Base

+2 Charisma, +2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom

Medium-size

Base land speed 30 feet.

1 extra feat at 1st level.

4 extra skill points at 1st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level.

Weapon Familiarity: Sarcosans may treat cedeku and Sarcosan lances as martial weapons, rather than as exotic weapons.

+1 racial bonus on Reflex saves and on attack rolls with light melee weapons.

Sarcosans may begin play with a Sarcosan riding horse or a Sarcosan war horse (at one-quarter normal cost).

Automatic Languages: Colonial and Erenlander. Bonus Languages: Courtier, Halfling, Norther, Orcish, and Trader's Tongue.

Favored Class: Any

Urban Sarcosan

Cultural (pick one package)

Urban Born

Favored Region: Special. Rather than choosing a specific area to be their favored region, urban Sarcosans have a special affinity for all urban environments. Rather than gaining Knowledge (local) as a class skill and a bonus to Survival checks, these characters instead gain a +2 racial bonus on Gather Information checks when in cities and may make Knowledge checks untrained so long as the topic involves a city.

+2 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks.

Plains Sarcosan

Plains Born

Favored Region: Southern Erenland.

+4 racial bonus to Ride and Handle Animal checks when working with horses, as well as on Concentration checks to cast spells while mounted on a horse.

Sarcosans suffer only half the normal attack penalties for using ranged weapons while their mounts are taking double moves or running. The benefits of this ability stack with those from the Mounted Archery feat.

Sarcosans gain a +1 racial bonus on damage rolls against creatures smaller than their mounts when using a melee weapon from horseback. This combines with the normal +1 bonus on melee attacks for being on higher ground to grant Sarcosans a +1 to hit and damage in these situations.

Other info:

The Blade- Upon learning to ride, a Sarcosan is given a knife blade by their horse-master. The young Sarcosan then crafts the handle, grip and sheathe themselves. The knife is a symbol of their place in their family, and also of the beginning of their passage to adulthood. Upon breaking their first horse, they are given a braided horsehair cord with brass beads on the ends to bind their sheathe to their waist or belt with. Many other accomplishments are marked with the awarding of additional cords which hang like tassels from the sheathe of their blade. Different colors of hair, patterns of braid and the shape and material of the beads can allow those familiar with the custom to identify the deeds of the bearer. The knife is primarily a tool, and is treated as such, but in the past, duels of honor were fought using only a man's blade.

The Great Work- Sarcosans believe that every person has one thing they are meant to do in their life. The reason for which they were born. Most are unaware of their task. A person who finishes thier task will be allowed to join the Celestial Riders after they die, those that do not must wait until they are reborn and try again.

The Fade- Sarcosans are practical and pragmatic by nature, but the few superstitions they have are extremely ingrained. One of the most powerful of their superstitions revolves around fog. On the plains, fog can be deadly. It blinds horses to dangers like cliffs and sinkholes, dampens sound and separates groups. The Sarcosans believe that fog is the harbinger of a creature called a Fade. The look human, but travel in the mist like a ghost. They cannot be killed, and their touch drains their victims of their memories and sometimes their lives. They are said to have glowing eyes and throw lightning. They cannot abide open air (which is sacred to Sarcosans), so they cloak themselves in mist.

Horses- Sarcosans believe life is Cyclical. If a sarcosan dies before their worldly task is complete, they will be reborn as a horse. This is their chance to watch and learn about the world, and aid another accomplish their Great Work. Sarcosans believe every horse carries the soul of a person, and are afforded the same rights and courtesies of any man.

Plains Leopards- Another superstition held by Sarcosans revolves around the rare Plains Leopard, a huge solitary predator, resembling a cougar with charcoal colored spots. They can weigh more than 800 pounds and feed primarily on horses, though they have been known to take down Boro if they are hungry enough. Despite their diet, Sarcosans see the Leopard as a sacred animal. The leopard only takes the weakest from the herd, and thus strengthens the herd for the future. While it is perfectly fine to avoid a leopard, or even attempt to drive it off, it is considered very bad luck to kill a plains leopard. The only time this is not the case is when a horse-lord declares a leopard hunt. This can be done because of a rise in leopard population, or as part of a celebration of certain events, such as a coronation of a new lord. Leopards are hunted by Sussars (lords) and a hand selected group of retainers. If a leopard is found, it is corralled by the group, blooded with spears and finally the Sussar's most favored retainer dismounts, strips to the waist and attempts to finish the beast off with only their sacred blade. If the retainer is slain, the cat is allowed to leave, having earned it's freedom. If the cat is killed, the retainer presents the cat's skin to his lord, who is allowed to wear it as long as the retainer that killed the beast is alive and under his allegiance, the cat's claws are worked into the chest strap of the victor's saddle, and the teeth are made into beads which cap the ends of a cord that the brave retainer is allowed to wear with their knife. Leopard hunts have fallen out of practice due to the urbanization of Sarcosan culture, the freerider's desire to avoid notice and the increasing scarcity of the cats themselves.

Caste- More on this later.

Sarcosan Lance : D8 damage 20/x2 crit, 20' range incrament. The Sarcosan lance deals double damage when used from the back of a charging mount, or triple damage if the wielder has the Spirited Charge feat. It has reach, so you can strike opponents 10 feat away with it, but you can't use it against adjacent foes. While mounted, you can wield a Sarcosan lance with one hand.

Sarcosan lances may be thrown as part of a special charge attack that culminates in a ranged attack with the lance, in which case the normal rules for extra damage when charging with a lance still apply.

Cedeku: D6 damage 19-20/x2 crit. This small, hook-bladed sword is commonly used by Sarcosan warriors in their off hands when fighting on foot. Because of the cedeku's hooked blade, you can make trip attacks with it. Additionally, the cedeku is considered a one-handed weapon for the purposes of opposed disarm rolls, meaning it does not suffer the normal -4 penalty for being a light weapon.