Somnambul

Dreams are real, and real are dreams! - Timothae the Awakened Dreamer, somnambul psion

Somnambuls are dream affected beings born to human parents. Sometimes a child is born to a mother in a coma or whom suffers terrible nightmares during their pregnancy. This somehow alters the mental and physical state of the child which forms partially within the region of dreams. This phantasmagorical womb never seems to give birth, continuing to both curse and gift the individual their entire lives.

The first sign of the difference in the child is its extensive sleeping time. They slumber so often and so deep that they are often malnourished, resulting in thin, weak adults. As they grow their oddness increases as they develop advanced somnambulism, the condition known as sleepwalking. Parents tend to spend much of their nights sleeping nearby their child after locking doors and windows in an attempt to prevent their child from wandering off and possibly injuring themselves. As they reach adulthood many teach themselves to remain still, or develop subconscious instincts that keep them from harm.

Somnambul's are known for their incredible creativity and imagination, and many become famous painters or writers. A large minority however suffer more and intense dreams as they age until they finally succumb to insanity. Either way somnambuls are always fascinating individuals with a unique view of the world, though a bit odd and often exceedingly absent minded. In fact, many Somnambuls consider themselves to have two lives, the waking and the dreaming, each state seeming as real to them as the other.

Generally only Somnambul woman give birth to other somnambuls, otherwise the child is often quite normal.

Personality
Somnambuls are always introverts, with some being unresponsive and withdrawn, while others seem haunted and on the verge of a breakdown. Still others are more of a personable yet whimsical and contemplative type. Regardless of their personality, they seem more than slightly 'off' and in their own little worlds.

Physical Description
A somnambul resembles their human parents in most respects, including the familial similarity that any human child would share with his or her parents. The one exception to this is that a somnambul tends to have red-rimmed eyes even when completely rested that possess a strangely unnerving gaze.

Relations
Somnambuls make the more emotionally expressive races uneasy due to their constant restraint, and shifters in particular are known to bristle and be on their guard the moment they smell a Somnambul. Somnambuls best interact with Wild Children andOkilei, their whimsical natures brushing against each other harmoniously. Oddly enough, Darfellan and Free People revere somnambuls amongst their populations, giving them the status of sages and seers.

Alignment
Somnambuls have a full range of alignment as any other human, depending on how their dreamwalks affect them. Some are driven to bloodlust and chaos from their battles with their nightmares, while others develop an empathic, caring nature and a wish to guard others from their fears.

Lands
Somnambuls occur within every human population, mixing with them without real notice, for Somnambuls are human in every way but mentally.

Religion
Somnambul are as varied as humans in their religion, though many tend towards looking for answers within and through their dreams than through the aid of deities. Those that do worship tend towards deities of mind and dreams, such as Karribi.

Language
As their human parent.

Names
Same as human, though a number of somnambuls have a habit of calling their dreamself by another name as it often feels like another lifetime.

Somnambul Traits

 * -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence: Though quick learners and imaginative, a somnambul is in a constant state of mild fatigue.
 * Medium: As Medium Creatures, somnambuls have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
 * Somnambul's land speed is 30 feet.
 * Humanoid (Human): Somnambuls are of human descent and are affected by spells and the like as if they were purely human.
 * Unstable: Somnambuls are not known for the stability of their minds and take a -2 penalty to saves against confusion and insanity.
 * Naturally Psionic: Somnambuls gain 1 bonus power point at 1st level. This benefit does not grant them the ability to manifest powers unless they gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
 * Dream Telling: A Somnambul with 5 or more hit dice has acquired extensive insight into their subconscious and Dream, gaining the benefits of the Dreamtelling feat (Heroes of Horror).
 * Lucid Dreamer: A Somnambul may always use Lucid Dreaming (Manual of the Planes, p. 203) as a trained skill and gains a +4 bonus on such checks.
 * Gentle Mind (Su): A Somnambul's mind-affecting powers or spells do not automatically awaken unconscious beings they are directed at unless they deal damage.
 * Sleepwalker: A somnambul's subconscious mind becomes so hyperactive while unconscious that its body responds to the cerebral activity. Before going to sleep each night a somnambul must make a DC 20 Autohypnosis check or spend the night sleepwalking. A sleepwalker can take simple actions such as moving his base speed in a random direction or picking up objects. He is considered flat-footed, and takes a -20 penalty on spot checks so that though he is unlikely to walk off a cliff, he may not be able to find a doorknob to let himself out of a room. He is not consciously aware of his actions. The sleepwalker can be awakened with a swift shaking or sudden loud noise, though awakes automatically if he sustains any damage.
 * Up the Walls (Su): Somnambul's difficulty in distinguishing between dream and reality allow them to move in strange, surreal ways. They gain the benefits of the Up the Walls feat while psionically focused.
 * Psi-Like Abilities: 1/day Demoralize or Empathy. Manifester level is equal to 1/2 Hit Dice (minimum 1st). The save DC is Charisma-based.
 * Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
 * Favored Class: Psion.
 * Level Adjustment: +0