Kla'Ralan
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Kla'ralan
Description
Human sized, very fine features, pointed ears, enlarged canine teeth, simian tail, lean to moderate musculature and build, eyes shift color depending on mood, "masters" of the Kla'ralan religion often have eyes that glow a soft gold in color…imagine a hybrid of an elf, monkey, and vampire
Cultural History
A very old race, they have legends that speak of the time the stars were born. They started off as a race of nomadic hunters, with a society based on combat and inter-tribal warfare. As years progressed they advanced and became more technologically advanced, eventually reaching a period similar to 21 century earth. Tribes became empires and for a few years there was a massive global war. The war ended with the almost total eradication of the Kla' ralans. The survivors gathered and held council, at this point, conventional technology became shunned; however, they became more primal and violent, if it was possible. Eventually one 'ralan united the remaining tribes by defeating the other tribal leaders in mortal combat, this set up a series of dynasties that rose and fell as the heads of the empire was defeated in single combat by some new challenger. They are currently in the 45th dynasty of the Shel'ran family. The succession system of the Kla'ralan is odd, anyone can be Emperor, to become Emperor, one must defeat the current Emperor in mortal combat, thus assuring the best fighters of all become Emperor and a very powerful family. This Dynastic era has progressed as awareness and unity with nature progressed, resulting in a "Golden Age". The Kla'ralan have evolved and become a race which uses nature and life as a source of energy and technology. Their current Technological level is at that of or marginally better than Earth.
Technology
One of the most interesting things about the Kla'ralan is the total absence of metal and industry on their world. Their weapons, technology, ships, even their very energy sources come from genetically created life-forms. During the Great War a rouge scholar had made several amazing discoveries on the genetic level, creating a basically organic form of technology where everything was grown and was alive. Unfortunaly he was killed and his lab was destroyed in the war, however, a few of his experiments survived the ensuing destruction, and grew and flourished. The Kla'ralan re-discovered these life-forms, which they named Le'Lan. The Le'lan are a remarkable beings, very closely related to plants. They sense the needs and wants of those surrounding them and feed off these emanations, they then evolve and grow, their offspring designed to fufil the needs of the beings around them. Needless to say, the Le'lan and Kla'ralan quickly took advantage of each other, feeding and growing using each other. Indeed, the very ships that the Kla'ralan roam the galaxy on are indeed Le'lan offspring specifically designed for space travel. Due to the nature of the Le'lan, the tools and weapons, and items that the Kla'ralan use are always evolving, each generation of product becoming smaller, faster, more efficient, or in case of weapons, more deadly.
Politics
An Empire with no definitive classes, there are several divisions in the empire though. The Protectors, or honor guard of the Emperor, a very deadly and vicious group of fighters, their entire reason for being is the fanatical protection of their lord, as the best fighters, if the Emperor dies of natural causes, his successor usually comes from this group. The Discoverers, scientists, or their representation of culture, always tinkering with the Le'lan in attempts to find ways to drastically increase their already amazing abilities. The Fire, the warrior group, though all Kla'ralan are vicious and powerful foes, these are the worst, those who have taken the Kla'ralans already amazing genetic abilities in combat to the cutting edge, next to the Protectors, they are the most dangerous group on the planet. Kla'ralan who do none of the above are not very political, and do day to day jobs. It should be noted that any Kla'ralan who feels he can defeat the current Emperor can fight and become the new Emperor by Right of Challenge, it should also be noted that the current Emperor has reigned for 145 years.
Wars
None since the Great War, but the Kla'ralan are an extremely violent race, so they are constantly fighting, trying to raise their own rank. They also have no standing army, and have yet to feel the bite of an invasion. They are isolationists, tending to stay outside the affairs of other races, only getting involved if there is something to be gained out of it, but since they do not desire money or technology, they really have no need for most other races’ goods. They will act as mercenaries from time to time if the price is right and the cause lets them test their skills.
Interaction with other races
Almost non-existent. Much of the Universe is not even aware of their existence. The Borg has encountered them on occasion, and in every occasion it has been a disastrous event for the Collective, as their Technology, or anyone’s for that matter, is ill-equipped to handle the bio-weapons of the Kla’Ralan ships. All Starfleet knows is that they live somewhere...the races that know where the ‘Ralans live are not very forthcoming with that information, and the one Kla’Ralan that spends any amount of time with SF personnel is not very forthcoming with that information either. They seem to enjoy their privacy.
Religious Beliefs
A very shamanistic and nature-based religion called Sel'Lan Tor'Gal or Way of the World. Heavy emphasis on natural order and survival of the fittest. Heavy respect for nature and it works. Monotheistic. Religion places value on inner peace and self-understanding, believing when one is at total peace, one is as powerful they can be. Religious leaders, or priests, often called "Gold-eyes", are those who can master their emotions and become perfect soldiers, and are some of the most dangerous Kla'ralan in existence (the name originates from the color their eyes assume when in “Serin’nith�, or total peace...akin to Nirvana to Buddhists). There is no religious class per se, and it is common to find Gold-Eyes in many branches of Kla’Ralan society.
Traits
Though they appear lean or only moderately muscled they are several times stronger than humans due to augmented muscle fibers. They also have blindingly fast reaction speeds, a result of a highly accelerated metabolism , but due to phenomenally long strains of telomeres at the end of their genetic code, they are able to live for centuries (oldest recorded Kla'ralan: 872 years). Their metabolic rate also speeds their healing and drastically decreases the result of drugs and poisons on their system. As noted, the Kla'ralan have remarkable regenerative abilities, if a Kla'ralan does not perish from the initial damage dealt by an injury, they will likely recover (Worth noting that every cell in a Kla’Ralan body seems to react to injury in the same way, it splits into stem cells and begins rapid cell division, often healing at an amazing rate...the healing is so rapid it is visible to the naked eye. This is possible evidence of genetic tampering or damage as a result of the Great War...the exact reason for this ability is still rumored, and may never be known). The gravity on their home world is 13 times greater than the gravity on Earth, this in part helps explain their great strength and speed. Any Kla'ralan who has to leave their home world for any reason must be outfitted with special Le'lan creations called kyth'lolin. Kyth'lolin are symbiotes which at as a blood filter (also increasing their amazing resistance to poisons and drugs), which helps them deal with the harmful effects of gravity reduction whenever they leave their world(namely calcium poisoning as the bones need less calcium more enters the blood stream having lethal results), the symbiotes remove the calcium from the blood and create a shell from it, becoming even harder as time progresses, eventually turning hard as diamond. One Kyth'lolin is sufficient to keep one alive, but two are preferred. They are attached to the backs of the hands and grow over the hand, acting like armored gauntlets. They also make very good weapons, not only due to the hardness, but due to an interesting trait that has developed. A few nerve endings run through the shell, and can become activated with anger or on command of the host Kla'ralan. The symbiote will act as a amplifier of bio-electricity and latent psychic energy causing a blow dealt from an armored hand to deal more damage than their already augmented strength allows. Due to the increased gravity, a Kla'ralan skeleton is VERY heavy and dense, much stronger than normal bone. A interesting face about the Kla'ralan is that they all seem to be born with a rudimentary knowledge of combat, a sort of innate ability. They love fighting, especially melee combat, few can stand against the might of a Kla'ralan in combat. A very proud race, they are fierce allies, and fiercer foes. Their amazing speed, strength, reflexes, and constitution make them a force to be reckoned with. Pity the poor race that first tries to attack these people.
Physical Description
Average height: 2 meters Average weight: 290 lbs