DARVIN
The
Darvin evolved from hexapedial (six-legged) herd animals. They are
typically about 1.5 meters long. They walk with their four rear legs
and manipulate objects with their front "arms". The Darvin are typically
gray in color, although their hard shells are capable of changing shade
to blend in with natural surroundings.
Role-playing
Darvin are cautious characters and often quite nervous and jumpy, particularly
when they are around other species. They are not quick to make friends,
but they are fiercely loyal once they form a close bond. They are
born followers; due to their naturally low personality, Diplomats (and
leaders in general) among the species are very rare. Darvin tend
to make good Tech Ops. Combat Specs and Free Agents are not uncommon
either, and those that do exist usually rely heavily on their heightened
dexterity for protection. Darvin are incapable of being Mindwalkers
(not even psionic talents). Since the invention of computers on Deladarvin,
cybertech has become quite popular among the inhabitants. Over 25%
of the planet's population has at least some minor computer equipment surgically
implanted within them (although many Darvin possess nothing more than a
biowatch or bioart), but a smaller percentage has undergone more extreme
cyber-surgery.
Special Abilities
Body Armor: Darvin have a natural shell that affords
them d4+1/d4/d4-1 natural protection.
Herd Mentality: All Leadership-Command skill checks
involving a Darvin (or groups of Darvin, but not mixed with other species)
are made at a -1 step bonus. Furthermore, all Interaction skills
used on a Darvin NPC receive a -1 step bonus.
Natural Reflexes: Darvin characters automatically
receive the Reflexes perk for free; this does count toward the character's
limit of three perks total.
History
The Darvins' evolution from a herd species is manifest in many aspects
of current Darvin society. There are few true leaders among the Darvin,
although those who are born with a rare sense of authority find their way
to leadership quite easilly and have few problems steering the general
population towards obedience. Darvin society is a true global culture,
with very few regional differences; the world government, where all global
decisions are made, is controlled by a group of less than one hundred Darvin.
Some of the Darvin (including most Darvin player-characters) are born with
what the Darvin call a "suicide gene": these Darvin do not have the
natural tendency towards flight and avoidance of other species that is
inherent in the general population. Such characters are generally
shunned as social outcasts by the Darvin population at large.
Deladarvin is a cold planet, and only the most equatorial regions are
capable of comfortably supporting life. Using modern technology throughout
the past several centuries, the Darvin have been able to construct colonies
on the ice caps in the northern and southern regions of the planet,
but the vast majority of the Darvin population still lives within one thousand
kilometers of the equator. The Darvin have also begun to colonize
their planet's only moon, and by the contemporary era there are approximately
100,000 Darvin living there.
The Darvin are a PL 6 culture and have been for well over a century
now. Since encountering new species with PL 7 technology some advanced
equipment has begun to appear on Deladarvin, but most of the Darvin are
cautious and reluctant to use such items. The one exception to this
is PL 7 cybertech equipment, which is plentiful enough on Deladarvin at
this point that it can be purchased by anyone willing to pay triple the
usual price. The Darvin have made it a point to try to acquire some
of the cybertechnology discovered by the Rappkor Bakorians.
Due to their herd-animal evolution, the Darvin are an easily provoked
race: they are easily angered, easily won-over, and easily led.
The Darvin are a peaceful species when dealing with each other, and there
has never been a war among the Darvin in recorded history. This does
not, however, mean that the Darvin have never developed weapons.
In fact, throughout their history the Darvin have been ruthless in their
destruction of every slightly threatening predatory species on their planet.
The last land predator capable of killing a Darvin was eliminated over
a thousand years ago in one of the very first world-wide efforts by the
species--a feat that is still celebrated to this day.
The Darvins' fear of predators might have spelled disaster for the Ulvi
had they been more technologically advanced when they were discovered.
Before the "First Encounter" there were even a few calls for the extermination
of the Ulvi, but Darvin leaders chose instead to remove a small number
of the new race from their planet and see how well they adapted to life
in Darvin culture. So far they have adapted well; so well, in fact,
that many of the transplanted Ulvi hold positions of substantial power
in the Darvin culture.
Current Campaigns
The Darvin actually became aware of the existence of the Iersian culture
almost a century ago, when Darvin scientists picked up unnatural electromagnetic
signals coming from the Terdalis System. Being naturally xenophobic,
however, the Darvin made no attempt to communicate their own existence
back to the Iersians. The arrival of Thsier-Bakorian ships in the
Trinji System, however, took the Darvin by surprise and caused chaos and
hysteria among much of the population for several months. There is
still much mistrust of the newcomers, although Iersian friendliness thus
far has done much to alleviate the tension. A small minority of the
population (following a few very vocal leaders) is calling for the Darvin
to cut all ties with alien races (including the Ulvi, whom some Darvin
leaders have come to resent) and isolate themselves entirely.
Prior to the coming of the Iersians, the Darvin had explored all of
their own star system. They have extensive colonies on the moon Amuliadarvin
and have built small bases on the moons of Kepelya, hoping to learn how
to mine the resources of the gas giant--an effort that has so far proven
fruitless.
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