The Planci (plan-key) (pl. Planci) Evolving from a dense ocean planet, the Planci are best described as humanoid starfish. They first started out as plankton-like creatures which were often food for the bigger fish in their oceanwide planet, until natural selection kicked in and the proto-Planci started to grow bigger, eventually becoming rather too big for their former predators. About this time, the Planci planet started to go through some mild climate change, exposing more landmass. The Planci (who had developed simple intelligence) decided that this was their chance to exit the sea and become land dwellers, becoming the dominant land animal as there were less predators up top. Planci are a relatively humanoid race, and are similar to humans in build. Their most notable characteristic is the numerous flat appendages around their body. These appendages resemble starfish arms and are located mainly around the head area, analogous to human hair. They are prehensile, but only slightly. Planci skin comes in two flavours; plain and spotted. Mainly, Planci are either violet, orange or green in colour. Spots are a lighter or darker shade of their primary colour. Planci are very rarely born with two colours, or a different colour entirely. Planci also possess toxic spikes all over their body in various shapes and sizes. These spikes are a holdover from their earlier days as prey animals; they usually stay flat against the body and are hardly noticeable. They extend when the Planci are stressed; luckily, evolution has made the spikes rather blunt. The toxin is only ever strong in childhood; when a Planci reaches puberty, it is weaker and is produced less. Planci are a naturally thin race. Their muscles don't build or diminish much, and any fat they consume is stored in their 'hair'. It's a sign of great authority in Planci culture to have thick 'hair'. There is as much sexual dimorphism in Planci as there are in other races; a few major differences in males and females include: Females being slightly thinner and curvier Females' 'hair' is slightly shorter and thicker Males exhibit greater control over their 'hair' Females possess an extra pair of lungs on their chest area Males' visible spikes are bigger and slightly sharper Planci tend to have a lifespan of around a century. A Planci is born when two parents each cut one of their 'hairs' off into a pool of ocean water. The two appendages contain reproductive cells that form an egg, out of which a baby Planci emerges. You will know a Planci is a parent when one or more of their appendages is missing. As they age, a Planci darkens in colour unti they are almost pitch black, but does not show most typical signs of aging like most races, short of a few wrinkles here and there. Planci death is almost identical to human death, and funerals are conducted at sea. Planci have natural regenerative abilities. Normally, this is limited to having slightly faster natural healing than other races The Planci military have taken advantage of this, however, and have built biological amplifiers into standard military-issue armor. These amplifiers boost their regeneration to the point where even large wounds are healed within minutes, and even missing limbs are regenerated given enough time. This does not make Planci invulnerable, however- enough injuries in a short space of time can still kill them, along with immolation, corrosive chemicals and biological warfare. Planci are a rather expressionless race; being evolved from starfish, this isn't surprising. They possess mouths and eyes, but mainly they communicate through body language. Planci appendages are much like a cat's tail; they will move differently depending on the Planci's mood. For example, if a Planci is content, their hair will move from side to side slowly, but if angered, it will straighten out and not move. Planci who may need to use diplomatic solutions often undertake training in other species' facial and body language, but some shrewd Planci don't bother and use their natural poker faces to great effect. Planci are also rather blunt. They will say what they mean and will hardly ever keep personal secrets; this is attributed to their earlier state as prey animals. For this reason, Planci are often valued as military advisors. Despite all this, Planci are relatively friendly and amiable. They become very attached to people they care about, and sadly are often the subjects of heroic sacrifices. Planci history is covered with these in some form or another. Planci culture is based around current events. Being prey animals originally (and not having evolved too far away from that stage) they often celebrate cultural/technological advancements for a short while, before quietly absorbing it into their daily lives and moving on. Their general cultural mindset is best summarized with the saying "Spend/celebrate it now, for tomorrow it may be lost". Other races are often surprised by some scientific development or other that the Planci have kept quiet simply because it's already been integrated into their society and used without reverence. Planci society is noticeably susceptible