Arrbi Betna
Marauder
Name: TuwakDesignation: Sentient
Homeworld: Manetuwak
Language: Tuwakian
Average height of adults: 2-3m
Skin color: Hide color ranges from dark browns, blacks, and greens to brighter colors such as yellows, reds, and blues.
Hair color: No actual hair, though spines are often colored and dyed.
Breathes: Type III atmosphere
Strengths:
- Survival - Born to a planet where only the strong survive, each Tuwak is resourceful, strong, and has incredible endurance. Their strength and toughness are easily equivalent to the strongest of human society, if not greater. On a world that is constantly trying to kill you, simply surviving is a massive achievement.
- Resilient - Manetuwak is a world of many poisons and toxins, most of which the Tuwakians know of or are resistant to. Their strong hide protects them from most known poisonous substances and their strong immune system can quickly metabolize most of what cannot be stopped by their hide.
- Fieldcraft - Residents of an uncivilized world, the Tuwak race has learned the ways of Manetuwak and its swamps and wetlands. To varying degrees of skill, many are quite stealthy in the wild and most can easily find their way with bare sticks and stones while navigating the wilds they live in.
- Scaled - A Tuwak's hide is naturally tough and durable, easily shrugging off minor injuries. Often, their scales protect them from the most basic of things and what little armor is worn is placed over vital areas. Tuwak hide is equivalent to class 3 armor.
- Spiritual - A spiritual people who worship scores of deities, the Tuwak are ferocious and terrifying in battle, utilizing their natural and artificial weapons in combat and often attribute victories and gifts in the form of luck from their pantheon of gods and goddesses.
- Survival - While each Tuwakian is tough and strong, many do not survive to adulthood. Because of this, the native population on Manetuwak is constantly lower than galactic standard and population centers are often small, along the scale of towns and villages with few small cities.
- Resilient - While naturally resistant to most poisons and toxins, there are a few native to Manetuwak that can easily kill a Tuwakian. Indeed, throughout the galaxy the most potent poisons will work on the species, though the proper dosage and amounts are unknown.
- Primitive - Tuwakians are a very basic society and even such things as gunpowder or iron-working are lost to them. Unless educated or exposed beforehand, most will have no idea or possibly fear any higher level of technology than their own.
- Cold-Blooded - A reptilian species, Tuwakians live and thrive in warm, humid environments. They can live more or less comfortably in drier climes, so long as it is warm, but cold or even frozen environments can weaken or even kill them over time if left without a heated environmental suit.
- Spiritual - While ferocious in battle and quick to heed their deities' call, one who can learn the Tuwakian culture or even understand the language can often make peace with the species to trade or to request aide. So great is their spiritual ties to the planet and their gods that not only do they not know advanced technology, but they shun things like blasters or lightsabers thinking such things to be evil magicks or spells and wielded by daemons or evil sorcerers.
Average Lifespan: 150 standard years.
Races:
- Lowland Tuwak - A race that generally dwells in the swamps and wetlands only. Typically, but not exclusively, features solid or mottled earth tone hides such as greens or browns. This race often supports more shamans and agricultural workers than the others.
- Upland Tuwak - A race that generally dwells along the footlands of the planet's few mountain ranges were the wetlands tend to give way to a sort of rainforest analogue. These individuals often sport, but are not restricted to, various brighter shades such as reds, blues, and yellows. This race often features more adventurous individuals and is known for its artwork in stone and precious metals.
- North or South Tuwak (depending on the hemisphere) - A race that generally lives near the frozen archipelagos of the planet. These Tuwakians are almost entirely, but not restricted to, much darker greens and browns or outright black hides. The lands this race frequents are often sparse and remote, leading to tribes fighting for resources. North/South Tuwak are some of the greatest warriors of the species and are often employed by tribal kings and warlords as personal guards.
Diet: Omnivorous
Communication: Verbal, Tuwakian
Culture:
Tuwakian culture is primitive, yet complex. The species is oriented around village and tribal life, with each population center sporting its own king, village leader, or tribal warlord. Each leader is put in place however the village or group deems to do so with most being placed in power by inheritance such as royalty and some being elected into power. Regardless, the leader holds absolute authority over the village and is responsible for the village and villagers' well being.
