Ujalaam

The haughty warrior-scholars charged with keeping the histories of Ruatiwanga, feared for their brutal hunts

Of all the races upon the newly discovered land of Ruatiwanga, those known by their own people as 'Ujalaam' are perhaps best suited for nonhostile contact at the current time.
A former prey species that has seen significant oppression, enslavement, and strife as recently as a few hundred years ago, they now stand as paragons of ideals largely espoused by our own Empire - Intolerance, Disdain of the unknown and the foreign, and Martial Excellence in the name of self-preservation.
Approach, however, will be challenging - all surviving members of the species have united under a racial government known as the Hightalon Regency; so named for a member of their own species responsible for their cultural and biological evolution into a true predator species. This regency is extremely hostile to all outsiders, and maintains several citadels in hard to reach locales for their kind to use as homelands. Initial attempts at contact failed due to the extreme remoteness of these citadels. The exact means of the species' ascension from prey to predator is not known at this time, though the species yet holds a large degree of hatred towards nearly all other species on Ruatiwanga for their past mistreatments as a prey species.
From current observations, few citizens of the Suzerainty see them as "people" - with hatred and fear being fairly common feelings towards them. In many cases, the racial disparages cast upon them are worse than those of the Bhadu - though seemingly only out of a racist, anachronistic yearning by many for 'the good old days' when their species was not protected under Suzerainty law. In this area, the Ujalaam have done themselves no favors - and indeed, by the estimation of this Inquisitor, seem to be purposefully stoking such hatreds for reasons that cannot currently be ascertained.
Additionally, by preliminary metrics, the Species ranks as a Type A on the Burgess-Walter scale - a landmark ranking consider the B ranking of the Goblin species and the C ranking of the Bhadu - marking them for immediate integration into the Empire and its military. Species displays extremely fast speeds while flying, high intelligence, and notable combat abilities of many kinds that would, all told, compensate for the Empire's lack of effective air-based vehicles or weaponry. See attached form 8B for more details on the species' combat abilities.
Due to their racial feud with a rival species known as the Zuqalb, this rivalry has been earmarked as a potential avenue to earn the trust of their leaders should this proposal be accepted.
Recommend immediate covert contact with the Hightalon Regency by [REDACTED], using the species' feud with the Zuqalb as an inroad if need be.

— Excerpt from Inquisitor Odonaghue's Report on the species known as the 'Ujalaam', shortly after peaceful relations were established between the Iron Empire and Ruatiwanga

