Hardback

Shorter than the average human, but significantly heavier. Their bodies are covered in thick, bony plates, and jagged spikes. Their backs are covered by their signature trait, a hard shell that protects much of their body.

The Hardbacks language, known as Shell-dancing. is primarily made up of gestures and movements, particularly involving the retracting and lunging of the head in and out of the shell. It is considered offensive to a Hard back for anyone not of their race to attempt to use their language.

Hardbacks eat a varied diet of swrunp foliage, insects, and fish. They prefer their food cooked, but can digest raw food without any issue.

Hardback Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: +2 to Constitution, +2 to Wisdom, -2 Dexterity. Hardbacks are physically resilient, and incredibly enlightened, but lack agility and quickness.
• Type: Hardbacks are Humanoids with the Reptile subtype.
• Size: Hardbacks are Medium creatures and receive no benefits or negatives for size.
• Speed: Hardbacks have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.
• Hard Shell: Hardbacks have a shell that protects them, granting them a +1 natural armor bonus. In addition enemies no longer gain a bonus to hit when flanking a Hardback (though all other aspects of flanking apply).
• Ancient Wisdom: Hardbacks live almost twice as long as any other race in Layna, and are able to collect and pass down their wisdom from generation to generation. Hardbacks gain the feat Breadth of Experience.
• Rest Is For The Weak: Through years of training, Hardbacks have learned to ignore the need for rest, considering it to be a sign of weakness. Once per day a Hardback may ignore an effect that would cause them to become fatigued or exhausted.
• Weapon Familiarity: Hardbacks are proficient in the trident and any weapons with the word “Hardback” in the name.
• Languages: Hardbacks began play speaking Common and Shell-dancing. Hardbacks with high intelligence scores may choose from the following: Croak, Meowori, Roarish, Yipyap, and Bleat-Speak

Favored Class Bonuses

• Alchemist: Add +l/2 to the alchemist’s bomb damage
• Bard: Add +1 to the bard’s CMD when resisting a disarm or sunder attempt
• Cleric: Select one domain power granted at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the cleric’s Wisdom modifier. The cleric adds +l/2 to the number of uses per day of that domain power.
• Druid: Add +1/3 to the druid’s natural armor bonus when using wild shape.
• Fighter: Add +l to the fighter’s CMD when resisting a bull rush or trip.
• Inquisitor: Add +l/2 to the inquisitor‘s level for the purpose of determining the effects of one type of judgment.
• Monk: Add +l to the monk’s CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/2 to the number of stunning attacks he can attempt per day.
• Paladin: Add +l to the paladin’s energy resistance to one kind of energy (maximum +10).
• Ranger: Add DR 1/magic to the ranger’s animal companion. Each additional time the ranger selects this benefit, the DR/magic increases by +l/2 (maximum DR 10/magic). If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new companion gains this DR.
• Sorcerer: Add +1/2 point of fire damage to spells that deal fire damage cast by the sorcerer.