The people on the continent of Tristam knew of only one world.
In this world, humans were farmers and peasants, lords and ladies, mages and musicians, priests and paladins. Elves, unicorns, and fairies lived in the depths of enchanted forests. Orcs, ogres and giants battled humans for land and wealth. Fifteen gods, good, neutral, and evil, watched over the world and kept balance on the universal scale. And the greatest source of excitement was the parties of adventurers that traveled to far-off lands seeking wealth, fame, and heroism.
But that all changed the day the White Star fell from the sky...
Season One
(Fall 2001)
Season Two
(Spring 2002)
| Shadowraith |
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Clan
ACTIVE TIME: Any
DIET: Special (See below)
INTELLIGENCE: Average to Very (Varies)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Any good
MORALE: Average to Legendary (Varies)
A Maximal is a humanoid creature with the ability to transform into a single type of animal, magical or non-magical. A Maximal typically ranges in height from two to seven feet (though there are larger Maximals who transform into equally large animals); they can be of any body type. Females are rarer than males, occuring only about 25% of the time.
These creatures are conveyed an innate racial ability of transformation, into a form which is unique for each Maximal individual. Their bodies are made of a powerful armor, making them naturally resistant to damage from direct attack. If the Maximal spends too much time in its humanoid body, its reacts poorly, and glows with waves of blue energy which pain the Maximal very much until he assumes his animal form again. The armor they wear is, in fact, part of their physical form, and is impossible to remove.
Maxmials speak the common tongue, which seems to be esstentially similair to their racial tongue. Their written language consists of a series of phonetic runes, which correspond loosely to common tongue sounds.
Combat: The Maximal will attack in his humanoid form primarily. In duress, he can produce swords or bladed weapons, which appear from thin air and disappear when they are no longer required. Certain Maximals also have the ability to shoot a ray of light from their eyes, which does a very minor amount of burn damage to its target. Other Maximals can also materialize a type of magical weapon which fires a burst of energy, not unlike that of an extremely dense Magic Missile. The ability to create weapons of light and energy seem to vary from individual to individual. In his animal form, the Maximal is entitled to all special attacks the animal would otherwise provide. Maximals are posessed of an uncanny strength, and can do devistating damage even in unarmed combat. Because of their different abilities and weapon types, there is no standard type of Maximal encounter.
Maximals can be harmed by ordinary bladed or magical weapons, though they have a very good natural armor class. They have no magic resistance.
Special abilities: A Maximal can learn the special abilities of whatever animal he becomes, and can transform from his humanoid to animal form at any time.
Habitat/Society: Maximals are creatures of an extra-planar origin. They travel through the air in strangely-shaped sky-ships, and do not often make contact with other beings. However, when they do make contact, they are friendly and helpful creatures, and work well with other forms of life. Maximals tend to be very protective of their ships, and will fight to defend them.
A typical Maximal Clan consists of a group of four or five warriors lead by a chieftan, whom they call "Commander." The Commander is in charge of monitoring the progress of his warriors. Maximals have advanced concepts and are very intelligent and friendly to other forms of humanoid life, though their reactions vary among individuals.
Maximals worship the dwarven diety, Gildar of the Forge, whom they call "Primus." They refer to his Creation Forge as the Plasma Forge, and describe him as being made of solid metal. Maximals respect all good gods in their relationships with or roles as aspect of their own.
Maximals do not have family units, only military units. They have a set of parents, but are taken from their mother at an early age and placed immediately into a clan of other Maximal warriors. Because of this cultural behavior, their clans form tight personal bonds, and they will eagerly work to protect one another. Maximals see it their purpose to combat those of evil alignment.
Ecology: Maximals do not age, and are functionally immortal. They are immune to disease and age. Those that die do so only because they are defeated in combat: a rare occurance against mortal opponents.
