| Small | Humanoid | Inza |
A mind of pure energy given form by a shell of living, thinking crystal.
The Inza are a marvel of natural, non-carbon-based life. Each Inza is a unique, sentient crystal lattice animated by a core of pure energy. Native to planets with immense geological pressure and exotic energies, they are beings of immense longevity and patience. An Inza perceives time on a geologic scale, viewing the frantic, short lives of organic beings with a calm curiosity. They are logical, deliberate, and methodical, valuing patterns, mathematics, and the slow, perfect growth of a crystal.
If you want to play a character who is deliberate, resilient, and transmutable, you should play an Inza.
You Might…
- Remain perfectly still for long periods, which others might see as inactivity but is, for you, a state of deep thought or contemplation.
- Express ideas through analogy to geologic events, mathematical principles, or crystalline structures.
- Find the asymmetry and perceived chaos of organic life and architecture both fascinating and mildly unsettling.
Other’s Probably…
- Mistake you for a construct or golem, failing to recognize you as a living, breathing entity.
- Assume you are emotionless or unfeeling because you lack a face and express yourself through subtle light shifts and resonant chimes rather than expressions.
- Underestimate your intelligence, believing your slow, deliberate manner of speaking reflects a slow mind.
Physical Description
An Inza’s body is a marvel of living geology. Standing about half the height of a human, their form is composed of a single, complex crystalline structure. This “body” is often semi-translucent, allowing the soft, internal glow of their animating energy core to be seen, pulsing gently like a slow heartbeat. The specific type of crystal varies dramatically between individuals, leading to a wide diversity in appearance—some Inza are faceted and clear like quartz, others are deep purple like amethyst, and some are glossy and dark like obsidian. Their form, while generally humanoid in shape, is not static. An Inza’s body is in a constant state of subtle reconfiguration, with facets slowly shifting and angles sharpening or softening.
Inza do not reproduce in a biological sense. A new Inza is formed when a collective of existing Inza find a unique, un-sentient “seed crystal” and spend decades, or even centuries, infusing it with a resonant spark of their own energy. Over time, this seed grows and develops its own unique consciousness and form. Inza have no concept of gender and refer to each other with pronouns based on their individual energetic resonance, though they will politely adopt whatever pronouns other species use for them.
Society
Inza society is patient, communal, and built to last. They gather in communities known as “Geodes,” which are often located in areas of great geological significance or natural beauty. Within a Geode, decisions are made by a slow and careful consensus, where every member’s perspective is considered a vital facet of the larger truth. They are masters of record-keeping, with histories and philosophies stored not in books, but in vast, perfectly grown data crystals that can last for millennia. Social bonds are formed through shared resonance and purpose, creating deep, life-long partnerships that transcend the temporary nature of organic friendships.
Names
An Inza’s true name is a complex, personal equation of resonant frequencies and shifting light patterns, a name that can only be properly perceived and understood by another Inza. These “vibrational names” are near-musical but incredibly complex, difficult for creatures with simple vocal cords to replicate.
For the convenience of other species, an Inza will often choose a “facet-name”—a simpler, spoken word that represents one aspect of their true self. These names are often chosen by the individual and are typically based on geological terms, mathematical principles, or other concepts that appeal to their logical and long-lasting nature.
Example Names Axinite, Beryl, Calsite, Chyryx, Diopside, Illaxi, Isotope, Jenthus, Kaelix, Kyanite, Quintar, Rhodon, Tekulon, Thryxian, Valen-kor, Xylos, Zissath
Beliefs
The Inza’s spirituality is a form of cosmic mathematics. They do not worship gods, but rather revere the fundamental laws and patterns that underpin all of reality. They see the universe as a “Cosmic Lattice,” an infinitely complex but ultimately logical structure, and believe that existence is the process of finding one’s perfect place within this pattern. They seek to understand these universal truths through logic, meditation, and the study of creation. To an Inza, a perfect equation, a flawless crystal, and a harmonious society are all expressions of the same sacred principle.
Popular Edicts Seek the underlying pattern in all things, Think before acting; a rushed decision is a flawed one, Build things that are meant to last for eons
Popular Anathema Act upon raw, unconsidered emotion, Willfully destroy knowledge, history, or natural beauty, Embrace chaos or imperfection in your own work
Mechanics
Hit Points
10
Size
Small
Speed
20 feet
Attribute Boosts
Constitution, Intelligence, Free
Attribute Flaw
Dexterity
Languages
- Inzan
- Common
- Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Piezon, Radix-L, Telluric, Zentian, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
Darkvision
You can see in darkness and dim light just as well as you can see in bright light, though your vision in darkness is in black and white.
Living Crystal
Your crystalline body is highly resistant to maladies that affect organic life. You gain resistance to poison equal to half your level (minimum 1). Furthermore, your internal systems are so alien to biological pathogens that when you roll a success on a saving throw against a disease, you get a critical success instead