Name: Angan Val Char Cost 15 STR 5 18 DEX 24 18 CON 16 8 BODY -4 10 INT 10 EGO 13 PRE 3 6 COM -3 4 PD 1 4 ED 3 SPD 2 7 REC 36 END 25 STUN Characteristic Rolls: STR: 12-, DEX: 13-, CON: 13-, INT: 11-, EGO: 11-, PER: 15- Run: 6", Swim: 2", Jump: 3", Lift: 200 kg Cost Powers END/Roll 20 "Bat-like Wings," Flight 10" 7 "Talons," HKA 1/2D6 (1D6 with STR), -1/4 Limit No Knockback, -1/4 Limit Reduced Penetration 5 "Prehensile Feet," Extra Limbs 16 "Eagle Eyes," Telescopic Vision x8, +4 to PER with Normal Sight 10 "Beak Nose," Telescopic Smell x2, +4 to PER with Normal Smell Cost Skills, Talents, Perks Roll 3 Concealment 11- 3 Navigation 11- 3 Survival 11- 2 WF: Common Melee Weapons 1 WF: Lasso 6 +3 Levels with Lasso 75+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: Bird-Man, Not Concealable, Not Distinctive in the Rookery 20 Social Limitation: Thorist Slave, Very Frequent, Major 15 Psychological Limitation: Always Obeys Orders, Common, Strong OCV: 6 (9 with Lasso); DCV: 6; ECV: 3; Mental Def.: 0; Phases: 4, 8, 12 PD/rPD: 4/0 ; ED/rED: 4/0 Costs: Char.: 44 Disad.: 45 Powers: + 76 Base: + 75 Exp.: + 0 Total: = 120 Total: = 120 Source: Edgar Rice Burroughs, "Pirates of Venus," 1932 Background: When daredevil Hollywood aviator Carson Napier crash-landed his rocketship on Amtor (Venus) he discovered a variety of strange creatures. The klangan are a race of avian humanoids from the continent of Noobol. They are enslaved by The Free Land of Thora, a Soviet-style totalitarian empire. The bird-men are employed by the Thorists as spies, couriers, and kidnappers. They specialize in swooping down upon vicitims with a noose. If a captive successfully breaks free of their claws, he risks being strangled by the wire around his throat. Klangan are typically armed with swords and daggers in addition to their lassos. They sometimes don't fare well in hand-to-hand combat, however, because their light build makes them less durable than a human of similar size. Some bird-men are trained in the use of energy pistols; their avian reflexes make them tolerably good marksmen. Carson Napier never encountered an angan in its natural state. We aren't told how the creatures reproduce or organize themselves socially, what their homes are like, or even what they eat. However, we can infer some things from angan behavior and physiology. Klangan travel in small groups and are rarely encountered individually. They become insecure and increasingly irrational (by human standards) when acting singly. They apparently are social creatures who need the encouragement and companionship of their kind even during espionage missions. Male klangan have multicolored tail feathers, which indicates that they perform some sort of courtship display to impress their mates. Their forward-facing, close-set eyes would provide the type of stereoscopic vision needed by a hunter or scavenger. Because of their eyes and sharp talons, we can presume klangan are carnivores, or perhaps omnivores who supplement their diet with flesh only when the opportunity arises. Powers and Abilities: Amtor's bird-men are strong fliers, capable of carrying a captive long distances even in adverse weather conditions. They have keen eyesight and a well-developed sense of smell. Their claws are functional weapons, and their three-toed feet can grip a tree branch or a man's shoulders just like a hand. Disadvantages: Klangan are moody beings, switching from servile cowardice to carefree happiness to tenacious aggression as the circumstances warrant. Cowed by Thorist oppression, they tend to unquestioningly obey the orders of whoever seems to be in charge (even the player-characters). Their loyalty, however, is as uncertain as their moods. They may be willing to fight to the death to defend the PCs one moment then betray them a short time later because they fear the Thorists are watching. Height: cm (5' 3"), Weight: kg (87 lbs), Sex: varies, Race: Angan Appearance: Klangan are dark-skinned and dark-feathered humanoids whose long arms support huge bat-like wings. They have broad avian chests, narrow hips, and short, stocky legs. Their hands and prehensile feet end in talons. Their foreheads and chins slope away from massive, beak-like noses, and their ears are small, flat, and pointed. Their bones are hollow like a bird's. Males can unfold their red-and-white striped tail feathers in a showy display like peacocks. Their feathers stand erect when they are excited or angry. ------------- Hero System write-up by Kevin Scrivner