species:kordai
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species:kordai [2023/08/17 00:18] conan created |
species:kordai [2026/02/04 01:58] (current) conan Added images |
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| ====== Kordai ====== | ====== Kordai ====== | ||
| - | The Kordai are a hunted species, the scattered remnants of a group of refugees fleeing from a conflict somewhere in the Leading Orion Arm, beyond the known volumes of the Orion Sphere. After initial contact with several itinerant [[Ikunkuma]] tribes in 3582PT, the beleaguered inhabitants of the refugee ships were guided to safety and taken in by the Free Union, where they spread across the Sovereign Worlds in small family groups. Over the following 50 years more ships were to follow, encountered by [[:Free Union]] and [[:Commonality]] ships in the Augustus, Julius and Cetus Beta sectors, each in progressively worse condition and containing fewer surviving Kordai. The refugees slowly established a number of enclaves in the Sovereign Worlds and Commonality space, and tried to rebuild. After 3629PT, no more Kordai ships arrived, although since that year Commonality and Free Union explorers have found several wrecks in the Lock and Cocoon sectors bearing Kordai markings. Most of these wrecks were found torn to pieces and burned by powerful weaponry, or in a handful of cases orbiting silently and intact in barren star systems, devoid of oxygen and containing only floating bones and dust. | + | [{{:species:kordai_suse11_byrobdavies.jpg?250 |<html><font color=black>Composed of refugees split between two Factions, the Kordai are a hunted people.</font></html>}}]The Kordai are a hunted species, the scattered remnants of a group of refugees fleeing from a conflict somewhere in the Leading Orion Arm, beyond the known volumes of the Orion Sphere. After initial contact with several itinerant [[Ikunkuma]] tribes in 3582PT, the beleaguered inhabitants of the refugee ships were guided to safety and taken in by the Free Union, where they spread across the Sovereign Worlds in small family groups. Over the following 50 years more ships were to follow, encountered by [[:Free Union]] and [[:Commonality]] ships in the Augustus, Julius and Cetus Beta sectors, each in progressively worse condition and containing fewer surviving Kordai. The refugees slowly established a number of enclaves in the Sovereign Worlds and Commonality space, and tried to rebuild. After 3629PT, no more Kordai ships arrived, although since that year Commonality and Free Union explorers have found several wrecks in the Lock and Cocoon sectors bearing Kordai markings. Most of these wrecks were found torn to pieces and burned by powerful weaponry, or in a handful of cases orbiting silently and intact in barren star systems, devoid of oxygen and containing only floating bones and dust. |
| The remaining Kordai are few in number - less than five hundred thousand at the last estimate, their culture and ancestral way of life crumbling under the pressure of life in the Orion Sphere. Within their enclaves in the Free Union and Commonality, there are Kordai who try to cling on to the remnants of their lost homeworld’s culture, while others seek to integrate more fully with the culture of their hosts. Among the [[Elysian|Elysians]], the Kordai have been encouraged to become fully part of Commonality society, while in the Free Union they have been mostly left to fend for themselves. Many have taken the particular rituals of their ancestral priest class, the Kordaiaura, and used them as a way of strengthening their tenuous connection to their ancient home and culture. The few Kordaiaura that maintain an unbroken line of scholarship from before their flight are looked up to by young Kordai, and many seek a teacher or to cobble together some approximation of their practices and skills. | The remaining Kordai are few in number - less than five hundred thousand at the last estimate, their culture and ancestral way of life crumbling under the pressure of life in the Orion Sphere. Within their enclaves in the Free Union and Commonality, there are Kordai who try to cling on to the remnants of their lost homeworld’s culture, while others seek to integrate more fully with the culture of their hosts. Among the [[Elysian|Elysians]], the Kordai have been encouraged to become fully part of Commonality society, while in the Free Union they have been mostly left to fend for themselves. Many have taken the particular rituals of their ancestral priest class, the Kordaiaura, and used them as a way of strengthening their tenuous connection to their ancient home and culture. The few Kordaiaura that maintain an unbroken line of scholarship from before their flight are looked up to by young Kordai, and many seek a teacher or to cobble together some approximation of their practices and skills. | ||
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| ==== The Kordaiaura ==== | ==== The Kordaiaura ==== | ||
