Gruquotec
by Jamie BatyHWR1 16
Medium Humanoid (Goblinoid)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: -1 (-1 Dex)
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares) in hide armour; base speed 30 ft.
Armout Class: 14 (-1 Dex, +2 natural, +3 hide armour), touch 9, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+4
Attack: Club +4 melee (1d4 +2) or by weapon
Full Attack: Club +4 melee (1d4 +2) or by weapon
Space/Reach: 5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 9, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 8
Skills: Balance -4, Climb -1, Escape Artist -4, Hide +0, Intimidate +5, Jump -1, Listen +7, Move Silently +0, Sleight of Hand -4, Spot +7, Swim -4, Tumble -4
Feats: Alertness, Power Attack
Environment: Warm forests, hills
Organisation: Solitary, Gang (2-5 plus 1 2nd level sergeant), Squad (5-20 plus 2 2nd-level sergeants and 1 lieutenant of 2nd-5th level), or Band (20-40 plus 150% non-combatants plus 4 2nd-level sergeants, 2 2nd-5th level lieutenants and 1 leader of 5th-10th level)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: by Character Class
Level Adjustment: +1
These humanoids are a degenerate offshoot of the Beastman race, corrupted by untold generations of inbreeding and the entropic emanations from the burrowers. Gruquotecs are found only in the Azcan Empire, in the southeastern hills. Their name itself is an Azcanised corruption of "Gruuk," which the "pure" Beastmen call themselves.
The Gruquotecs have their own language, and speak none other. They seem a gibberish mixed Beastman, Neathar, Azcan and Antalian- almost, but not quite, completely indecipherable to someone who knows those languages.
The Gruquotecs are smallish, males and females averaging about five feet in height, and stocky. Like Beastmen, their features vary widely-some are dog-faced, others tusked. Most are quite hairy. All have a bold, black tattoo highlighted with earthy red: a draconian head, the symbol of their unholy Earth-Beast.
For clothing gruquotecs have augmented their ancestral furs with colour feathers and plumage in imitation of the Azcans. Females and the great warriors often sport the most ornate feathers. They supplement these trapping with gold jewellery in an Azcan style (often looted from their Azcan victims).
Combat
Gruquotecs are fierce warriors and they fight primarily with clubs studded with rocks and obsidian or stone axes. Unlike other cultures in the Hollow World, they are not subject to the Spell of Preservation and may use any simple or martial weapons they find or loot. They may also wear any light or medium armour and shields they find. Many upper-level warriors wield arms and armour captured from the Azcans and Schattenalfen
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A gruquotec can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of shadowy illumination. It retains the ability to distinguish colour and detail under these conditions.
Skills: Gruquotecs receive a +4 racial bonus to Hide, Intimidate, Listen, Move Silently, Spot checks.
Society
Gruquotec life revolves around two things- hunting for food, and hunting for sacrificial victims to honour the Earth-Beast. They are organised in a rough tribal structure. They live in cave warrens and maintain bloody altars in various locations in honour of the Earth-Beast. Gruquotecs avoid all sentient life, unless searching for sacrificial victims. They are fiercely territorial, and will attempt to kill or capture any trespassers. Women and children generally do not stray far from the warrens and will not attack, unless the warren itself has been violated.
Advancement
Gruquotecs often take levels in barbarian, fighter or warrior. Spellcasting classes are very rare among the gruquotecs, but those that cast spells hold much power. Spellcasters are mostly likely to be clerics or druids. Clerics may choose two of the following domains: Animal, Strength, and War.