Nicair Claden
The Iron Heart
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
(+)- Predatory instinct. Due to Sociph being closer adapted to predatory apes they are more skilled at tracking and have slightly above average sense organs by nature.
(+)- Above average metabolism
(+)- Mental fortitude. the Sociph have an unnatural resistance to mental manipulation and are incapable of experiencing fear as a natural occurrence.
(+)- Night sight. While they don't have perfect night vision that can only be achieved by technological means, they can see about 60ft in dim light as if it were brightly lit and in complete darkness as if it were dimly lit. They are, however, unable to distinguish color, only shades of grey.
(+/-)- Genetic predisposition to antisocial personality disorder. About 90% of the Sociph population display cases of APD, more commonly known as psychopathy.
(+/-)- Lust for power. Though it will often blind them to the consequences, a Sociph yearns for power and domination.
(-)- Psychotic Ideations- As time goes on Sociph become more and more violent, the elderly often lose their minds in psychotic rages.
(-)- No honor among thieves. The right thing to do for a Sociph is the action that better serves them.
(-)- Hedonistic. They rather enjoy being pampered and comfortable. Good food and as many carnal pleasures as they can handle.
(-)- Brain deterioration. The Sociph brain suffers from an unknown neurological disease that causes compounding degrees of decay as time goes on. To say that a Sociph can live to 100 naturally is a stretch of the imagination as there would be very little living going on.
(-)- Force difficulty. Due to their secular nature, force use is challenging for the Sociph. They simply can't understand it as it flies in the face of most of their beliefs of self. It takes more willpower and more discipline for a Sociph to perform even the most simple of force techniques.
(-)- Limited. Just because someone can take a beating doesn't mean their bodies should. Sociph often overexert themselves in combat leading to multiple injuries. The Sociph didn't evolve for extended use, they were ambush predators in their early stages. They may be able to ignore a large amount of pain, but the body can only take so much punishment.
CULTURE
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Qerak
Little is recorded of the Sociph's early civilizations. What they are able to glean comes from effigies and reliefs on old ruins. They show what appears to be an entirely different species than the modern inhabitants of the planet. Men and women with elongated ears and magics coming from their hands worshiping strange and alien entities from beyond the realm of imagination. Stories go of these creatures, whose cults and worshipers sought to bring their eldritch forms to their planet, were killed one by one by an individual named Qerak.
As the old stories go he was the strongest warrior and most powerful sorcerer that Antisoch had ever seen or would ever see again. He witnessed the deprivation that his once noble kindred were falling to and the wicked machinations of the Old Gods that sought only the destruction of the then lush and vibrant planet. For three days he remained in a meditative trance. The first day, and the creation of the first moon of Antisoch from then on referred to as the Silent Moon, was spent in quiet contemplation concerning the insignificant nature of his people and their place in the galaxy. It was filled with numerous existential revelations that threatened to break his concentration if not his very mind. The second day, and the creation of the second moon of Antisoch which is referred to as the Smith's Moon, is the day in which Qerak spent the full 36 hours of the Antisoch day forging a blade for himself from then on known as "Deicide." The third day, and the creation of the third moon of Antisoch from then on referred to as the Shadow Moon, was the day that Qerak's hammer fell for the last time on his blade and the world, and its people were cast in shadow and darkness.
The Sociph, after the final day, were void of feeling and emotion. All the hedonistic desires and impulses that had been driving their people to ruin and been purged in one final stroke of Qerak's hammer. The Old Gods of Antisoch felt their connection and pull towards the planet sever in an instant and strove to complete the downfall that the Sociph had started.
The Fuel War (Rough translation) as it was called ravaged much of the surface of Antisoch and the ancient Sociph that called it home. Qerak's defeat of the Old Gods had many different interpretations and stories crafted around them. To slay the god of shadow he ripped out the eyes of a hunting beast and pushed them into his own sockets, thus the Sociph can see in the dark. The god of pain was pushed to exhaustion as Qerak refused to submit to the tortures, thus the Sociph are durable and hardy. The only god he could not defeat, was the deity of madness and ravenous hunger, whose name has been lost to translation and time. It is said that should any Sociph utter it in its natural form they are driven swiftly into a madness the likes of which had never been known. This god, rather than die, pushed itself into Qerak's mind and the collective effect drove the Sociph mad for three days in payment for the three days he spent crafting and designing the downfall of the Old Gods.
