Pop Creature - Esperi

Terra Branford's esper form in
Final Fantasy: Dissidia

Spring is drawing to a close and convention season is upon us! That means more time spent planning and traveling and less time spent developing. During the next few months, expect slightly fewer content updates from the Encounter Table. We'll still be continuing our spotlight series and fiction, as well as premiering a new Side Paths article series detailing short adventures that can take place between Pathfinder Adventure Path chapters. There may just be a larger gap between articles until we're clear of the hustle and bustle of convention season.

This week the Encounter Table takes a look at the Esper-blooded heroine of Final Fantasy VI, Terra Branford, in our newest Pop Creature article. Presented as an eidolon-blooded playable race, the esperi comes with alternate racial traits, a unique summoner archetype, and racial feats. Let us know what you think of the esperi in the comments section, or check us out on Facebook!


Esperi (13 RP)
Eidolons exist as a portion of a summoner's soul, an expression of cosmic forces just beyond the edge of understanding. Sometimes the bond between summoner and eidolon transcends traditional boundaries, sometimes an eidolon discovers a romantic interest in one of the summoner's companions. Whatever the reasons, the child of a union between an eidolon and a humanoid creature is a wholly unique expression of that mutable change that an eidolon represents, and the stagnant corporeal form of mortality. Known as esperi, these extremely rare entities appear outwardly similar to their non-eidolon parent, but in times of crisis are able to call upon the otherworldly power dwelling within them to gain great supernatural abilities.

Physical Description: Most esperi closely resemble humans, though they tend to express unusual hair or eye color beyond the norm of their ethnicity, a hint of their otherworldly parentage. Like other plane-touched races—like aasimar and tieflings—esperi can come from other humanoid parentage. In game terms, the difference between non-human esperi and human esperi is purely a matter of size. Unless they have specific tiefling-related size modifiers, the esperi of other races are the same size as their non-esperi ancestors. They gain any of the bonuses or penalties related to that size, but gain no racial bonuses except those of the esperi; beyond size, their humanoid ancestry is purely cosmetic. In their eidolon forms, esperi take on the appearance of exotic and often-times monstrous bipedal creatures and gain a personalized, glowing sigil on their forehead (like a summoner and their eidolon both possess.) The appearance of an esperi's eidolon form is entirely cosmetic and chosen at character creation. This apearance never changes, save for in ways its evolutions may adjust.

Society: Esperi have no society of their own. Typically an esperi is raised by their non-eidolon parent in their race's society. Orphaned esperi are typically mistaken as members of their humanoid parent race until they first manifest their eidolon form, which can occur anywhere between the age of 12 and up.

Most esperi tend to seek strong social bonds with others and gravitate towards long-lasting relationships of all kinds, and are often times seen as dependent on others. While they are an adaptable people capable of finding a niche for themselves wherever their lives take them, esperi shy away from paths that would lead to isolation and lonliness.

Relations: All esperi have a modest ability to blend in with other societies. While most choose to live their lives among the race of their humanoid parentage, some seek out more diverse choices. Esperi thrive in situations where they are able to integrate themselves into a community or family unit, so they tend to gravitate towards races and cultures with strong familial and societal bonds, such as dwarves, elves, and humans.

Alignment and Religion: Esperi tend to be neutral, as their fluidic morality more comfortably allows them to fill whatever role or niche they can find in their adoptive society. However, those esperi raised by their parents are easily instilled with a strong sense of morality as they eagerly adapt to the desires of their parents ideals, or in some instances the ideals of their heroes or other formative influences. Esperi adopt the religion of their parents or the religion they find most comforting or welcoming within the society they live in.

Adventurers: Gravitating towards group environments, esperi thrive in an adventurer's life where a certain level of dependency on others is expected. An esperi's flexible nature and natural ability to pick of societal cues makes them excellent choices for a party's infiltrator or diplomat. Esperi rogues and investigators excel at adopting new identities and ferreting out information where few others can. An esperi's inborn magical heritage means that those who pursue the path of a sorcerer begin with an advantage beyond most others, while esperi take to the role of a summoner like a fish does to water.

Male Names: Alander, Bragh, Caim, Mors, Nedri, Rast, Savator, Talin, Xane

Female Names: Alin, Alys, Breia, Ceres, Elwys, Ingra, Safira, Terra, Vaia

Standard Racial Traits

Ability Score Racial Traits: Esperi are adaptable and capable of excelling in many ways. They gain +2 bonus to two ability scores of their choice.
Type: Esperi are outsiders with the native subtype.
Size: Esperi are Medium creatures and receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Speed: Esperi have a base speed of 30 feet.
Languages: Esperi begin play speaking Common. Esperi with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except for secret languages, such as Druidic). See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

Integrated: Esperi are adept at appropriating other cultures as their own and gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Disguise, and Knowledge (local) checks.

