Languages rakastas show a whitening around the face and ears.
Slag (common trade-language based on Thyatian) Rakastas have a build similar to that of humans;
Slagich (similar to Traladaran) nomad rakastas tend to be slender, while those who live
Verdan more sedentary lives tend to weigh more, ranging from
Espa slightly chubby to downright obese. The creatures have
Ranax cat eyes, with vertical pupils. The irises are usually green,
Eusdrian (similar to Antallian/Heldannic) but some are yellow or even blue or hazel; a few rare
Hulian individuals have two colors, most commonly one blue
Yavi and one green eye.
Renardois (similar to Sylaire found in Glantri) Rakastan hands and feet are like those of humans,
Lupin except for the fur and retractable claws. Rakastas also
Dengar (Dwarven) have non-prehensile tails. Nomads usually have tails
Hin (Halfling) between two and four feet long, though a very few have
Elvish none at all. The tails of town dwellers range from four to
Shazak (lizard-folk) six feet in length; most are covered with short fur, though
Rakastan the hair on some rare ones is long and silky. Rakastas are
Herathan very proud of their tails and spend a great deal of time
Tortle each day grooming them.
Risil, Jibar, Nimmurian (Orc) Rakastas tend to be proud and emotional; the
nomads, in particular, are quick to anger. All are con-

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vinced of rakastan superiority over other races. Still, most armor of etherealness. They recognize the difference
are extremely interested in the world at large. For the between things ethereal and those simply invisible but
nomads, this translates into a wanderlust that demands gain no special attack or defense capabilities against ethe-
they explore and experience all things for themselves, real beings.
while for the town dwellers, it becomes an intense curios- Rakasta characters automatically gain the blind-fight-
ity about visitors and a penchant for puzzles of any type. ing feat for free. A rakasta also has a +4 racial bonus to
Most rakastas are usually neutral, but good and evil listen checks.
individuals are more common than the rare lawful or Because of their keen hearing, rakastas receive a –2
chaotic rakasta, evil specimens penalty on their saving throws against attacks based on
being fully as sound (such as a banshee’s wail or a harpy’s song).
common For more information see the Savage Coast campaign
as good setting.
ones.
Rakastas Rakasta Racial Traits
have excellent bal- • Size: Medium.
ance and reflexes, • Base Speed: 30ft.
taking only half • Ability Adjustment: +2 Dex, -2 Wis.
damage from any • Breakfall: Automatically take half damage from
fall. They have any fall.
lowlight vision • Lowlight Vision: Can see twice as far as a human
and can thus see in poor lighting conditions.
twice as far as • Blindfighting: Rakastas automatically have all
a human in the benefits of the Blindfighting feat.
poor lighting • Detect Invisible and Ethereal Creatures: +4
conditions. Also, they have excellent hearing and some racial bonus to sense invisible and ethereal crea-
special instincts. Together, these give rakastas three spe- tures. Roll automatically when any invisible or
cial abilities: detecting invisible or ethereal beings, blind- ethereal creature approaches within 10 feet of
fighting, and detecting noise. the Rakasta and every round the creature
When confronted with invisible creatures, a rakasta remains within 10 ft.
receives a +4 bonus to the spot check (DMG, p.78) made • Acute Hearing: +4 racial bonus to Listen.
for detection. A rakasta automatically gets a spot check • Sonic Vulnerability: -2 penalty to all saves versus
(with the bonus) when an invisible creature approaches sound-based attacks.
within 10 feet and during every round the invisible being • Natural Weapons: An unarmed Rakasta can do
remains that close. The rakasta does not automatically normal unarmed damage or choose to do slash-
know where the invisible creature is, just that it is close ing damage in melee with his claws. The amount
by; locating it still requires other clues. Rakastas also have of damage is the same, only the damage type
the same chances to detect the presence of ethereal crea- changes. Rakasta may also bite for 1d4 piercing
tures, such as ghosts, phase spiders, or someone wearing damage.
• Exotic Weapon Proficiency: War Claws (See New
Weapon, left).
New Weapon • Automatic Languages: Common and Rakasta
Rakasta War Claws (Exotic, Double, Melee) • Bonus Languages: Any Savage Coast languages.
Size: Small • Favored Class: Fighter.
Damage: 1d4/1d4 (Slashing)
Cost: 6 gp per pair Tortles
Notes: War Claws are special metal claws worn Tortles are bipedal tortoises, standing about the same
over a Rakasta’s natural claws. Non-proficient height as humans. They have inhabited the lands of the
use suffers the normal -4 penalties. Proficiency Savage Coast for thousands of years. Tortles have no real
allows full use of the rakasta’s hand(s), and can government; they live in small family dwellings, often
allow attacks at the rakasta’s unarmed attack within the borders of some other race's state. The crea-
rank. A buckler may be worn, but may not be tures are generally peaceful, scholarly farmers, but they
used in the same round the rakasta attacks with will defend their homes.
the war claws. Tortles walk upright with a ponderous, rolling gait.
The creatures have leathery, reptilian skin and shells that

