Satori

Physical Description: Slender and agile, satori resemble humans, save for the defining third eye they possess; this third eye can be one of multiple things – either appearing on their forehead, floating alongside them held aloft by many tendrils, or being ‘invisible’ within their eye, only making itself known when the Satori chooses to read someone’s mind. They otherwise have matching hair and eye colors, and are typically shorter than most humans.

Society: Satori society is often small, relegated to a group living out of the public eye due to the inherent prejudice present against them. Because of this they often lived in mountain regions, secluding themselves away from the world and rarely seeing the light of day because of this.

Relations: Due to their ability to read minds, most races have trouble interacting with satori. In their past humans slaughtered a majority of their numbers, reducing them down and leading them to go into hiding, these actions not only led to the rarity of satori across the world, but the strained relationship they had with other races due to their status as mind readers.

Alignment and Religion: Satori lean more towards neutrality above all else, their experiences of reading minds altering their view of the world and usually leading them to a bitter hatred for all “sides” present in the world; morality being viewed as merely another concept dreamed up to inhibit others and exploit power when necessary. Those who don’t fall into this paradigm are often younger satori, those who have just reached adulthood but have yet to venture into the world to see what people outside of their tribe are really like.

Adventurers: Adventure is a strange yet not unheard of drive to come about to the satori, preferring to see the world with their own eyes as opposed to relying on books and tales to tell them what they want to know. This drive for knowledge often leads them to becoming wizards apprentices, or noble courtiers in service to grand libraries or the like.

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: Satori devote themselves solely to the study of the mind; being smart and wise but very frail. They gain +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, and -2 Strength.
• Size: Satori are medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Type: Satori are humanoids with the satori subtype.
• Base Speed: Satori have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Satori begin play speaking Common and Sori. Satori with a high Intelligence scores can choose from any language they want (except for secret languages such as Druidic). See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these language.

Defense Racial Traits

• Jaded Worldview: Satori receive a +2 bonus to Will Saves versus mind-affecting effects. This bonus doubles against emotion-based effects.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

• Graceful Movements: Satori receive Improved Initiative as a bonus feat.
• Natural Magic: Satori are considered trained in Knowledge (Arcana), Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device as long as their Intelligence is at least 15. In addition to this they receive a +2 racial bonus on these skill checks if they possess a caster level from their class(es).

Magic Racial Traits

• Third Eye: Satori can cast Detect Thoughts at-will, using their character level as their caster level. The DC is equal to 10 + half satori’s character level + Intelligence or Wisdom modifier (whichever is higher). Using this is a swift action for the satori.

 

Alternate Racial Traits

• Closed Eye: By closing their third eye the satori can close themselves off from their mind-reading abilities. Satori who choose to do this use Detect Desires instead of Detect Thoughts, and in addition to this they are under a constant nondetection effect. In addition to this, the satori can use stealth even while being observed and those who attempt to remember their name and face ultimately forget it. Despite this they take a -5 to Will Saves against mind-affecting effects. This replaces Third Eye, Graceful Movements, and Jaded Worldview.
• Rough Diplomat: Satori are considered trained in Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate as long as their Charisma is at least 11, and receive a +2 racial bonus in addition if their Charisma is at least 13. This replaces Natural Magic.
• Strong Eye: In addition to the satori’s third eye’s regular abilities, once they reach 5th level their Detect Thoughts transforms into Seek Thoughts. This replaces Third Eye and Graceful Movements.
• Unifying Mind: In place of the satori’s Detect Thoughts, they can use Mindlink instead on allies. This replaces Third Eye.
• Destroy Mind: In place of the satori’s Detect Thoughts, they can use Mind Thrust I, using this is a standard action. This replaces Third Eye.
• Completely Jaded: The satori are instead immune to emotion-based effects and cannot gain morale bonuses, regardless if they come from an ally or enemy. They receive a +5 bonus to Will Saves versus mind-affecting effects due to this. This replaces Jaded Worldview.
• Trained Magic-User: Satori receive Skill Focus (Use Magic Device). This replaces Graceful Movements.