Race Bio: Stalker

New race added to the SB: Races page! This is the last of the Desian races to be featured in Skybrawler.

Stalker

Ambidextrous? Nah, he's just very determined.

The Stalkers of Desia dwell primarily in the heavily-forested regions of the planet. Their name comes from the means by which they tend to hunt and fight; they stick to the shadows and excel at being unseen. This may not be apparent by the light of their bio-luminescent, glowing eyes or their choice of weapons, but rest assured that despite these unusual features, a stalker will see you before you see it. Some speculate that their stealth prowess is a result of carefully-placed camouflage warpaint, but this assertion is somewhat absurd. In truth, nobody understands how Stalkers manage to dissolve from sight the way they do.

Lacking any real political affiliations with the other Desian races, the Stalkers keep to themselves and don't tread on others' business. The Stalkers spend most of their time in solitude, perfecting their hunting skills and stealth capabilities, and they lack any semblance of a political structure even within their own culture.

The Stalkers' history is cloaked in the shadows. Nobody knows where they came from, and they have never left behind any written records of their activities. Although Stalkers live all over Desia, they are just as mysterious as the Komidians, and the other races can do little more than spin stories and legends about them.

Race Bio: Strider

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Strider

Saddle up, Buckaroo.

The Striders, who share a common ancestor with the Ascendants and Channelers, are nomadic huntsmen who roam the plains of Desia in highly mobile tribes. Strider tribes are highly mobile and frequently splinter into smaller tribes when game becomes scarce, and over time, this constant segmentation has spread the Striders all over both major continents of Desia, although they tend to prefer large, open, plains areas where they can get to a full gallop.

Very few Striders hunt with weapons; it is a sign of strength in most Strider cultures to engage prey in hand-to-hand combat. With their four incredibly strong legs and equally strong upper body, Striders can quickly and easily catch herd animals and pummel them into submission.

Unfortunately for both the Striders and the Stonefangs, starting in ancient times and up until only a few generations ago, the Striders believed that the Stonefangs were unintelligent pack animals, and the Striders hunted the Stonefangs relentlessly until the Stonefangs were on the verge of extinction. One day, the Stonefangs simply vanished. There were none to be found for decades. But two generations ago the Stonefangs suddenly returned with a vengeance and now seem hell-bent on returning the favor to the Striders.

The several-decade nonstop warfare with the Stonefangs has pushed many Strider tribes out of their typical hunting grounds and into less familiar territory, while some tribes have been wiped out altogether. A large bastion of Striders has been relegated to the Overlook Plateau, relying on the surrounding mountains and cliffs to protect them from the Stonefang onslaught. Some Striders have retreated to Tariae in the South, while other more desperate tribes have even migrated to the Razor Grasslands. Rumors have been spreading that the Striders are considering negotiating an alliance with the Dredgers and Ascendants to push back against the Stonefangs once and for all. Whatever happens, the Striders must find a way to strike back, or they will be obliterated.

Race Bio: Komidian

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Komidian

What do you mean, "hunchback"?

The Komidians are a mysterious race; they have never been seen outside Ignea, the two small islands that lie between the North and South continents. Legends hold that Ignea is the birthplace of all igneum stone, and these islands are therefore recognized the world over as a fountain of destruction. The igneum dust which coats everything on Ignea has squelched out nearly all life, save for a few unusually hardy species, as igneum has a tendency to react explosively upon contact with carbon-based organic substances and even some metals. Speculation holds that the species which survive on Ignea are not organic or carbon-based at all, but something else entirely.

The harsh environment of Ignea doesn't seem to bother the Komidians, however, who seem to thrive in the fiery wasteland. They have only been seen by the other races from afar, since no other Desians have managed to venture into Ignea without spontaneously combusting. No one knows what -- or whether -- the Komidians eat, how they fight, or even what language they speak, if they speak at all.

