Images:
Name: Fragment
Designation: Semi-Sentient/Non-Sentient
Homeworld: Orax
Language: Very primitive series of electromagnetic pulses
Average Lifespan: Several hundred years, often until erosion or Rampancy
Estimated Population: Several trillion consciousnesses
Average height of adults: .3-3 Meters
Average length of adults: .2-8 Meters
Skin color: None
Hair color: None
Distinctions: The Fragment are a subspecies of Shard that unlike their cousins, are found far from the natural salt water hot springs of Orax and are mostly found in caves and on cliff sides in large numbers. Unable to separate themselves through sheer will like the Shard, the Fragment can split if they grow too large. Appearing in various colors just like the Shard they can also inhabit compatible droid bodies. Unlike the Shard, a single Fragment can grow its own colony, essentially spreading to any compatible surface.
Breathes: None
Strengths:
- Like its cousin, Fragments live for many years. While their minds aren't nearly as developed as that of a Shard and they don't speak of any sort of philosophical topics they are rather stupid, however they live for a long time.
- Because their electromagnetic communication is so primitive compared to the complex ones of the Shard, it is much easier to transfer Fragments into new compatible droid bodies.
- Intelligence grows as more Fragments gather or Colonies form. This intelligence never reaches human levels, but can lead to very sophisticated pack or herd-like hierarchies.
Weaknesses:
- The Fragment is made of a much more fragile crystal structure than the Shard. As such, basic and primitive ballistic firearms can kill them.
- The Fragment are unable to split from their colonies through sheer will like the Shard making them mostly immobile and at the mercy of other sentient species.
- Will deteriorate in high temperature salt water like that of the springs that dot the landscape of Orax.
- Rampancy, also known as going Rogue, can occur from powerful electromagnetic disturbances such as EMPs or the strange electromagnetic storms that plague certain areas of Orax. A relic of Omni's assault on the planet and its underground facilities, all of which have not been found. Rampancy leads to the death of the Fragment
- Rampancy is contagious among Fragments.
- Rampancy also occurs after several hundred years of life
- Cannot be Force Sensetive
Races: None
Diet: None
Communication: Primitive Electromagnetic signals
Culture: The intelligence of the Fragment can be likened to that of an animal. Their intelligence spikes however the more Fragments are in communication with one another and also the larger their colony is, which grows over long periods of time. Because of this the Shard and the human colonists of Orax use them as beasts of burden and guard animals. The Shard have gone through several stages of acceptance of their animalistic cousins.
Technology level: While their own technology level is nill, the technology that they are given and utilize is very advanced droid technology.
General behavior: This will vary depending on the size of the colony and the size of the individual Fragment. If the Fragment is well maintained and grows without the influence of a colony they can become very loyal and loving companions. However, the larger the Fragment the more aggressive it can become towards others, and if there is a colony of them they can be unpredictable, especially large colonies. Often times Rogue Fragment Colonies will grow from normally docile or friendly Frgaments, destroying the droid body they inhabit from the inside but forcing through sheer will for the decrepit droid to function. These will attack Humans, Shard, and especially other Fragment.
History: While they have always lived alongside the Shard, because they at the time of discovery did not produce similar signals to that of the Shard it was deemed that they were somehow simply just bouncing residual electromagnetic waves off from the Shard conversing. It was later discovered however that they were indeed communicating with one another on a very basic level. Their intelligence has been equated to that of a pack animal.
When Omni intervened in the Calmity War on Orax that nearly destroyed all human life on the planet, it took the Fragments and began inserting them into killing machines that would follow a Shard leader into battle. Often times the droids would take on the shapes of animals and monsters as they were seen to have a higher killing efficiency than humanoid droids. After the Calmity War and the fall of Omni the factory that was producing them from one of the largest Fragment colonies on Orax was shut down and most of the active Fragment droids were destroyed, killing many Fragments in the process.
Stepping in, Dharma, the leader of a group of Shard that were helping the humans against Omni's Shard sympathizers, sought to put them to a better use. Along with Bankei and their company, Bankei Technologies, the two designed droids that were compatible with the Fragments and cannibalized Omni's factory, incorporating it into Bankei Technologies' factory. The new Fragment droids were left to roam the planet, spreading seeds throughout the land. Now Bankei Technologies produces droid bodies designed for single Fragments as pets for both humans and Shards alike. However, because of Dharma's actions many of Omni's more violent, much larger Fragment Colony monsters roam the planet as well. They hunt and destroy the friendly Fragments and humans that wander the wilds. It is rumored that one of Omni's factories still produces these Colony monsters as no matter how much they are hunted down more seem to pop up all the time.
Notable Player-Characters: None
Intent: To provide a themed species to go along with the very unique Shard species for GUIDE Pathfinders and Scholars to study
