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Expanded Races: Kami

Written by Chris A. Field

Cover Illustration by: John Picot

Interior Illustrations by: Amanda Webb, Anthony Cournoyer,Headless Hydra Games, John Picot, Sade.

Ukiyo-e images are public domain artwork provided by Wikimedia Commons.All images are copyright their respective creators and are used with permission.

www.otherversegames.blogspot.com

Fully Compatible with the PFRPG.

Requires the Use of the D20 Modern Core Rulebook,Published by Wizards of the Coast

Kami are little gods, otherwordly spiritswith a single cosmic task or duty to perform, whowalk among the mortals of the Tatakama onmissions imposed by their divine (or infernal)masters. Kami come in an assortment of kinds,and are as unique as the stars in the sky. All tendto be a bit quirky, obsessed with their task andpossessed of unique talents.

In the celestial (or infernal) hierarchy,Kami are young godlings. Though immortal, andwise in their own way, few are more physicallypowerful than a mortal man or woman. Often,they are confused by the mundane workings ofthe everyday world, having known nothingsimilar in Heaven. They throw themselves intoadventure, into warfare, into lovemaking, intocraft and artwork, with a zealous passion.

AppearanceKami are beautiful, lean creatures that are

almost human. Their hair is a brilliant shade, asbeautiful and unearthly as a shunga print andfloats in elaborate coifs in defiance of gravity.Kami are decorated with runic birthmarks ontheir foreheads and hands that hint at their divine

nature and powers. Kami from the infernalrealms often have cute little bat-wings juttingfrom their shoulder blades, while some of theirheavenly brothers and sisters might have angelicor fairylike wings.

Kami do not touch the Earth. They hovera few centimeters off the ground at all time, andare often surrounded in a colorful, glisteningnimbus. A few Kami, those serving the cause ofnature, leave new shoots of grass or freshflowers behind them with every step they take.

ReproductionKami tend to take romance very

seriously, not allowing anyone to touch theirglamorous bodies other than the lucky man orwoman who is assigned by karma to be theirdestined lover. Most tend to be modest and verymonogamous, Kami rarely cheat or take lovers,and make loyal and loving spouses. Kami tendto be fairly chaste and virginal.

A Kami’s child is usually a Kami, thoughthe godlings might instead produce Aassimar

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offspring. Kami are fertile withmost humanoid creatures.

In the TatakamaKami are usually drawn to

the cities. They like the bustle andnoise and politicking of a majortrading hub or the Imperial court.Kami tend to be busybodies, whoenjoy helping neighbors (even if theneighbors don’t request, or don’t wantsuch help). They are matchmakers,gossips and true romantics. Even in a smallestvillage, the local Kami will be the center ofcommunity life- the heart and soul of the town.

Kami keep neat quarters filled withwonders and oddities they have encountered intheir journeys. They often make their homes inor near shrines, or serve as miko. Kami usuallyare allowed to stay at temples and shrines free ofcharge when traveling, and can often be foundcurled up, sleeping on the altar like a contentedcat.

Most Kami are considered to be membersof the Nobility or Samurai caste, a reflection ontheir deep personal honor, chaste natures,erudition and wisdom, and their directconnection to Heaven and the gods. A few Kamiare considered members of the Heimin casteinstead, especially if their divine portfolioemphasizes commerce, art or craftsmanshiprather than a more primal forces.

In Black JapanKami come to the modern world of Black

Japan on urgent missions (though a few return toBlack Japan time and again in betweenadventures, because they’ve come to enjoy someaspect of the modern world). Kami sometimesarrive in Black Japan to protect a specific place,or a specific mortal with a great destiny fromghostly or demonic predators. However, unlike

Heavenly spirits like the Futakuchi or theDaughters of Kirin, Kami are rarely warriors.

More often the help they bring takes theform of guidance and inspiration, rather thanpurely physical protection. A Kami might arrivein the Earth Realm to teach a young girl thesecrets of sorcerery, help a teenaged Summoner

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4conjure hisfirsteidolon, orhelp ayoung otakudestined tobecome amodernsamuraiwork upenoughcourage toask the cutegirl in hishomeroomout on adate.