| - | The initial waves of refugees contained enough adepts of the Kordaiaura to maintain a corpus of their traditions, practices and training regimens, and these were handed down to subsequent generations in a somewhat scattered and haphazard form. With the Kordai population scattered and only a fraction of its original numbers remaining, few were willing to dedicate themselves to the path of the wandering mystic in the early years of re-establishing themselves. The few Kordaiaura initiates had to be taught by lone mentors, training them and imparting their rituals and the intricacies of the Aura faith while they travelled between Kordai enclaves, resolving disputes and preserving what remained of the Kordai culture. The Kordaiaura, travelling in pairs between the diffuse Kordai enclaves, became the primary cultural touchstone for the species as a whole - and as such elements of Kordaiaura practice began to spread into the wider culture of the Kordai. | + | [{{ :species:kordaimeditatee9_byagentbsmith.jpg?300|<html><font color=black>Free Union Kordai are a spiritual people.</font></html>}}]The initial waves of refugees contained enough adepts of the Kordaiaura to maintain a corpus of their traditions, practices and training regimens, and these were handed down to subsequent generations in a somewhat scattered and haphazard form. With the Kordai population scattered and only a fraction of its original numbers remaining, few were willing to dedicate themselves to the path of the wandering mystic in the early years of re-establishing themselves. The few Kordaiaura initiates had to be taught by lone mentors, training them and imparting their rituals and the intricacies of the Aura faith while they travelled between Kordai enclaves, resolving disputes and preserving what remained of the Kordai culture. The Kordaiaura, travelling in pairs between the diffuse Kordai enclaves, became the primary cultural touchstone for the species as a whole - and as such elements of Kordaiaura practice began to spread into the wider culture of the Kordai. |
| Core to the practice of the Kordaiaura is the ability to maintain a calm, stoic detachment about the world around them. It is believed that this state is crucial to accessing the latent psionic power of the Kordai, which allows them to manipulate matter and forces around themselves. Kordai psions attempt to occupy a point of balance, an emotional fulcrum that in turn allows them to move phenomena in the outside world, and bend the forces of gravity to their will. | Core to the practice of the Kordaiaura is the ability to maintain a calm, stoic detachment about the world around them. It is believed that this state is crucial to accessing the latent psionic power of the Kordai, which allows them to manipulate matter and forces around themselves. Kordai psions attempt to occupy a point of balance, an emotional fulcrum that in turn allows them to move phenomena in the outside world, and bend the forces of gravity to their will. | ||
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| Kordaiaura are now highly respected and sought after, and welcomed into an enclave when they arrive. They bring news of other Kordai across the Orion Sphere, and carry with them the memories of their people as a whole. Always travelling in pairs, the mentor and the initiate spend between five and ten standard years together - training with mind and augmented blade, getting to know the people they serve, and carrying with them part of the Aura in their souls, keeping its light alive. When the initiate’s training is complete, both they and the master move on, taking on new initiates and beginning the cycle once again. | Kordaiaura are now highly respected and sought after, and welcomed into an enclave when they arrive. They bring news of other Kordai across the Orion Sphere, and carry with them the memories of their people as a whole. Always travelling in pairs, the mentor and the initiate spend between five and ten standard years together - training with mind and augmented blade, getting to know the people they serve, and carrying with them part of the Aura in their souls, keeping its light alive. When the initiate’s training is complete, both they and the master move on, taking on new initiates and beginning the cycle once again. | ||
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| - | ===== Character ===== | ||
| - | |||
| - | ==== Kordai in the Free Union ==== | ||
| - | |||
| - | Stoicism, an interest in lost cultures, and a somewhat inward-looking attitude. Non-Kordaiaura can often be relatively fearful and self-effacing, especially in more recent years. | ||
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| - | ==== Kordai in the Commonality ==== | ||
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| ===== Appearance ===== | ===== Appearance ===== | ||
