Race Meet The Voleurite

Name: Voleurites

History: The Voleurites were once a very peaceful race, originating on a planet now barren. Voleurian records have since been stolen, burned, and/or chucked far into deep space, but still, a little about their more recent life is known.

Their home planet was once a single-continent utopia. The rest of the world being water, nobody had need to fight, or struggle for power. It was a worldwide socialist government. Voleurites were free to pursue whatever they wished -- and they did. Creating delicious cuisines. High fashion. Entertainment. All of this at the low cost of nothing. Space exploration was a bust, since nobody wanted to leave the planet. Honestly, how much better could it get? The only issue was the growing population on an already crowded continent... Then arose a disease. Hornrot, as it were.

Hornrot was a disease that housed itself in the marrow of a Voleurite's horns. Showing no symtoms but pain, hornrot would slowly eat away at their horns, making it's way from the very top, to the base. It would then spread into the skull, and if infection didn't kill the host at this point, the disease making it's way into the brain surely would. The highest authorities there were had to take action, putting the diseased on tiny islands scattered throught the ocean. Nobody seened to know where the disease really had come from. Nobody except one.

The unnamed Voleurite was a scientist. A biologist, rather. Boldly stepping up to the plate when nobody else would, or even could, on national television, stating that the disease was an artificial disease created firstly on accident, but was then released into the public as a means of population control. She was then never heard from again. The public itself went haywire. Shock. Grief. Anger. Pent up aggresiveness was soon released against a secret government's tyranny. Crude weapons were forged by engineers, used purely to take out society's infliction, but it was useless. Nobody knew where to start. Accusations were thrown around. False killings every which way. Day after day came regular slaughters of innocent people, by other, more enraged people. Many now lived in fear of the neighbors they had previously spent day after day with. No longer could anyone be trusted for anything.

Hornrot killed off many, and those that survived, formed unions they called "crews", and stuck together to steal what they need to live from opposition. Former brainiacs of the world saw leaving the planet now as the only option for peace once again.

Many years passed as the first space-ready ship was crafted, giving uniting engineers hope for Voleurite civilizations elsewhere. Having no leeway for test flights, they took off immediately. Luckily enough for them, their craft was a huge success. However, whilst leaving the planet, they were leaving plans behind.

Once found, crude attempts and horrible accidents were witnessed until perfection was obtained with these interstellar space ships, by pure amateur builders. Voleurites in many crews would soon take to the stars.

Technological Advancement: Stolen technologies. Sometimes higher tech, other times, lower tech.

Hostility: Very fond of humans, being the only other race with an actual soft skin. So long as nothing of theirs is being taken, and you don't flaunt anything of worth recklessly, they can be a wonderful ally. As very well spoken people, they will oftentimes use their charm to get what they want from other races. Toward humans, the females may even use their feminine wiles to try to pressure males into handing over whatever it is they desire. Watch for ulterior motives.

Watch for warp-shields when using far-spaced interstellar travel. The more ruthless of the Voleurite will very rarely stop a traveling ship and demand goods. If the demands are not met, or surpassed, they will proceed to warp aboard and kill off the passengers. That is, if they could possibly defeat the passengers inside. Once the crew is defeated, they flee, and your interstellar travel can proceed. Hey, you might even get some neat loot.

Historical/Defining/Notable moments:

-Small towns will sometimes be set, made seemingly out of boats.

-Drawings of the "hornrot" symbol can sometimes be seen in caves and shipwrecks.

-Traps and ambushes may be found on planets here and there. Keep and eye out for rustling bushes and poorly hidden space pirates!

-Culturally, Voleurites hunt when they reach a certain age, for a mask, taking the skull of the first kill. This used to be used as a face-hiding device back on their home planet, to wipe away differences and disputes. They still tend to practice this. Come to think of it, what do they even look like behind those things?...

-They typically do not get along with their own kind.

Appearance:

Mask examples:

Horn examples: [Many thanks to Monochromegoggles for this one!]

 

So, this was a late night post, and my tablet wasn't doing so well on actually letting me type, let alone provide a link to a photo.

So without further adieu, here are the Voleurites!

