Protoss
Proud psionic warriors from the deposed planet of Aiur, the Protoss have since integrated with galactic society and brought their intuitive understanding of technology and tribal culture to a wider sphere. Staunch, worldly, ascetic, Protoss make excellent companions and deadly combatants.
Physical Characteristics
Average Height: 166 - 187 cm
Average Mass: 65 - 80 kg
Ability Scores: +1 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence
Size: Medium
Speed: 5 squares
Skill Bonuses: +2 Perception, +2 Engineering
Level 1 Species Power: Electromagnetic Sense—Protoss have the ability to "smell" e-fields. A protoss character may use perception checks to determine the relative location and nature of electronic devices, signals, and interference.
Level 6 Species Power: Purity of Form—Healing surges you spend in combat are not subtracted from your surge total.
Play a protoss if you want...
- to have heightened awareness.
- to be part of a tribal warrior race.
- to fight for honor and glory.
- to favor the leader and defender roles.
Protoss are tall, lanky, mouthless pseudo-mammals that live on psionic energy. The thick skin that covers their bodies comes in shades of gray, blue, and lavender, with some rare protoss having a pinkish mauve or puce hue. It remains very smooth until about halfway through a protoss natural lifespan (some 1000 years), at which point about the face and most joints it begins to gather into mottles and wrinkles. These wrinkle patterns give elder protoss a unique, distinguished look.
Their heads are tall, drawing into two peaks: one at the top of the head and one at the chin, and vary widely in conformity. The nasal ridge and mouth region are blank, behind them within the cranium are organs that can absorb psionic energy, as well as substrates of magnetic microdomains attached to nerves that allow the protoss to sense electromagnetic fields.
Small holes behind the cheek ridges serve as nostrils and ears. Protoss have no sense of smell.
Protoss can vibrate their forward face plate to create sounds, favoring percussive punctuations but capable of a wide range of noises and speech patterns.
Hairs along the cheeks and sometimes chin compact into small bumps or horns, and slightly softer hairs draw more lengthy into dreadlocks from the back of the head. Warriors tend to keep these cropped closely or trimmed entirely off, while most female protoss take pride in the length and presentation of their locks, which can grow to almost any length.
Their arms draw into long forearms and hands with four digits each, including two opposing thumbs, making their hands non-chiral. The feet and toes feature similar, but stubbier digits, that arrange into an almost hoof shape.
Protoss knees are reverse-jointed, and in extremely rare cases can be functionally double-jointed. A protoss eyes start as solid orbs, ranging in color from milky white to silver, always with a shiny finish from the fluids their eye glands secrete. These fluids adopt bioluminescent properties as the protoss becomes exposed to more psionic energy, which every protoss, by virtue of diet, accumulates over many years. Those who study psionic powers increase their exposure rapidly. The end result being eyes that glow with a multitude of colors, usually electric blue, but most any color of light might be reproduced by this fluid.
Playing a Protoss
The protoss race did not evolve but was engineered by a mysterious and ancient race of beings known as the Xel'Naga. Legend has it that these architects created the protoss to idealize life's form, the word "protoss" itself means "purity of form" in Xel'Naga language. Early in the life of the species, the tribes of warriors united under a mythical figure named Adun and deposed the Xel'Naga. Since that time, protoss society evolved into distinct castes, the adjudicators (dignitaries and leaders), the templar (monks and servicepeople), and the khalai (warriors and soldiers). Since their fracturing following the battle of Aiur and the Brood Wars, no single Prelate exists to govern all protoss, and the caste system is no longer enforced. Most living protoss still remember the system and adhere to it loosely, seeking roles in wider galactic society that they inherited. While only the khalai were dedicated to the craft of battle, every caste is trained to fight and may take up the operations on the battlefield.
Protoss are long lived and long-minded, with a conviction they are both trained to and proud to maintain over hundreds of years. They are devoted servants and fighters who long for the jungles of their ancestral home, and will favor occupations that allow them to chip away at perhaps re-establishing it. Protoss pride is not limited to Aiur itself, and a protoss may choose any aspect of their lives as a focus: either as a charge to protect or a practice to master.
To become a paragon is the honor a protoss can attain.
Protoss biology, with some profoundly innovative psionic technology allows them to live on as heads suspended in cybernetic shells. This practice allowed battle veterans a second chance at life, and war. Since the time of the Brood Wars, the practice has been reserved for social elites.
Protoss characteristics: Agile, intuitive, honorable, considerate, perceptive, proud, fierce, thrilling
Male Names:
Adaris, Kha, Adatass, Orquatu, Melancon, Ancarobu, Enixaxis, Nagat, Dunu, Doradar, Fenquat, Ceteran, Khas, Sneen, Tarodor, Suun, Nalagan, Engatar, Tassetarem
Female Names:
Exana, Rashz, Adala, Exei, Rodora, Quatena, Ada, Riskhani, Agata, Dunui, Oradari, Melerani, Suun, Khaba, Axixaxi, Snei'a, Engata, Suuntass, Agalixi
