Iceborn

Iceborn are the most outcasted and misunderstood species on the planet. They hail from the northern quarter of the world, where it is coldest (hence the name). They can be found all over, though in smaller quantities than that of Posicans or Islanders. Many people fear and/or shun them, mostly from their threatening demeanor and violent social history.

Basics

Appearance

Iceborn are intimidating specimens. They stand tall and are typically very well-built, looking as though a Posican were stretched out on all sides. Their skin is very pale, almost flat-white, furthering their "icy" description. Aside from these two major factors, however, they're not much different from Posicans. They grow hair just like Posicans do (though they lack hair color entirely, being bright-white), stand with a similar posture, and share anatomical size ratios.

Fashion

Their bodies built for the cold, Iceborn wear very little while not at home. Simple shame-covering garments of various colors help their massive forms ventilate the intense heat they generate. Some will wear more, if only for decency's sake. The cost of extra material needed to make larger clothing, though, is enough to deter many from wearing anything more than they need to.
Armor is a different story. Iceborn combat gear is large, heavy and covers every vital point possible. It's also very airy and disconnected, to allow for heat ventilation and maximum possible movement. Proud Iceborn warriors adorn their armor with sigils of themselves, their tribe, their victories, or even their favorite artwork. A set of Iceborn armor is a personal thing, and is as much a statement of who they are as the face on their heads.

Personality

The Iceborn are traditionally warriors. They pride themselves on their presence, their skill, and their adherence to their culture and values. However, this is a broad set of philosophies is often boiled down to "strong, angry fighter that kills when upset" by outsiders. This stems from the Expansion era ^{(see History section)}, where an Iceborn encounter often meant a fight, but hasn't been inherently true for centuries. It also applies to far more than just combat; scientists live by a self-confident principle fueled by those who came before and are making strides now. Same goes for entertainers, traders, politicians, chefs, etc. Cultural confidence, in skill and charisma both, is a hallmark of the Iceborn.

Civilization and Culture

History

Early Days

Iceborn have always lived in the North. At least, Iceborn as we know them. As far back as can be gathered, Iceborn were known to gather in tribes. It's believed that there were thousands of tiny tribes at one point, made up of two families at most. But that would change as some tribes got bigger than others. It was harmless at first, but as resources dwindled in the frigid climate, tribes began to fight eachother for food and shelter. Smaller tribes were either wiped out or absorbed into larger ones, either as citizens or as servants. Victors were considered heroes, as they brought food to their starving families, which only pushed the violence further.

Tribal Dry-Up

By around the time that Posica was about to begin its Sector Initiative, the tribes of the North had been all but absorbed into one another. Only 8 had remained, and were far larger than they had began, thanks to the absorption of their enemies. These tribes were effectively city-states, each wary of one another and constantly skirmishing. The "heroic invader" concept hadn't gone away, but instead morphed into a worship of combat itself. And slavery was slowly abolished, as it was starting to become taboo to keep living property of any kinds.

The Tech Race

As the Posicans were starting to figure out energy harnessing, the tensions between the northern tribes were getting very high. At this point, the constant skirmishing had encouraged advanced weapons development, and things were only getting more and more elaborate and devastating. Circumstances finally reached a fever pitch when one of the 8 tribes brought out airships. This changed everything. Suddenly, this one tribe was a threat to all the rest, and everyone surrendered one by one over the course of a few years (and a few dozen more skirmishes).

Expansion

With airships and energy weapons, as well as a MAD-induced ceasefire, the Iceborn suddenly found themselves in a stale culture. So, they looked to the South, and began to spread around the world. At first, they were violent, and tried to take the world by force. But as they traveled, they discovered that everyone had reached their technological level a few years before they did, and things were definitely not good for them in Posican territories. Initial aggressions were minor successes, but their claimed lands were re-claimed eventually, often with Posican assistance. Every time the Iceborn went back to the drawing board, they were beaten in tech yet again. Eventually, aggression simply ceased, and some Iceborn slowly learned to live with everyone else.

Now...

The Iceborn remain a proud people, despite their failed takeover. They earned fear and respect during their expansion, which has both kept them in the societies they've tried to integrate into, and shunned them from those they tried to conquer. Today, while warriors are still the celebrities of Iceborn society, they fit in much better to foreign cultures than they used to. Their presence on the Belari Ocean is limited, but not insignificant.

Scientific Name

Gelida-Sapien

Lifespan

80 years

Average Height

6'6" (males), 6'2" (females)

Average Weight

400 lbs (males), 250 lbs (females)