Background
Children of Gaia are born by the choice of Gaia herself. These chosen few are born not only to Gaian parents, but also to parents who are pure Nature lovers themselves. Druids tend to have Children of Gaia more often than others; however, even this is a rare, blessed, and celebrated event. These children grow up knowing that Nature is their guardian and Gaia is their goddess. These children are bonded with a natural spirit (be it plant or animal or vermin) upon birth. They grow to harness the powers and abilities that the bond gives them. Although they look like their base creature type, the Gaians exhibit qualities of the bond and the spirit's appearance overlays their own.
As the Gaians grow, they gain more respect from the natural world and, as such, can be trusted by more and more spirits. Gaians also take on slight personality changes according to the spirit they are bonded with. They also earn an increasing amount of respect for the woods, and never harm it. Gaians, although disappointed by it, do not try to stop others from taking nature for granted in small ways. Battles must be chosen wisely, and if a Gaian attacked every person they thought was harming nature, there would be no Gaians left. Wiping out a forest is different from cutting down a tree for firewood.
Hit dice: same as base creature
Speed: same as base creature
AC: same as base creature
Life span: same as base creature
Alignment: some form of neutral
CR: +2
Special Qualities:
Respect of the Woods: No matter what class the character takes, the skill Animal Empathy always has maximum ranks and a +10 racial bonus. As such, animals are never hostile to the character of their own free will (this includes natural animals, plants, and vermin. Ex: Giant Scorpions and Assassin Vines would not count, but normal scorpions and vines do).
Respect to the Woods: No Child of Gaia will willingly attack, harm, or hurt a natural creature unless it is in defense or for food. Gaians gain a +4 to saves against being forced into harming natural beings.
Shape change: At first level, and at every other level after, the Child chooses a nature-based subtype that they may bond with when they desire. At the beginning of each day, the Child chooses a subtype to bond with. 1/day the Child may at will change to another subtype as a free action, this last at least until the beginning of the next day, where the Child may again choose a subtype. The Child can speak at will with their current subtype(s).
At 11th level, and at every tenth level thereafter, they gain an additional subtype to bond with at the beginning of the day. When the Child changes 1/day, they may change as many as they can bond with. They can still only change subtypes 1/day.
At will the Child can morph into the base creature of the subtype(s) they have bonded with currently. The change works as polymorph self, except that the Child does not heal any lost hit points, and each change takes a full minute (10 rounds).
Special Abilities:
Nature Sense
Woodland Stride
Venom Immunity
Timeless Body
Spell-like Abilities:
Speak with Animals 1/day per subtype(s) they can bond with at once.
Speak with Plants 1/day per subtype they can bond with at once.
Speak with Vermin 1/day per subtype(s) they can bond with at once.
Detect Plants/Animals at will.
| SUBTYPES | ABILITIES GIFTED BY SUBTYPE | MINOR PHYSICAL CHANGES | SKIN COLOR |
| Bat | Blindsight (15 feet) | Ears become larger and more pointed. | Black (Drow-like) |
| Bear | Strength + 2; Unarmed attack + 2 damage | Gains 5% more weight; bear-like claws | Light Brown |
| Praying Mantis | Short Sword like arms +1 attack 1d6 damage | Blade on forearm; slightly longer arms | Light green |
| Cheetah | Sprint 1/half hour (10x normal speed) | slight feline features; seems more agile | Spots |
| Wolverine | Rage Attack 1/day +4STR +4CON -2AC | Short, stocky, and grow more body hair | Brown |
| Poison Ivy | Touch DC10+HD -1 to rolls lasts 1 day; -2AC | Skins looks leaf-like; Hair turns green | Light Green |
| Eagle | Spot +5(+3 at night) | Eyes become squinted; yellow pupils | Hair turns white |
| Horse | Speed +20 feet; Carry x2 | Hair becomes longer; feet become hard | Tan |
| Raven | Aura of despair -1 | Eyes become red | Black (jet black) |
| Rhinocerous | Natural Armor +4, speed 2/3 normal | Skin becomes tough (like thick leather) | Light Grey |
| Redwood | Constitution +2, FORT +2 | Bark-like skin; green, leafy hair | Reddish brown |
| Leopard | Dexterity +2; Move Silently/Hide: +2 | Slight feline features; seems more agile | Leopard print |
| Viper | Poisonous unarmed attack-DC10+HD: -1CON | More Flexible joints, Fangs, scales | Diamond pattern |
| Scorpion | Poisonous claw attack: DC10+HD: -1STR | Fingers grow stingers | Sand colored |
| Swordfish | Swim +10 | No body hair, Smooth, slick skin | Blue |
| Owl | Wisdom +2 | Large eyes; can turn head around | Grey & brown |
| Cat | Charisma +2 | Pronounced feline features | Players choice |
| Dolphin | Intelligence +2 | No body hair, Smooth, slick skin | Grey-blue |
| Flea | Jump +50 | Bug eyes, same size | Light Grey |
| Aloe Vera | Heal check+5, Heal spells +1d4HP | Smooth skin | Light Purple-red |
| Monkey | Climb +5, Balance +5, Tumble +5 | Prehensile tail, not proficient w/ weapons | Brown |
| Wolf | Gains scent | Growls when upset, grows wolf-like hair | Dark brown |