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Back to Saleen Index
Factions of Saleen
The inhabitants of Saleen can be roughly and somewhat inaccurately grouped into “arrivals” and “natives”.

Arrivals are "relatively new" to Saleen, although their presence usually still goes back many generations. Arrivals tend to remember technological ways and would have a reasonable ability to figure out how to use it if it was dumped in their lap. Arrivals generally have some sense of how their ancestors arrived and how their town was founded.

Natives have “always just been there”. They are ancestors of prehistoric settlers and explorers from unknown days of space exploration, some as long ago as prehistoric times before modern records begin. Their original empire and species are generally indeterminate. They have been on Saleen long enough that they have generally lost all contact with technology and may have even begun to replace it with technologies of their own devising. They may have been around long enough to “evolve”, changing slightly from their original form due natural selection or environmental factors. Obviously, no one has time to grow wings but they may be taller and thinner or have darkened skin pigmentation compared to their race of origin.

Angels
Hanging in orbit around Saleen, the Angels are the descendants of "original settlers" stranded on an orbital station when the planet was abandoned by the civilized empires. Their little orbital empire consists of their original station, in geosynchronous orbit around Nineris, and the captured remains of several starships that have been wrecked around Saleen and Szabar since. The Angels have relatively high technology at their disposal in the form of salvaged tug, barge, and shuttle craft. They are capable of moving around within the Saleen system via grav drive but have no facility to actually leave the system on their own. They are often the first point of contact for ships from out of system and can provide orbital docking and limited repair and refuel capability. They are always very eager to trade for technology or food.They have been the source of a couple of attempted archaeological surveys by out-of-system empires looking to do culture studies or harvest information from the computer systems of the Angels' ships. All have ended in disaster for the visitors. The Angels maintain trade relations with some of the on-planet powers, like the Mangelta Union, exchanging technology and fuel for food.
Balithrim
There are a number of Iliene and Balithrim on-planet from starship crashes and failed settlements through the ages. In their normal society, they share an empathic bond with their fellows, which creates a reassuring psychic “background buzz”. The isolation and “silence” due to their limited numbers on-planet has driven them all a bit crazy, shaking their calm faith. The Iliene and Balithrim tend to band together locally to reinforce their psychic noise, which has grown a bit urgent and crackly with their isolation and instability.

Lower gravity has resulted in taller, leaner Balithrim around 7.5 - 8.5 feet tall, with a lot of the extra height developing in longer legs. More graceful, dancer. Thin, fine body hair in warmer climate allows heat out, blocks incoming heat. Harsher life and "buzz" leaves them a little less accepting of a backseat role in life, more independent, irritable, and innovative, though they're still no engineers. Aggressively protect the Iliene.

Balithrim have somewhat come into their own on Saleen and a disproportionate number strike off on their own to find their own fortune. They have spread across the face of the planet and survive successfully. A great number still remain with their Iliene brethren, however, and have become aggressive protectors of them, feeling the discomfort in them. Balithrim and Iliene seeking the solace of structured life have settled in numbers around Newmempf and the Republic of Bisruk in general, as well as Ceredinus. More adventuresome Balithrim have struck off on their own to seek lives as warriors in locales like Ghadim and the wild frontier of Beredin. Some Balithrim have even embraced the Cragsquall Army, getting an almost constant high off the discordant buzz of emotion surrounding Gnotholon.
Bjaki
The Bjaki are second only to Humans in numbers on Saleen, both seeming to date back to the prehistoric days of original settlement. Their population has swollen with frequent, more modern settlement attempts and subsequent abandonments. The realities of Saleen have tended to harden the average Bjaki and they tend to become proud, wise, open-minded warriors, scholars, and statesmen. On Saleen, the Bjaki have proven themselves to be an adaptable race capable of surviving along side those of more solid physical prowess.

They have spread across Saleen and integrated into most of the cultures and, in cases like the Pavayar, have even developed their own. They excel in structured, politically active cultures like the Carmissi Empire. Many have a sympathy to their traditional alliances with Humans, Iliene, and Balithrim and have gravitated to cultures that support this, like Bisruk and Ceredinus. Many Bjaki have a peculiar draw to Kanduambet and Simpori, with their wild, vibrant young culture and active trade and politics.
The Diarmiad
A strange, secretive organization that worships the Dark Walkers, ancient beings of destruction and chaos that their legends say tore apart prehistoric galactic civilization and left the chaos and manifest ataxia in their wake. The Diarmiad live in covens in every corner of Saleen, though they are seldom visible, working in the background to manipulate local affairs to further their mysterious ends. Extremely hierarchal and protective of their "ancient lores", even their own members often know little of their true motivations.
Exemplars
A "white war order" that lives under a strong warrior code dedicated to helping and defending the poor, the weak, and the oppressed. Originally a hereditary group descended from a crashed rescue mission, the Exemplars now recruit all ages from the general population. They often set up large facilities in major towns and each chapter will have a slightly different outlook on the Exemplar history and goals.
Humans
The Humans of Saleen are plentiful and diverse in background and current situation. Representing the ancestors of survivors from many crashes, expeditions, and colonization attempts from prehistoric to modern times, the Saleen Humans have a long history, healthy gene pool, and have a plentiful population.
Iliene
There are a number of Iliene and Balithrim on-planet from starship crashes and failed settlements through the ages. In their normal society, they share an empathic bond with their fellows, which creates a reassuring psychic “background buzz”. The isolation and “silence” due to their limited numbers on-planet has driven them all a bit crazy, shaking their calm faith. The Iliene and Balithrim tend to band together locally to reinforce their psychic noise, which has grown a bit urgent and crackly with their isolation and instability.

