Race: Zang

Zang

Considered to be the fiercest warriors on the Cyan Shelf, the semi-nomadic zang roam the seas in large clans. Though many fear the zang due to their ferocity in defending their hunting grounds from any perceived trespassers, none would deny their dedication to fighting the sahuagin. On more than one occasion, a zang has boastfully claimed that the sahuagin would have overrun the Cyan Shelf centuries ago if not for the clans. Many scholars from elsewhere on the shelf agree.

Physical Description: What few surfacers that have heard of the zang imagine them as big, hulking creatures that look like a mix of shark and orc. Though the largest clan does look like that, most are much smaller, about the size of human men with a swimmer’s build. Resembling humanoid sharks, they possess a maw filled with serrated, triangular teeth, a dorsal fin rising from their backs, and similar fins on their upper arms used to steer when swimming. Their heads have a backward, almost triangular slope that, when swimming, their necks smoothly transition to their backs.

Society: Organized into large clans, the zang are first and foremost a warrior people. They view mental magics with respectful distain, respecting its capabilities while viewing it inferior to martial might, divine with bafflement, why ask an apex predator to do something for you, and arcane as silly surfacer tricks. Highly territorial, zang will ruthlessly hunt down any trespassers into their clan’s hunting grounds. The cornerstone of their society however is a rigid code of honor that upholds the warrior and the hunter as the ideals to embody. Seen as the perfect hunters are sharks, and the zang are their embodiment among the intelligent races.

Like some sharks, zang are born live. Typically born in litters of 3-15, the smaller the litter the bigger the pups due to them eating the other fetuses in the womb. On rare occasions only a single child is born, and is believed to have absorbed the potential of their former siblings.

Relations: The zang hold little respect for the dohrnii, their focus on the esoteric over physical is not something that they hold in high regard. Koup’ira, merfolk, and tabemisu are respected as warriors, but privately the zang are baffled by not all of them choosing a warrior’s path. The squoros are seen as pests that resemble tasty prey. But above all else the zang hate sahuagin. A zang will almost never accept anything less than the death of any sahuagin.

Alignment and Religion: In general, zang care for little outside of their clans and while they have a strict honor code, it doesn’t mesh well with the standard morality of other races. This leads to the zang being True Neutral overall but many individuals are of wildly differing alignments. Though they respect and revere the god Aruk, most zang do not pray to him. Viewing the dark god akin to a respected parent, they thank him for teaching them what they needed to know when they were young.

Adventurers: Every zang adventures, when they are exiled from their birth clan. Upon reaching the age of ten, they are cast out from their clan to prove themselves. Their birth clan will not accept them as a member, but once they have the scars proving themselves to be a warrior they may be accepted into a new clan. Most achieve this by hiring themselves as mercenaries to other races, on rare occasions even aiding surfacers.

Names: Zang do not receive a name until their fifth birthday, when they have begun their martial training. Typically given two names in addition to their clan name, their clan name is stripped from them when they are exiled at the age of ten. Until they find a new clan to take them in, all that they have are their two names.

Male Names: Aulani, Dunzula, Fisima, Ipana, Kandu, Tartum, Turant, Zduni, Zilnurraz, Zinar

Female Names: Ashlat, Atshar, Awitar, Belale, Iolana, Kilale, Lahunzi, Mthungile, Nilenit, Ubelat

Clan Names: Ancient Echoes, Bloody Wave, Cross Current, Crushing Tide, Reef Hunter, Sahuagin’s Bane, Silt Shadow, Surfacer Stalker

Zang Racial Features

+2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma: Zang are fast and smart, but their love of fighting and reputation make others nervous.

Racial Buoyancy¹ -20, Depth Tolerance² 500 feet

Zang Zang are humanoids with the zang subtype.

Normal Speed Zang have a swim speed of 30 feet. In addition, they have a land speed of 20 feet.

Carrion Sense: Zang have a keen sense of smell that is tuned for blood, though not to the degree of sharks. This functions like the scent ability, but only for corpses and badly wounded creatures (creatures with 25% or fewer hit points).

Clamp Gills Zang have gills instead of lungs, but can clamp them shut to function out of water.

Electrolocation: You may spend ten minutes out of water per Strength modifier before you begin to suffocate.You have blindsight to a range of 30 ft. underwater (10 ft. in air). You lose this ability for 1d4 rounds whenever you take lightning damage. You may not detect undead creatures or constructs with this ability. Exceptions may be made by your GM for constructs powered by electricity.

Mighty Blows:You receive Power Attack as a bonus feat.

Weapon Familiarity:You are automatically proficient with long tridents and surface hooks, in addition any weapon with the word zang in the name is considered a martial weapon.

Languages Zang adventurers begin play speaking Aquan and Zang. Zang with high intelligence scores can choose from the following: Akkardain, Dohrnira, Koup’irola, Skkrak (the language of sahuagin), and Squoran.

Length and Weight

Gender           Base Length   Modifier         Base Weight   Modifier

Female                             4’10”     2d12                  155 lbs.            ×5

Male                                 5’           2d12                  170 lbs.            ×5

Age Stats

Adulthood -- 10

     Barbarian, Kineticist, Rogue, Spiritualist               1d4

     Fighter, Occultist, Psychic, Ranger                         1d6

     Medium, Mesmerist, Monk                                       2d4

Middle Age -- 30

Old -- 55

Venerable -- 75

Maximum -- +2d10

Sample Zang Character

Ashtar Mthungile

Zang Barbarian 1

Humanoid (zang)  CN

Init +1; Senses Perception +5, electrolocation, carrion sense

Defense

AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +1 Dex)

hp 19 (1d12+7)

Fortitude +5, Reflex +1, Will +1

Offense

Speed 20 ft., 30 ft. swim

Melee long trident +5 (1d12+10/*3) or surface hook +5 (1d4+5)

Tactics

Ashtar's chosen weapon depends on whether the opponent is underwater or on a floating structure. For the former he darts in with his long trident while for the latter he hovers just under the water level before using his hook to grapple and pull them down below the surface.

Statistics

Str 20, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6

Base Attack +1; CMB +6 (+7 grapple); CMD 17

Feats Toughness, Power Attack³

Skills Acrobatics +1, Climb +5, Intimidate +2, Perception +5, Survival +5, Swim +13

Languages Aquan, Koup’irola, Zang

Traits Killer, Apex Birth⁴

SQ Carrion Sense, Clam Gills, Electrolocation, Fast Movement

Gear long trident, surface hook⁵, scaly armor, backpack, kelp rope (50 ft.)

1. Buoyancy is a mechanic developed by Alluria Publishing for their Cerulean Seas setting. It is used in place of weight and can be positive or negative, representing a tendency towards sinking or floating.
2. Another mechanic from Cerulean Seas, depth tolerance is how deep a race can typically go before suffering ill effects from the water pressure. A similar mechanic called Pressure Sensitivity is also used for races that are native to the deep ocean like angler fish or goblin sharks which determines how shallow they can go before suffering ill effects.
3.  The mechanical effects of this feat have already been calculated into Ashar's stats.
4. A zang-specific race trait that grants a +1 bonus to grapple checks.
5. A custom reach weapon that, upon a successful hit, allows the wielder to initiate a grapple.
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