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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.
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| Angels |
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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 |
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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.
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| Exemplars |
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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.
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| Humans |
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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.
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| 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.
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| Irukki |
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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.
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| Kracies |
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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.
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| Lorringil |
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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..
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| 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.
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| Ridgerunners |
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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.
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| Sendarim |
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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.
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| Southern Air Caravan |
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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.
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| Taangata |
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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.
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