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OK here's the story:
Our planet.. is dying. Choking on the filth it’s children created. The governments of the world, before, offered words of encouragement, dangling in front of our noses information of possible technologies which could save us, possible ways for us to avert the terrible disaster that now loomed before us, that of a slow and painful death through starvation, lack of clean air, and disease. We hoped… until the war came. It is difficult to tell who started it or why, some border dispute or a resource which was disappearing as quickly as the others which multiple countries lay claim to. Those old enough to remember before the great amount of pollution swamped us shook their heads sadly with the knowledge that nothing this drastic or angry would have occurred had the earth been like it once was, when humanity wasn’t feeling like hopelessly raging against anything it encountered. As the war consumed the population, a wave of pestilence, an invisible radioactive fog blanketed most of the earth, crippling it still further, and killing millions.
After this accident, most of humanity put aside their differences in agreement that the survival of the species comes first. Knowing that the planet was almost definitely crippled beyond repair, great space colony ships were built, and ten years after the war ended, they were launched, carrying all of those who were selected to go by the government. The remainder of the population was either forced or volunteered to stay behind, and likely died along with Earth. These ships went in different directions, keeping in communication, all looking for a planet that could suit the needs of the survivors. A thousand years pass.
One of these ships, Diligence, has lost communication with the others as the years went by, drifting further and further apart. However, a discovery was made: a potential planet for habitation. Data was collected on the planet, which showed the planet as almost totally covered in gigantic green trees. In different regions there were snow-swept mountains, a crimson desert, as well as a vast ocean. The entire population of the colony ship, numbering about 5000, wanted to see this wonder, but they instead were made to wait with bated breath as the few select volunteers made their way down. Electronic contact with the volunteers ceased, showing that something about the planet’s composition or atmosphere threw off the signal sent by radio. After around 24 hours, the volunteers returned, their faces alight with open wonder as they told the masses about how beautiful and bounteous the planet was. Plans were made for immediate colonization, starting in only a few weeks. However, that sleeping-cycle, there was a takeover. People emerging from their living quarters still wearing their bedclothes were ripped apart by snarling and shrieking monsters. Those who had volunteered and gone to the new planet had become beasts, which easily tore through what little military there was on the colonial ship and took control of the navigational equipment. Diligence was steered into orbit, towards the planet, and the crew and population fought hard to try to avert the disaster. Under the control of the creatures the ship slowed down marginally before reaching the planet’s surface, however when the gigantic colonial ship impacted into the trees and soil, the crash killed almost everyone on board. Crew, Civilians, Soldiers, almost all of them dead. You can choose to be one of the very few who pick themselves from the crash site that was Diligence, or you can choose something else: One of the tribal creatures of the planet, who are often warring with one another for territory amongst the trees.
However, the sun is beginning to drop, and the true beasts are going to come out soon…
Characters:
Humans: Either a civilian, or one of the crew: scientists, medics, and such. The entire military personnel were wiped out either by the converted beasts which came on board, or by the impact into the planet. You are allowed to find a limited amount of weaponry in terms of guns and things, but keep in mind that those will only last as long as the clips in them do. These players will be starting out in between some of the native clan territory, and they will have to find their way either alone, or with others, or meeting and joining one of the native species.
Humans also are able to make use of devices which their ship provided them. The thing that all of the survivors have is the Translator device embedded into their bodies, inside of their ear. This device allows them to understand other languages, which was useful on the ship as it was full of people from many different backgrounds and cultures. It can be used to pick up on the native's language, once it adjusts to their way of speaking. Other examples of possible technologies which the survivors have either in them or with them would be muscle implants, to increase strength or speed marginally (though not past the human limit) optical implants (as well as most sensory ablilities which humans have), etc.. send me your ideas, and feel free to use them if I approve it for use. No cyborgs though, if that's what you were thinking.. by that I mean.. no having 34 implants for one dude.