3
cover their backs and bellies. Only their heads, limbs, and and mud). Tortles can hold their breath underwater for
tails stick out of their shells. An adult tortle stands over an hour and a half.
about 6 feet tall and weighs more than 500 pounds. Typically, tortles do not wear armor but can
Tortles have no hair; their skin is mostly olive retreat into their shells for protection. With some
or blue-green. Their back shells are usually effort, they can bend and twist to pull their limbs
shinier and darker than their skin, while their and head into the shell, but they can take no other
front shells tend to be lighter, with a yel- actions in the same round. When fully with-
lowish cast. A tortle's eyes look something drawn, a tortle cannot move or attack but
like the eyes of humans, except that the becomes AC 19 and gains a +4 bonus to all sav-
pupils are horizontal ovals in shape. The ing throws, even against mental attacks
irises are vibrantly colored, usually (because the tortle gains the benefit of its
blue, but sometimes green or red. A shell and marshals all its inner strength for
tortle's mouth is beaklike and toothless defense). A withdrawn tortle can hear and
and can deliver a vicious bite. smell but cannot see outside of its shell,
Tortles are stocky, but most making it immune to gaze attacks and
of their weight comes from their other attacks that require a vic-
shells, so they tend to remain at tim to see.
the same weight throughout For more information see
their adult lives, never growing the Savage Coast campaign set-
fat or thin. Their arms and hands ting.
are shaped like those of humans, but
thicker and tipped with sharp claws. Tortles can wield Tortle Racial Traits
most weapons as easily as humans. Their tails measure • Size: Medium.
about two feet long. Also, they usually wear no clothing, • Base Speed: 20ft.
though some may wear cloaks, belts, or harnesses for car- • Ability Adjustment: +1 Wis, +1 Con, -2 Dex.
rying tools and supplies. • Lowlight Vision: Can see twice as far as a human
Despite their ancestry, tortles are not especially slow, in poor lighting conditions. This ability also
either mentally or physically; however, they are thinkers functions underwater at the same distance.
who might ponder a question a little longer than most • Buoyancy: +4 racial bonus to Swim.
before answering. Most tortles are peaceful and slow to • Hold Breath: Tortles may hold their breath for
anger. While they have the same range of emotions as up to 100 minutes, +1 minute per point of
humans, tortles are not as demonstrative and often seem Constitution. After this period expires, the Tortle
cold and distant to more passionate races. Tortles tend to be risks drowning as any other character.
lawful and good; chaotic or evil individuals are quite rare. • Natural Armor: Tortles have a shell that provides
Tortles speak their own language, simply called protection in the form of a +7 natural armor
“Tortle,” but most speak common or some other local bonus. With some effort, a Tortle may draw his
language as well. head and all appendages into his shell. This
Tortles have lowlight vision and can see twice as far makes the Tortle immobile, but gives him an AC
as a human under poor lighting conditions, and can see of 19, and a +4 situational modifier to all Saving
underwater within this range as well. The creatures gain Throws, and immunity to gaze attacks.
a +4 racial bonus to swim checks, but they are clumsy Withdrawing into the shell is a full-round action
swimmers. Their natural buoyancy keeps them afloat that provokes attacks of opportunity.
while they paddle along (even across bogs, quicksand, • Natural Weapons: An unarmed Tortle can do
normal unarmed damage or choose to do slash-
ing damage in melee with his claws. The amount
Character Age of damage is the same, only the damage type
Starting Age Max. Age Range changes. Tortles may also bite for 1d6 piercing
Race Base Variable (Base + Variable) damage.
Lupin 15 1d6 90+2d10 • Automatic Languages: Common and Tortle
Rakasta 15 1d4 90+2d8 • Bonus Languages: Any Savage Coast languages.
Sidhe* n/a n/a n/a • Favored Class: Cleric.
Tortle 20 2d4 50+2d100
*Sidhe do not age.

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 phed, or otherwise altered from their normal, vis-