Post-Qerak
But such things are myth and legend, the trade and enjoyment of the weak and foolish. It didn't take long for the Sociph to purge themselves of such a thing as religion. Qerak went from a man, to a prodigal and paragon of what it is to be Sociph, to an entity of slaughter and destruction, to finally being all but forgotten through the passage of time. During this time the Sociph expanded to some of the distance planets in their system only to destroy them in one war or another. Their civil wars brought rampant change to both themselves and their mother planet. From their loss of magic or force use to the discovery of chemical and nuclear weapons to their small voyages back into the stars, they have kept the savagery that forged the true Sociph. It may not be what they could have been, but it was what they had to become for their civilization and their planet to survive. And it was a sacrifice Qerak paid. With the return of Nicair to Antisoch and the awakening of wider use of the force and the powers of the Old Sociph, there is hope that they could return to their old glories and old ways. But such a thing requires more millennia than it took the Sociph to fall.
- Intent: To give Nicair Claden a species that would allow him to fully explore his heritage and expand upon some of the far reaches of the galaxy. The Sociph, for those that woudl use them this way, could also function as a sort of galactic boogeyman among star traders and far reach captains. Under Nicair's rule they will function as a sort of clean-up crew in the sectors surrounding their planet.
- Canon: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Name: Sociph
- Designation: Sentient
- Homeworld: Antisoch
- Language: Socishi
- Average Lifespan: Around 100 naturally though few reach it past 70
- Estimated Population: Planetary
- Description: For all intents and purposes Sociph appear to be the same as a regular human. Minor differences in elongation of the ears and lengthening of the teeth but nothing extreme.
- Breathes: Oxygen
- Average height of adults: 6'2"
- Average length of adults: 1.87m
- Skin color: Varies from dark to pale
- Hair color: Most have black or very dark hair though different colorations are not unheard of.
- Distinctions: Most Sociph have incredibly dark colored eyes, mistaken by black for those unfortunate enough to meet their gaze. Due to a slightly stronger gravity on their planet their bodies are usually denser than a regular human, with more compact musculature. They have, as a whole, an above average metabolism that keeps them fairly lithe.
- Races: None
- Strengths:
(+)- Predatory instinct. Due to Sociph being closer adapted to predatory apes they are more skilled at tracking and have slightly above average sense organs by nature.
(+)- Above average metabolism
(+)- Mental fortitude. the Sociph have an unnatural resistance to mental manipulation and are incapable of experiencing fear as a natural occurrence.
(+)- Night sight. While they don't have perfect night vision that can only be achieved by technological means, they can see about 60ft in dim light as if it were brightly lit and in complete darkness as if it were dimly lit. They are, however, unable to distinguish color, only shades of grey.
(+/-)- Genetic predisposition to antisocial personality disorder. About 90% of the Sociph population display cases of APD, more commonly known as psychopathy.
(+/-)- Lust for power. Though it will often blind them to the consequences, a Sociph yearns for power and domination.
- Weaknesses:
(-)- Psychotic Ideations- As time goes on Sociph become more and more violent, the elderly often lose their minds in psychotic rages.
(-)- No honor among thieves. The right thing to do for a Sociph is the action that better serves them.
(-)- Hedonistic. They rather enjoy being pampered and comfortable. Good food and as many carnal pleasures as they can handle.
(-)- Brain deterioration. The Sociph brain suffers from an unknown neurological disease that causes compounding degrees of decay as time goes on. To say that a Sociph can live to 100 naturally is a stretch of the imagination as there would be very little living going on.
(-)- Force difficulty. Due to their secular nature, force use is challenging for the Sociph. They simply can't understand it as it flies in the face of most of their beliefs of self. It takes more willpower and more discipline for a Sociph to perform even the most simple of force techniques.
(-)- Limited. Just because someone can take a beating doesn't mean their bodies should. Sociph often overexert themselves in combat leading to multiple injuries. The Sociph didn't evolve for extended use, they were ambush predators in their early stages. They may be able to ignore a large amount of pain, but the body can only take so much punishment.
CULTURE
- Diet: Sociph stomachs are infamously strong, being able to digest most anything. They will commonly eat a type of protein-rich grass that grows in the desert of their planet. They have grown from needing to survive on the grass into full blown hedonism. They enjoy the finer things in life, however short it may be. Most favor a carnivorous predisposition but their fruits and vegetables are often described as being sweet tasting even in comparison to wider galactic options.
- Communication: Those that have heard their native tongue describe it as being incredibly harsh and can inspire many to fairly extreme levels of uncomfortability.
- Technology level: Without influence from the rest of the galaxy Sociph were able to manufacture projectile weaponry capable of tearing flesh with ease. They still enjoy and implement chemical warfare.
- Religion/Beliefs: Sociph are predominately anti-religious, unless it serves them to pretend. There is the occasional cult on the planet, in the more tribal and less developed locales, where the worship of many of the Old Sociph gods takes place. Reference is made to an individuals (imagine a twisted version of the Buddha) named Qerak from whose name the words Qer'ak "Iron Heart" as well as the name of the primary military and government leader, and qer "iron" originate. While there are few that outright worship him, he is often used in metaphor and as a symbol.