Another thing I'm considering giving the humans (because they are pretty well inferior to the natives when they first start out) is the ability to communicate via internal radio.. but only in certain areas, due to the planet's odd atmosphere. Lemme know if you like/dislike.
Tribes: The four major tribes in the area and a description of their general appearance is as follows:
Canim- dog-like creatures, who are generally moderately strong, fast, and intelligent. The first species of this tribe vaguely resemble wolves in appearance, called Luccan. however they are bigger, and some have something resembling a mane. They can come in pretty well any color hair-wise, but they are more likely to be black, white, brown, or green, in order to blend in with their surroundings. They can grow to be about 8 or 9 feet long, and up to a fully-grown man’s chest. They are generally the warriors of the Tribe, although a few might choose a different path. The wolves's social structure is very strict; Arranged marriages in order to strengthen future generations and whatnot. The main goal of most of the members of this species is to become the greatest fighter possible. Although the Luccan have some motor skills (some more than others, with the more dexterous of the race having the ability to stand and walk) They are still not well suited to things such as climbing and building. Because of this this race tends to live the closest to the ground. As mentioned before, the lineage and 'purity of blood' is very important to the Luccan. Marriages are formal, arranged by the parents, and things such as homosexuality and multiple lovers are very frowned upon.
Another race of creatures live in the same tribe as the Luccan, called the Vulccan. These creatures seem more like foxes in both coloring and body-shape, coming with fur in similar colors (Red, Arctic fox white, Fennec-fox Tan, Black, etc). Vulccans also are very good at standing on two legs compared to the Luccan, and their greater dexterity and cunning leans their skills towards building, battle strategists, and inventors. There have been tales of Vulccan warriors, however, and they typically use longer weapons in order to make up for their smaller size. The average Vulccan stands up to a typical male human's chest, although bigger members of the species can grow up to the same size as a survivor. The society amongst the Vulccan's is much more relaxed compared to the Luccans, so more of this race take on a variety of jobs
Felim- this tribe is extremely graceful, and are able to move very quickly. These creatures resemble Cats, the smaller ones looking like a lynx or bobcat, while the biggest of the tribe look like tigers or male lions. The color amongst this tribe is extremely varied, as many of them look different from one another. Possibly because of this, this group is the most fractured of the tribes. The smallest of this tribe can be a little bit less then 4 feet long, and the largest can grow almost at big as the average Canim, although creatures of this tribe are almost always lighter and leaner. There aren't different names for the separate species of the tribe, as they have so many. The typical Felim village contains far fewer members than one of any other tribe, however these villages are very numerous. Felim constantly strive to better their skills, no matter what those skills might be. Once a year, all of the Felim in that village who are approaching adulthood go through a ritual called 'The Amelioration' or The Bettering. These Felim are taken away from their village, and are not allowed to return there until they bring something back which will make the village as a whole better. Whether this is a physical item, an impressive skill such as swordsmanship or becoming a great smithy, or having some new piece of knowledge which can greatly help their people all depends on that particular Felim. Although some do not return, the greater majority come back some years later with an impressive tale to tell. The sex lives of the Felim are very relaxed, especially when compared to the Luccan. Multiple lovers and spouses, no matter the gender, are common amongst them.
Reptim- This is the tribe which many other tribes detest – either because they have never been good with loyalties, or because they look, well, creepy. Most of this tribe resemble brilliantly colored lizards, but there has been accounts of sneaking, color-changing creatures, large, tortoise-like breeds, and a rare breed resembling monitor lizards which can grow even bigger than the Canim. Every member of this tribe retains the ability to walk on two legs, although some choose not to. This tribe’s species are commonly about even in size to a human, however it can vary greatly. This tribe is also the only tribe in the area who do not make their villages in the trees. They instead live on the great rivers which run through the forest. If one watches the water's edge for long enough, they are sure to see a great line of river-boats being poled or paddled by the Reptim. Once night approaches, the boats all reach a wide area of the river and way anchor there, to remain safe from the Beasts.