Magical Racial Traits

Eidolon Form (Su) [4rp]: As a move action an esperi may call upon its otherworldly heritage and transform itself like a Summoner's eidolon for 3 rounds per day + 1 additional round per point of Cha modifier, gaining the benefit of their chosen evolutions while in eidolon form. While in eidolon form, an esperi's physical appearance transforms and they gain a glowing symbol on their forehead identical to that of a Summoner. The esperi gains 1 evolution point while in eidolon form, plus 1 additional evolution point per 5 character levels which it may use to choose evolutions (see eidolons; Advanced Player's Guide). An esperi chooses its evolutions at 1st level and may only change them when they gain a new level. Though an esperi is not an extraplanar creature, they are vulnerable to spells that target extraplanar creatures while in eidolon form (such as dismissal and banishment.) Spells that would successfully banish the esperi from their current plane instead immediately ends their eidolon form and prevents them from using this ability again for 24 hours.

Senses Racial Traits

Darkvision: Esperi can see perfectly in the dark for up to 60 feet.

Other Racial traits

Eidolon Sorcery: An esperi sorcerer with the arcane bloodline treats their caster level as 1 higher when casting bonus spells and bloodline powers. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers that they could already use without this trait.

Alternate Racial Traits

The following alternate racial traits may be selected in place of one or more of the standard racial traits above. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.

Magic Sense: Some esperi have an intuitive sense of the magical world and gain detect magic as a spell-like ability usable at will. This ability replaces eidolon sorcery.

Mutable Form: Esperi with this ability are capable of dramatically changing their appearance and gain alter self as a spell-like ability usable once per day. This ability replaces eidolon sorcery and integrated.

Favored Class Options

The following favored class options are available to all characters of this race who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.

Barbarian Add +1/3 to the bonus from the superstitious rage power.
Monk Add +1/4 point to the monk's ki pool.
Oracle Add +1/2 to the oracle's level for the purpose of determining the effects of the oracle's curse ability.
Rogue Add +1/2 to the rogue's Disguise skill check.
Sorcerer Select one bloodline power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the sorcerer's Charisma modifier. The sorcerer adds +1/2 to the number of uses per day of that bloodline power.
Summoner Add +1/4 to the eidolon's evolution pool.
Witch Add one spell from the witch spell list to the witch's familiar. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level she can cast. If the witch ever replaces her familiar, the new familiar knows these bonus spells.

Racial Archetypes

The following racial archetypes are available to esperi:

Avatar (Summoner; Esperi)

Racial Feats

The following feats are available to an esperi character who meets the prerequisites.

Extra Transformation
You can use your eidolon transformation longer than usual.
Prerequisite: Esperi
Benefit: You can use eidolon transformation for 6 additional rounds per day.
Special: You can gain Extra Transformation multiple times. Its effects stack.

Persistent Transformation
One of your evolutions persists even while not transformed.
Prerequisite: Esperi, Base Attack Bonus +4
Benefit: Choose one 1-point evolution. You may use this evolution even when not using eidolon transformation.

Swift Transformation
You can change into your eidolon form quickly.
Prerequisite: Esperi, Base Attack Bonus +6, Cha 13+
Benefit: You may use eidolon transformation as a swift action.
Normal: Using eidolon transformation is a move action.

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Avatar (Summoner)
Esperi contain the power of an eidolon within themselves and some bold esperi summoners seek to enhance this power, rather than calling forth an extraplanar entity to their side. They hone their bodies and minds to become living weapons and can extend fragments of their own soul to the other creatures they summon.

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
the avatar is proficient with all simple weapons as well as light and medium armor (but not shields.)  the avatar can cast summoner spells while wearing light and medium armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, the avatar wearing heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass avatar still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes. This replaces a summoner's normal weapon and armor proficiencies.

Avatar
At 1st level the avatar learns to empower and enhance their own eidolon-based abilities. The avatar gains evolution points as an eidolon (in addition to the evolution points an esperi normally has), but gains no other eidolon special abilities (ability increase, natural armor bonus, etc.) These evolution points are usable only while in the esperi's eidolon transformation. Additionally, the avatar may remain in eidolon transformation for an additional number of rounds per day equal to her class level. This ability replaces eidolon.

Anchored Bond (Ex)
At 1st level the avatar gains a +1 bonus on Will saves to resist spells or effects that would end her eidolon transformation (such as dismissal or banishment.) This bonus increases by +1 at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter. This ability replaces life link.

Rapid Summons (Su)
Once per day at 2nd level the avatar may use her Summon Monster class ability as a swift action instead of a standard action. This ability replaces bond senses.

Share Evolution (Su)
At 4th level when the avatar uses her summon monster class ability, she may grant one summoned creature the benefit of a single 1-point evolution that she currently possesses. At 8th level the avatar may share a 2-point evolution, at 12th level she may share a 3-point evolution, and at 16th level she may share a 4-point evolution. This evolution lasts for as long as the creature remains summoned. This ability replaces shield ally, transposition, greater shield ally, and merge forms.

Maker's Jump (Sp)
At 6th level, whenever the avatar is in her eidolon transformation, she can cast dimension door as a spell-like ability using his caster level. This ability only affects the avatar. The avatar can use this ability once per day at 6th level, plus one additional time per day for every six levels beyond 6th. This ability replaces maker’s call, aspect, and greater aspect.

Eidolon Apotheosis
At 20th level the avatar may switch in and out of eidolon form as a move action at will and remain in eidolon form indefinitely. Additionally, the avatar no longer needs to eat or sleep. This ability replaces twin eidolon.

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Open Content: The game mechanics of this game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d).