Xyel-ya (Zell-ya)
Physical Traits
More than any other race on Venus, the xyel-ya are distinctly uniform. An Atlantean-created race made specifically for combat, most xyel-ya stand approximately six feet tall with lean, but strong musculature. The most distinct feature of the xyel-ya is their four arms, each of which ends in two highly dexterous fingers and a thumb. Their leg muscles are tightly wound with backwards knees and elongated feet. This allows them to sprint at a moment's notice with impeccable speed. Their power and agility makes it clear for what purpose the Atlantean’s created them. They are the perfect soldier.
There are two other biological advantages that the xyel-ya were gifted with are their dual-set eyes and a neural redundancy that allows the xyel-ya to function without sleep. xyel-ya possess both front-facing eyes, but also eyes on the side of their elongated heads, providing them with 270-degree vision. Also, through Atlantean genetic meddling, the brains of the xyel-ya don’t experience the same need for sleep that other species require. Instead, their mind’s possess a lobe that is functionally asleep at all times, allowing the rest of their mind to act unimpaired by lack of sleep.
Xyel-ya are also monogender, each of them capable of both carrying children and “fathering” a child. Xyel-ya are also capable of conceiving with some species other than their own. In cases such as this, only the xyel-ya is capable of becoming pregnant, and all offspring will be genetically xyel-ya. While some claim that this results in genetic differences in the offspring, there is little evidence to confirm that. More likely, is that these pairings are likely to raise the child together and the child’s behavior will be influenced by their non-xyel-ya parent.
The aforementioned pregnancy won’t last for long as most xyel-ya are born after a month’s gestation. Just as rapidly as they grew during gestation, xyel-ya are fully grown within a year of birth. As rapidly as they come to life, xyel-ya also die younger than most other species. Thirty years seems to be the median with most dying within a year, give or take. One small blessing however is that xyel-ya never grow old or weak, but rather just seem to stop one day never to breathe again. This unique circumstance is likely another example of Atlantean design.
History When Venus was first explored by the Atlanteans, they found that though it could support them with the aid of the Great Machine, it was practically inhospitable largely because of the life that already lived there. The harsh living conditions of the planet meant that only the toughest and deadliest creatures could thrive there and they would need some way to establish a foothold on the planet. Still too weak from their war with the Anathaki to do it themselves, they instead created their own apex predator, the xyel-ya. Platoons of xyel-ya were marched through the gate, each one led by an Atlantean commander. As they were exploring a relatively unknown and hostile planet, each battalion was expected to be self-sufficient as they crossed and tamed the landscape. In order to limit the resources each unit would need, the Atlanteans made the xyel-ya largely uniform so that they would all be fitted to the same armor and weapons. Over the decades the Atlantean’s finally took control over the world, and in that moment the builders betrayed the Priests, leaving them stranded on their newly claimed planet. When Ra arrived on the planet, the dynamics changed once again. The xyel-ya were first warriors, claiming a foreign land. Then they were protectors, keeping the Priests safe from their new hostile home. Finally, after Ra claimed Venus as his own, the xyel-ya claimed their final role: slaves. While many did escape his grasp and managed to make their way to other free cities, far too many fell under his power. Much like how the priests were warped by Ra, the xyel-ya that fell under his power were similarly perverted. Knowing that even he would have trouble should all of the xyel-ya band together, he made them more dependent on him than ever. Through magicks unknown, all of the xyel-ya under his reign lost their mouths. Unable to speak, they were not able to communicate easily in large groups. Unable to eat they were entirely dependent on technologies only Ra provides to not starve to death. In one fell swoop Ra made all of them subjugated to him and him alone.
Culture In Manu Das and other places where the mouthless xyel-ya live, colloquially referred to as “quiet ones”, they have no culture to speak of. Their lives are run meticulously by Ra and the priests. With no need to sleep they do not live in homes or require beds. As they get sustenance from energy pylons they require no time to eat. Every second of every day is work and toil. As all xyel-ya look nearly identical, they have taken to face painting to help separate themselves from their peers. This tradition started during the initial Venusian campaigns where entire platoons would identify their rank and accomplishments by symbols painted on their face. As time has passed, the symbols have diversified to mean any number of things, from a particular skill, or even resistance allegiance, though as their meanings are often lost on non-xyel-ya. Even though their faces may look alike, you will struggle to find a free xyel-ya with facial markings matching another. As all other Atlantean races, Xyel-ya speak low Atlantean. However, as a result of the campaigns and exodus from Ra, it's not uncommon for Xyel-ya to also be proficient in any number of native Venusian languages. In places like Manu Das where xyel-ya can not speak, they have developed a form of sign language unique to them. Given their four arms, it can be a dexterous language full of dense sentences, but it does allow them with some level of communication.
History When Venus was first explored by the Atlanteans, they found that though it could support them with the aid of the Great Machine, it was practically inhospitable largely because of the life that already lived there. The harsh living conditions of the planet meant that only the toughest and deadliest creatures could thrive there and they would need some way to establish a foothold on the planet. Still too weak from their war with the Anathaki to do it themselves, they instead created their own apex predator, the xyel-ya. Platoons of xyel-ya were marched through the gate, each one led by an Atlantean commander. As they were exploring a relatively unknown and hostile planet, each battalion was expected to be self-sufficient as they crossed and tamed the landscape. In order to limit the resources each unit would need, the Atlanteans made the xyel-ya largely uniform so that they would all be fitted to the same armor and weapons. Over the decades the Atlantean’s finally took control over the world, and in that moment the builders betrayed the Priests, leaving them stranded on their newly claimed planet. When Ra arrived on the planet, the dynamics changed once again. The xyel-ya were first warriors, claiming a foreign land. Then they were protectors, keeping the Priests safe from their new hostile home. Finally, after Ra claimed Venus as his own, the xyel-ya claimed their final role: slaves. While many did escape his grasp and managed to make their way to other free cities, far too many fell under his power. Much like how the priests were warped by Ra, the xyel-ya that fell under his power were similarly perverted. Knowing that even he would have trouble should all of the xyel-ya band together, he made them more dependent on him than ever. Through magicks unknown, all of the xyel-ya under his reign lost their mouths. Unable to speak, they were not able to communicate easily in large groups. Unable to eat they were entirely dependent on technologies only Ra provides to not starve to death. In one fell swoop Ra made all of them subjugated to him and him alone.
Culture In Manu Das and other places where the mouthless xyel-ya live, colloquially referred to as “quiet ones”, they have no culture to speak of. Their lives are run meticulously by Ra and the priests. With no need to sleep they do not live in homes or require beds. As they get sustenance from energy pylons they require no time to eat. Every second of every day is work and toil. As all xyel-ya look nearly identical, they have taken to face painting to help separate themselves from their peers. This tradition started during the initial Venusian campaigns where entire platoons would identify their rank and accomplishments by symbols painted on their face. As time has passed, the symbols have diversified to mean any number of things, from a particular skill, or even resistance allegiance, though as their meanings are often lost on non-xyel-ya. Even though their faces may look alike, you will struggle to find a free xyel-ya with facial markings matching another. As all other Atlantean races, Xyel-ya speak low Atlantean. However, as a result of the campaigns and exodus from Ra, it's not uncommon for Xyel-ya to also be proficient in any number of native Venusian languages. In places like Manu Das where xyel-ya can not speak, they have developed a form of sign language unique to them. Given their four arms, it can be a dexterous language full of dense sentences, but it does allow them with some level of communication.
- Starting Wound Threshold: 9 + Brawn
- Starting Strain Threshold: 11 + Willpower
- Starting Experience: 85
- Starting Skills:
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