The typical occupations of this tribe are: Assassins, spies, knowledge-gatherers, and shopkeepers. Most Reptim prefer a fight when the victim is unaware that they are even in one. Certain species of Reptim, like the tortoise-like Georepts, are unable to become something as sneaky as an assassin, and instead make large sums of money being shopkeepers or givers of information. It has been said that it is impossible to trick a Georept out of their money.
The sex lives of the Reptim are.. well.. sex. almost always during the festivals, the Reptim group together and mate. After the event, they part ways and act completely normal the next day. This is a contributing factor to the other Tribe's general distance from them.
Fowlim- This tribe has it’s home in the highest parts of the trees, being the only tribe which has wings. Their extremely light frame and strong muscles allow them to take off even while stationary. This species is also the most humanoid in appearance: Some of them resemble harpies, with splashes of feathers and winged arms, and some have beaks, however some even resemble angels, having humanoid arms and hands with their wings on their back. Although those two areas are most common for the wings to grow, there are also those amongst the Fowlim who have wings on places like ankles or wrists, and some even develop small wings on their head which act similarily to hair. There is a group amongst the Fowlim who's wings did not grow in a way which gives them the ability to fly, but this group is not shunned, merely pointed into the direction of an occupation in which flying is not needed. The difference from the humans that this tribe has is they their skin is a different color. It can come as deep brown or black, gray, light blue, or anywhere in between. Many of the members of this tribe have hawk-like talons instead of feet or instead of hands, but they can also have digits which resemble hard, sharp-nailed human hands. The feathers of this tribe can come in almost any color, with blue or green being most common.
The Fowlim race is deeply respected as peace keepers and scholars. Because of this, a person of the Fowlim race is able to go amongst other tribes and different towns with relatively little friction. a person could see a group of scholars flying downwards to towns below to gather scraps of history and recent events many times in a day, although the scholars always go down with an honorary guard known as the Eyes. Members of the Eyes (as well as any member of the tribe who chooses to become a warrior instead of a Scholar) usually use long weapons like spears or halberds, as well as ranged weapons like the boy and arrow, in order to take advantage of their ability to fly. Both the Eyes and the Scholars, however, are trained medics as well. Because of this, they are often called into battle against the beasts or occasionally against a tribe which all other tribes agree need to be put down or forced into submission, and they act as support. Fowlims are almost notorious as romantics, they only take on one lover, and they constantly do things with only each other. Anniversaries are very important to the Fowlim, with the typical anniversary day consisting of lovemaking, smooches, an impressive amount of flowers, smooches, a party with close friends, then smooches and lovemaking. Do you see why they are notorious for it yet?
All of the tribes have human or at least near-human intelligence, and all of them speak their own language, however they each know the language of the surrounding tribes, due to frequent encounters with each other. This makes them extremely good at learning any new words when encountering another species, and most only take one time hearing the word to remember it and possibly figure out it’s meaning. All of the tribes also live in the trees at varying heights, and each species is usually diurnal (sleep at night)
The Beasts- Not a tribe. This is a separate group of creatures, those who have become infected with what the other Beasts have. These monsters can really take on any appearance, but they are all extremely violent, completely independent, and usually fairly powerful. The size of these beasts can range anywhere from 3 feet tall to even 25 feet, towering over any other creatures in the area. Most of these beasts operate almost entirely on their sense of sound, and the are all nocturnal. Only an extremely hungry or very ill beast will brave the sunlight. They will usually sleep in burrows either at the base of the trees or in the easy-to-dig-into soil. There have been tales of these creatures with appearances which the humans would consider demonic, some which try to lure their prey with sweet songs, enticing smells, or mimicry. Some beasts might look like dragons, like plants, like rock, like… well, you get the picture. They are why the civilized tribes stay in the treetops to sleep.
Whew. That's everything.
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(20 Ft, 8 wide in regular form.)
