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Garner Offline
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Default Alpha Polis campaign (in potentia) - 09-29-2006, 22:50

Update:

Top 10 Races most likely to be included in the Alpha Polis Campaign! I'll list the name and a brief description of the race, along with a mention of what supplimental book they can be found in for those who've got D&D libraries of their own

Humans - Humans are the most common race, since they built the original Alpha Polis and made it what it is today. They're quick to master new things, and able to specialize in almost anything imaginable. Versitile, well rounded... You really shouldn't need to ask too much about what they're like

There are a number of 'near human' species as well!

Illumians (originally appeared in Races of Destiny, altered to fit the campaign) - Illumians were once humans, but their ancestors completed a powerful psionic ritual that forever changed them and their descendants. Supposedly they've unlocked the 'true alphabet of the mind' and are slowly learning the language it comprises. They look mostly human, but are constantly surrounded by glowing sigils and characters that appear in the air and spell out words in this 'mental alphabet'... neat!

Azurin (originally appeared in Magic of Incarnum, probably not going to be altered from that) - Azurin are humans that have been fused with Incarnum energy. Incarnum is, essentially, 'soulstuff'. limitless energy from everything that's living now, ever lived in the past, and possibly even everything that ever WILL live in the future! Most folks can learn to tap into this stuff, but Azurin already have that ability born into them. Their eyes glow blue as a result.

Elans (originally appeared in Expanded Psionics Handbook, i think. unaltered from that) - Elans were once human. then they got changed through a secret ritual that no one but the elder Elans knows. they're functionally immortal, but their ultimate goals are unknown (even to most newly created Elans!) and their very existance is not entirely certain. For all intents and purposes, they might as well be human to a casual observer. They've got some inherent psionic energy in much the same way that Azurin have inherent incarnum energy.

There's another 'near human' race that isn't human at all, or really even close to it...

Synads (originally appeared in Complete Psionic, may be adjusted ever so slightly. not sure yet) - Synads look like humans in bright light, but in darker conditions, you could almost swear you can see other faces around their face... sort of ghostly not-quite-there faces. Synads have three minds, all psionic, and this gives them some funky powers. Synads are quite rare, and possibly herald the fulfillment of some apocryphal prophecy or something... all that's certain (and this aint certain at all, since no one really knows if the elans are real) is that they seem to hate Elans with a vengance.

Now, onto the clearly not human races.

Raptorians (originally appeared in Races of the Wild) - Raptorians are unique in that they can fly without needing to waste time building experimental and crash-prone powered flight craft, or praying for a favorable wind in a lighter than air machine. Raptorians have their own wings. they can't really use them to do more than glide or hop until they've really matured and grown, but they can still execute some nifty stunts with them while they're young. just picture something that looks like Elrond or Legolas with a feathery jetpack leaping off a cliff and pelting you with arrows while they glide away to where you can't reach them! neat! most of these guys live in the South Wood, but some of em have moved into Alpha Polis. They tend to live in the upper floors of the taller buildings.

Goliath (originally appeared in Races of Stone) - Goliaths are big. really big. and tough. they're also more or less living stone. think discworld trolls, but more like olympic atheles than lumps of rock. they're also not particularly dumb, as a rule. Goliaths have a fairly primative society, they live as hunter gatheres in the Mountains of Sleep and the badlands beyond. Because of their terrific size and strength, they often find work in the rural districts to the north of Alpha Polis, and of course within the city itself.

(name to be determined) based on the Rilkan and Skarn (both appeared in Magic of Incarnum, this one will have some heavy editing) - This will be a reptilian race of creatures that have a natural affinity for Incarnum. their homelands are a pair of large islands off the coast of the main continent, but they're not part of the Great Ring of small islands that surrounds it. they're a fairly cosmopolitian race, despite not having their home in Alpha Polis. they can be a bit aloof, but they're exceptionally hardy and fearsome foes when their anger is roused.

Thri-Keen (no idea where they *originally* appeared, so we'll go with the Expanded Psionics Handbook for now. they'll be quite seriously modified though.) - Thri-Keen are insect peples from the Mirelands. They stand a great deal shorter than most other races, and have four arms. they're a bit alien in most outlooks, but they do have a sizable colony within the hive that is Alpha Polis. They're natural hunters and survivors, but many of them are also naturally psionic.

Warforged (originally appeared in Races of Eberron, name will likely change) - warforged are quite rare in this day and age. occasionally some farmer digging in his field will uncover what looks like an old gauntlet or something, and it'll turn out to be the hand of an inactive warforged. the engineers at Alpha House have tried their best to duplicate the construction of Warforged, but to no avail. the best they've managed are cheap automation copies. Warforged are living machines. when activated and running propperly, they last nearly forever. they're big, heavy, and clunky, but they're also patient and hard working. warforged tend to congregate in ever shifting groups that eventually break up and scatter about the place, forming new groups when they meet other wandering warforged.

Lastly (i know, i know, i said ten races... shut up), i'm planning on something that i haven't named yet.

they're a (in so far as anything a fantasy setting is ever original) original race. smaller than even thri-keen, with big ears and lots of black hair all over. i'll have more of a write up on them once i've got a name and some more details ironed out.


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