I have a few hours free at work, i'm bored, and this ideas been kicking around for quite a while so here goes:
Race name: Heilan (pronounced 'hee-lan')
Physical Description: Heilan's generally stand just over 8 feet tall when standing, and are about 4 feet tall at the shoulders when down on all fours. Their build is generally lithe, with deviations more towards the slim than muscular. Their heads are extended in the back, giving their skulls a stretched back appearance. Grey skin, rough, covers their forms. A tail extends from their hindquarters that generally extends to about 5 feet in length, and is prehensile, often used like a fifth hand. Their fingers and toes are long, allowing for dextrous movements with all four appendages, including clutching and working with tools. Their mouths house long slender fangs. In appearance (facial, body, etc) they are best described as tall, gaunt, humanoids.
Biology/Psychology: Heilan's are most likely descendants from the furless carnivorous mammals of their homeworld, and they still show many of the traits of their ancestors, including being naturally athletic, and often preferring to hunt down their own meals whenever able. The greatest difference between their ancestors is their intelligence, which other than being sentient, has graced them with what most may call natural psionic abilities. Most Heilan youth can perform simple stunts such as warming themselves by drawing heat from the nearby enviroment, and feeling the emotions of those around them. When trained and with good heritage, the talents develop till they are of military level. Heilan's take great pride in their ability to manipulate the forces around them, and often practice it in tune with their hunting abilities, keeping both finely honed.
Heilan's lack sufficient vocal chords to produce the sounds that are common in most languages in the universe, instead being mostly able to produce screeches and howls, animalistic, and left-overs from their hunting heritage. Heilan's rarely use these noises, only when they are threatened or in exhiliration, but instead choose to communicate through a language using their nimble fingers and arms to pass along messages. They also use some of their natural psionic abilities to pass along feelings, and in highly trained individuals, messages.
The Heilan's internal structure is closest to a large feline, with reverse-bending knees and elbow, as well as typically mammalian organs, lungs, heart, etc. Their lifespan is generally around sixty standard years, reaching maturity at around eight standard years. Their bone structure is fairly dense, allowing for the constant shock of travelling through treetops and hunting. The muscles along their legs and arms are usually more suited for springing/jumping than pure weight movement.
Psionics: The mental powers of the Heilan's tend to be divisible into three categories. All members of the Heilan race have at least passing talent in all of these categories, and those with a good heritage and training generally are very skilled in one over the other two.
Energy: The powers that fall under this category include the abilities to control and move heat and energy in the enviroment. For most Heilan's this is minor, the ability to warm ones self on a cold day, or to make a small spark. At the higher ends of the spectrum, this power is often used to control and guide heat based weapons in the military, or without technological support, start fires and control them to a degree (similar to pyrokinesis).
Communication: The powers that fall under this category include the ability to sense others emotions, and to send images of ones self and thoughts into others minds. At a basic level, Heilan's are empathic, and can send/receive general vibes of emotions from others of their own species. With good training and heritage, and the help of technology, the abilities can be extended so that Heilan's can send their images into others minds, with their lack of vocal communication, acting like a communication system between ships, or thoughts and orders to subordinates.
Sensory: The abilities in this category include the ability to feel the presences of those around the Heilan, not limited to just sentient beings. At a basic level, this mostly acts as a third eye, a Heilan can sense if someone is standing right behind them naturally, thus making it a vital survival instinct while hunting. With the boost of technology and training, the ability can be extended to act like a sensor system in ships.
Society/Government: Heilan's have a heirarchal class sytem of government, based off of the natural skills of each individual. When Heilans are young, they are tested for physical, mental, and psionic aptitude. In combination with a minor interest test, their education is then tailored to their specific talents to better the society. Often, much emphasis is placed on the psionic talents of the person, whether or not they're profession direly needs such talent, and one who receives a high ranking in psionics is often deferred to as a higher class citizen than those who rank poorly. Given the hereditary nature of these talents, this lends itself to dynasties in the government councils.
Heilan's are practically always in competition, with each other, with the enviroment, anything that can provide a challenge. It is not rare to find even the smallest cities to contain an arena for those who practice the military and war arts to compete against each other to improve their skills. These contests are generally not fatal, but their have been occasions where it gets out of hand and a member of society is lost.
