Splintered Serenity Races

Apoc

Apocs are the last surviving remnants of the world's armies after an apocalyptic Event has left the planet as they know it completely shattered. Designed long before this world-shattering event, but with it in mind, Apocs are genetically engineered to be the ultimate survivalists - they're enhanced physical powers honed to cope with any form of external stress. With powers bordering on (and some far surpassing) the supernatural, the Apoc are truly the next stage in human evolution.

With the world hurtled backwards into a pre-industrial state, the armies did what they knew best and relied on their training - those soldiers stationed abroad relying on their field survival skills, and those at home "on base" reverting back to attempting to reestablish posts of command and centralized society to the best of their abilities. After centuries of forced separation, a gradual rift opened between these two groups and a natural animosity along with it - growing steadily as one side either sought what the other had or blamed them for their current condition. These two groups, known as High-bred (for the "on base" members) and the Churl (for the "in the field" soldiers) also began to evolve into two strikingly different groups.

While all Apoc are human at their core, they do possess genetic manipulations which make them decidedly more than merely human - while some of these manipulations were intended by the Apocs' "Makers", others have emerged at their own pace over the many years which have passed since the apocalyptic event. These differences manifest in widely different ways:

High-bred
Only via observation of their feats can anyone discern that the High-bred are anything other than run-of-the-mill members of the military. Much like their ancestors, High-bred prize themselves on their cleanliness: usually keeping their hair short, staying physically clean and clean-shaven, and they bear their uniforms and insignia with pride. In fact, while it might seem incongruous with their shattered world, the Apoc High-bred seem to take a measure of pride in keeping these uniforms clean and in good working order - many see it, after all, as the only thing that separates them from the "unwashed and naked savages" known as Churls. While the flags of the nations that destroyed the world are now all but gone, High-bred proudly bear the insignias of rank, unit and base - seeing these tightly knit groups as the only family that they've ever - or will ever - have. In addition to their enhanced physical capabilities (which are nothing, if not impressive), Apoc High-bred usually wield a wide array of weaponry ranging from ancient nano-forged melee weapons (swords, axes, and maces) to firearms: anything from propellant-fired weapons to ion weaponry and railguns.

Churl
Unlike their divergent cousins, the Churl are the result of the savage side of mankind, scratching and scavenging for survival - and succeeding far beyond anyone's expectation. Churl are basically human in appearance, but generally their increased size or unusual proportions mark them as something more than human. Usually Churl tend to be far larger and more muscular than normal humans and often display elements of their unusual "mystical" nature through alterations in their physical appearance. Unusually, these mystical elements almost always center on a given Churl's ancestral homeland and those totemic or elemental ties found there. For instance, Churl that hail from a remote, volcanic island chain could display physical aspects that range from fish-like, scaled skin, to smoldering eyes of pure lava. Other than these mystical qualities, Churl wear or carry little that is non-functional: generally the bare minimum in the way of clothing and the maximum effect in the vein of weapons are chosen. In terms of specific weapons, Churl nearly always default to savage melee weapons - however, these weapons, as well, seem to possess a unique and mystical quality all of their own. Oddly, these weapons are often elements of ancient technology (such as hammers made from drive trains of old automobiles, shields built on the framework from wrecked truck bodies, or swords crafted from scavenged turbine blades) that have "transcended" in unusual ways (strange growth of crystals, transformation into obsidian or other materials, or the infusion of mystical powers).

Apoc Artwork by John Gonzalez




Klik

Beings of metal and steam, gears and gyros, pistons and pulleys, the Klik at first glance appear to be nothing more than strange conglomerations of odd, physics-defying gadgetry. Yet, once one spends any amount of time in the presence of these assertive and driven beings, they are sure to redefine their perceptions of them. While the Klik could not be considered individuals by any means, as they continually strive to perform their part in the service of their Great Machine, they are anything but random collections of parts and pieces. Little is known about their originating Collective, which seems to be nothing more or less than a massive universal-sized clockwork machine, with an alien conciseness all of its own. Yet the Great Machine certainly seems just as sentient as the Klik it regularly spawns and sends out into the realms beyond its own, always seeking knowledge and answers. What questions could vex a sentient machine that is more massive than several solar systems is unknown, however.

Klik encountered to date fall into one of two forms or classifications: the Rollers and the Tripods and each seems to serve within its own distinct class system within the structured hierarchy of the world of the Great Machine. The Tripods are the "day laborers" of the Kilk world, doing all of the "heavy work" while the Rollers seem to compose a "white-collar class" and handle any jobs which call for subtle skills and fine manipulation of tools and items. Regardless, every Klik looks like the patch-worked invention of some crazed 18th century inventor and none of the Klik technology has progressed beyond the level of the steam engine. While each Klik "model" conforms to the same overall appearance – so all Rollers and Tripods look essentially the same - small variations can be seen among them on an individual level. It seems that each Klik drives itself towards the implementation of perceived "self-improvements" in order to achieve the Great Machine's ultimate goals. So, while one Tripod might possess brass hearing horns mounted upon cog-based swivel-adjusters in order to facilitate their role as sentry, for instance, another might bear a skull-mounted, gas-powered, rotating mirrored spot-lamp for the same purpose.

