Helscarra

The helscarra are a squat, chitinous race, primarily dwelling in cave systems and sheltered complexes. Their strange appearance is exemplified by their faces, which bare no nose or ears, but a set of mandibles and six beady eyes. Their isolated communities and alien physiology make their relationships with other races somewhat strained. Contrary to appearances, though, their culture is rich with poetry and art, although much of it does not translate well.

Physical Description: Helscarra are insect like in appearance, their bodies being largely covered in black or dark blue chitin. They are humanoid, but exhibit a great range of movement in their short limbs. At their tallest they stand a few inches above 3 feet, and exhibit quite a range of body shapes.  It seems to be a genetic quirk of the helscarra for new patterns and shapes of their chitin, particularly the ridges at the top of their head, to mutate almost constantly. It is also common, especially among young helscarra seeking a mate, to dye these ridges with bright colours.

Society: Helscarra live in isolated communities either underground or in shaded villages on the surface, but travel and communication between these communities is regular. While private conversation between friends and family is casual and communication for business and commerce is entirely functional and impersonal, there are strict societal conventions for how helscarra should speak otherwise. Each sentence must be thought out and poetic, spoken to a beat provided by one's mandibles. Agreement is shown by joining in the beat, and – though it is extremely impolite – should one disagree thoroughly they may start up a counter-beat and cut off the speaker with their own speech. While this is largely impenetrable to non-helscarra, and those that live among other races tend to abandon it as it is difficult to form their thoughts right in another language, there is a small subculture of helscarran beat-speech enthusiasts who treat it as an art form.

Helscarra society places great weight on family and community – they are expected to spend the first half of their life working to support their elders, then travelling to another community to find a mate and raise young of their own. Those who trade with other races are seen as a necessary inconvenience, and those who leave helscarran society permanently are treated as outcasts. Of course, this precise pressure to stay is often exactly what pushes the more adventurous helscarra to leave.

Relations: Helscarra are seen as odd and alien. As it is assumed (not entirely wrongly) that they want nothing to do with other races, other races tend to avoid them where possible. Nevertheless they are seen as dutiful, reliable, and honest, so are trusted as traders and businessmen. Their artistic bent is treated as an odd quirk by the majority who can't relate to their point of view, and as almost universal genius by those who are familiar with it.

Alignment and Religion: As structured and duty-bound as it is, helscarra society is lawful by nature, though concerns itself little with morality. Those individuals that strike out into the world are more likely to be motivated by a desire to do good or act in self-interest, and can tend to be chaotic simply out of defiance. Helscarra tend not to be particularly religious, though individuals may worship whatever god they feel is in line with their worldview.

Adventurers: As helscarran adventurers tend to be in open defiance of societal tradition, they often defy their restrictive home environment by acting as barbarians. They make naturally good clerics, and in the same spirit will adopt other races' gods and ideals. While their traditions and art-heavy culture seem to prepare them for a life as bards, it is difficult for them to have other races connect with their art, and helscarran bards are surprisingly rare.

Standard Racial Traits:

Ability Score Racial Traits: Helscarra are thoughtful and surprisingly hardy, but their alien appearance and insular culture make them hard to connect with. They gain +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, and -2 Charisma.
Size: Helscarra are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a -1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
Base Speed (Slow Speed): Helscarra have a base speed of 20 feet.
Languages: Helscarra begin play speaking Common and Helscarran. Figure out the rest later.

Defense Racial Traits:

Chitinous: Helscarra receive a +1 natural armor bonus to AC.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits:

Beat-Speech: When speaking in formal Helscarran beat-speech to creatures that understand Helscarran, helscarra receive a +4 racial bonus on Diplomacy, Perform (Oratory), and Perform (Sing) checks.

Learned: Helscarra receive a +2 racial bonus to Knowledge (Dungeoneering)

Senses Racial Traits:

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

Weakness Racial Traits:

Light Sensitivity: Helscarra's subterranean life causes them to suffer from light sensitivity.

Alternate Racial Traits:
Surface Dweller: Helscarra with this racial trait do not suffer from light sensitivity. This racial trait replaces Learned.
Polyglot: Some helscarra take it upon themselves to learn of others' cultures, but at the cost of detaching themselves from their own. Helscarra with this racial trait receive a +2 racial bonus to Linguistics, and it is always a class skill for them. In addition, they begin play speaking any one extra language. This racial trait replaces Beat-Speech.
Mainstream Artist: Helscarra with this racial trait are able to overcome their race's alien outlook to make their performances appealing to other races, but lose their connection to the purity of beat-speech. They gain a +2 bonus to all Perform checks. This racial trait replaces Beat-Speech.
Robust: Helscarra with weaker chitin are more open to infection, and so build up their immune systems from an early age. Helscarra with this racial trait receive a +1 bonus to Fortitude saving throws. This racial trait replaces Chitinous.