Base Racial Trait

Ability Score Modifiers: (+2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, -2 Strength, -2 Charisma): Ujalaam are complicated creatures that are simultaneously agile and quick-witted, with a surprisingly robust constitution, but are often frail of body and rather blunt and haughty.
Size: Ujalaam are medium sized creatures and thus gain no benefits or penalties due to their size.
Type: Ujalaam are monstrous humanoids with the Ujalaam subtype. Ujalaam are affected by all spells and effects as if they were also humanoid creatures.
Speed: Ujalaam have a base land speed of 20ft that is never modified by armor or encumberance. They gain a fly speed of 40ft with good maneuverability.
Vision: Ujalaam possess Low-Light Vision that allows them to see four times as well as humans in conditions of low-light, and the See in Darkness Universal Monster Rule - though it only functions as such during nighttime hours(9PM-9AM).
Languages: Ujalaam begin play speaking Ujalaami ONLY. Ujalaam with high INT can select from Tiwanga, Low Ironite, Auran, Elven, Sylvan, Luxan, Celestial, Chotaran, and Giant as Bonus Languages.
Razortalons: Ujalaam possess notoriously deadly claws specialized for attacks from the air - they gain two claw attacks as primary natural attacks that deal 1d6 damage each with an 18-20 crit range(x2 Multiplier). They also gain the Flyby Attack feat as a bonus feat. Additionally, when making a successful claw attack on a hostile creature while they are flying, Ujalaam automatically slice the target's throat or body in such a way as to effectively silence them until they receive healing equal to half the damage dealt by the attack.
Silent Flight: Ujalaam ignore all Armor Check Penalties to stealth, are not slowed down by armor, and make no noise as if silenced while in active flight. They gain stealth as a class skill and gain a +2 racial bonus to all stealth checks, which doubles while flying. They also ignore Armor Check Penalties on the Fly Skill.
Lords of Historia: As keepers of the most ancient and esoteric knowledge of Ruatiwanga's past, the Ujalaam are well-studied creatures. Ujalaam may switch the primary attribute of up to three skills to Intelligence at character creation, and gain Skill Focus in a skill of their choice at 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th levels. They may make knowledge checks untrained only when making them to uncover the weaknesses, strengths, or other mechanical information of enemies they encounter.
Templar's Call: Ujalaam, not content with merely knowing their origins, have studied their ancestors until they could flawlessly replicate the hooting sounds of mundane owls. Thanks to this, they may as a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity release hoots that resemble those of owls that can be heard within 120ft - any creature that hears this hooting and verbally acknowledges it in any way(Calling out to it, referencing the presence of owls, etc) automatically grants the Ujalaam information on them as per Blood Biography, replacing "Blood Spilled" with "Heard the Hooting of this ability". Any creature that triggers this ability cannot perceive the Ujalaam through mundane senses for 1 minute afterwards(Though is immune to the perception-altering effect of this trait for 24 hrs afterwards).
Hightalon's Peerage: As they who have diligently carried on the traditions and practices of the ancient Ujalaam hero Lord Hightalon, the Ujalaam train diligently in his ancient battle arts. Ujalaam may use INT in place of DEX on attack OR damage rolls(Choose one at character creation, cannot be changed) with any finesse weapon or any weapon they could otherwise use DEX to hit/damage on. Additionally, once per day while perched upon a high vantage point beneath the open sky, an Ujalaam can enhance their vision to grant themselves the ability to see accurately(Recquiring a perception check for finer details as appropriate) any location within a number of miles equal to their total Perception bonus. While so perched, an Ujalaam is treated as sleeping and may maintain this sight until they move.
Cloak of Hate: Intolerant and Arrogant, an Ujalaam's hatred is not merely for show - it girds him against those who would seek to do him harm. Thanks to this, an Ujalaam cannot be caught flat-footed, denied their dexterity to AC, or surprised by any intelligent creature(INT 3+) that experiences and feels emotion - against such creatures(Including Outsiders and Undead, as beings borne of emotion), attacks that would go off the Ujalaam's flat-footed AC hit off their normal AC instead and they are automatically included in surprise rounds initiated by such creatures. Creatures that fit these criteria that have their emotions blunted or negated(Such as with a Calm Emotions effect, or other ways at GM discretion) are excluded from this ability. An Ujalaam with this trait who would get Uncanny Dodge can upgrade it instead to Improved Uncanny Dodge - and likewise upgrade Improved Uncanny Dodge to a Free Combat Feat instead if they already possess it.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The anatomy of the Ujalaam is largely comparable to the Great Horned Owls(And other Owl Species) that they were believed to have originated from - save for their newly massive size and the addition of feathered, taloned arms located on thier torsos. Beyond this, precious little information exists on their anatomy and biology - if any such information exists, it is likely hoarded by their rival species the Zuqalb; who likely see no reason to share information that helps the bat-like warriors in their quest against their ancient foe.

Biological Traits

Ujalaam, like many species of Ruatiwanga, have incredible biological diversity - appearing to draw their traits from the various breeds of Owl across the land. Largest of their kind as the Great Horned Ujalaam, descended from the Great Horned Owls of Ruatiwanga, while other more soft varieties such as Snow Owls and the like are often seen in Ujalaam populations.

Genetics and Reproduction

Ujalaam are believed to reproduce sexually and hatch from eggs, but any information beyond this is unknown - as no outsider has been allowed to set foot in a citadel of the Hightalon Regency where their eggs are hatched in well-over a thousand years or more.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ujalaam are believed to grow slowly once hatched, but any information beyond this is unknown - as no outsider has been allowed to set foot in a citadel of the Hightalon Regency where their eggs are hatched in well-over a thousand years or more.

Ecology and Habitats

Though they themselves are capable of inhabiting nearly any environment save for the most extreme, Ujalaam prefer environments that offer them seclusion from outsiders - and especially from land-based creatures, whom they often deride as lesser creatures thanks to centuries of treatment as little more than a menial race of slaves and sub-human animals to be hunted and slaughtered for amusement.
In the days of their existence as a "prey species", Ujalaam often preferred forests and other woodlands and grasslands where they could perch and freely fly in equal measure - though now they have largely abandoned such lands for mountains and high hills where they can dwell within their massive Citadels built atop slave labor isolated from the rest of the world.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Rather amusingly for many who even now percieve them as hapless prey, Ujalaam are obligate carnivores who must consume exclusively meat to fuel their diets - making them natural hunters whose attacks from the air have spelled death for many a roaming animal or even occasional illegal poacher.