Rollers

While Rollers are no more advanced than their more rugged counterparts, the Tripods, it is easy to see that they are constructed for maximum speed, maneuverability, and versatility. Most Rollers possess a roughly humanoid torso, two arms and a head, but beneath their waist the similarities to humans end. Instead of legs, these unusual Klik possess a single, large, swivel-mounted and steam-driven or clock-work wheel to provide their locomotion. Dexterous arms, hands and fingers are the norm with Rollers, with each of these segments either being detachable or serving multiple purposes. These aid Rollers with their finely-honed and delicate tasks and give them a widely expanded range of usefulness. A wide array of advanced modular attachments, such as arc coils, wheel hooks, and phlogiston accumulators (only to name a very few) are commonly used by Rollers to enhance their overall adaptability.


Tripods

Rugged and rough, Tripod Klik are the hard-working, hard-hitting backbone of Klik society. Primarily used as scouts, scavengers and soldiers, Tripods are often the first Klik encountered by other races; which does not always bode well for the clock-worked cog-men. Tripods are known for their strength and durability, but are not generally thought of as scholars, and they tend to be very singular minded. Once Tripods have been given an assignment, they don’t let much of anything (be it persuasion or concussion) stand in their way. These assignments can range from the gathering of "combustibles" (i.e. anything that will burn) as fuel for the Great Machine, to the gathering of specimens for examination and study by the same. Neither task tends to place them in the favor of many native people groups. Tripods look similar to Rollers from the waist up, although their heads are more frequently replaced with things like battering rams (since they rarely use them anyway) and their arms often are nothing more than their massive tools of the trade (hammers, drills, saws, or what-have-you). From the waist down, Tripods enjoy the stability of three, stocky, evenly placed legs, which give them their name.

Klik Artwork by John Gonzalez




L'na

Hailing from a world where magic is the basic building block of life, the L'na are a mystical race generally given to the tenants of subtle balance and harmony with the world around them. Physically, L'na resemble animals, but they are far from simple beasts: they are, in fact, highly intelligent and spiritual beings that are the apex of magical "evolution" on Ai, their home-world.

L'na favor all animals, and yet no particular animal, all at once – seeming to be a primordial organism of transition from which any known animal might emerge. In fact, many L'na have the ability to fluidly morph from one from into the next: one moment bearing the supple scales of a serpent and in the next, the iridescent feathers of a tropical bird, or the shimmering exoskeleton of an insect.

Further, L'na often embody aspects of the various elements within their frames, adding the frosty rime of ice and snow, or perhaps the tinkling and crisp frills of wind to their already morphic forms. While they tend to travel on all four feet, L'na are capable of using their forepaws (which are vaguely reminiscent of "hands") to use simple tools or items normally useless to quadrupeds; in truth, some can use all paws equally well and some L'na possess prehensile tails as well. However, L'na, as a rule, shy away from tools and rely instead upon what nature has given them – innate magical abilities, coupled with their claws and teeth.

Twilights

Twilights are L'na who enter into the world under Ai's night sky. Their physical forms feature mixes of nocturnal animals: monkeys, panthers, bats, owls and other night birds, raccoons, bears, opossums, and constrictors are usually seen. Twilights posses powers that are generally more subtle and secretive: energies that flit and flow through the murky places where most folk dare not delve.

L'na Twilights are experts with the powers of the mind, spirits and fate: their purview lies with soul-based powers, summoning and of speaking with the spirits long past the border of the living. Further, Twilights are powerful mentalists and are said to be able to weave the shadows themselves into protective veils and illusions. It is also widely rumored that some Twilights even posses purview over the very powers of fate and the future.

Dawns

Dawns are L'na whose lives are tied to the diurnal cycle of Ai – those born under the enlightened hours from dawn until just before twilight. The forms Dawns take are usually combinations of creatures and animals that are normally seen in the light of day and in the bright light of noon: apes, lions, lizards, vipers, eagles and most birds, bear, elk and squirrel are some of the more common.

L'na Dawns are masters of the magical powers tied to force, matter, and life: these energies thrum through their veins and smolder behind their eyes. Their magical abilities of Dawns are by and large, the more "flashy" types of powers; powers that are overt and resounding.

Dawns are those L'na who wield the mighty powers of fire and storm, water and earth mold to their will, and they are also masters of the powers of healing and growth. The powers of transmutation and the enhancement of living things are also the purview of Dawns.

L'na Artwork by John Gonzalez