Early Stage Barathu

Barathus are the sentient apex of a gas-giant ecosystem, blimp-like creatures vaguely reminiscent of jellyfish, with several unusual evolutionary adaptations. The first is their ability to rewrite their own genetic code instinctively and at will, adjusting their own biology to allow them to manufacture a huge array of substances—and even advanced biotechnology— within the crucibles of their own bodies. Yet while this ability makes them quite successful in the economy, and has deeply influenced their culture’s understanding of wealth and trade, their more notable adaptation is the ability to combine with others of their kind into larger, hive-minded superentities.

These mergings create not merely amalgams of their component beings, but entirely new entities with unique and independent consciousnesses, yet which in turn often disband back into their component individuals after a particular need or threat has passed.

Barathu culture tends to be easygoing but hard for some other races to understand, as the barathus’ frequent merging makes the concept of “self” somewhat nebulous to them. Young barathus who grow up surrounded by humanoids are an exception, as they are better able to appreciate the mindsets of creatures who exist in static, solitary configurations. Compared to older barathus, early stage barathus are more adventurous and individualistic, and their adaptation to the humanoid mindset makes it more difficult for them to merge completely with others of their kind. Most of these early stage barathus grow out of this phase, gaining the ability to fully integrate with others, yet recent generations have seen more and more barathus deliberately clinging to their juvenile mindsets. While plenty of barathus remain discrete entities for most of their lives, barathus nearing the ends of their lives often merge with massive, permanent combinatory entities that serve as corporations, governments, or cultural repositories.

Racial Traits

Ability Adjustments: +2 Con, +2 Wis, –2 Dex

Hit Points: 6

Size and Type

Early stage barathus are Medium aberrations.

Early Stage Adaptation

An early stage barathu’s body is mutable and can adapt to many different situations. Once every 1d4 rounds as a swift action, an early stage barathu can reshape its body and adjust its chemistry to gain one of the following qualities. The adaptation lasts until the beginning of the early stage barathu’s next turn. Unlike more mature barathus, early stage barathus are not generally capable of more complex adaptations.

• Upper limb refinements enable the barathu to add an additional amount of damage to melee attacks equal to its Strength modifier.
• A toughened dermal layer grants its a +1 racial bonus to AC.
• Developed lower limbs grant it a base speed of 15 feet.
• Molecular-level modifications grant it resistance 2 against a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic).
• Elongated limbs extend its reach to 10 feet.

Floaters

Early stage barathus have a base speed of 0 feet and an extraordinary fly speed of 30 feet with average maneuverability.

Limited Telepathy

Early stage barathus can communicate telepathically with any creatures within 30 feet with whom they share a language in common.

Strange Anatomy

Early stage barathus gain a +1 racial bonus to Fortitude saving throws.