- General behavior: Due to the fact that only about 1% of those with antisocial personality disorder are female, the planet is run by the men of their species. This is not to say that that 1% doesn't make differences in waves on the planet as the female Sociph are just as if not more ruthless than the males. The males will often breed with numerous females and as a result there is little value on patronage and practically no family ties to speak of. Any extension of family is an extension of power and control that the dominant partner is able to have over the family, as a result they are very rare. The families that do form units are commonly dynasties in their chosen fields, using their ties as free soldiers and killers. With Nicair Claden's taking of the mantle of Qer'ak more emphasis is being placed on family as he attempts to incorporate Mandalorian ideals and principles into his people.
- Approach to Force Use: For those who show the ability to manipulation and harness the force, they are often sent away to undergo what is often termed "Quenching" in Basic. During this process they are sealed in a roughly 4x4x4 room made of unrefined qer to test the levels of their force sensitivity and their own personal resilience as they feel their powers sapped by the metal around them. Those that maintain their sensitivity at the end of the process are turned into torturers and special operations members assigned to psychological operations across the planet.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Qerak
Little is recorded of the Sociph's early civilizations. What they are able to glean comes from effigies and reliefs on old ruins. They show what appears to be an entirely different species than the modern inhabitants of the planet. Men and women with elongated ears and magics coming from their hands worshiping strange and alien entities from beyond the realm of imagination. Stories go of these creatures, whose cults and worshipers sought to bring their eldritch forms to their planet, were killed one by one by an individual named Qerak.
As the old stories go he was the strongest warrior and most powerful sorcerer that Antisoch had ever seen or would ever see again. He witnessed the deprivation that his once noble kindred were falling to and the wicked machinations of the Old Gods that sought only the destruction of the then lush and vibrant planet. For three days he remained in a meditative trance. The first day, and the creation of the first moon of Antisoch from then on referred to as the Silent Moon, was spent in quiet contemplation concerning the insignificant nature of his people and their place in the galaxy. It was filled with numerous existential revelations that threatened to break his concentration if not his very mind. The second day, and the creation of the second moon of Antisoch which is referred to as the Smith's Moon, is the day in which Qerak spent the full 36 hours of the Antisoch day forging a blade for himself from then on known as "Deicide." The third day, and the creation of the third moon of Antisoch from then on referred to as the Shadow Moon, was the day that Qerak's hammer fell for the last time on his blade and the world, and its people were cast in shadow and darkness.
The Sociph, after the final day, were void of feeling and emotion. All the hedonistic desires and impulses that had been driving their people to ruin and been purged in one final stroke of Qerak's hammer. The Old Gods of Antisoch felt their connection and pull towards the planet sever in an instant and strove to complete the downfall that the Sociph had started.
The Fuel War (Rough translation) as it was called ravaged much of the surface of Antisoch and the ancient Sociph that called it home. Qerak's defeat of the Old Gods had many different interpretations and stories crafted around them. To slay the god of shadow he ripped out the eyes of a hunting beast and pushed them into his own sockets, thus the Sociph can see in the dark. The god of pain was pushed to exhaustion as Qerak refused to submit to the tortures, thus the Sociph are durable and hardy. The only god he could not defeat, was the deity of madness and ravenous hunger, whose name has been lost to translation and time. It is said that should any Sociph utter it in its natural form they are driven swiftly into a madness the likes of which had never been known. This god, rather than die, pushed itself into Qerak's mind and the collective effect drove the Sociph mad for three days in payment for the three days he spent crafting and designing the downfall of the Old Gods.
Post-Qerak
But such things are myth and legend, the trade and enjoyment of the weak and foolish. It didn't take long for the Sociph to purge themselves of such a thing as religion. Qerak went from a man, to a prodigal and paragon of what it is to be Sociph, to an entity of slaughter and destruction, to finally being all but forgotten through the passage of time. During this time the Sociph expanded to some of the distance planets in their system only to destroy them in one war or another. Their civil wars brought rampant change to both themselves and their mother planet. From their loss of magic or force use to the discovery of chemical and nuclear weapons to their small voyages back into the stars, they have kept the savagery that forged the true Sociph. It may not be what they could have been, but it was what they had to become for their civilization and their planet to survive. And it was a sacrifice Qerak paid. With the return of Nicair to Antisoch and the awakening of wider use of the force and the powers of the Old Sociph, there is hope that they could return to their old glories and old ways. But such a thing requires more millennia than it took the Sociph to fall.