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Very interesting designs! I love the skull-mask concept for their "comingof age" sort of practice. I can see them and the florans hanging about just for that reason. The drawn designs for them look fantastic as well. You did a good job fleshing out thier history and social interactions with eachother and the other races. The one thing we don't know a whole lot about is thier biology, but to be fair, the avians, apex, hylotl, and florans don't have very elaborate descriptions either, so I can let that slide (unless that info is in the works, which I would love to hear about if you do!) . Perhaps elaborate what the significance of thier horns are within thier culture. Were they initially thought to be the remnants of their evolution process that are now just a symbol of age or status that they use to identify these traits in one another? How does the hornrot disease spread between members? Is it airborne, or transmitted through physical contact with the affected area?

I also like how they had a very utopian society, and it came crashing down due to an accidental discovery that was turned on its populace. It would be cool if these guys made it into the game, the codex system would elaborate on who that group was that was responsible for the biological warfare against the people. (You might even write up some of your own hypothetical codexes).

Also, are you planning on making some sprited samples of their appearences? (If not, I'd be more than happy ro make a few if you are willing to provide some references of designs of masks, horns, hairstyles, clothes etc.)

All in all, 10 out of 10 in everything, concept, backstory, and design. I would love to play as this race!

 

Thanks a million for your feedback! I was beginning to think this post was going to become buried!

Anyways, I'll address some of your questions and statements and whatnot. I was actually going to write a little bit of everything you asked about, but again, this was a late-night post, and sometimes, you forget things when you're sleepy, y'know?
So, yeah, here we go.

I'm glad people are actually interested in their evolutionary history. They once had evolved from smaller, gorilla-like species. In body shape, anyhow.
However, instead of being herbivorous creatures, they relied on meats. Evolution gave them sharp horns, to charge and impale their prey.
Their black skin comes from a history of being largely nocturnal, which, needless to say, helped them stay hidden in the dark. They shook the nocturnal life when the first tribes were formed.

While horns /are/ just a scrap of left behind evolution, they also served as a cultural indicator as well. Old Voleurian mythology states that
Straight Horns - Common life
Angular Horns - Peaceful life
Stub Horns - Poverty comes
Curled Horns - Prosperity comes
Long Straight Horns - Heart of a warrior
Bull Horns - Royalty

Be that as it may, this relevance only occurs in superstitious Voleurites nowadays.

The disease itself, can be contracted from their air, as the horns of a host flake away in places. Blowing with the wind, the disease can be carried on those flakes, and if a Voleurite is unlucky enough, those flakes will make contact with their eyes or tongue, if they don't end up at least breathing them in, in which case it is then carried on to a new host.
Naturally, the disease is not airborne, but the flaking oftentimes is what causes the spread.
That being said, it is possible to contract the disease from contact with the affected area, as you have asked.
That is if any part of your body in the contact area has a break in the skin.
If not, it's probable that you won't catch the disease. Most, however, refrain from getting that close, in fear of breathing in the flakes of the horns breaking down.

Of course!
I really actually didn't want to have to do the sprites on my own, seeing as how it's really tedious work.
If you want to do some sprites, I'd be more than happy with that!

I'll push out some clothing, mask, horn, and hair designs here and there, as I can.


So, does that answer all of your questions?
If not, feel free to ask more!

EDIT: The name comes from the root word 'voleur', which is French for thief. Just a little fun fact.

 

Indeed ! You answered all of my questions to a satisfactory degree, thanks! (And even if your initial post was a late-night one where you were tired, it spoke miles about the race. If everyone who did impromptu suggestions the same way you did regarding npcs and playable races, we'd have far more constructive and compelling suggestions. Seeing well thought out threads like this one makes surfing the suggestions thread worthwhile. )

<--Here is a small sample of my older work (originally for rpg maker vx) from a scrapped project. As such, once I get back in the right mindset I should be more than capable of making some sample sprites of that quality or better.

I shall wait patiently for the reference details you will provide for your species, and will get to work immedieatly once iI have material to work with. (In the meantime I better go acquire the canon sprite sheets and familiarize myself with starbound's particular color pallete so the colors won't be wonky. )

 

Thanks so much for being willing to help!

