[Races] Aliens of 2600CE

[Jkeown]

Okay, maybe not just the Skragh...I'll post other races I've created in writing 2600CE, my homebrew Sci-Fi weirdness. 

 

Skragh

The Skragh are a species native to the Hyades Cluster in Taurus. Their sun is not technically a member of the cluster, but currently shares the same volume of space. The race is commonly referred to as the Hyadians, however, they are quick to point out the proper name, Skragh, which translates roughly as “I want.”

Skragh Evolution

Skragh are descended from plains-dwelling reptavian stock. They had lost their flight ability in the distant past, but retained several digits that came in handy for hunting and scavenging. This behavior paid off when a formerly harmless fungus arose, threatening their food supply. They adapted to an omnivorous diet and added several new grains. As their lifestyle diversified, opportunities increased, as did the size of their brains. Eventually, they found themselves on the verge of sentience. Competition among various proto-Skragh nests resulted in cooperation, diplomacy and true intelligence.

Skragh Physiology

They resemble heavy-set ratites, with long curving beaks displaying a variety of casque shapes. Posture is largely horizontal, though they can rise up a bit when threatened or issuing warnings or orders to ground troops.

 

They have long, dexterous fingers on their vestigial wings, with sensitive pads. Feathers tend toward darker colors, with bright accents that vary by nest. Accent color tends to be heredity, but younger Skragh have taken to coloring their feathers with dyes, light bars or holo-implants.

Unarmored Skragh with unmodified feathers can produce stridulation, an audio signal generated by feather friction. It is used to issue commands in sporting competition and low-tech combat situations. It features heavily in Skragh musical culture and television.

 

Skragh Culture

Skragh culture is a “me first, cooperation second” society. Leaders encourage teamwork within corporations and the military, but stress the need for individuality in all things. Social climbing is highly stratified and Machiavellian, with innumerable clubs, gangs, collectives, nests and families all competing for social status and material wealth.

 

They place a high priority on collecting, record keeping and knowledge of collectable items.

 

Skragh greet each other by tapping their beaks together. This provides acknowledgment while giving both participants the opportunity to take in the other’s beak scrimshaw.

 

They are terribly fond of the blues.

Skragh Psionics

Skragh are rarely psionic, and those that do develop such skills are usually promoted quickly to Nest Leader or some military post. Skragh psions who fail in their duties are often killed or exiled. Exiles who return are killed. Skragh psions tend to be Lifters.

 

Skragh Names

Skragh names tend to be sounds you could make on a woodwind instrument. Humans often sound very stupid trying to speak the language.

  Skragh Nutrition

Skragh are carnivores, but enjoy eating greens and less intense fruit (anything sweeter than a Granny Smith apple is found to be nauseating to them).

  Skragh Template

Cost Ability
6 +3 DEX
3 +3 PRE
2 +10 END
6 Quick: Running +6m (18m total)
10 Beak, Large: HKA ½d6 (1d6+1 w/STR)
11 Stridulation: Hearing Group Images, +2 to PER Rolls
2 Feathers: Life Support (Safe in Intense Cold)
2 +1 with Stealth
3 Perfect Pitch
Total Cost of Template Abilities: 45

[Jkeown]

Tarrial
The Tarrial are native to the second planet in the Tarrias Prime system, a small sun-like star in Aquila Sector.

Tarrial Evolution
Tarrials evolved from tree-dwelling rodent-like opportunistic browsers. Their evolution was driven by competition from similar life forms who spent most of their time on the ground. Competition for food was fierce, any creature who could safely broaden his intake had a greater chance of survival. As the generations wore on, the Tarrial adapted to moving and living in complex 3D environments, and have excellent hand-eye coordination and speed.

Tarrial Physiology
Tarrials are quadrupeds, bipedal, with a prehensile tail used for balance and as a third hand. They are very protective of their tails.

Tarrial Culture
The society of Tarrials is based around the idea of a Tree (tla’thet); with the trunk as the supporting civil service bureaucracy and every other profession occupying a branch. Large companies or clans are also called Branches (nok’thet).
The branch one occupies is dependent on a number of factors, there is no caste system. Birth, genetics and education figure strongly in Tarrial culture. Families are encouraged to pass skills down to the young, but social mobility is also honored.
Tarrial find humor in everything.
On matters religious, the Tarrials worship the Great Egg, usually depicted as a shiny metallic egg standing on six stumpy legs. Modern Tarrials recognize this symbol as a starship of some kind, but few speak of it aloud.

Tarrial Psionics
Tarrial are capable of Psionics, and take well to training. Among the Tarrial, psions are called “Wizards” and form nok’thets of their own.
They are most frequently Jumpers, but a disproportional number of them are Bringers and Hyperdimensionalists.

Tarrial Names
Tarrial name their young at birth, often with strange phrases, lyrics, or poetic passages. In Tarrial, they sound like bleats and clicks, translated into Standard, they elicit memories or foreign concepts.
Males: Eye of the Tiger, Jump, Memories of Tarrias, Hills of Fire.
Females: Flowing like a River, Go Go Go, We’re Shopping Now, Tomorrow’s Promise

Tarrial Nutrition
The Tarrial enjoy tasting things. Everything. However, they can’t actually digest everything that looks good to them. They might not really consume your custom blaster pistol, but the zephyr-hide grip would go down smoothly.
They can metabolize a larger spectrum of substances than humans. Thus, Tarrial restaurants are a nightmare of sights, smells and projecting fluids of a vile nature.