Because of this lack of access, the other races' perception of the Komidians is built largely around legend and superstition. The shroud of mystique surrounding the Komidians causes even the warmongering Stonefangs to cower in fear at the prospect of coming face to face with one. Some myths posit that the Komidians are living incarnations of igneum stone, cursed by some ancient misdeed so that everything they touch will conflagrate. Like all myths, though, this is little more than fantastical conjecture. Probably.

Race Bio: Channeler

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Channeler

Body piercing is the new thing.

Channelers and Ascendants share a common ancestor, although the Channelers have taken a somewhat different turn since ancient times. While the Ascendants migrated to Desia's cliffs, the Channelers stayed close to the shore, preferring the simpler (and less vertigo-inducing) lifestyle of fishing the seas for food.

Their sea-based life allowed the Channelers to become closely connected with the Gluaglians through a system of land-and-sea-based trade routes. The Channelers found that they could fortify their aquatic trade routes by migrating to the Sumiria Archipelago just off the northern coast of the south continent. Here they discovered that there was more to these seemingly innocuous islands than they had anticipated.

The Gluaglians began appearing at the Channelers' trade ports with strange, blue, luminescent crystals. The Channelers were intrigued and did everything they could to acquire more of these crystals. After some probing, the Channelers discovered that the Gluaglians had been mining the crystals from undersea caverns around and under the Simiria Archipelago. Ordinarily, such crystalline objects would be fashioned into simple jewelry. But there was something strange about these crystals.

The Channelers began their own undersea mining operations, and they soon were hauling thousands of pounds of the crystals -- which later became known simply as Essence Crystals -- on a day to day basis. The Channelers believed that the crystals had supernatural qualities to them, although they couldn't quite bring such properties to light as of yet. They became obsessed with the crystals, and they strip-mined the foundations of the Sumiria Archipelago so drastically that the islands began to sink. But by that time, the Channelers' hyper-exposure to the Essence Crystals had begun to reveal some side effects. Namely, the Channelers discovered that, if they remained in close proximity with the crystals, they could manipulate water with their willpower alone. They could freeze it, boil it, direct its flow; they could even steer the humidity in the air around them, directing the air currents and allowing for a form of levitation.

Fearing that the Essence Crystals would be stolen from them, the Channelers made a pact with one another. If these mystical objects fell into the wrong hands, they could be dire weapons of war and destruction. The best way to guard the crystals, they decided, was to gather them all up and to implant the crystals into their bodies.  And so they did just that. The Channelers from ancient times are still alive today; the crystals seem to have granted them a form of near immortality. The Channelers are peaceful and patient, although they can be quite easily agitated if they believe someone (or something) is coming after the crystals they have embedded in their bodies.

Ascendant in 3D

Hey! Here's a little treat for you: the Ascendant (from yesterday's post) rendered in 3D! I actually made this about 8 months ago, but it's still valid.

Click the image to view full-size.

I can actually get this 3D printed as an action-figure type thing, so if anyone wants one, let me know, and I'll arrange it. Although I'll warn up front: 3D printing is damned expensive.

Race Bio: Ascendant

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Ascendant

Climbing trees is not a recommended means of escape.

The Ascendants are among the oldest known races of Desia. Much stronger than their close cousins, the Channelers and the Stalkers, Ascendants have been relegated to the most mountainous regions of Desia for most of history. Their superior upper body strength and abundance of grasping limbs, paired with their gecko-like padded palms, grant Ascendants incredible agility when scaling high barriers. As a result of their physical capabilities, the Ascendant tribes tend to make their homes in the faces of cliffs, as it is difficult to find a location safer from attack. And with the recent uprising of the Stonefangs, in which the Ascendants are a primary target, cliff dwelling has never seemed more appealing.

Ascendants have also developed extremely strong skeletons over time; this may be due to evolutionary pressures selecting only those which survived the occasional long fall. A typical ascendant can fall between 150 to 200 feet and catch itself on its four arms without succumbing to much more than a bruise.

