Istryxian
Dual-natured humanoid people united by a shared ancestral memory, with a second sense that reads emotional and Rift frequencies, in three sublineages: D'horvakk, Zaelyth, and Keth'rassa.
Bladesong 
Path of the Champion 
Ancestral Guardian 
Bounty Hunter 
Path of the Zealot 
Soldier 
Weapons Specialist 
Marksman - Physiology
- Humanoid
- Size
- Medium
- Speed
- 30 ft.
- Ability scores
- Free placement
- Traits
- Istryxian
- Languages
- Istryx, Common
- Lifespan
- Mature at 22, typical maximum 220 years
Istryxians age in two phases: a near-human early adulthood, then a long, slow elder phase in which the memory-pool becomes more accessible. Elders often serve as cultural archivists in all three sublineages.
Features
- Dual-Form Perception
Your senses perceive both the physical world and a layered emotional field laid over it. You can sense, within 30 feet, the broad emotional state (calm, fearful, hostile, deceptive, in pain) of any creature whose mind operates on a sapient or near-sapient frequency. You cannot read specific thoughts. Constructs, undead, and minds heavily warded against intrusion register as flat or absent. This sense works through cover and in darkness, and lead, Aurelian void-shielding, and similar dense materials block it.
- Ancestral Memory-Pool
You inherit fragments of a shared cultural memory that surface relevant knowledge under pressure. Once per long rest, when you make an Intelligence (History, Lore, or Investigation) check related to Istryxian history, ancestry, regional folklore, or any matter your line plausibly witnessed, you can draw on the memory-pool. You treat the result as if you had rolled a 15, then add your modifiers. When a scene bears strongly on your lineage, the GM may also offer a fragment of cultural memory as a roleplay hook.
- Resonance-Reading
You can sense the presence and general character of active Rift energy within 60 feet of you. You can tell channeled Rift effects from latent ambient Rift, and you can identify the broad Channel of an active effect, such as Sun, Earth, or Ether, without identifying the specific spell. You cannot identify exact spells, channeled creatures, or hidden focus items by this sense alone. The sense can support Investigation and Riftcraft checks the GM is adjudicating.
- Shared Tongue
You can read, write, and speak Istryx, the layered tonal language common to all three sublineages. Istryx is spoken partly through dual vocalization (a primary tone and a sub-vocal harmonic), and non-Istryxians need years of training to replicate it fully. You can also speak one of Common or the regional language of your sublineage's territory.