I actually can get you the official base human sprite sheet, if you want it. However, it's not like full character sprites. It's more part-based than anything else. Arm sheets, and head sheets, and body sheets, if you get what I mean.

Anyhow, I'm off to create some references! Be back soon enough!

P.S. You're quite the pixel artist, friend!

 

That would be incredibly helpful! I've been looking for a suitable human base sprite sheet to no avail. All the google search and forum search results consist of mainly just human male sprites, edited sheets for other races, and no alternate poses or pieces. :\
Having a sheet of all the pieces of bases would be helpful for putting together poses, as well as the fine details.

Great! And thanks, I do enjoy making pixel art from time to time.

 

Here's some mask designs for anyone interested:

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Alright, just updated and added the main post. I have been ill, so I haven't been able to develop upon these things. But it's whatever.
Give feedback. (If you want.)

 

I've been working on a base ship for my own race suggestion recently, and I got so into the design process behind it I'm kinda feeling doing another one-

So whenever I finish mine perhaps I could design you one as well?

Here's the one I'm currently working on for my species- obviously it still requires a lot of work, primarily around the engine, but yeah it's good practice.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/El-Ben-Zo/El-Ben-Zo014/curship.png

 

I love the artwork.

 

Oh, wow. That looks great! If you get the chance, it'd be extremely appreciated if you would do one!
Also, I took a look at your suggestion thread. Looks like we had about the same concept for a backstory, huh?
You know what they say; great minds think alike!

Thanks a million!

 

Yeah >.> haha I found your entry after posting mine and had a bit of an "oh shit" moment at how similar it was and that you beat me to it
Any ideas what your ship would take inspiration from? You could even PM me ideas if you want

 

Y'see, this is what I was thinking:
Pirate ship style spacecraft! Something that you can look at and go "Y'arrrr, what a fine vessel she be!" The inner workings would have some sorta alien barnacles and starfish plastered to pipings and things. That'd be neat!

 

Interesting 0-0 and definitely a style I have never worked in before. The inner mechanical stuff of all the current ships is actually the same base, but I could add barnacles and stuff to outside of the ship... maybe have an sort of light-sail thing... lemme start derping around with some concepts

 

Aye-aye, Cap'n UnsoundM!

 

Haha I was gonna PM this to you, but then I figured you'd appreciate a further bump to your topic more so ^_^

Eh, before I start doing any details I often like to rough out the basic silhouette and lines to a design... like I said, this is step 1 and the earliest of concept stuff so it isn't exactly breathtaking or anything, just a general idea... But after working on this one for a bit I'm a tad afraid that it might seem a but too sleek and streamline to fit your backstory



Of course this is just a very bare bones thing, so perhaps with the details it'll look more hobbled together like your backstory suggests. I'm also hoping to work a cannon in somewhere, and possibly a flag. Above all else I hope to find a way to work the look and design of the race itself into the ship so the two feel like they belong together.

EDIT: Oh and do you take commissions on your artwork? Your above artwork is amazing and I'd love to possibly have something that cool on my suggestion page to add a bit of flair ^_^

 

Actually, if you feel the need to PM, go ahead and do it! The thread itself can wait for bumps and stuff. On the other end of that table, you can go ahead and post things here. Whatever it is that you feel like, I guess!

So far so good, I think! In itself, these things rely on detail and shape, and the shape looks good! So I can only imagine that the detail will make it look twice as good! Stick with it, yo.

Haha. I can't thank you enough for your flattering comments~
I don't do commissions, but I do do requests! And if you want an image for your race, it's an image you've got! Of course, I don't have all the time in the world to work on these things, so I very probably won't be open to this stuff 24/7.

 

What if, instead of a flag, there is an insignia that looks like it's been spray-painted to the hull? Since we don't know what 'crew' the player Voleurite is in, there would probably be some kind of universal 'neutral fction' symbol.

Also, the ship looks great. If you're looking for something space-piratey, why not add in some kind of hexagonal-mesh pattern solar-sails/stabilizer fins? If you've seen that movie Treasure Planet that came out in 2002, you could use the hover-sail board as an example:

 

Can't wait for this!