Due to the more extreme climate, the Iliene have darkened in colour, with a natural pigmentation in their skin activating to help trap day heat and dissipate it at night. They are actually darker during the day, or in the presence of intense heat or light sources, and gradually lighten night. Sense that the universe is a hostile place that does not like Iliene. Defensive, kind of a victim mentality, more sense of individual survival over that of the group. Life is angry and desperate, nature is quieter. Like mountains, remoteness from larger cities.

Large numbers of Iliene have chosen to group together in the Republic of Bisruk, particularly Newmempf, given its calm and structured nature. Ceredinus is a likewise calm and reassuring place. Some have embraced the culture of Ghadim for its rigid structure and its tangible reward of a well-played power scheme. Some have sought out the young, wild resurgence of technology on Beredin in the Mangelta Union and Hillyer nations. 
Irukki
The Irukki that have crashed on Saleen has spread and diversified, integrating closely into most of the cultures that will accept them. They remain unpredictable, ingenious survivors. The fit equally well with the warrior cultures of the Ghadim and Comari, thrive off scavenger cultures like the Cragsquall, and can bond quietly into peaceful, structured life of Ceredinus or Bisruk. There are a limited number of Irukki, spread thinly across Saleen as their have been a limited number introduced through crashes over the years and many of their young are killed during their young, wild childhood.
Kracies
A highly secretive, manipulative organization rumoured to perform secret rites and sacrifices in exchange for personal power from their dark gods. Little is known of them beyond whispered rumours and conjecture and many don't believe they really exist.
Lorringil
Lorringil is a familial organization of legendary power and repute. They have spent generations amassing power by manipulating the people and trade systems of Saleen, playing off towns and factions against one another in an attempt to garner power and control above all else. They manipulate and plot, using communication, deception, and subtle control of resources and politics. They are fantastically rich and powerful, inaccessible, manipulative, aloof, and secretive. Lorringil tends to remain completely unseen and would be almost mythical if it were not for their quietly obvious Lorringil Halls that appear in every major town, which lend money and exchange trade notes for cash and merchandise..
Makkuth
The Makkuth have adapted extremely well to Saleen, relating well to the harsh, rocky, murky conditions. Saleen's lighter gravity enabled their tails to propel them on long, acrobatic leaps. The Saleen Makkuth are often impressive aerial warriors, lighter, leaner, and meaner than their astral progenitors. Generally speaking, they have also became less pompous, more social and philosophic. Their traditional scientific intelligence is now tempered with cunning.

The Makkuth have spread everywhere across Saleen, They are the original founders of Ghadim. They have taken well to the chaotic, competitive Kanduambet and Cragsquall. There is a large population of Makkuth of Kharkosanth descent in Rhulson and Bisruk in general.
Rafers
The Rafers have a representatively smaller population on Saleen. While they have adapted well and spread to a variety of roles, there have been relatively few Rafer expeditions to Saleen and only a couple of major crashes to seed their population. The geographic similarities to Coventbourne and the local chaotic social climate provide lots of activity to stimulate their supra-adrenal glands. The Rafers of Saleen tend to be a strong, stable bunch.

The Rafers tend to seek out areas of danger and excitement, where they can find the constant conflict they thrive upon. Rafers have integrated into the Comari tribes of Chejjna and the wilder areas of Beredin, including the Free Northern States, the Cragsquall Army or those who oppose it, and around the Hamshuru Peninsula, Rafers will often seek a position in the Exemplars.
Ridgerunners
A loose affiliate of activists that fight against the power and control of the Mangelta Union. They live in a relatively wild state in the Ridgemaze, moving between caves and temporary camps to help prevent discovery. They support and help the poor and oppressed and organize raids to disrupt the flow of goods between the members of the Union. Their primary interests are human rights and the cessation of Mangeltan mining activities in the Ridgemaze.
Sendarim
The descendants of the original Core Commonwealth attempt to settle Saleen. Their colony on Chejjna, supposedly the ancient city now referred to as Bone, was repeatedly torn apart by natural disasters and ill fortune, regardless of where they moved it. They eventually grew to embrace and revere the wild and chaotic nature of Saleen and have become a completely nomadic culture, composed of separate clans that wander the extents of their world, never conceiving that the destination could be more important than the journey.
Southern Air Caravan
An independently run fleet of dirigibles that run between the civilized towns on the southern coast of Beredin. They carry passengers and cargo for a price. The SAC maintains moorings outside of the towns at which they stop, where cargo and passengers are offloaded. They also maintain lodging houses inside town where their members can stay for free and passengers can stay for a price.
Taangata
An isolated northern “native” tribe, left with only tales of the ancients who had advanced technology and a better life among the stars. Their mythology says that the technology was taken from them by the gods for the misdeeds of their ancestors. After generations, the gods deemed it was time for them to have the technology back and sent it for them crashing from the sky. The technology was stolen by the other new tribes that suddenly appeared on Saleen. They worship technology like it was magic, seeking to capture it at any cost. They don't understand it, treating it reverently and ceremonially. Their young, strong warriors often go on pilgrimages, wandering the face of the planet in search of artefacts and knowledge. They gather these artefacts and bring them back to their central temple, where their Shamans study them and decree their purpose and use in the tribe.