Given the competitive nature, and hunter heritage of the Heilan's, it is only natural that they are often mistrusting of each other, and even more so of those outside of their village/clan comfort zone. This is easily shown in the fashion of the species. It crosses the spectrum from tight fitting garments suited for combat and hunting, to billowing colorful garments that obviously hinder movement. The clothing implies a level of trust, the less combat ready the garments, the more trusting the person is of their surroundings, and therefore, and therefore subtle insults/praise can be determined by what someone wears to an event.
The society of the Helian's is often spread across their planet in small villages. Since the formation of a tribal council system of planetary government, each village is generally assigned something to build for various military implements. In addition to this, all young are tested for their talents and any with sufficient skills for the government service are recruited into a standard thirty year service, which they may renew if they wish.
Despite the ranking system, all members of the society who are not deviants generally live the same lifestyle. The only difference is those in the military and government, who are rewarded better for their particular service and sacrifice.
Technology: The technology level of Heilan's is pre-hyperdrive space age. Given the significant lack of metals suitable for ship building, most of their ships are made of high-tensile ceramics, lighter than space-grade steel and very close in quality and toughness. The lack of iron or other tough metals is replaced by a good amount of gold, which allowed their culture to develop sophisticated circuitry. Given the lack of hyperspace technology, the main types of ships they have developed were intended only for in system use, so they consist of fighters and transports primarily.
Given the Heilan's natural psionic talents, a lot of their technology has gone to boosting such talents instead of pure technology implements, and so communication systems aboard ships are mainly circuitry that boosts the links between the minds of the people communicating, instead of transmitting radio waves or the like. Similar things have been done with sensors.
Most weaponry relies on their talent for adjusting/applying heat to objects, for guidance and use. Planetside weaponry has taken the course of melee heat weapons (frames with a metal inside that allows for easy ignition) and slugthrowers, since often well trained infantry can deflect or lessen the impact of heat based ranged weapons given enough warning. Space weaponry has taken the form of plasma throwers and missile weaponry, often favoring missiles given the Heilan's ceramics have a tendency to absorb heat very well.
(added to the society and physical sections)
Race name: Heilan (pronounced 'hee-lan')
Physical Description: Heilan's generally stand just over 8 feet tall when standing, and are about 4 feet tall at the shoulders when down on all fours. Their build is generally lithe, with deviations more towards the slim than muscular. Their heads are extended in the back, giving their skulls a stretched back appearance. Grey skin, rough, covers their forms. A tail extends from their hindquarters that generally extends to about 5 feet in length, and is prehensile, often used like a fifth hand. Their fingers and toes are long, allowing for dextrous movements with all four appendages, including clutching and working with tools. Their mouths house long slender fangs. In appearance (facial, body, etc) they are best described as tall, gaunt, humanoids.
Biology/Psychology: Heilan's are most likely descendants from the furless carnivorous mammals of their homeworld, and they still show many of the traits of their ancestors, including being naturally athletic, and often preferring to hunt down their own meals whenever able. The greatest difference between their ancestors is their intelligence, which other than being sentient, has graced them with what most may call natural psionic abilities. Most Heilan youth can perform simple stunts such as warming themselves by drawing heat from the nearby enviroment, and feeling the emotions of those around them. When trained and with good heritage, the talents develop till they are of military level. Heilan's take great pride in their ability to manipulate the forces around them, and often practice it in tune with their hunting abilities, keeping both finely honed.
Heilan's lack sufficient vocal chords to produce the sounds that are common in most languages in the universe, instead being mostly able to produce screeches and howls, animalistic, and left-overs from their hunting heritage. Heilan's rarely use these noises, only when they are threatened or in exhiliration, but instead choose to communicate through a language using their nimble fingers and arms to pass along messages. They also use some of their natural psionic abilities to pass along feelings, and in highly trained individuals, messages.
The Heilan's internal structure is closest to a large feline, with reverse-bending knees and elbow, as well as typically mammalian organs, lungs, heart, etc. Their lifespan is generally around sixty standard years, reaching maturity at around eight standard years. Their bone structure is fairly dense, allowing for the constant shock of travelling through treetops and hunting. The muscles along their legs and arms are usually more suited for springing/jumping than pure weight movement.