Biological Cycle

As they age, many Ujalaam grow more and more robust coats of feathers - while some grow more and more impressive horns atop their heads. Exact details are unfortunately scarce, as no outsider has been allowed to set foot in a citadel of the Hightalon Regency where their eggs are hatched and their young are raised in well-over a thousand years or more.

Behaviour

In the modern day, the Ujalaam of the Suzerainty are unnaturally united beneath the banner of the Hightalon Regency - though largely because of their lack of allies that forces them to band together or be ruthlessly poached and hunted by those who would prefer to continue their old ways of hunting and killing them for sport.
By nature, though, Ujalaam are natural hunters and possessed of an Iron Will few can fathom - in many ways the polar opposite of the Bhadu who are famed for their skittish nature - though they are by nature solitary hunters more than communal gatherers; a trait which was largely responsible for their centuries of persecution at the hands of other species of Ruatiwanga as prey unlike the Bhadu, who could at least band together as naturally communal beings for survival.
Proud, Egotistical, and Self-Confident to a fault, Ujalaam see nearly all other beings of other species as their intellectual and racial inferiors - save for exceptions such as the Bhadu and those they have yet to encounter in a significant manner such as Humans - thanks largely to centuries of persecution at the hands of nearly every species on Ruatiwanga. Overall, they are a people who take pride in all they do, and are by nature a deeply emotional people who may have once been natural empaths and happy creatures but are now creatures twisted by centuries of hunting and abuse into the only thing that could survive such hatred - arrogant, egotistical hunters who see themselves as better by virtue of their strength and having endured their tragedy itself. As a result, many Ujalaam of the current day tend to distance themselves from worldly affairs - preferring scholarly pursuits and improvements of the self to social interactions with creatures they often see as base, impulsive beasts of little more use than common laborers or slaves.
Ujalaam, though, do not see the keeping of slaves as notable - and even decry the slavery of most beings, save for those they considering "mentally deficient"(A label they usually base on a species' ability to fit in with others, show kindness where it is not expected, and other virtues many other cultures consider 'knightly'). This, overall, gives them a very contradictory nature - espousing the importance of scholarly pursuits and freedom and kindness while keeping slaves to build their Citadels of species they themselves consider animals at best, and thus seeing their enslavement as simple domestication.
Overall, to those who are not total or partial embodiments of the Ujalaam's knighty ideals and virtues, the Ujalaam often come off as haughty and even cruel - though to those who do embody such ideals the Ujalaam can often come off as heroes of yore so earnest dedicated to good and justice that it can seem almost stifling at times. Often unhelpful, however, are their long lives - meaning that they often keep grudges and are slow to reconsider opinions about other cultures or species.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Ujalaam faces can vary wildly in appearance and characteristic - big eyes or small, horns or no horns, and even feather coloration and beak size can vary wildly from Ujalaam to Ujalaam.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ujalaam are found exclusively in the Suzerainty of Ruatiwanga, and even then only in areas hard for land-based creatures to reach such as mountains, high hills, and rocky canyons.

Average Intelligence

Ujalaam are extremely intelligent creatures, and exist on a level above the average Human intelligence.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Often famed for their sensory abilities, Ujalaam are not quite as perceptive as many believe them to be - as much of the 'mythos' surrounding their supposed feats of perception are often outright fabrication or misunderstandings of other racial abilities. Nonetheless, they are extremely perceptive - believed to be capable in seeing nearly 360 degrees around themselves at all times and are even said to be capable of enhancing their sight to see for miles beneath the open sky. Also of note is their extremely excellent nightvision - though it degrades significantly when not during nighttime hours.

To acknowledge the enemy is to give them power.
Gird yourself with hatred; Deny your foes their very existence.
Disdain is your shield - Disbelief your blade.
You were prey once.
You are prey no longer.

— The Hightalon Mantra, commonly used by Ujalaam to center themselves in the face of danger

Alternate Racial Trait List:
NOT YET BUILT.

Racial Feat List:
NOT YET BUILT.

Lifespan

250 Years

Conservation Status

Though many would likely rather prefer them to be endangered, Ujalaam are nonetheless a very populous species in no need of conservation - though their citadels and homelands are often quite far from other civilized lands in places often unreachable to non-flyers.

Average Height

8ft - 9.5ft (2.44m- 2.90m)

Average Weight

Unknown, though they are deceptively light for their size.

Average Physique

Though they are often tall and imposing, Ujalaam lack a very strong musculature and are often lithe and nimble beneath their often deceptive feathery forms.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Ujalaam bodies, covered in feathers, can vary wildly in coloration but are often silver, brown, or other light or earthen colors. They often possess many unusual or beautiful patterns upon their feathers that make them incredibly desirable to hunters and poachers.