to fads; one famous example being the incident where a Human visitation brought along small, furry beaked creatures with big ears, wide eyes and colorful coat patterns. Days later, every Planci on the planet had one (however, a wild population was never established due to large predators eating any that escaped). On the subject of religion, the Planci do not seem to have any belief in any sort of deity. This is not to say that they are atheists; rather that their evolutionary path has made them into a race of realists by nature. There are multiple accounts of a Planci adopting the religious beliefs of other races, Human deities and Kluex being most popular. This has the bonus of strengthening diplomatic bonds, something the Planci value and use whenever possible. As mentioned above, Planci are amiable and open to diplomatic relations. They are not hostile unless provoked; even then, they are reluctant to use weapons unless no other solution can be reached. However, they are not without fault; Planci are environmentalists and are rather harsh towards those that pollute their own environment. They will offer to provide technologies to aid any races who do this, but if ignored, they will break all contact. Planci are welcoming of all new races they encounter; in the event that this is not reciprocated, they will keep their distance whilst working to establish dialogues. Planci do not seem to have any protocol regarding non-interference, which can lead to problems if working with hostile races. Currently, Planci technology is similar to 21st century Earth. Being an ocean based culture, most of their transport is over water, unless it flies. Planci cities often involve both land and sea, as their planet is still mostly water; they start by building small towns on land and extend out over into the water. Their ships are often smooth and flowing; civilian ships resemble drops of water. Their military technology is designed around both the Planci biology and tendency for diplomacy. Like the average Planci, their armor and weapons are deceptively smooth and nonthreatening, and often built into clothes and armor. When called for, however, the weapons will sharpen and form spines, blades or gun barrels seemingly out of nowhere. These weapons are made of a naturally occurring mimetic polyalloy that has similarities to mercury. When electricity is applied to this alloy, it naturally becomes malleable, and mechanisms in the weapon force it to form whatever shape is needed for the task. Whilst this technology is valuable to the Planci, non-Planci can sometimes mistake weapons for harmless devices, leading to some rather tense situations (see Notable Events below). The Planci use this same polyalloy in much of their ships and architecture,giving a smooth, almost flowing form to their buildings and furniture. Their warships are built to the same principle as their weapons; bristling with weaponry literally growing from the fuselage when required, but smooth and graceful otherwise. Due to their mainly aquatic environment, Planci tend to wear form fitting equipment for least water resistance, similar to swimsuits. They also show a lot more skin compared to other species. Formal wear tends to be rather baggy in comparison, rather like ballroom dresses and robes. The Planci have only ever been through one war; unfortuantely, none of them are willing to talk about it, save for that they called it the 'Graywash Conflict'. The only details known so far is that it resulted in the complete ban of bioweapons on their planet, and whatever action that started it possibly destroyed an entire generation. The aesthetics of Planci weapon design- harmless looking, until threatened- nearly backfired on them when a prominent Hylotl diplomat visiting a Planci colony nearly shot himself in the groin when he tried to pick up what he thought was a phone whilst in his quarters. In reality, the 'phone' was a sidearm left accidentally by a guard. Luckily, the Hylotl diplomat was rather understanding about the incident, but since then the Planci have put much focus on both training their soldiers better and educating visitors on the deceptive nature of their weapon design. First contact with the Planci was established by Humans with Australian accents, thus resulting in the Planci learning Human language with an Australian dialect. An amateur sketch of a female Planci. Sprites A clothed male Planci. Male/female Planci sprites. Change Log 11 Jan 2014: Added more to the lore sections. Planning to add more species pictures, weapons and sprites. 12 Jan 2014: Added subject banners. Top header is still a WIP
Many thanks! I hope to make more sprites (including hair variations and weapons) eventually. It's just that the part of my brain that does spriting hasn't been flexed in a long, long time.
Not bad and their racial armor could provide varying levels of health regeneration. What with the notorious starfish trait of regenerating limbs.
I love this idea a lot! It reminds me of The Stralx from Baystaion 12 (space station 13)! I would loveeeeee to play as one looks good! Don't give up on the idea! JUST DON'T!