Other Races •
ible form as if using the arcane spell True Seeing.
Sidhe always see other fey in their true form.
Lowlight Vision: Sidhe, like all fey, can see twice
as far as a human in poor lighting conditions.
Sidhe • Water Breathing: Sidhe may breathe water as
Sidhe (pronounced “shee”) is actually a Gaelic word easily as they do air.
which can be used to refer to any fey creature, but for our • Curse of Iron: Iron is a slow-acting poison to any
purposes it refers to a specific race of fairies. Sidhe are to Sidhe, consequently they avoid using any items
fey-kind what humans are to the other mortal races: a made of iron (including steel). Note that this is a
very diverse and adaptable race of fairies. Some look like gradual poisoning; steel and iron weapons do no
humans (usually with elven features), elves, dwarves or additional damage in combat. Prolonged contact
other races, and can often pass through these societies with iron or ingesting it can cause a permanent
without notice. However, a sidhe’s appearance is not lim- drain on vitality (see The Curse of Iron, next
ited to these races (in fact, this race exists so that any page), if not countered with healing or removal
fairy-like creature from myth or fiction can be represent- of the iron from the sidhe’s system. Metal
ed in the game). weapons, armor and tools used by sidhe must be
Like all fey creatures, sidhe can become invisible to bronze, mithril, adamantine (or some other non-
mortals at will and never age. On the downside, iron is ferrous metal or alloy) or be of at least +3
poisonous to them, and special care must be taken to enchantment (the construction of more powerful
avoid contact with raw iron or alloys containing that ele- items requires less iron).
ment, including steel. This usually means that adventur- • Timeless Form: Sidhe, like all of fey-kind, are
ing sidhe must devote large sums of money to purchasing physically immortal and never suffer the effects
items fashioned from other metals, or locating only the of age.
purest of enchanted items for use. A side effect of this • Immune to Ghoul Touch: Sidhe are immune to
allergy is that the blood of a sidhe is not as red as that of the paralyzing touch of ghouls, and to the spell
mortal races, due to the lack of iron in their bodies. of the same name.
For more information see PC1: Tall Tales of the Wee • Unhallowed: Holy (and unholy) water damages
Folk. a Sidhe just as it does the undead, inflicting 1d4
points of damage per vial. Also, Sidhe must pass
Sidhe Racial Traits a Will Save (DC 13) to willingly enter any shrine,
• Creature Type: Fey. consecrated or blessed (or similar spell) area, or
• Size: Tiny, Small, or Medium, as determined by approach (or remain) within 10 feet of a pre-
the Sidhe’s form. An appropriate Armor Class sented holy symbol.
Bonus is given to Tiny or Small Sidhe. • Base Languages: Common, Fey and Sylvan.
• Base Speed: 30 ft or 20 ft, as determined by the • Bonus Languages: Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Halfling,
Sidhe’s form. Celestial.
• Invisible to Mortals: Sidhe may become invisible • Favored Class: Sorcerer.
to mortals at any time as a free action. • +1 Level Adjustment.
• Second Sight: Sidhe may see any other fey who
are invisible to mortals, shapechanged, polymor-

Aging Effects Average Height & Weight

Race Middle Age1 Old Age2 Venerable3 Height in Inches Weight in Pounds
Lupin 45 60 90 Race Base* Modifier Base* Modifier
Rakasta 45 60 90 Lupin 60/58 2d12 150/140 6d6
Sidhe* n/a n/a n/a Rakasta 58/56 4d6 140/125 8d6
Tortle 50 66 100 Sidhe** varies - varies -
*Sidhe do not age. Tortle 62/62 3d6 500/500 5d20
1
-1 to Str, Con and Dex: +1 to Int, Wis and Cha. *Base numbers are listed male/female.
2
-2 to Str, Con and Dex: +1 to Int, Wis and Cha. ** Sidhe base their height and weight on the race they most
3
-3 to Str, Con and Dex: +1 to Int, Wis and Cha. resemble.

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The Curse of Iron: another save at DC 25 or results in yet another level
Cold iron (and its alloys) are the bane of the loss. If the sidhe's level falls to 0, he dies, and imme-
sidhe, such that any sidhe that encounters it will diately fades to nothingness.
begin to suffer adverse reactions. Simply touching Ingesting iron increases all DCs listed above by
iron is uncomfortable, with a Will save after each 5, and eliminates the 10 minute onset time.
round at DC 10 to avoid losing the mental balance Spellcasting under the debilitating effects is
which enables a sidhe's Invisibility. This DC is also nearly impossible, requiring a concentration check at
used for concentration checks for spellcasting while DC 30.
in contact with iron. A sidhe cannot recover any of the attribute dam-
Iron has a debilitating effect. Treat iron as a con- age until the iron is removed. Only experience or
tact poison requiring ten full minutes of exposure for Lesser Restoration or Restoration can restore lost lev-
initial onset. After this ten minute buildup, the sidhe els. Ingested iron can be removed by Remove Poison
must make a fortitude save at DC 15 or temporarily followed by Remove Curse, or with Heal spell,
lose four attribute points each in STR, CON, and Miracle, or Lesser/Greater Wish.
DEX. If the sidhe makes his save, but remains in con- If physically restrained by iron, (most likely by
tact with the iron, he must save again after another manacle, chain, or hoop) a sidhe loses all his above
ten minutes of exposure at +5 DC. Repeat until the listed Special Qualities, and begins to age. The iron
sidhe succumbs to the effect or the iron is removed. need not touch skin (as in the case with cloth-lined
Ten minutes after the primary effect, the sidhe must manacles), thus avoiding the poisoning effects, but
make a Fortitude save (using the newly modified must be the force rendering the sidhe unable to move
CON) at DC 25 or permanently lose a level of expe- freely. A bound sidhe's lifespan in these conditions is
rience. Each day of contact thereafter requires similar to starvation (see DMG, p.86).