Keshalyen (D20 Modern Race)
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[edit] Keshalyen
| “ | And yet, of all the alien wonders I have seen, these blood-thirsty keshalyen remain the greatest. | ” |
| —Dr. Keiran Freeman | ||
The keshalyen are a mysterious and secretive alien race that has only recently been introduced to the human population as a whole. Their sole purpose as a unified race seems to be the annihilation of other sentient species.
[edit] Physicality
Remarkably human-like, the keshalyen are classified by human biologists as primates. Males stand between six and seven feet, and weigh an average of 280 lbs. Females are on average a foot shorter than males, with a slightly lighter build that averages 240 lbs.
Very basically, keshalyen look like tall humans with a slightly elongated jaw and prominent canine teeth. Their skin tone is generally a pale . Their facial features are notably different, with long ears and slitted pupils which contract in the light like a cat's. The shapes of protective bone-groups are visible through skin all over the body. their fingers and toes are long, and have an extra knuckle.
Keshalyen naturally breathe oxygen, but genetic modification at birth has granted most individuals the ability to breathe carbon-dioxide as well.
[edit] History
The keshalyen have a bloody history of violence and genocide. Millenia ago, they destroyed their own planet through a destructive war that all but annihilated their race. Afterwards, they gathered under mysterious religious leaders who have the ability to be revived after death. These self-proclaimed prophets led the keshalyen throughout the galaxy, destroying any planet with sentient life they came across. Few planets escaped their fervor, and they destroyed some of the First's greatest work. When keshalyen encountered the human ship The Heavens, which subsequently led them to Earth, they began yet another crusade to eradicate a fellow sentient race.
[edit] Culture
The driving force behind keshalyen society is religion. Ultimately, they are ruled by a small class of prophets, whom the general population reveres. The prophecy that dominates the keshalyen race is the same motivating force that fosters their relentless hostility to other intelligent life: The keshalyen will destroy all other sentient races in the galaxy under the blood-soaked flag of their ancestors, and will then be allowed to return to their home planet, D'Janna, which will have been miraculously restored into a paradise.
As a race that is unified almost completely by religion, the keshalyen are very hardset in their ways. Fulfilling their great prophecy is the center of morality for the vast majority of keshalyen. Science, economy, agriculture etc. are all seen as stepping stones to their paradise.
Even before the great prophecy was revealed, keshalyen had always been extremely warlike and violent. Corporal punishment is an integral part of their militant caste-based society, and capital punishment is practiced frequently without hesitation or conflict.
[edit] Technology
The keshalyen are an intergalactic space-faring species. They use cryogenic preservation and near-lightspeed propulsion methods to get them where they want to go.
With a vast empire of planets to draw resources from, the keshalyen use complicated metallic alloys that are superior in weight:hardness ratio than any alloy produced by humanity. Their strongest and favourite alloy, known as D’Jonii, is present in their ships’ hulls, personal armor, and most other equipment. Although human scientists are baffled by keshalyen alloys, they have been able to manipulate D’Jonii to some extent.
Power sources and cryogenic preservation methods are a different story, however. Humanity’s capability in these terms has been revolutionized since contact with the keshalyen. Some human public figures controversially refer to the contact as “the best thing to ever happen to humanity”.
[edit] Racial Traits
- +4 Dexterity, +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence.
- Medium Humanoid (Keshalyen).
- Keshalyen base land speed is 40 ft.
- Low-Light Vision.
- +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Intimidate, Listen, Spot, Sense Motive, Demolitions, Pilot and Drive checks.
- Unnatural Speed: keshalyen have the Uncanny Dodge ability (see fast hero ability of the same name). In addition, they have a +2 racial bonus on reflex saves, a +2 racial bonus on initiative checks, and gain Dodge and Mobility as bonus feats at first level.
- Keshalyen are proficient with all Keshalyen Weapons.
- Automatic Languages: Keshalyen. Bonus Languages: any.
- Favored Class: Fast Hero.
- Level Adjustment: +2
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