Nuar

Nuars are pale, minotaur-like creatures with formidable frames and roughly bovine faces, hooves, and horns. Their skin and hair range in coloration from snow white to cream, light gray, or tan, with eyes that are generally pink or red, though they much more rarely may be bright blue, green, or yellow. Nuars’ bestial appearance often convinces others that the creatures are slow-witted and simple, but this is far from the truth.

Nuars claim they are a race distinct from the larger and less intelligent race of common minotaurs. With no firm scholarship to rely on, nuars have built a new mythology and history by borrowing elements from numerous other species and faiths.

Nuars have a strong appreciation for the culture of orcs and half-orcs, and often follow orc conventions and traditions that don’t interfere with their endeavors in invention and innovation. They are drawn to technology and their most senior priests also serve as skilled designers, engineers, and inventors.

Nuars are not a numerous race, even on their declared home. They have no known major settlements of their own, though rumors persist of technologically advanced labyrinths hidden deep within asteroids. As nuars age, they also tend to want to establish roots, often returning to start a family or build a community.

A typical nuar stands between 7 and 7-1/2 feet tall and weighs about 300 pounds.

Racial Traits

Ability Adjustments: +2 Str, +2 Int, –2 Dex

Hit Points: 6

Size and Type

Nuars are Medium monstrous humanoids.

Darkvision

Nuars have darkvision out to 60 feet.

Gore

A nuar can charge without taking the normal charge penalties to the attack roll or its AC. If the nuar has another ability that allows it to charge without taking these penalties (such as the charge attack ability from the soldier’s blitz attack fighting style), the nuar also gains the ability to charge through difficult terrain.

Maze Mind

Nuars have a naturally strong sense of direction and an instinctive understanding of complex patterns. As a result, they very rarely get lost. A nuar can attempt a special level-based Wisdom check (1d20 + (CR or level + Wisdom bonus) instead of using his total bonus in the Piloting skill to navigate or his total bonus in the Survival skill for orienteering.

In addition, a nuar with 1 or more ranks in Piloting or Survival also gains a +2 racial bonus to checks with that skill.

Natural Weapons

Nuars are always considered armed. They can deal 1d3 lethal piercing damage with unarmed strikes and the attack doesn’t count as archaic. Nuars gain a unique weapon specialization with their natural weapons at 3rd level, allowing them to add 1-1/2 × their character level to their damage rolls with their natural weapons (instead of just adding their character level, as usual).

Swift

Nuars have a base speed of 40 feet.