Spartans
The Spartans, as they are generally called outside their language, are a race of both interplanetary and inter-dimensional demons. They appeared early within Earth That Is’ history, most likely within the first 30-50 years PE. The initial group consisted of some 200 members that came through the Missouri Arch gate chasing a now extinct (at least in this world) group of another demon species. The Spartan group found their way barred and were in all extends stuck within Earth That Is. Ever adaptable, the Spartans created their main colony in the town of Hannibal, Missouri.
Hannibal itself was somewhat untouched from the Event. It experienced some flooding from the Mississippi River during the first few years, destroying some of the original buildings and docks, but much of the area fared decent enough. At the time, the town had a population of a couple thousand people, but these numbers were no match for the ruthless and coordinated invasion of the Spartans. The area was soon “quieted”, the surviving population “domesticated”, and the Spartan fully entrenched.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Spartans are a humanoid race, though they could never be mistaken for human. Most have skin that is mostly or fully a medium to light blue color, with a few only have splotches of blue over a waxy, “dead flesh” colored skin. Their eyes are fully either red of brilliant purple. Their hair, kept long in either small braids or dreaded locks, ranging from dark brown or black to blue, though this generally only appears in those members that are on the darker range of skin tones. Both males and females tend towards tallness, with few being under 6 feet tall. Their physique is strong and lean with catlike agility and sureness of movement.
Genetics and Reproduction
One of the decidedly non-human elements of Spartans is their birth process. Offspring are produced through sexual intercourse, but the embryo and birth sac are “born” within 3-4 months of conception. The sac is thick and rubbery and rather egg-like. The Spartan child then completes their embryonic growth external to the mother for another 4-6 months before finally ripping their way out of the sac. Spartan children are raised collectively with no real knowledge or care who their actual birth parents are. It is seen as each Spartan’s civic duty to spawn at least 2-3 offspring during their life to ensure the survival and expansion of their race.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Three colonies of Spartans currently exist:
- Silent Wave Tumultuousness(Hannibal, Missouri) – the original Spartan Colony
- Waning Viridian Abundance (near Mansfield, Louisiana)
- Falling Star Essence (between Ford and Troy, Western Ohio/Indiana) – the newest of the colonies
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Nothing is more central to Spartan culture than fighting. Warfare serves several purposes for the Spartans. First, it is how they expand their civilization’s capabilities. All of their ability to create food, produce technology, etc. comes from “domesticating” other races that have those capacities. As Spartans have moved from their home dimension, this becomes a massive priority. Those colonies that cannot capture enough domesticates soon after arriving in a new world will quickly perish.
The second role warfare plays is expansion. Once a colony has grown to a certain size, it will begin to outstrip the production capacities of its domesticate population. Spartans carefully control the size of their worker population – those colonies that have let their domesticates run wild with population have found that their control level drops, often leading to rebellions, revolts, escapes, or even complete overthrowing of the colony itself. To prevent this, colonies will often split once they reach a certain size. This has happened twice in the Spartan’s history within the Earth That Is.
The last reason is for defensive reasons. Spartans are great proponents in the idea that the best defense is a good offense. Once a colony starts feeling a threat from some vector, be it aggressive fauna, distant local cultures, etc. they are quick to deal with it. Since their culture is based around fighting, “deal with it” usually means to aggressively exterminate it. Outside common perceptions, though, Spartans do not go to war with others just for the fun of it. Combat sports, gladiatorial spectacles, etc. are common within Spartan society – they generally do not go outside themselves for fighting for enjoyment. Spartans see themselves as the pinnacle of warriors – while not completely true, there are few that can compete with the average Spartan – making warfare less like a contest and more like a culling action. “When pests enter your garden, you do not ask to fight them on their terms. You simply exterminate them.” is a common Spartan sentiment.
Each Spartan carries with them at all times a Ty'jak , a short (2.5 – 3 ft.) heavy bladed spear. This is their most common close-combat weapon. A fair number also use longer slashing spears, knives, heavy steel-limbed bows, or even firearms. Spartans are split into loose fighting roles or styles. Some are raiders, using stealth and precision attacks to overcome foes. Others specialize in one-on-one combat, built to take on specific enemies or units. Some are exterminator units, built to “cull” groups of enemies. Lastly, a fair number are trained in the use of quick vehicles or transports. The most common is small, alcohol driven “chariots”, though at times these have been horse driven as well. Others will use more traditional cart trucks. A small number of groups use the remaining air skiffs built during a 12 year period when the Hannibal colony held an Artficier Union member as a domesticate. Only 30 or so of these remain, so their use is limited.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The Spartans are a conquest-oriented, militaristic, and “benevolently superior” race. They live to capture and subjugate other sentient species, calling this process “domestication” (or at least, that is the closest word that scholars who study Spartans and their culture/langauge can come up with). Spartans treat other races like endearing pets and farm animals, using them for labor, trades, etc. They have a strict code of conduct in place for how their charges are to be treated, including prohibitions on physical corrections, requirements for proper food, shelter, and leisure, etc. For those non-Spartans, it can become “easy” to fall into the trap of their treatment, for, outside their loss of freedom, life inside a Spartan compound is safe, generally free from disease, and even, at times, fulfilling.
All Spartans, male or female, are warriors to the core. Their society does not produce tradesmen, merchants, builders, farmers, or any other such “lesser” societal role. These tasks are all handled by domesiticates and overseen by older, less-than-prime Spartans (those that can still fight but due to age, wounds, etc. are no longer at their top fitness and ability). Each Spartan has held their Ty'jak (a short, heavy bladed spear) since the time that they are “off their egg”, their constant companion. Cowardice and treachery against the collective are punishable by death. Those that can no longer carry the ty’jak, ride a horse, skiff, or chariot, etc. are given a deeply somber honor ceremony, gifted a vial of poison, and sent to a body of water to take their own life.
Spartan Racial Template (79 pts)
| Trait | Cost |
|---|---|
| ST: +1 | 10 |
| DX: +1 | 20 |
| HT: +1 | 10 |
| BS: +.5 | 10 |
| Advantages | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ambidexterity | 5 |
| Catfall | 10 |
| Combat Reflexes | 15 |
| Fit | 5 |
| Fearlessness (2) | 4 |
| High Pain Threshold | 10 |
| Talent: Spartan Warrior (see below) (1) | 10 |
| Disadvantages | Cost |
|---|---|
| Choice of: Bloodlust or Code of Honor (Soldier - Spartans Only) | -10 |
| Intolerance, Domesticates | -10 |
| Sense of Duty, Spartan Colony | -10 |
| Reputation (-2) | -10 |
Origin/Ancestry
Interdimensional (Gate)
Lifespan
Spartans often die young due to violence, but those that survive are considered "old" by 70
Average Height
5'11 - 6'2"
Average Weight
185 - 200lbs