Within each population center can be found a Shaman. Whether a single individual or a small group depends on the size of the population, but even the smallest of communities has access to at least one Shaman. The Shaman oversees the spiritual well being of the community and acts as an intermediary between the general population and their gods. While many are Force sensitive, it is not required to have such abilities in order to be a Shaman.
Outside of these two groups, the rest of the population falls into general groups. Most of the population are hunters and farmers while in the larger population areas one can find artisans, craftsmen, warriors, apothecaries, and much more.
The species is mainly separated into three groups.
The Lowland Tuwak are the most populous as the majority of the planet are, in fact, lowlands. The race is known for the predominant green or brown coloring of their hides and are mainly a race of farmers and hunters. In larger villages, towns, or the few cities that can be found the Lowland Tuwak generally occupy most manual labor tasks, though some can be found as artisans or even warriors. Often, they are known for being excellent trackers and, in fact, most apothecaries are Lowland Tuwakians.
The Upland Tuwak are known for living at the base and foothills of the few mountain ranges on the planet. They often sport more vibrant and bright colors than their lowland brethren and are often seen as more adventurous in many ways. Most are artisans and craftsmen that work with the elements around them, though some can be found as merchants or in other roles such as hunters, farmers, or even warriors.
North or South Tuwak are a rare sight among the Lowlands and Uplands of Manetuwak. Their hides are very dark green or brown, often seen as a black coloring. The regions of their homeland have few natural resources and life there is very harsh. Most take to raiding and pillaging nearby villages for supplies and are often known as great warriors. A few are known as artisans or hunters, even as merchants, but most found in the Lowlands or Uplands are often warriors employed by local leaders or the wealthy.
The three races generally get along in most areas, though occasionally some unrest is found. This usually is quieted by the Shamans as disunity among the Tuwakians generally is deemed to displease the gods.
Technology level: Primitive
General behavior:
Deeply spiritual, the Tuwak species permeates their every day lives with their religion. In fact, many aspects of daily living are controlled in one way or another by religious means.
Simple greetings are given ritualistically during first meetings, praising the deities for the opportunity to meet a new individual formally. Business deals are concluded with a formal prayer or ritual saying while important business dealings often have a Shaman present for a more intricate closing ceremony. Births and deaths are all overseen by Shamans and each feature their own rituals to please the gods.
Even in war or conflict these are apparent. Before a battle begins both sides must meet and speak with Shamans present in an attempt to prevent bloodshed. Should this fail, combat may begin with the losing side being slain to the last individual. This, however, is not always followed in the northern or southern regions where surprise means survival. However, despite this, an individual or individuals may seek safety from perceived enemies for a short time, generally a day and a half of the planet's time. This is done by approaching the individual or enemy group unarmed bearing a container of water, generally a basin of some kind. Upon being placed before the individual or leader of the enemy group, the individual seeking safety places the container upon the ground, offering the water with - called the Waters of Peace - to be drunk by both involved. The enemy individual or leader is required to drink from the water, signifying that no harm will come to the beseecher for one and a half Manetuwak days, but only if the beseecher can name the enemy individual in question. If this is done, safety is given, but only once per planetary month. If the beseecher fails to name the other, a single drop of blood from the appealed is placed into the water to show that the beseecher has failed and that blood may be spilled. The beseecher is then allowed to leave in peace to bring the message to any others seeking asylum to show that none shall be given.
There are many more rituals and observances, though they are not listed here. In short, the culture of the Tuwakians is extremely complex and revolves entirely around their religion. Outsiders will find the culture both confusing and strange, but ultimately one who reaches and understanding of the Tuwak way of life will have a great advantage over any dealings with the Tuwak race.
History:
The history of the Tuwak is relatively unknown. Their belief system states that the Tuwakians were born of the mud and water in the form of stone eggs which hatched into the first of the Tuwak race. In reality, scientists believe they hold some relation, albeit distantly, to various reptilian species on the planet and have, in fact, potentially evolved from one of them.
Regardless, the species is only recently introduced to the galaxy and, so far, the majority of the population are unaware of anything outside their own planet, much less the region the live in.
Notable Player-Characters: N/A
Intent: Well, with a test bed planet, I figured it'd make sense to make a species to inhabit it. I figured a primitive species that wasn't everywhere and wouldn't ravage the planet with immediate industry would be a great idea. Having a Type III atmosphere would, I figured, help keep the planet from being industrialized that much longer.
