While I'll work with players to make their ideas work, I'm a GM who really likes world building and you'll find some setting-specific options on the page. So even if you ultimately end up using Pathbuilder or Nethys to create your character, I'd recommend at least looking this page over to see what options there are.
A Note on Rarity: Throughout the page, you'll find me describing different things as common, uncommon, or rare and talking about locations where they're most common. These categories are simply meant to inform character creation, and aren't meant to discourage choosing an option. For any character I'll want to know why they are where they are, which may look a bit different for a character with unusual traits.
If something isn't listed at all, that's when an option probably might not be available. Feel free to ask me anyway though, because sometimes options that don't fit the setting can still be explained by science experiments gone wrong, other realms, or similar things.
Index
Ancestries
Each of the Three Nations is comprised of different species who have come together to form communities. Some species are more common in one nation than others, but they can nonetheless be found anywhere.
Common
As one of the more common species of the Three Nations, you’re bound to blend right in somewhere even if you’re seen as a foreigner in some places.
Elves
Within The CEU, elves are by far the most common species. Their great cities dominate Seishun’s eastern coast, where they are largely content to live out their long lives working together to protect themselves against foreign threats.
Celestials
Although true celestials are a rare sight these days, it’s not uncommon at all for a person to have celestial heritage. Within the nation of Kalshan especially, most people there can claim celestial lineage of some sort.
What tends to set them apart is their bright gold or silver eyes and their gold or silver tinged skin, which tends to be present regardless of their ancestry.
Character creation: Choose the “Nephilim” heritage.
Dwarves
Dwarves are considered to be the most common species in Vindral. They are mostly known for their craftsmanship, as well as their tendency to like living inside mountains. Yet in recent years, many have settled outside of their mountains.
Humans
It’s said that long ago, humans were caught in a great war between celestial and infernal invaders from other realms. Thanks to this, their population has dwindled and they’ve been scattered across The Three Nations, but thankfully this war has long since ended and humans have been allowed the freedom to thrive once again.
Although they remain uncommon within the Three Nations, they are the most common race in Darjal.
Uncommon
As an uncommon sight within the Three Nations, you can expect being the subject of a few stares and possibly even gossip.
Infernals
Although not a common sight within the Three Nations, those with infernal heritage are quite distinguishable from other humanoids in appearance. Their skin tends to be unusual in color - often red, black, or some shade of blue - and they generally have horns of some kind. Some of them might have tails, claws, or other features indicative of their infernal heritage.
They are usually found in Vindral, but there are certainly those who migrate elsewhere.
Character creation: Choose the “Nephilim” heritage.
Green Elves
Although far less common, there are elves with light-green skin who sometimes find their way to Merchant’s Coast. While most would call them green elves, they seem to come from a city hidden somewhere in the Seishunese West that they call Lishara. It’s common for them to be unusually skilled in magic.
Leshy
Leshy are nature spirits who have sometimes been found to build communities out in the wilderness. They aren't seen often within the Three Nations, but they they are reasonably common in Venlara.
Gnomes
Gnomes are diminutive humanoids thought to be descended from the fey.
Monster Species
Although people of these species appear within the Three Nations and some of them are well respected, they’re viewed as monster species because the majority of their members live out in the wilderness instead of civilization. Often living in tribes, they’re known for attacking travelers, raiding villages, and other behaviors that have left them with a bad reputation.
Character creation: Choose an orc, goblin, kobold, or another ancestry that fits this category. If you’re unsure if an option counts, ask me.
Rare
As a member of a rare species, it’s a given that your existence is viewed as something of an anomaly.
Androids
Perhaps one of the most enigmatic technologies discovered within the ancient ruins has been the android. While some androids are visibly mechanical in nature, others are completely indistinguishable from humans, elves, or another of the more common species… at least on the outside.
Despite their mechanical nature, many people believe androids are alive since they seem to be capable of feeling emotions. No-one can seem to prove or disprove this, however.
Constructs
Constructs come in two categories: remnants from ancient ruins and modern recreations. Unlike androids, constructs are completely mechanical in appearance, and there’s no question as to whether or not they’re alive. They are machines, pure and simple.
Mysteriously though, some constructs do gain sentience through a process called awakening. The prevailing theory for this is that a spirit came to inhabit the construct, though this can’t be proven.
Poppet
Poppets are constructs created through magical means. They are usually associated with witches, particularly those living in the Seishunese West, but it’s believed that any spellcaster with the know-how to do so can create a poppet.
Like mechanical constructs, they sometimes gain sentience by awakening.
Kitsune
Kitsune are lesser fox spirits who were said to originate in Seishun’s western wilderness.
They have two forms: their true form, which is that of a fox, and a humanoid form, which is most commonly elven or human. It is also possible for them to reveal aspects of their true form while inhabiting their humanoid form, such as growing fox ears while otherwise looking like a normal elf. If a kitsune dies, they revert to their true form.
Sprites
Sprites are true fey and as such, they are not native to Asha. Nonetheless, it’s not unheard of for them to be found within the Three Nations even if they are a rare sight.
Heritages
Unless otherwise stated, feel free to use any heritage you wish for any of the available ancestries. Heritages may not necessarily match what the description says though, since those were created for the Golarion setting.
Kitsune
Since kitsune's true forms are foxes, I'm tweaking some kitsune heritages to replace their humanoid kitsune form with a fox form. This means every kitsune heritage's true form is a fox, following the pest form.