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| Kordai have a more robust musculature than the Terran norm, and are quite durable as a species. Their subcutaneous skin layer contains significant deposits of crystalline copper compounds that makes their skin harder to deeply injure. However, Kordai blood is notably thinner than Terran standard, and significant injuries can cause them to quickly lose fluid volume. Kordai working in accident-prone industries will frequently carry injectors loaded with fast-acting nano-coagulants in case they go into fatal shock before help arrives. | Kordai have a more robust musculature than the Terran norm, and are quite durable as a species. Their subcutaneous skin layer contains significant deposits of crystalline copper compounds that makes their skin harder to deeply injure. However, Kordai blood is notably thinner than Terran standard, and significant injuries can cause them to quickly lose fluid volume. Kordai working in accident-prone industries will frequently carry injectors loaded with fast-acting nano-coagulants in case they go into fatal shock before help arrives. | ||
| - | Kordaiaura tend to tattoo themselves with dyes from the bio-psionic Auranoss plant, which was preserved in the flight from their homeworld. These somewhat paler blue tattoos form patterns of swirling, dendritic lines and spirals, and are psychoactive - glowing brightly when in a psionic aura. Those who have taken to imitating the practices of the Kordaiaura have been known to apply similar tattoos to themselves when they can get access to the Aurabess dyes. The Kordaiaura are also known for their simple hooded robes, which are seen as a “uniform” of sorts in the order, as well as a convenient means of passing unnoticed. True Kordaiaura robes are often split at the front and back, to allow for better freedom of movement in melee combat. | + | Kordaiaura tend to tattoo themselves with dyes from the bio-psionic Auranoss plant, which was preserved in the flight from their homeworld. These somewhat paler blue tattoos form patterns of swirling, dendritic lines and spirals, and are psychoactive - glowing brightly when in a psionic aura. Those who have taken to imitating the practices of the Kordaiaura have been known to apply similar tattoos to themselves when they can get access to the Auranoss dyes. The Kordaiaura are also known for their simple hooded robes, which are seen as a “uniform” of sorts in the order, as well as a convenient means of passing unnoticed. True Kordaiaura robes are often split at the front and back, to allow for better freedom of movement in melee combat. |
| ====== Game Rules ====== | ====== Game Rules ====== | ||
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| ==== Species Trappings ==== | ==== Species Trappings ==== | ||
| - | * Horns, usually a pale or bone-like colour, affixed to the forehead. This can be accomplished using a prosthetic or headpiece with horns attached. Horns vary in colour, but are typically a dark or slightly blue or purpleish tinge. | + | * Horns, usually a pale or bone-like colour, affixed to the forehead. This can be accomplished using a prosthetic or headpiece with horns attached. Horns vary in colour, but are typically a dark or slightly blue or purpleish tinge. Typically Kordai horns are fairly small, but some have larger, slightly curved horns. Larger Kordai horns do not spiral or curl around like sheep's horns, and typically resemble the archetypal "devil's horns". |
| * Large pointed ears, with sharply defined blueish dots on the upper part of the ear. This can be accomplished by prosthetics or clip-over ears. | * Large pointed ears, with sharply defined blueish dots on the upper part of the ear. This can be accomplished by prosthetics or clip-over ears. | ||
| * Blue facial markings, typically consisting of straight lines and angles. These markings differ between individual Kordai, but in almost all cases are symmetrical between the two sides of the face. A Kordai’s facial markings may change over the course of their lives, but they are always prominent enough to be noticeable at a glance. The lines of Kordai facial markings should be sharply defined rather than blended, and are best simulated using makeup such as eyeliner pencil, thin makeup brush, or stencil. These markings can also extend over the rest of their bodies. | * Blue facial markings, typically consisting of straight lines and angles. These markings differ between individual Kordai, but in almost all cases are symmetrical between the two sides of the face. A Kordai’s facial markings may change over the course of their lives, but they are always prominent enough to be noticeable at a glance. The lines of Kordai facial markings should be sharply defined rather than blended, and are best simulated using makeup such as eyeliner pencil, thin makeup brush, or stencil. These markings can also extend over the rest of their bodies. | ||
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| * Psionic, 2 Psi Points | * Psionic, 2 Psi Points | ||