Maximals subsist themselves on raw magic, which they contain in a small jewel-like form or in a glowing liquid, which they refer to as "energon." However, if no raw magic is available, the Maximal can eat any type of natural food, which it can then process into magic for its own usage. Under a Detect Magic spell, their bodies glow with viens where the magical fuel runs through their internal systems. Maximals prefer raw magic if they can locate it, but cannot use the magic that is already contained in a different type of magical creature or in magical items. Other than the "jewel ore" where magic is contained, Maximals cannot subside off types of precious metal and their interest in treasure or magical items is merely scientific.
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Clan/Solitary
ACTIVE TIME: Any
DIET: Special (See below)
INTELLIGENCE: Very to Genius (Varies)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Any evil
MORALE: Average to Legendary (Varies)
A Predacon is a humanoid creature with the ability to transform into a single type of animal, magical or non-magical. A Predacon typically ranges in height from two to seven feet (though there are larger Predacons who transform into equally large animals); they can be of any body type. Predacons possess the ability to transform into animal forms which are many times smaller or larger than their humanoid size.
Many physical statisics on the Predacon species are the same as with Maximals (see above). Like Maximals, Predacons are are conveyed an innate racial ability of transformation, and have armored bodies.
Predacons speak the common tongue primarily, though many of them delve in ancient languages such as the language of magic, and that of the Dark Elves. Their written language consists of a series of phonetic runes, which are different from those the Maximals use, and seem more similar to systems of runes used elsewhere in the southern countries.
Combat: All information as to Maximals in combat applies.
Predacons can be harmed by ordinary bladed or magical weapons, though they have a very good natural armor class. They have no magic resistance. Certain Predacons develop unusual abilities which they can use to their advantage in combat: for example, the ability to summon undead. This power, however, appears to be erratic, and differs from one Predacon to another... [Note: I am still not sure why this works. It doesn't seem to be a unique ability to "Mornyth," since the other Predacons have demonstrated other "godly" abilities which are unexplained. More information must be obtained.]
Special abilities: A Predacon can learn the special abilities of whatever animal he becomes, and can transform from his humanoid to animal form at any time.
Habitat/Society: Predacons are creatures of an extra-planar origin. They travel through the air in strangely-shaped sky-ships. Upon making contact with other beings, Predacons see it as their task to conquer or destroy these "lesser" creatures, and stake claim to their wealth and territories. The patience of a Predacon for such a task is infinite, given his lifespan. A Predacon will typically conquer one world in his own time, then move on to the next, the ultimate racial goal being ownership of all realms. Maximals, therefore, are the Predacons' natural enemies, for just as Predacons seek to conquer other species, Maximals seek to prevent the Predacons from accomplishing this task.
Predacons are highly intelligent creatures who enjoy inventing unusual magical devices. Thus, it is possible for a Predacon to choose the profession of a mage, and learn to understand arcane rituals and languages.
Predacons organize in mid-sized clans under a single leadership, but their relationships are not close-knit. Many of them prefer to move as individuals, working for their own gain to either the benefit or detriment of other members of their same clan.
Predacons seem to have no organized method of religion. [Among the Predacons I have personal encounters with, they all claim to be gods in their own right, at least to a fashion. The Maximals I spoke with assure me that the Predacons also worship the Maximal god "Primus," though to a lesser extent, and the Predacons I have met so far are outside of the norm.]
Predacons in fact do have families, organized by "house" and "title." However, not all Predacons can claim to belong to a family order, and those that do not pledge themselves to the military, or to a liege from a ranking family. Family rank seems to be a large determinent of personal Predacon wealth: another being the Predacon's personal drive to steal what they do not have. [Predacons do not speak, however, of their parents, so more information is needed as to how these family units are decided. Are they assigned?]
Ecology: [See Maximals; it seems to be identical in all regards: a Predacon will eat what is natural for her animal form, even if that requires the consumption of blood.]
—Estrella Miasar, Mage of the Fifth Order
—Blossoming 12, 601 S.Y.