Shobhad

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Shobhad
(Creature)
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This article covers the people of Akiton. For the language, see Shobhad (language).
Ezren and Seelah step through a portal and meet shobhads on Akiton.

Shobhads are giant, four-armed humanoids1 native to the planet Akiton. Many live in rugged, nomadic clans known collectively as the shobhad-neh,2 who reject the ways of humans and other ancestries in favor of battle and strict codes of honor.34

Appearance

Shobhads stand 12 feet tall and weigh around 500 pounds, most of which is muscle. Their skin is gray. Unlike most humanoids, they have four arms, which they often use to wield up to four weapons at a time. Shobhads often wield huge swords and their trademark thasteron-based shobhad longrifles.3

Shobhads prefer practical clothes such as leather and animal hides to protect them from Akiton's brutal winds, though chieftains and shamans wear ornate, brightly colored ritual garb.35 Shobhad enforcers—a term loosely translated from a Shobhad-language title granted to battle-tested warriors who have defeated desert threats such as gluttonworms or ikeshti riveners—wear more substantial armor, such as chainmail and magically reinforced handwraps.4

History

In ancient times, the ancestors of the shobhads were split into two warring factions. One lived in a state of nomadic barbarism, while the other favored magic, city-building, and commerce. Many city-dwelling shobhads abandoned Akiton to wander the planets and planes and came to be known as the witchwyrds,6 while the nomads who remained on the Red Planet became collectively known as the shobhad-neh.65

Habitat and ecology

Most shobhads inhabit the cold deserts and mountains of Akiton as nomads, while a small minority live in cities.34 In the northern Winterlands, Akiton's two polar ice caps, at least two tribes of white-skinned shobhad clans make their home near the ruins of the ancient witchwyrds.7

Society

The shobhads look down on humans and other Akitonian races, whom they call "the soft races" for giving up combat and hunting for relatively advanced society, which shamefully strips away one's strength. They believe the weak shame their ancestors and are condemned to a nondescript, menial life and forgettable death.8

The shobhad-neh are in a constant state of internecine war over ancient feuds and pecking order.9

One of the most important sites to the shobhad-neh is the titanic volcano Ka, the Pillar of the Sky, the tallest known mountain in all of Akiton's solar system. Here the giants hold an annual Clanmoot to keep a semblance of racial unity. Shobhad braves sometimes take the Test of the Mountain; those few who survive are said to gain the gift of prophecy.10

Some shobhads on Akiton abandoned their traditional nomadic ways to live in its cities such as Seldo, where they often work as criminal enforcers and commercial guards. These modern city-dwelling shobhads often clash with their nomadic kin when they meet. Shobhad enforcers often hire themselves as caravan escorts.4

References

  1. In Distant Worlds, shobhads are monstrous humanoids.
  2. In Distant Worlds, "Shobhad-neh" is uppercased.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 James L. Sutter. “Chapter 3: Aliens” in Distant Worlds, 63. Paizo Inc., 2012
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Michael Sayre. “Adventure Toolbox” in Doorway to the Red Star, 88. Paizo Inc., 2021
  5. 5.0 5.1 Michael Sayre. “Adventure Toolbox” in Doorway to the Red Star, 89. Paizo Inc., 2021
  6. 6.0 6.1 James L. Sutter. “Chapter 3: Aliens” in Distant Worlds, 57. Paizo Inc., 2012
  7. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 19. Paizo Inc., 2012
  8. Andrew Penn Romine, et al. “Other People of the Stars” in People of the Stars, 14. Paizo Inc., 2014
  9. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 16. Paizo Inc., 2012
  10. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 18. Paizo Inc., 2012