Hhrot

The Hhrot are a stout, reptilian-like species that inhabits Planetfall in Tau Elpis, but initially originates from the Pyxis Globula. hey are green-to-brown skinned, with flat faces, flopping ears and large fangs. Their diminutive height is made up for with sheer bulk, as well as redundant organs and an extremely high bone density acquired through generations of living on high-gravity worlds. Tendrils grow, only a few inches beneath their chin. Their skin is scaly and leathery, and their backs seem to "arch in" and slomp forward under the weight of extra bones. The Hhrot are warm-blooded and ovoviviparous - eggs remain in a female's womb until they are ready to hatch, after which they are looked after by the family.   Bio-engineered as a slave race to ancient precursions whose names and appearance have been lost to the annals of history, they are staunchly independent, having had to challenge perceptions of warmongering and hostility from every other species in the Globula. Life on worlds barely suitable for life has shaped the cultures of the Hhrot into military collectives of various economical trends. The Hhrot Dominion seeks to build a perfect collective, where each is rewarded according to their labour and supported according to their need, though in practice ancient castes and clans muddle the picture.  

Origins

  The Hhrot have long had a reputation as a proud warrior species, but few know that their existence was far from accidental. Indeed, they were grown into vats to act as the warrior slave-race for an ancient group of precursors, though their identity has been lost to time. The Hhrot have erred every since, founding several disparate warrior-kingdoms across the stars, which sometimes managed to be united under some warlord's banner or another, but never for too long before internecine warfare resumed.   It is unknown what happened to the mainstream Hhrot warrior-kingdoms - they were not part of the Great Jump. It was a group of sixteen banished Legions, already on the fringes of what little Hhrot civlization existed at the time, and usually enlightened in their approach governance, who joined the Boshaari in the recommission of their great Ark - and those became the descendants of the Hhrot of today. When faced with the Oberon Incursion, there was debate amongst the Legions on whether to stay behind and fight or take part in the Great Jump, but most Hhrot clans decided to follow the other species to Tau Elpis.  

Mindset

  Where mainstream Hhrot of the Globula were warlike and aggressive, the Hhrot of Tau Elpis are best described as staunch but honourable perfectionists. They do hold war and strife as a noble path to self-improvement, and relish battles and challenges, especially against the hostile megafauna that continues to plague their new colony worlds. Their pride runs deep, but so does their duty and sense of courage - at such they see honour in aspects of other species in Elpis, except perhaps the Hiderid, whose cowardish deeply offends most Hhrot.  

Culture

  Most Hhrot belong to the rigid hierarchy of the Hhrot Dominion, and follow its customs. A few do not; they are generally exiles, most pursuing solo lives as mercenaries, and even fewer (such as the Helots) advocating for the Hhrot to return to the half-civilized warlike customs of their ancestors.   The Hhrot are not seclusive nor isolationalists; however, their gruff and unwelcoming demeanour, and the high gravity of their world Planetfall, often pushes other species away from them. Visitors to Dominion outposts, who only know the Hhrot through obsolete portrayals of their warlike cousins from before the Jump, are often pleasantly surprised at the richness and perfectionism on display.  

Xenotypes

 

Sentinel

  Rare in the days after the Great Jump, a sentinel is the name given to a vatgrown, genetically-engineered Hhrot. Bulkier, stronger, they were initially designed to be cheap, mass-produced and ultimately short-lived shock troops against the Old Empires. These days are long gone, as are their endless fuelds, but a few Legions continue to grow Sentinels to bulk up their forces. Sentinels are sometimes shunned, but technology to mass-produce them continues to exist, even where the political will doesn't.  

Helot

  Most Hhrot believe in the Moonlit Catharay. However, the Helots of Gragara are an exception. These Hhrot are quite different from their brethens, physically speaking, as they all hail from one particular ethnicity and generally tend to clump together in the ashpits of Planetfall. The Helots can tolerate painful and toxic environments longer than other Hhrot, though their lifespan suffers as a result. For some reason, these Hhrot are suceptible to Psionic Metadisease more than others.  

Wayfarer

  The Hhrot worlds in Tau Elpis were leftovers, unwanted by other polities; as such, building a space fleet to expand and exploit further riches became an area of prime interest to the Dominion leadership. The Wayfarers are miners, scavvers, traders and pirates - lifers on the ships of the Dominion. As Hhrot ships seldom generate an antigrav field, Wayfarers have adapted to near 0g conditions. Their lifespan is stunted, and so is their birth rate, but they are especially nimble, even though they are much more frail than their planetside counterpart. Most mining outposts and forge stations are run by Wayfarers.  

Statblock

 

Size	Medium
Lifespan	150
Magic Ability	Up to 10% of the population show an ability to perform Spellweaving, however most hide it due to cultural pressures.
Homeland	Planetfall
Major Faction	Hhrot Dominion
Language	Hhrot Cuneiform
Average height	6′10″‒8′0″ (2.08‒2.4 m)
Average weight	200‒264 lb (90‒120 kg)
Skin colour	Scaly and usually monochrome, with elaborate patterns across the body
Hair colour	Usually hairless
Eye colour	Red/Purple/Orange, glows variably

 

Racial Bonus

  Baseline Hhrot : +2 STR, +2 CON   Sentinels : +2 DEX, +2 CON,   Helots : +2 STR, +2 WIS   Wayfarers : +3 DEX  

Racial Foci

 

Fearless

The Hhrot fear no one and bow to nobody. They receive a permanent +2 bonus to Physical saving throws and +1 bonus to Mental saving throws.  

Natural Armour

Hhrot use armor in a way that complements their uniquely sturdy physiology. When wearing armor, they gain a +1 bonus to their Armor Class and they ignore their worn armour's encumbrance.  

Names

  Hhrot baby names are typically a combination of a guttural first name and a Clan last name. Later on, a war name is added on, or outright replaces the baby name.  

Male Names

  Rath Bloodaxe   Rhoni Stonefang   Lontt Keenstone   Wytgat Brokenreave   Gadduk Ragewield  

Female Names

  Latia Headripper   Rhonda Stronghorn   Wukola Scrapblood   Eaku Drakenwake  

Adventuring

  There are a few reasons for Hhrot to wander :  

• They are looking to secure precious commodities for the greater good of the Dominion through prospecting, mining and sometimes pillaging.
• They are wanderers, mercenaries, and misfits that do not mesh well with the rigid, orderly structure of Hhrot society and instead strike their own luck elsewhere.
• They are glory-seekers, on the hunt for a noble Quest to undertake - the more blood, the bigger the beast, the tougher the ship, the better