Psionics: The mental powers of the Heilan's tend to be divisible into three categories. All members of the Heilan race have at least passing talent in all of these categories, and those with a good heritage and training generally are very skilled in one over the other two.
Energy: The powers that fall under this category include the abilities to control and move heat and energy in the enviroment. For most Heilan's this is minor, the ability to warm ones self on a cold day, or to make a small spark. At the higher ends of the spectrum, this power is often used to control and guide heat based weapons in the military, or without technological support, start fires and control them to a degree (similar to pyrokinesis).
Communication: The powers that fall under this category include the ability to sense others emotions, and to send images of ones self and thoughts into others minds. At a basic level, Heilan's are empathic, and can send/receive general vibes of emotions from others of their own species. With good training and heritage, and the help of technology, the abilities can be extended so that Heilan's can send their images into others minds, with their lack of vocal communication, acting like a communication system between ships, or thoughts and orders to subordinates.
Sensory: The abilities in this category include the ability to feel the presences of those around the Heilan, not limited to just sentient beings. At a basic level, this mostly acts as a third eye, a Heilan can sense if someone is standing right behind them naturally, thus making it a vital survival instinct while hunting. With the boost of technology and training, the ability can be extended to act like a sensor system in ships.
Society/Government: Heilan's have a heirarchal class sytem of government, based off of the natural skills of each individual. When Heilans are young, they are tested for physical, mental, and psionic aptitude. In combination with a minor interest test, their education is then tailored to their specific talents to better the society. Often, much emphasis is placed on the psionic talents of the person, whether or not they're profession direly needs such talent, and one who receives a high ranking in psionics is often deferred to as a higher class citizen than those who rank poorly. Given the hereditary nature of these talents, this lends itself to dynasties in the government councils.
Heilan's are practically always in competition, with each other, with the enviroment, anything that can provide a challenge. It is not rare to find even the smallest cities to contain an arena for those who practice the military and war arts to compete against each other to improve their skills. These contests are generally not fatal, but their have been occasions where it gets out of hand and a member of society is lost.
Given the competitive nature, and hunter heritage of the Heilan's, it is only natural that they are often mistrusting of each other, and even more so of those outside of their village/clan comfort zone. This is easily shown in the fashion of the species. It crosses the spectrum from tight fitting garments suited for combat and hunting, to billowing colorful garments that obviously hinder movement. The clothing implies a level of trust, the less combat ready the garments, the more trusting the person is of their surroundings, and therefore, and therefore subtle insults/praise can be determined by what someone wears to an event.
The society of the Helian's is often spread across their planet in small villages. Since the formation of a tribal council system of planetary government, each village is generally assigned something to build for various military implements. In addition to this, all young are tested for their talents and any with sufficient skills for the government service are recruited into a standard thirty year service, which they may renew if they wish.
Despite the ranking system, all members of the society who are not deviants generally live the same lifestyle. The only difference is those in the military and government, who are rewarded better for their particular service and sacrifice.
Technology: The technology level of Heilan's is pre-hyperdrive space age. Given the significant lack of metals suitable for ship building, most of their ships are made of high-tensile ceramics, lighter than space-grade steel and very close in quality and toughness. The lack of iron or other tough metals is replaced by a good amount of gold, which allowed their culture to develop sophisticated circuitry. Given the lack of hyperspace technology, the main types of ships they have developed were intended only for in system use, so they consist of fighters and transports primarily.
Given the Heilan's natural psionic talents, a lot of their technology has gone to boosting such talents instead of pure technology implements, and so communication systems aboard ships are mainly circuitry that boosts the links between the minds of the people communicating, instead of transmitting radio waves or the like. Similar things have been done with sensors.
Most weaponry relies on their talent for adjusting/applying heat to objects, for guidance and use. Planetside weaponry has taken the course of melee heat weapons (frames with a metal inside that allows for easy ignition) and slugthrowers, since often well trained infantry can deflect or lessen the impact of heat based ranged weapons given enough warning. Space weaponry has taken the form of plasma throwers and missile weaponry, often favoring missiles given the Heilan's ceramics have a tendency to absorb heat very well.
(added to the society and physical sections)