While most Kamiliving in the Earth Realm conductmost of their business in Tokyoand Chiba- the centers of bothmundane and arcane life in BlackJapan, they prefer to make theirhomes in quieter, more out of theway places. Between adventures,most Kami retreat to homes inquieter cities or slower, morerural provinces. Some, especiallythose with access to a specialtorii gate only they know about,commute regularly between theEarth Realm and the Tatakama.

In the modern world,Kami who are not one of thecastes of the Tatakama (Noble,Samurai or Heimin) are usually consideredOtaku. Intelligent, quirky and somewhat outsidethe social order, it is often difficult for BlackJapan’s mortal citizens to tell the differencebetween a true Kami and an otaku girlcosplaying as Belldandy.

Kami

Racial

Traits

Size and TypeKami are Medium

Outsiders with thenative subtype. AsMedium creaturesthey have no bonus orpenalty due to theirsize.

Normal Speed (EX)Kami have a base land speed of 30 ft.

Flight (SU)Kami have a flight speed of 50 ft

(good maneuverability). Kami receive a+4 racial bonus on Fly checks.

Lowlight Vision (EX)Kami have big, soulful eyes that

give them lowlight vision.

Ability Score Modifiers-2 STR, +2 INT, +2 CHA.Kami aren’t physically strong,

but they are clever and likable.

Defining SubtypeKami choose one of the following

additional subtypes, which reflects their godlynature and duties. Once chosen, this selectioncannot be changed. Kami gain this subtype inaddition to the native subtype.

Air, Chaos, Cold, Earth, Evil, Fire,Good, Law, Water.

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Racial SkillsKami are gods of hearth, home, field and

forest. They have a variety of talents related totheir divine portfolio. Kami receive a +3 racialbonus on two skills, determined by the Kami’sDefining Subtype.

Defining Subtype Racial Skill Bonuses Air Acrobatics, Bluff Chaos Bluff, Escape Artist Cold Handle Animal, Survival Earth Handle Animal, Knowledge (dungeoneering) Evil Knowledge (arcana), Intimidate Fire Craft (blacksmithing), Knowledge (the planes) Good Heal, Knowledge (nobility) Law Diplomacy, Knowledge (history) Water Stealth, Swim

Kami’s Perfection (SU)Select one of your racial skills provided

by your Defining Subtype. You are an absolutemaster of that skill. Any time you make a checkusing that particular skill, you roll an additionaldie and add the results to your D20 skill checkresult. From 1st-10th level you add a D6 to theresult. Beyond 10th level you add a D10 to theresult. Starting at 15th level, you add a D12 to theresult.

Kami Alternate

Racial TraitsKami are a diverse tribe, with individual

Kami displaying magical talents based aroundtheir interests, obsessions and missions amongmortals. Some Kami are angelic- othersdemonic.

Bosatsu (SU)Replaces: Kami’s Perfection and Racial

SkillsYou are a Buddhist spirit, who found

enlightenment in a previous incarnation andreturned from the heavens to guide and aidmortals. You receive a +2 racial bonus onKnowledge (religion), Heal/Treat Injury and

Sense Motive checks. One of these checks,chosen by you, becomes the focus on yourKami’s Perfection trait.

Bosatsu Kami have the Good and Lawsubtypes.

Cuddly Oni (SU)Replaces: Kami’s Perfection and

Racial SkillsYou are a child of the Black

Else, a young demon still growinginto your fearsome power. You area little bit more good-hearted thanyour parents would like, focusedmore on mischief and theoccasional punishment game ratherthan predation and lust-murder.You have a dark and slightly

spooky style and tend to be easily recognized bythe adorable little bat wings protruding eitherfrom your shoulder blades, or from behind yourpointed ears.

You receive a +3 racial bonus on Stealthand Intimidate checks. Once per day, you maycast either Darkness, Command Undead orGhoul Touch as a 5th level sorcerer.

