Races (Embers)

Carrick

Menschcoat: A carrick is wrapped up in a protective outer layer of thick coat that keeps them safe from harm. They get +2d to rolls made to mitigate physical damage from any outside source.

The carrickin of Wilton are a race of living textiles, easily identified by the voluminous coat that covers the majority of their body. These coats are tough yet flexible, and often are dyed in bright colours to better contrast against the darker skin of the carrick. When their hood is up, quite often all that can be seen of a carrick's face is their eyes.

Even though their physiology is based around this protective outer layer, carrickin are by no means secretive or reclusive in their nature. But as everyone soon learns, preferably not from firsthand experience, a carrick's coat is as much a part of them as the shell of a tortoise. Asking a carrick to remove their coat is as viable as asking anyone else to peel off their skin.

Ensifer

Expeditious: An ensifer is the fastest thing on two legs, or any amount of legs, possessing powerful swift strides. They get +2d to Agility rolls made to move at speed or jump.

The ensiferi of Cheterin are a race that runs fast, not just individually, but as a whole. As well as possessing powerful legs that allow each ensifer to move upwards of thirty imperial miles per hour flat-out across even terrain, the ensiferi on Cheterin progressed technologically in leaps and bounds. Their advances in the fields of telepiary, computing, and radiography were among the major driving forces behind the Empire's development, and are now possibly the last hope for its continued existence.

While ensiferi are omnivorous, they have a preference for vegetables, especially those of the leafy green variety. They also take alcohol quite seriously, as being drunk and moving 30mph can lead to serious consequences. Many ensiferi take up practice with the sword, a cultural relic from historic times, when ranged weaponry was less sophisticated and ensiferi soldiers could not rely upon projectiles that could be outpaced on foot.

Palnik

Diminutive: A palnik is much smaller than most other races, giving them options many others might find impractical or outright impossible. They get +2d to Agility rolls made to dodge in combat or move stealthily.

The palniks of Kituo are the highest form of mechanimal life on their home planet, a world rich in metals and naturally-forming power stations. They are a hardy little people, small in comparison to the other races of the Empire, but big on guts. Indeed, bravery seems to be an incredibly common trait amongst the palniks, sometimes to the point of stubbornness.

A palnik looks like a machine from the outside, but is in fact a blend of living metals. They eat and drink like other races do, but tend to enjoy seasoning their meals with iron filings and metallic salts to ensure their plating stays firm and glossy. They also enjoy travelling by curling up into a ball and rolling along, a habit that developed into the sport of palo.

Teega

Scandentgrip: A teega can grip to any surface, horizontal or vertical, allowing them to climb most walls and ceilings. They take no penalties for incline or handholds when climbing, but will still be affected by other forces (strong winds, slippery surfaces, etc.).

The teega of Kennet were the first race of the Empire, having discovered the Emberspore that created of the Imperial Fleet. Plant-like in physiology and nature, their desire to spread out brought them into contact with the other races, laying the foundations of the Empire. The teega are also known for their ability to cling to almost any surface, letting them hang from the ceiling by one hand or even one foot.

Though they do not require light in order to grow, preferring to eat food like most people, the teega do require plenty of sunshine in order to remain healthy. Without any bright light, their internal organs will slowly lose their efficiency, and they will experience fatigue, stiffness, and other minor maladies. Prolonged night shifts were unheard of among the teega until the invention of the electric light.

Teuthid

Amphibious: A teuthid can breathe water or air comfortably, although will still be affected by noxious gases and other pollutants. They take no penalties due to being underwater, but will still be affected by turbulent conditions, powerful currents, and so on. In addition, all darkness penalties to Senses are reduced by 1d.

The teuthids of Zulimar are a race that have divided their time equally between the ocean and the land, living comfortably in both realms. They have retractable webbing between their fingers and toes that lets them swim effectively whenever they please, without restricting the use of their hands. However, they are most at home in the shallows, among coral reefs, than in the open ocean. The crushing, sunless depths are as inhospitable to them as to anyone else.

Due to their aquatic nature, teuthids are only ever found on wet worlds where there are large enough bodies of water to build their communities. They have gained a reputation for being somewhat seclusive, perhaps even distant, due to their need to partially-inhabit an environment that is hostile to most other races.

Zanzan

Forearms: A zanzan's upper arms are well-suited for heavy lifting, though useless at delicate manipulation. They get +2d to Strength rolls that require brute strength, including melee attack rolls.

The Zan of Langstroth are the largest of all races in the Empire, standing eight feet tall on average, and around four feet across at the shoulders. They also possess two sets of arms: an upper pair that are purposed for heavy lifting, and a lower pair that are better suited to more dexterous work. A zanzan can type with their lower-fingers, for instance, but their upper-fingers would be too large and clumsy to do so, and might even break the keyboard. A zanzan learns early on when to use which set of arms until it becomes an unconscious choice.

Despite their size and strength, the Zan are a fairly easygoing race famed for their great works of architecture, and for designing and laying the foundations of the first telepiary networks that would soon spread across every planet.