Jason Andresen (order #1578489) - Jump page for Jubei

Nyss
Nyss, 1st-Level Warrior
Medium Humanoid (Elf)
Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (5 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+1 Dex, +3 studded leather
armor), touch 11, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Nyss claymore +3 melee (2d6+1/19–
20) or short sword +2 melee
(1d6+1/19–20) or longbow +2
ranged (1d8/x3)
Full Attack: Nyss claymore +3 melee (2d6+1/19–
20) or short sword +2 melee
(1d6+1/19–20) or longbow +2
ranged (1d8/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
In the mountains north of Khador, amid the crags and
crevices of the barren ice and glacial drifts, there are
monolithic formations called winter stones.
They stand as a foreboding warning to travelers,
marking the territory of the guardians
of the north, the winter elves, properly known
as the Nyss.
Knowing of their willingness to slay
intruders on sight, I felt trepidation when I
undertook an expedition alone past those
stones. I had been instructed in dealing with
this race by a well-traveled Khadoran trader,
who advised covering my weapons and bringing
a gift to show my intentions.
I eventually made peaceful contact and
was brought blindfolded to one of their villages.
The Nyss are never completely
at ease with outsiders,
and I was watched at all times.
Hospitality has almost religious
significance with them; while
they will slay any who intrude
uninvited in their territory, once they
have welcomed a visitor they are liberal
with food, wine, and company.
The Nyss have prospered in their barren
frozen wasteland and have virtually no
contact with the elves of Ios. There is no
130
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Nyss traits
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +0
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 12,
Int 10, Wis 7, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +3, Listen +0, Ride +3, Spot
+0, Survival +2
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (nyss
claymore) B , Iron Will
Environment: Cold mountains
Organization: Patrol (2–8), hunt (9–16), war band
(17–60), shard (61–200), or tribe
(200–800)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Alignment: Usually chaotic neutral
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: —
mistaking the two races for each other; the Nyss are very tall,
most males well over 6 feet in height, and their skin is pale as
bone. Their hair is either black or nearly white, and their eyes
ice-blue or sometimes violet.
They resent questions about their religion, but I was
able to learn a few things. They take their name from their
patron god, Nyssor, the god of winter. Nyssor is also
respected among the elves of Ios, but as a lesser
seasonal deity. I have found enigmatic reference of
a sleep from which he cannot wake, but do not
know the significance of this.
The major Nyss tribes number approximately
a dozen, each composed of four
or five “shards,” the core unit of society.
Shards are settled near glacial lakes and
valleys, and groups of hunters travel
between them looking for game and
enemies. Traditionally, every few decades
a shard will pack all its belongings and
travel among neighbors, sharing news and
forming alliances and marriages.
The Nyss contend for territory
and resources with various
tribes of fierce mountain
bogrin gobbers and ogrun conclaves,
and they have occasional
skirmishes with human barbarians and
the dwarves of Rhul.
Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9