Death Kami (SU)Replaces: Kami’s Perfection and Racial

SkillsDeath Kami are heavenly functionaries

that ferry messages between the living and thedead, and ferry the souls of the recently deceasedinto the otherworld. Death Kami are recognizedby their snow white hair, heron-like white wingsand habit of dressing almost exclusively inwhite, silver or grey.

Death Kami receive a +2 racial bonus onKnowledge (religion) and Profession (mortician)checks. A Death Kami can use Deathwatch as aspell-like ability once per day, and can castStabilize as a spell-like ability 3x/day. The DeathKami casts these spells as a first level cleric.

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The Death Kami can hear the last wordsof the dead. If any sentient creature dies within30 ft of the Death Kami, she ‘hears’ a shortmessage, usually 50 words or less, intended for aloved one or next of kin. The Death Kami maynot understand this message, if the dyingcreature speaks a language she is unfamiliarwith, but she can recite it flawlessly. The DeathKami is aware of the name, basic appearance andthe last known location, as known by the dyingcreature, of the message’s recipient. If the DeathKami delivers the message to the intendedrecipient within one month of the creature’sdeath, she receives bonus XP equal to 50 x hertotal character level.

Divine Domain (SU)Replaces: Kami’sPerfection

You gain access tothe domain powersassociated with yourDefining Subtype as acleric of your totalcharacter level.

Fiery Kami (SU)Available To: Kami withthe Fire subtypeReplaces: Kami’sPerfection

The fires in yourblood crackle aroundyour fingers and can betossed as fireballs. Yougain the ability fire a blastof flame with a 30 ftmaximum range and norange increment. Thistiny fireball inflicts 1d4points of Fire damage ona successful hit. At 10th

level, you gain +1 to hitand +1 Fire damage withthis attack. You can usethis ability at will.

Special: Alternatively, the GM can use avariation on this trait to create Cold Kami (withthe Cold subtype, dealing cold damage) orWatery Kami (with the Water subtype, dealingAcid damage) or Storm Kami (with the Airsubtype, dealing Electrical damage). All otheraspects of this alternate racial trait functionidentically.

Heavenly Beauty and Grace (SP)Replaces: Kami’s PerfectionOnce per day, as a standard action, you

can reveal your true heavenly beauty to themortals you walk among. Doing so allows you tocast two spells on yourself simultaneously: Cat’s

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Grace and Eagle’s Splendor as a sorcerer of yourtotal character level.

Divine MaidsIn a more lighthearted Black Tokyo

campaign, being a maid might be a divinecalling. The little gods known as the Kami areprimarily defined by their divine portfolio androle in heaven’s hierarchy. Perhaps some Kamiserve the divine concept of “Maid” rather thanmore abstract concepts like law or chaos orelemental water. Such creatures embodycuteness, duty and loyalty.

Kami might select the Helpful Kami orSubmissive Kami trait to better exemplify whatit means to be a Heavenly Maid.

Helpful Kami (SU)Replaces: Kami’s PerfectionThe Kami shows humility and charm.

Rather than emphasizing her own efforts, sheaids her master or mistress, and helps her friendsaid one another- a living example of what itmeans to be a cooperative Maid.

Anytime an allied character makes asuccessful Aid Another check within 60 ft of theKami, roll 1d4+1 and add the result to the checkbeing aided. At 10th level, instead roll 1d6+1 andadd the result to the check being aided.

Lovely Kami (SU)Replaces: Kami’s Perfection and Racial

SkillsYou are a kami not dedicated to good or

evil, but to love, lust and the joyous, wetmoment of orgasm. The Kami receives Gifts ofEcstasy as a racial bonus feat, even if she doesnot meet the prerequisites.

In addition, any creature who hasconsensual sexual activity with the Kamireceives a luck bonus on one or more savingthrows. The Kami can either provide thecharacter with a +1 luck bonus on all savingthrows, which lasts for an hour after the sexual

encounter; or choose to provide a +3 luck bonusto one specific saving throw, which lasts for thesame duration. The Kami chooses which bonusto provide when beginning the sex act.