Historically, before they had migrated to dwell in the cliffs, Ascendants hunted Stonefangs and other ground-dwelling creatures. Most Ascendant tribes are agrarian, growing vertical fields of hardy, rock-dwelling plants all up and and down the faces of Desia's cliffs. The largest agricultural Ascendant communities lie along the several-thousand-foot-high cliffs of the southern edge of the Overlook Plateau. The agrarian Ascendant tribes tend to be peaceful and highly intelligent, as their farming grants them time to pursue exploration and scientific endeavors.

Still, though, a few fringe Ascendant tribes subscribe to a transient, nomadic culture, following sparsely populated flocks of birds that nest in the cliff faces. These tribes tend to be much more warlike and aggressive, likely due to the violent pursuit of their prey.

Race Bio: Stonefang

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Stonefang

Now with 100% more eyeballs! Mouth not included.

The Stonefangs were once believed to be wild pack animals; the Ascendants, Dredgers, and Striders hunted the Stonefangs for sport and food. But after thousands of years of persecution, the Stonefangs have finally become organized. Countless generations of living on the edge of extinction have caused the Stonefangs to become culturally insular and warmongering. For the past two generations, the Stonefangs have managed to organize their numbers and wage war on those who have tormented them for so long.

Their attacks are strategic, and their behavior bears a strong resemblance to a hierarchical military organization. Taking this into account, the other Desian races have realized -- albeit too late -- that the Stonefangs are indeed quite intelligent and self-aware. Their goals are set on eradicating those who have pushed them to the brink of extinction, and no amount of negotiation or bargaining can convince them to give up their relentless assaults. Their desire for revenge is so complete that the Stonefangs have no economy, currency, or laws; their entire existence is aimed at vengeance.

The Stonefangs' penchant for destruction has caused a wave of stories and legends to spread like wildfire across Desia. This is how the Stonefangs became known as the Stonefangs; one staple of good legends is their liberal embellishment of the facts. Such embellishments have caused many Desians to believe that Stonefangs possess enormous mouths filled with fangs made of splintered stone. Stonefangs do not have mouths, of course, but the name seems to have stuck.

Fortunately for the other races, there are very few tribes of Stonefangs left. And further, the Stonefangs tend to dwell in relatively inhospitable areas, as these regions of the world are the safest from attack. Naturally, this living arrangement leads the Stonefangs to regular conflicts with the Berserkers, but such conflicts typically arise out of the Berserkers' needs to engage danger, as opposed to any age-old revenge motives. However, recent scouting reports from some of the major Desian tribes have revealed that the Stonefangs are rapidly growing in numbers and are learning to construct large weapons of war. If the reports are true, the Desians, Ascendants, and Striders may be in serious trouble.

Race Bio: Berserker

New race added to the SB: Races page!

Berserker

You're not technically naked if you have a sword.

The Berserkers of Desia are quite unlike their timid ancestors from ages past. Although they began humbly as the small and meek "Tareans" from the far southwestern region of Desia, a few unusual cultural trends have forced a sort of unnatural selection in the Tareans, causing them to become known as Berserkers. Namely, the females of the Berserker race will only mate with males who repeatedly prove their strength, skill, and toughness through a lifelong series of self-imposed tests. The more dangerous, the better.

The Berserkers have settled in only the least hospitable regions of Desia. Poisonous wildlife? You'll find a Berserker nearby, preparing to catch it. Boiling lava pits? A Berserker has swam in them. Jagged cliffs? A Berserker has climbed them. If something seems as though it would kill you, a Berskerker has probably attempted to catch, eat, tame, or ride it.

The only acceptable weapon for a Berserker is the Berserkers' signature Igneum Blade. Berserkers learn at a young age the art of coating their swords with Igneum, forging lethal weapons that cause chemical reactions akin to small explosions on contact with organic matter. The blades are incredibly dangerous to use, as one small error could lead to the Berserker causing himself to explode instead. But no other known weapon is risky enough to suit the Berserkers' tastes.

Although warfare provides many opportunities for a Berserker to prove his insanity, Berserkers rarely seek out wars; the politics involved can become far too tedious. Further, the environments of Desia provide plenty of risks as it is; inciting violence from a foreign faction is simply inefficient when there are Sandamanders in your back yard.