| * Kordai characters buy psionic powers from the [[:Kordai Psionic Paths#Gravitic Equilibrium]] Root Path and its [[:Kordai Psionic Paths#Branch Paths]]. | * Kordai characters buy psionic powers from the [[:Kordai Psionic Paths#Gravitic Equilibrium]] Root Path and its [[:Kordai Psionic Paths#Branch Paths]]. | ||
| - | * **Aura Sensation** - Kordai characters feel a sense of awe or fear when they are affected by psionic phenomena, depending on if they perceive the source as positive or negative. Examples include when they are targeted by a PSIONIC-type ability or affected by a [[:Conditions|Condition]] with the tag PSIONIC. Aura Sensation is a [[:calls_effects#roleplay_effects|Roleplay Effect]], so things that explicitly suppress Roleplay Effects fully suppress these rules. | + | * **Aura Sensitivity** - Kordai characters feel a profound sense of Awe or Fear when they are affected by psionic phenomena, depending on if they perceive the source as positive or negative. Examples include when they are targeted by a PSIONIC-type ability or affected by a [[:Conditions|Condition]] with the tag PSIONIC. Aura Sensation is a [[:calls_effects#roleplay_effects|Roleplay Effect]], so things that explicitly suppress Roleplay Effects fully suppress these rules. |
| - | * If a psionic phenomenon has a long duration such as a Psionic Condition, Aura Sensation only applies when it is first applied to the Kordai character, and lasts for about 15 minutes. After this point the character has acclimatised to the Condition. Kordai characters cannot acclimatise to a [[:Psionic Aura]]. | + | * The roleplay effect of Aura Sensitivity is weaker than other roleplay effects applied by psionic abilities - if a psionic ability explicitly causes an emotional roleplay effect, then this will take precedence over the Awe/Fear created by Aura Sensitivity. A psionic power that does not explicitly cause an emotional effect will result in the Kordai target character experiencing Awe/Fear IN ADDITION TO the power's effects. |
| + | * The Kordai character is generally free to interpret the strength or type of emotion caused by Aura Sensitivity when in the presence of psionic energies. However, when subject to a psionic power or Psionic Aura, the roleplay effect is strong enough to prevent then taking any actions other than movement - generally this will take the form of being emotionally overcome by the source (if Awe), or fleeing and cowering (if Fear). | ||
| * The feeling of awe or fear is stronger when within a psionic area, and strengthens as they approach the centre of the aura, to the point of becoming overwhelming. Psionic powers used on a Kordai while they are within a Psionic Aura may produce strange results if a Referee is present. If a Referee is not present, powers do work as normal, but the user of the power feels an uncomfortable mental “static” that affects them for 15 minutes after the use of the power. | * The feeling of awe or fear is stronger when within a psionic area, and strengthens as they approach the centre of the aura, to the point of becoming overwhelming. Psionic powers used on a Kordai while they are within a Psionic Aura may produce strange results if a Referee is present. If a Referee is not present, powers do work as normal, but the user of the power feels an uncomfortable mental “static” that affects them for 15 minutes after the use of the power. | ||
| - | * Kordai characters may occasionally be briefed with other information relevant to their Aura Sensation. | + | * If a psionic phenomenon has a long duration such as a Psionic Condition, Aura Sensitivity only applies when it is first applied to the Kordai character, and lasts for about 15 minutes. After this point the character has acclimatised to the Condition. Kordai characters cannot acclimatise to a [[:Psionic Aura]]. |
| - | * Kordai characters can suppress their Aura Sensation for about 30 minutes by spending 1 Psi Point. | + | * Kordai characters may occasionally be briefed with other information relevant to their Aura Sensitivity. |
| - | + | * Kordai characters can suppress their Aura Sensitivity for about 30 minutes by spending 1 Psi Point. | |
| - | * Kordai characters are unaffected by Aura Sensation from powers they themselves use, and take a lesser version of the effect from powers used by other Kordai. | + | * Kordai characters are unaffected by Aura Sensitivity from powers they themselves use, and take a lesser version of the effect from powers used by other Kordai - powers used by other Kordai produce a noticeable feeling of Awe (if friendly) or Fear (if unfriendly), but not strong enough to prevent the Kordai target character from performing normal actions. |
| + | {{tag>species free_union commonality}} | ||
species/kordai.1692227896.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/08/17 00:18 by conan
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