Arctic Heritages
Due to the scarcity of arctic areas in the Three Nations, it's pretty rare for someone to be from this type of environment. Vindral's mountains are the most likely place such a character might have come from, though coming from a family that fled the Drechen Expanse is another possibility.
Naturally, you're encouraged to play a character with this background if you want to. You'll just want to talk to me so we can figure out where your character came from and how they got where they are.
Versatile Heritages
Some within the Three Nations have heritages that aren't so easy to pin down.
- Aiuvarin - What PF2e calls half-elves.
- Changlings
- Dhampir
- Dragonblood
- Dromaar - What PF2e calls half-orcs.
- Elemental - Basically renamed elemental heritages to all say elemental in Foundry.
- Nephilim - Includes celestial, fiends, and demons.
- Reflection
Nationality
While one can't always tell where a person came from at a glance, it may affect their beliefs and preferred style of dress. It no doubt shaped who they are today as well.
The nationalities listed are merely the most common ones found within The Three Nations, so there are no doubt those from other places.
The CEU
As a collection of city-states instead of a unified nation, nationality originating within The CEU or its surrounding areas tends to vary a bit more than elsewhere.
Semdralian - Thanks to living on Seishun's eastern coast, the people of Semdrali a diverse group who've had plenty of exposure to foreigners. They tend to value hierarchy a bit more than Venlarans, but are less concerned with material wealth than the Esalonians.
Venlaran - Having grown up in Venlara, Venlarans tend to be respectful of nature and are used to living off the land. They care little for titles or material wealth, instead placing value on one's relationship with nature.
Esalonian - A person from Esalona. Those with a mark tend to live cushy lives with a lot of support from Esalona's government, which often leaves them unfamiliar with the common person's plights. Those without a mark tend to be hardier and more independent, believing that they must solve their own problems since those in power rarely step in to help.
Darjan - Hailing from the independent city-state of Darjal, Darjans are mostly-human descendents from the Darja clan. They have long been free spirits who found said freedom on the sea, which is why so many of them are sailors, pirates, or seafaring adventurers.
Lisharan - Coming from a lost city in the Seishunese West, Lisharans are a rare sight within The CEU and most outside of it don't even know what a Lisharan is. Nonetheless, their affinity to magic is rivaled by none.
Kalshan
As a unified nation, most of the people in Kalshan are considered to be of Kalshanese origin. Yet others can of course those from elsewhere can be found.
Kalshanese - A person from Kalshan.
Akalushan - A person from The Akalushan Empire. Although not every Akalushan is a human-hating slaver, that's unfortunately the reputation they have to live up to.
Vindral
Vindralian - A person from Vindral.
Roleplay Options
Think of these as options specific to the setting, which do not 'cost' anything to take. They change how people within Asha view you and may even provide you with knowledge.
Citizen of Esalona
Prereq: Be from Esalona
Esalonians belong to one of two groups: the citizens within its walls and the non-citizens outside of them. As a Citizen, you have a magical face tattoo and the privileges that carries within its walls. However, there may be those outside its walls who resent what you seem to represent.
Nessthian Dreamer
You are one of the few people who experience dreams of Nessthiss. Though she rarely speaks to you, she always provides some great truth when she does, and her followers view you with reverence.
Note: Unless influenced by magic, Nessthian Dreamers don't experience dreams as normal.
Royal Blood
Prereq: Elf ancestry.
As an elf with silver hair and violet eyes, people may recognize you as a member of the Velari family. While being seen as Semdralian royalty does come with its perks, you may also find that criminals may view you as a more appealing target.
Languages
Note that the languages listed here are the ones most likely to appear during gameplay.
Common
Common / Wayfarer - The language of adventurers that was created by The Wayfarers. Many non-adventurers in Asha do not speak it, so it's still useful to know the local language.
Kalshanese - The most common language spoken in Kalshan. Sometimes called "Celestial" by non-Kalshanese.
Seishunese - The most common language in The CEU. Sometimes called "Elvish."
Vindralian - The most common language in Vindral. Sometimes called "Dwarvish."
Orcish - Mostly spoken by orc tribes.
Goblin - A language spoken by goblin tribes across Asha.
Uncommon
Darjan - While many view it as 'the human language' or 'the language of pirates,' these are merely stereotypes. In reality, Darjan is simply the language of Darjal's citizens and isn't often spoken outside of it.
Akalushan - Sometimes called "True Celestial" or "Empyrean," Akalushan is the most common language spoken in The Akalushan Empire as well as by celestial beings. It is sometimes known by scholarly types with an interest in Akalushan ruins.
Lisharan - While it's the most spoken language in Lishara, it's uncommon or even rare anywhere else. Outside of Lishara, it's mostly found in ancient elven ruins and texts.
Old Vindralian - An older dialect of Vindralian that isn't often spoken anymore.
Diabolic - The language of infernals, it's most commonly spoken by infernals in Vindral.
Draconic - The language of dragons.
Sylvan - The language of fey.
Rare
Cthonian - Sometimes called "Abyssal," Cthonian is the language of demons from the abyss.
Daemonic - Spoken by daemons (not to be mistaken for demons), daemonic is the language spoken by entities from Abaddon.
Kitsune - Rumored to be spoken by kitsune.
Necril - The language of the dead.
Deities
Information about Asha's deities can be found here.
That said, if you've got a particular type of deity in mind that isn't represented yet, feel free to work with me to create a deity.
Classes& Equipment
Unless otherwise stated, you start with 15 gold at level 1. Beyond that, this is one area where you'll need to look at Nethys... since there's far too much equipment and class choices for me to list here.