Varik Ice
The Broken King
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Weaknesses:
Though it is unconfirmed, it's believed that the Harkrygsk homeworld was a desert-like planet, teeming with all sorts of life that was odd even in this very unusual galaxy. Developing underground over milennia, the Harkrygsk burst from the underground into the surface after having burrowed around for much of their existence. On their first contact with surface sentients, they attempted communication but were quickly killed for their seemingly menacing appearance and getting far too close. Assuming that the surface dwellers were hostile, the Hargrysk attempted to subdue them and keep them calm.
This only made things worse, as kidnapping two sentients brought military force onto the Harkrygsk. In their first real war, the insectoids struggled to deal with aggression, their numbers dwindling until the appearance of their first Hiveking. Providing them with proper strategic thinking and the aggression they needed, Hiveking Jarnas helped his people overcome and destroy all threats on their homeworld. With their planet to themselves, the ideas and philosophies of the Hive developed, coming to the conclusion that they were the only truly peaceful and just race, the only ones deserving to rule it.
Eventually, exploration ships arrived on their planet. Rather than act with hostility first, the Harkrygsk shot spores on the ship, covering it with them. When the ship returned to the planet it came from, the spores dropped, sinking through the ground and reproducing more of the species. This tactic continued until nests spread throughout Wild Space and the edges of the galaxy.
Once a colony was established by humans on their world, the Harkrygsk struck. The colony was wiped out in its entirety, and the species took their ships to travel their Hiveking across the stars and to the various other worlds, so they could direct the Hives there to victory. As more colonies fell, the ancient Jedi finally stepped in. The first real threat to the Hiveking, the Swarm was pushed back, but every time more came.
Eventually, the Jedi Masters convened and agreed on a tactic to stop the hive. The nests were attacked by strike teams, swarming the Harkrygsk into their tunnels to attack. Once sufficiently lured, groups of Jedi would use a unique form of Force Stasis, trapping the specimens in place where they were. Once that was done, the eggs on every colony were destroyed and the nests demolished. The Jedi killed many of the Harkrygks, but left some alive.
It was determined that if there was ever a time that real communication beyond what had happened in the wars could be established, the species would be freed and allowed to roam, rather than needlessly destroyed. However, the Four-Hundred Year Darkness meant the loss of countless ancient records, along with the constant power struggles of the previous four centuries. All records of the species were lost, and they stayed sealed away within planets, prisoners in the places they tried to conquer.
However, as the Netherworld Crisis struck the galaxy, and shook the force, the stasis weakened. For some hive survivors, the freedom was instant, for others it was gradual. Regardless, they were left with devastated populations and new nests to build. Since then, the Harkrygsk have hidden inside the planets of Wild Space, building their numbers up again, swelling the population as they sing and hope for new Hivekings to rise.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To act as Antagonists for the Sovereignty, and a general threat in Wild Space.
- Image Credit: Image | Image Source
- Canon: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Name: Harkrygsk
- Designation: Sentient
- Homeworld: Unknown Wild Space planet (Destroyed)
- Language: Harkrygska
- Average Lifespan: Three years (Standard variant), 1000 years (Hiveking variant)
- Estimated Population: Inter-Planetary
- Description: Harkrygsk specimens are not a friendly sight. With spindly legs, razor sharp-teeth and claws along with chewing mandibles, they are rarely seen alone or even in small groups, sporting a chitinous carapace along with an exposed underbelly.
- Breathes: Type 1
- Average height of adults: 1.7m (Standard), 3m (Hiveking)
- Average length of adults: 2.2m (Standard), 4.2m (Hiveking)
- Skin color: Harkrygsk standard drones have a light grey carapace with a dark, almost black underbelly. Hivekings will often have a blood-red carapace, though their underbelly and face is the same colour as the regular drone.
- Hair color: N/A
- Distinctions: Harkrygsk do not seem to show any distinction between male and female at all, and stand on six legs with pointed ends - they are completely unable to speak in Basic, with darting, staring eyes that only show a viciousness to those outside the hive.
- Races: N/A
- For the Swarm: Harkrygsk are a hivemind in every sense of the word, with every member of the species having the same shared consciousness. Unless there is a Hiveking present, there is no dominant force within the hivemind that controls the others.
- Diehards: A species that is exceptionally resilient against total destruction, the Harkrygsk reproduce fast and often, allowing them to have made various returns to the galaxy from assumed extinction before.
- Hidden Away: Harkrygsk are more difficult to be detected in the force except for the Hivekings, and are resistant to mind-affecting force powers, though they can be just as affected by all other kinds as other beings.
Weaknesses:
- Again and Again: Harkrygsk do not have variations on their drones, and will often repeat the same tactics or ideas repeatedly even though they have not worked, unless a Hiveking is there to control and innovate the swarm.
- Panic, Panic!: Harkrygsk are exceptionally protective of the main nest that has been established on a planet, and if the Swarm detects it is being attacked, all specimens of the species will rush to protect it, with few exceptions.