Tarrial Template

Cost	Powers
10	Hard to Hit: +2 DCV - END=
6	Faster: +3 DEX - END=
2	Boundless Energy: +10 END - END=
4	Hard to Perceive: +2 with Stealth - END=
11	Tree Grip: Clinging (13 STR) - END=0
6	Tail: Extra Limb (Inherent) 
5	Eat All Kinds Of Stuff: Life Support (Immunity: All terrestrial poisons)
Powers Total: 33
Cost	Skills
12	+2 with all Agility Skills
Skills Total: 12
Cost	Talents
2	Brachiator: Environmental Movement (no penalties on Tree Limbs, Pipes or Similar Structures)
Talents Total: 2
Value	Complications
10	Physical Complication: Small (Infrequently; Slightly Impairing)
Complications Points: 10

 

[Jkeown]

Lacertan

 

The Oothmali, or to human reckoning, the Lacertan are trilaterally symmetrical sophonts occupying 3 major worlds and 15 moons in Lacerta Sector. They are a common sight as far away as Dark Cloud and Celestial Chorus. When first encountered in the late 24th Century, they were puttering along on NLS drives rated at .9c. Careful negotiations brought them into the Union on April 1st, 2497.

 

Lacertan Evolution

 

While many humans maintain that Lacertans arose from animated annoyance and coalescent rudeness, it is known that they evolved naturally on the largest moon of Kali, in Lacerta Sector. Most life forms on Oothmal are trilaterally symmetrical as well. They were opportunistic browsers, similar to Humans, with more selective pressure and a far more variable climate. This has led to a group mentality (though not a hive mind in any sense) based on mutual defense and an increased sense of community. Lacertans have a need to be a part of something, to fit in and be of benefit to a group, no matter how small.

 

An isolated Lacertan will commit suicide in a matter of weeks.

 

Lacertan Physiology

 

Lacertans display trilateral symmetry. That is, their organs and limbs are arranged along a rotational y-axis. Each of their features are situated at 120 around the creature. They have 3 arms, 3 legs, 3 ears, 3 eyes and 3 wiggly sensory extensions at the top of their bodies. An ear is located just above each eye. Breathing is accomplished by means of respiratory openings just under each eye. They speak by means of the respiratory orifices, and talented Lacertans can act as their own backup singers.

 

At the base of the body, where the legs meet, is a multifunction orifice that performs food intake, waste elimination and sexual reproductive functions.

 

Each upper limb ends in a six-digit hand, each hand having four fingers and two opposable thumbs. As a result of this arrangement, they use a base-18 mathematics system.

 

They typically display warm coloration, with oranges and reds predominating. Various patterns of light blue bioluminescence are present across their heads, arms and legs. The wiggly sensor extensions also glow softly. This glow brightens when the person is angry or excited.

 

They distinguish not right and left, but directions roughly translated as one, two and three. Such things come naturally, but bilateral races tend to struggle with the idea. Many precious seconds have ticked by while a human tries to figure out in which hand to place tools or ammo when asked.

 

They reproduce via a typical two gender split. Both male and female sex organs are present in Lacertans, and activate on subtle clues given off during courtship. Essentially, the two prospective parents will dance, fight, throw things and otherwise compete physically and socially for the right to bear the young. The winner of the competition becomes female. It is chemically impossible for pregnant Lacertans to become male for the duration of gestation.

 

Lacertan Culture

 

Lacertans understand concepts of privacy somewhat poorly, but have no need of them, and unless matters of personal space and property are explained to them (as often as possible) they will intrude and “steal” whenever they can. It can be very disturbing to suddenly find a six foot tall, six-limbed orange and blue sausage reading over your shoulder.

 

They are curious to a fault, often wandering into places best left undisturbed. They are not stupid, overconfident or otherwise mentally impaired, and do not go haphazardly into obviously dangerous areas without a great deal of preparation.

 

Lacertan Psionics

 

Unsettlingly, Lacertans Psions are almost always Jumpers.

 

Lacertan Names

 

Lacertan speech is formed by expelling air through the respiratory slits located under each eye. Their native “tongue” sounds a bit like a harmonica, though less melodic. As most races cannot make these sounds without assistance, a great many Lacertans adopt Human or Rhee names.

 

Lacertan singing sounds like the Blues

 

Lacertan Nutrition

 

An Oothmali can digest a wide range of foods. They are fond of heavily spiced dishes, and often carry their own spice stash with them, just in case.

 

The atypical arrangement of their digestive tract has left the Lacerta with the ability to filter out toxins, leaving them immune to most poisons.

 

Lacertan Template

Cost	Abilities
3	Stronger: +3 STR
6	Superior Coordination: +3 DEX
5	3 Arms, 3 Legs: Extra Limbs (2)
30	All-Around Senses: Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees) with Sight Group, Hearing Group and Smell/Taste Group
29	Mag/Lek: Detect Magnetic Fields and Electical Current 13- (Unusual Group), Discriminatory, Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Range, Sense, Blocked by Shielded Circuits or Wiring
37	Wiggly Sensory Things: Spatial Awareness (Unusual Group), Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees)
6	Tough Hide: Resistant Protection (2 PD/2 ED)