The Kami applies the Kami’s Perfectionracial trait to Perform (sexual) checks.

Warrior of Heaven (EX)Replaces: Kami’s Perfection and Racial

SkillsYou were sent to the Tatakama to live

among mortals to protect them, and championthe cause of your great heavenly family. Youfight proudly and with effortless grace.

You gain proficiency with all simple andmartial weapons, as well as with light andmedium armor and with shields. When makingan attack roll with any weapon you have WeaponFocus in, you roll an additional die and add theresult to your D20 attack check. From 1st-12th

level you add a D4 to the result. Beyond 12th

level you add a D6 to the result.

Submissive Kami (SU)Replaces: Kami’s PerfectionYou are a properly submissive servant of

heaven, sent from the celestial realms to aid andcomfort a worthy mortal master or mistress, andto show other mortals the joy that selflessnesscan bring.

You become unable to inflict critical hitsin combat; a critical hit is treated merely as anormal hit for you. However, you becomeimmune to all mind-influencing effects, as aresult of your absolute dedication to your masteror mistress or your duties in general.

In addition, if you spend at least fourhours per day personally attending to your masteror mistress’ non-sexual needs, (preparing meals,cleaning their home or business, ect), yourmaster or mistress receives a +4 luck bonus onWILL saves for the next 24 hours.

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8Racial TraitsThese traits are part and parcel of

Kami society, and help many Kamiaccomplish the missions the HeavenlyBureaucracy has assigned them.

Bless Gohei (SU)Type: FaithAbility: WIS 13+

You can bless the zig-zaggingritual streamers commonly found inShinto temples. This minor magicalartifact is common across Tatakama andeven the strange parallel world of BlackJapan. Blessing a gohei requires a shortceremony requiring 1d4 rounds, and atoken sacrifice of religious oils, herbs orincense worth 1d4 GP. Once created, agohei can be worn on a believer’sclothing, affixed to a weapon or a shield,or hung from a structure such as a templegate or the entry arch of a private home.

Once blessed, a gohei retains itsblessing until the next dawn. Eviloutsiders suffer a -1 morale penalty on allattack rolls, skill checks and savingthrows within 60 ft of a blessed gohei.This penalty is not cumulative if theoutsider is exposed to multiple goheisimultaneously.

Carve Netsuke (SU)Skill: Craft (bone or woodcarving) 1 rank

Using techniques passed downfrom your parents, you have mastered theart of carving netsuke- tiny charms oftenused as decorative clasps, made frombone or wood. With a successful DC 12Craft (bone or woodcarving) check, andabout two hours of exacting work, youcan carve a netsuke.

While carrying a netsuke, acharacter receives a +1 luck bonus on a singleskill check, represented by the activity depictedby the carving. A netsuke will only function for

the specific person it is carved for, or thatcharacter’s child or heir. A person can carry anynumber of netsuke at any given time. As an art

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object, most netsuke can be purchased for 2-5gp; as a gift to a trusted friend, their value is fargreater. Netsuke are Fine magical trinkets ofnegligible weight.

Cherry Blossom Touch (SU)Type: FaithAbility: WIS or CHA 13+

You have been blessed with themysterious ability to touch a cherry blossom tree,no matter how ancient or sickly it is and returnthe tree to full health. The tree is covered infragrant blooms, as if at the height of spring, nomatter the season. You must touch the tree for atleast one minute to use this ability, and this touchhas no affect on a tree that is truly dead, norupon processed wood or lumber.

Anyone of a non-evil alignment who seesyou make a cherry blossom tree bloom when itshouldn’t is favorably deposed to, and youreceive a +2 luck bonus on Diplomacy checksagainst that person for a day.