Race Bio: Gluaglian

New alien race added to the SB: Races page across the top!

Gluaglian

It's actually relatively easy being green.

Gluaglians are often referred to by the Humans as "toads" because of their appearance. But despite their looks, the Gluaglians are among the more intelligent Desian races. Their amphibious nature has allowed them to escape much of the conflict that plagues the land-based races, as they are able to simply retreat deep underwater. Although lacking any underwater breathing apparatus, Gluaglians spend most of their time underwater, relying on their tremendous lung capacity and slow-moving pulse to hold their breaths for up to twelve hours at a time. Standing only four feet tall, Gluaglians are the smallest of the Desian races. But despite their small stature and peaceful nature, Gluaglians can be incredibly brave and ferocious when forced into a violent situation. Fortunately for everyone, this is a rare occurrence.

Gluaglian communities are close-knit and small, and they tend to dwell in swamp-like areas that blur the lines between land and water and along sea coasts. Gluaglians have very little architecture to speak of, as their ability to shield themselves from the elements by living underwater has allowed them to focus their efforts elsewhere, particularly in pursuing business interests. Most Gluaglian tribes have built land-based ports where they trade with the land-dwelling races. Their insular culture has granted them the unique ability to play both sides of a conflict to their advantage, since no offended warring faction can pursue the Gluaglians down into the depths of the oceans. As a result, the Gluaglians have become savvy profiteers, seeking to turn every opportunity into cash. Coin, of course. Paper money doesn't fare well underwater.

Race Bio: Scout (Bot)

Happy Saturday! Today we've got an addition to the Races page. This is the first of the Bots to be introduced: the Scout!

Scout

If you see a Scout, there's a Bot base nearby.

Originally constructed by the Humans as maintenance and servant bots on the Progeny, the Scouts have been retrofitted by Garry to serve as his eyes and ears across the planet. Equipped with long-range broadcasting antennae, high-powered cameras, and hyper-sensitive microphones, Scouts are able to stream all relevant information back to Garry at the Progeny. They are also extremely quick and use their jetpacks to get out of danger, often raining bombs from up above during confrontations.

Race Bio: Dredger

Dredger

Nose not well suited for eating ants.

Dredgers are short and stout Desians, and are very difficult to defeat in combat because of their heavily armored bodies. Dredgers' affinity for machinery has caused them to migrate toward the desert regions where large oil reserves can be found, and most Dredger colonies have moved deep underground where the oil is the most accessible. Dredgers are ingenious engineers and tend to prize efficiency, but their isolationist nature gives them a lack of interest in interaction with the other races on Desia. Their technology has therefore been kept largely under wraps (and underground), and the other Desian races have not managed to achieve such feats of engineering.

Although preferring to say in the safety of their underground cities, many Dredger colonies have been forced from their homes by the recent Stonefang uprising. As a result, the normally nonviolent creatures have been pushed into direct warfare with the Stonefangs as they are forced to migrate into unfamiliar territory. 

15% to go + New races page!

Skybrawler is now 85% funded with still 39 days left! I spent some time this afternoon plastering epic posters up in coffee shops and grocery stores with the hope (and fully reasonable expectation) that elderly folks will walk by and say, "VIDEO GAMES? I SHALL PLEDGE MONEY!" I'm expecting a huge wad of cash to come rolling in any minute now.

In other news, the bird nest has been cleared from my fireplace. That's not code for anything; there was a bird nest in my fireplace. And I know you animal rights activists are out there saying, "BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR HOME??!?" Well, they should have known better than to build their home on top of something which ejects flames. That's just a bad life decision all around.

And even more importantly, I'll be putting up a new information page which will document all of the alien races of Desia! The first race to have its home on the page will be the Dredgers. Brace yourself.

New Race: Dredger

I've taken the model I posted in the previous post and turned it into game art. It's not quite finished, but this is roughly what it will look like in game.