Dvati are a strange race of humanoid creatures found in small enclaves scattered throughout the world and across the planes. All dvati are born identical twins, with the pair sharing a single soul between them. Dvati lore holds that their souls are so powerful that a single, mortal vessel is too weak to contain them. Thus their minds occupy two bodies. Typically peaceful folk, dvati are concerned more with philosophy and art than material pleasures. Much of their culture centre on the close link between a dvati pair. A pair of twins might paint a mural together, with each twin starting from one end and meeting in the middle to finish the creation. Dvati twins debate philosophy with each other with an eye toward not only uncovering higher truths but also questioning and exploring their own beliefs, attitudes, and preconceptions. While dvati enjoy intellectual pursuits, they are capable warriors and hard workers. They consider archery, fencing and similar combat talents art forms worthy of study. Dvati twins duel with each other to press their talents and hone their abilities. The natural link between dvati twins makes them a deadly team, and the small but powerful dvati military units (which have been absorbed as a unit within The Unification Army) are renowned for their tactical coordination. Many times in the past, a tiny dvati force has defeated a much larger contingent of The Fallen.
Personality
Dvati are typically serene, intellectually energetic and curious. They tend to avoid conflict and are well suited to a role of peacemaker or diplomat. When faced with two sides in a conflict, a dvati splits their twins. Each twin speaks from one side, finds areas of argument with the other, smooths over disagreements, and brings the two sides together. Dvati have a strong sense of duality in all things. They excel at seeing both sides of an argument. When faced with a problem, a dvati is likely to spend time considering multiple approaches from different angles. A dvati who must move a boulder that blocks a cave stands in front of it and surveys the scene. Meanwhile, the other twin climbs above the stone, looks at the stone from above, and considers the same problem. To a dvati, one perspective is never enough.
Physical Description
A dvati has a slight build, snowy-white skin, black hair, and solid blue eyes that lack irises or pupils. Dvati noses are little more than small slits that barely protrude from their faces. They have three fingers and opposable thumbs. Most humanoids find a dvati’s appearance – particularly their unwavering eyes – slightly unnerving. Dvati are acutely aware of this, and many of them wear hooded cloaks around strangers.
Relations
Dvati get along well with most other races. Their ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives leads them to accept the differences in others with open mind. Outcast half-orcs and half-elves sometimes find homes in dvati communities. Of all the races, elves mingle best with dvati. Dvati respect the elves’ long-term view of history, their art, and their culture (such of it as it remains after the amalgamation into The Unification). Elves see dvati as fascinating creatures with a welcome appreciation of intellectual and artistic concerns.
Alignment
Most dvati are neutral, as they prefer a balanced approach to issues of morality. Many are also good. Being closely linked twins reminds dvati of the connections between all living things. They know that greed and unbridled ambition lead only to misery. Evil dvati are almost utterly unknown. The link between two twins is too strong for any dvati to elevate himself above all others to the degree that evil promotes. Villainous dvati do exist in small numbers, however, and tend toward lawful evil.
Dvati Racial Traits
- Medium: As Medium creatures, dvati have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Dvati base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision: Dvati can see in the dark to a range of up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and dvati can function just fine with no light at all.
- Twins: A “single” dvati is a pair of creatures that shares a soul. A dvati twin can no more exist without his soul partner than a human can live without a heart. The unique spiritual link between a dvati pair has several important implications. A dvati character is actually two separate dvati twins who share a soul. These two creatures move and act separately but have a number of restrictions based on their connection. The dvati twins gain levels and progress in the same manner as a single creature of another race. The twins share a class and both have the same level. The twins do not progress at a different rate, nor do they split XP between them. Rather, each has an identical XP total. When dividing XP among characters, a dvati counts as one PC. For example: A 1st-level dvati fighter consists of a pair of twins, each with the same set of fighter abilities. You select feats, skills and other abilities for both twins together, do not choose them separately. If one twin has Power Attack, both twins gain access to it. In essence, you build one character who occupies two bodies, regardless of the class chosen. When a dvati casts a spell, both members of the pair must simultaneously take the actions required to cast a spell, although only one must supply material components. One twin cannot cast a spell while the other attacks, for example. A lone dvati can cast spells if his twin takes no other actions while he casts. Any other sort of action, including a free one, makes it impossible for the casting twin to focus and use his spell. If the dvati tries to use a spell anyway, his casting attempt is ruined and the spell is lost. The dvati twins divide their hit points between them. Each twin in the pair gains half the hit points from his Hit Die roll, although both gain the full benefits of their Constitution modifier. Do not roll Hit Dice separately for each dvati twin. For example, a 1st-level dvati fighter with a 13 Constitution gains 6 hit points for each twin ([10hp/2]+1=6). If an area of effect spell catches both twins, they save separately and take damage as normal. A pair of dvati twins shares all class abilities and spell slots between them. For example, a 3rd-level dvati bard can use bardic music three times per day in total, not three times per day for each twin. Personal spells (those with a target of “you”) affect both twins as long as they are on the same plane. Otherwise, they affect only the caster. Other spells function as normal. For example, a touch spell normally affects only the specific twin touched. The spell conductor ability (detailed below) allows the dvati to share some spells. A mind-affecting ability or spell that affects one twin affects both of them. If a single such ability targets both twins at the same time, they make only one save between them. Dvati twins share one mind. The dvati twins have an innate, powerful psychic connection. They can communicate with each other via telepathy at an unlimited range and across the planes. A twin cannot perceive what his other sees, hears, or otherwise perceives. As a full-round action, a dvati can determine his twin’s current hit points and mental state. If one twin is on the same plane as the other, the twins learn the relative direction and distance to his partner. If one dvati dies, the other slowly sickens and perishes. Each day that passes after a dvati twin dies, the surviving twin takes 1d4 points of Constitution and Wisdom damage and takes a -1 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws. The ability damage and penalties remain (and cannot be healed or removed) until the living twin dies or his soul mate returns to life (at which time the damage and penalties immediately disappear). Most dvati prefer to commit ritual suicide if one twin dies without hope of return, as the pain of losing the close bond drives a dvati to the brink of madness. In most cases, an effect that applies to one twin fails to spill over to the other. If a medusa turns one twin to stone, the other remains healthy. Negative levels are an exception to this rule. If one dvati twin suffers a negative level, both of them incur its effects. The dvati makes one save to remove the negative level.
- Pair Link: The close relationship between dvati twins grants them several benefits when they work together. If two dvati twins team up to flank an opponent, they each gain a +4 bonus on attack rolls, rather than the normal +2. If a twin uses the aid another action to help his twin, he grants an additional +2 (for a total of +4) on attack rolls or to Armour Class.
- Spell Conductor: A dvati twin can choose to shift a spell that affects him to his twin so long as both of them are on the same plane. The shifted spell must have a range of touch and it must also be harmless. Using this ability requires a move action to focus the change in target, the spell’s duration and effects continue as normal. A dvati can transfer a spell he casts from one twin to the other as part of the act of casting. He cannot transfer spells used by others.
- Level Adjustment: +1.