- Pyrophobia: Whether due to previous use against them or just the way they have evolved, Harkrygsk are deathly afraid of fire and will flee from it when used. Conveniently, fire is extremely effective against them.
- Weak Spot: Though their carapace on top is enough to tank a couple of blaster bolts, their underbelly is incredibly exposed and sensitive; weak enough for a fit human to actually punch into.
- Diet: Harkrygsk are omnivorous, though they prefer meat, particularly those recently dead or even alive. Harkrygsk will vomit up digestive fluid either onto or inside prey to liquefy it, then consume that liquid. They have also shown to be intelligent enough to determine proper differences between species; some with regenerative properties have been consumed slowly over months, held captive with secretions that harden in the nest.
- Communication: Harkrygsk primarily communicate through their hivemind connection, which they call Harkgryska. The Hivekings have been shown to be capable of understanding basic and communicating through the force. Those who have been exposed to through the Hivekings have described it like singing, chanting or even poetry.
- Technology level: The Harkrygsk generally will make no use of technology, though are intelligent enough to use it, though are often limited by their physiology.
- Religion/Beliefs: Harkrygsk believe that they are the chosen species to rule the galaxy and must write songs as they live that will be repeated through the hivemind for eternity; these individual songs, created at random by various 'members' of the Hivemind seems to be the closest thing members of the species have to determine them as individuals.
- General behavior: Harkrygsk life is usually centered around the reproduction and growth of the species. Every member has tubes extruding from their carapace that fire off spores; these spores, similar to how Sarlaac specimens reproduce, will find their way underground and develop into eggs. This area then becomes a nest, where the eggs grow for years before hatching into fully-grown adult members of the species.
- Though the species believes itself the rightful rulers of the universe, it considers this a solemn duty. Previous communication has shown that songs will sometimes be written praising certain enemy individuals or groups, or even sorrowfully wishing that they did not have to be destroyed.
- Hivekings have shown the most diversity for the species. Being force-sensitive, they are sensable in the force and not hard to track down. Some have been willing to communicate before hostilities, and even consider differing ideas; in one case, the Hiveking Manda seemed to be considering the Jedi Code and its teachings before it was overzealously killed. Hivekings will often take individual names that represent a great enemy organization or individual, that they believe represented a genuine threat to the Hive.
Though it is unconfirmed, it's believed that the Harkrygsk homeworld was a desert-like planet, teeming with all sorts of life that was odd even in this very unusual galaxy. Developing underground over milennia, the Harkrygsk burst from the underground into the surface after having burrowed around for much of their existence. On their first contact with surface sentients, they attempted communication but were quickly killed for their seemingly menacing appearance and getting far too close. Assuming that the surface dwellers were hostile, the Hargrysk attempted to subdue them and keep them calm.
This only made things worse, as kidnapping two sentients brought military force onto the Harkrygsk. In their first real war, the insectoids struggled to deal with aggression, their numbers dwindling until the appearance of their first Hiveking. Providing them with proper strategic thinking and the aggression they needed, Hiveking Jarnas helped his people overcome and destroy all threats on their homeworld. With their planet to themselves, the ideas and philosophies of the Hive developed, coming to the conclusion that they were the only truly peaceful and just race, the only ones deserving to rule it.
Eventually, exploration ships arrived on their planet. Rather than act with hostility first, the Harkrygsk shot spores on the ship, covering it with them. When the ship returned to the planet it came from, the spores dropped, sinking through the ground and reproducing more of the species. This tactic continued until nests spread throughout Wild Space and the edges of the galaxy.
Once a colony was established by humans on their world, the Harkrygsk struck. The colony was wiped out in its entirety, and the species took their ships to travel their Hiveking across the stars and to the various other worlds, so they could direct the Hives there to victory. As more colonies fell, the ancient Jedi finally stepped in. The first real threat to the Hiveking, the Swarm was pushed back, but every time more came.
Eventually, the Jedi Masters convened and agreed on a tactic to stop the hive. The nests were attacked by strike teams, swarming the Harkrygsk into their tunnels to attack. Once sufficiently lured, groups of Jedi would use a unique form of Force Stasis, trapping the specimens in place where they were. Once that was done, the eggs on every colony were destroyed and the nests demolished. The Jedi killed many of the Harkrygks, but left some alive.
It was determined that if there was ever a time that real communication beyond what had happened in the wars could be established, the species would be freed and allowed to roam, rather than needlessly destroyed. However, the Four-Hundred Year Darkness meant the loss of countless ancient records, along with the constant power struggles of the previous four centuries. All records of the species were lost, and they stayed sealed away within planets, prisoners in the places they tried to conquer.
However, as the Netherworld Crisis struck the galaxy, and shook the force, the stasis weakened. For some hive survivors, the freedom was instant, for others it was gradual. Regardless, they were left with devastated populations and new nests to build. Since then, the Harkrygsk have hidden inside the planets of Wild Space, building their numbers up again, swelling the population as they sing and hope for new Hivekings to rise.