Demon Wing Kami (SU)Type: MagicPrerequisite: Kami race with either the Evildefining subtype or Cuddly Oni alternate racialtrait

You have cute, bat-like wings that growfrom the side of your hair. Viewed at the rightangle, these wings seem to be a part of your darkhair. Your Flight speed increases by +5 ft.Genki (EX)Type: CombatPrerequisite: female gender, CHA 11+

You’re extremely lively, bubbly andtalkative. You’re irrepressible and energetic. Youreceive a +3 trait bonus on Bluff checks made topass secret messages, and receive a +1 traitbonus on WILL Saves against energy drain anddeath effects.

Inspiring (SU)Type: FaithAbility: CHA 13+

You bring out the best in your friends,motivating them to depths of heroism andendurance they didn’t know they possessed.Anyone who spends at least an hour in yourcompany who has chosen either the GreatFortitude, Iron Will or Lightning Reflexes featreceives an additional +1 bonus on the enhancedsaving throw (s). This bonus lasts for 24 hours,or until the recipient next sleeps.

Kami Bindi (SU)Type: MagicPrerequisite: Kami race

A small, beautifully cut oval jewel restsat the center of your brow, above the mysticalchakra point of your third eye. The color andtype of your bindi gem determines what poweryou possess. Once this choice is made, it cannotbe changed; your defining subtype must matchthis bindi gem, if such a defining subtype exists.

You cast spells with the descriptorspecified by your bindi gem at +1 caster level.

• Agate: Skatto• Emerald: Acid• Diamond: Light• Golden Sunburst: Good• Jade: Law• Obsidian: Evil• Onyx: Darkness• Quartz: Electricity• Ruby: Fire• Sapphire: Water• Silver Crescent: Chaos

Megane-Ko (EX)Type: SocialRestricted: female gender onlyAbility: INT 13+

You are an absolutely adorable, if slightlynerdish young lady. Your omni-presentspectacles imply that you are shy, quiet andobedient, but when the glasses come off, you can

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10be lusty and unrestrained. You may use your INTmodifier in place of your CHA modifier as thekey ability for Bluff and Diplomacy checks.

Midwife’s Touch (SU)Type: FaithSkill: Heal 1 rank

Your skill at healing has given you analmost magical ability to ease pain. A number oftimes per day equal to 3 + your WIS modifier,you can touch a willing humanoid creature andproduce one of the following effects: caststabilize as a first level cleric, ensure thecreature’s labor is safe and relatively painless, orpainlessly terminate a non-supernaturalpregnancy.

Purified Karma (SU)Type: FaithPrerequisite: any good alignment, WIS 13+

You have purged the majority of sinsfrom your karma, and are close to achievingNirvana. If slain, you cannot rise again as anykind of undead spawn.

Ungaikyo (SU)Type: MagicPrerequisite: WIS 13+

Ever since you were a child, mirrors haveshown you strange and terrifying wonders. Up tothree times per day, while you are holding ortouching a mirror, you can command that mirrorto show you the true form of all creaturesreflected in it. Doing so is a standard action, andthe reflected creatures receive no save againstthis effect. The mirror reveals transformations,pierces illusions and reveals invisible creatures.The mirror will not show the true form ofsomeone disguised throughmundane or high techmeans.

Useful Superstitions (SU)Type: FaithPrerequisites: Expert or Special starting role,Knowledge (arcana or religion) 1 rank

You are familiar with dozens of weird oldlegends and creepy old ghost tales and have astorehouse of folk remedies and obscure Taoistprotections at hand. Once per game session,when facing any supernatural obstacle oropponent, you may describe some relevantsuperstition. Make a DC 10 Purchase Check tosee if you have a relevant item at hand; if you doyou receive a +1 morale bonus on attack rollsand saving throws made against a single enemyor group of identical enemies until the end of theencounter.

Kami FeatsEspecially skillful or powerful Kami

sometime learn these unique racial feats.

Dancing Kami (Racial – Kami)Kami from Hindu mythology are rarer

than their Buddhist counterparts, but notunknown in Black Japan. These kami aregloriously nimble and swift, and their multiplearms represent their limitless potential.

Prerequisite: Kami race, DEX 15+Benefit: As a swift action, you can let

your true divine nature shine through. In this

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