Backstory: The Amorthalians (a-mort-ahl-ians) are best described as an intelligent and resourceful. Their strong points are in reasoning and logic, and a strong sense of will, community, and diplomacy. However they are also described as unemotional and impassionate, however they are not unfeeling. Their culture and aesthetics do not, at a first glance, resemble a peaceful and benevolent. Since ancient times, the Amorthalians have had a strong tradition of hunting and using every part of the animal. Whatever was not eaten was used in construction. Bones, tendons, muscles, fatty tissues and all were and still are used more than wood and stone. Their love of hunt came out of necessity since the other inhabitants of their home planet were much bigger and hungrier. Hunting became more than a way of life for them, and one single person could kill many large predators. Cannibalism was also a part of their culture except in recent times. The flesh of another was considered a delicacy. Those who knew they were about to die had themselves killed beforehand for family and close friends. This practice has been stopped in effort to comply with the other intergalactic races, however rarely it is still done in small rural communities off the grid and fringe societies. Relationship with other races: No one knows why exactly the Amorthalians have such warped sense of Aesthetics. The smell of carrion over the smell of flowers or sweets. The fact that they are so different has made them an easy target for paranoid Apex and Human civilizations to fear and hate. the Amorthalians are often misunderstood, and hated. They have a positive history of trade with the Florans, as the Florans have developed a perfume that is efficient at masking the natural odor of the Amorthalians that allow them to coexist easier with the other races. The Amorthalians also supply the Florans with exotic large carrion flowers. They have a mutual understanding with some compassionate Novakids, as both have been subject to prejudices. Technology One of the most interesting technological traditions is the infusing of metals with natural materials. The earliest examples of this found in archaeological site are a primitive copper claw tazer, and an axe made from two halves of a pelvis reinforced with Iron. Copper and Gold are favored over Iron and Silver because of conductivity. They prefer axes and cleavers over swords and polearms. Oil is found in vast reserves underground, and as a result combustion based technology is considered ancient, but as the population is small and maintained this has had a much slower effect on their planet than had on Earth. Prior to space travel, experimentation of safe atomic and particle generated power and engines was widely done. Government: The planetary federation of Morta'al is a elected democratic minarchal body created by the party of Sovereign integrity. Under them lies a hierarchy of small city-states and large rural states. In the past, Nomadic tribes roamed the planet, each with different rules and customs. First Contact: During Earths early space age, Chinese Astronauts en route to Mars was mysteriously set off course to Morta'al. At this point the Chinese and other nations had developed efficient cryochambers, which were in use for the duration of the journey. Tribal Amorthalians recorded seeing a great ball of fire near the Castle of God (See below in Morta'al description). Upon investigating the large habitation module, one of the tribes leaders opened the chambers and took the strange men to camp. The astronauts and the Amorthalians learned to communicate with each other. The astronauts were decidedly and omen, but no one could say either good or bad. After time the astronauts helped structure a small socialist government that later united the whole planet. Until it didn't... for half a century later, harsh economic times and rebellion rang the death knell for the communist government. A group of elders from 11 major tribes met together to recreate their society, which brings us to present day. Morta'al: It is a medium sized planet abundant in Iron and other ferric metals, Copper, Gold, Oil, and Sulfur. Morta'al has temperate to very hot weather, there was never any recorded natural subzero temperature, and deserts can exceed 130*f even in the spring. The skies are dull red color, and the dirt/sand is often also reddish.There is only one big ocean that takes up two thirds of the southern hemisphere. Huge deserts, savannahs and jungles are divided by long mountain ranges, with most of the jungle by the ocean. By the north pole lies the Great Windy Badlands where the largest dormant volcano sits directly on the magnetic north pole. This Volcano was known as the Castle of God. Description: They are tall and skinny with jaundiced yellow or green skin and dark eyes with large, colorful irises. Their skin is slightly transparent. some of the bone and muscle structure is visible. They have pointed ears and dark (red, jet black, grey or brown) hair. Starter Ship design: A Hollowed out whale. Starter pets: Either a large carrion fly with pincers or floating eyeball. Special Crop: Titan flower. Named after the Amorphophallus Titanum. Here are some of my first drafts of the racial sprites. sorry its a bit blurry, I used GIMP to enlarge the above. Here is a Titan Sprout growth stages.
12/13 Added some extra details, tech and government Posted my first drafts for the Sprites. I may remake them. If anyone would like to create concept art,
After having a look at this I can tell you this much: while the backstory and consept is quite cool, but the sprites seems... not-so-very-creative, it is basically an elf with a more agressive/dark look. I've seen many suggestions that looks similiar to this; tall, human-like creatures with small details separating them from humans or even with the other lookalikes. They do not need to look like humans, the only real restriction is that it needs 2 arms and 2 legs as well as being a creature standing up (they must be humanoid, but there is no need for them to have human-like hairstyles or even hair at all). As a sidenote: I don't want to dissapoint you, but the devs will most likely not add any race that is taller than the standard height. Sorry.
