Atlantean (ətˈlan(t)ēən)

Shell Backs, Walking Corals, Claws of the Empire

Atlanteans crawled out of the Atlantic Ocean just 20 years after the fall. They claim they are the creation of the "Sleeping One," but most are fairly sure they are just the offspring of some old-world genetics experiment. Atlanteans could easily overthrow any other race if they wished but appear happier working in industry and technology. Atlanteans look like giant crabs with human-like faces, the hard carapace of a crab, and large pincers. Their skin and shell range from rusty orange to mossy green, sometimes seen in a coral blue or purple. They are short but stoutly built, standing just under 5 feet tall and weighing around 250 pounds. Their hands are only secondary limbs with three fingers on each hand. Their primary limbs are large and clumsy claws that are only good for holding objects steady while they work or cutting through weak metals. They walk on a set of 6 stubby crab legs. Atlantean's pigmentation and "beards" reflect their ocean birthing place and can be adorned with seaweed, kelp, or small sea life that would be seen in tidal pools. The inventions of refined glow oil, rotor swords, and luerodiam thrusters were all birthed by Atlantean engineers.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Five pairs of limbs are broken down into their primary (pincer limbs), secondary (tactile limbs), and three segmented legs. A large, vibrant carapace on their backs and small human-like faces. Males have thick "beards" of sensitive feelers that can be used in the sea's dark depths to sence what is in front of their faces and function similarly to gills in water. Females lack the same thick "beards" of the males but have a set of folded frills that serve mutch the same purpose that unfurl when in water.

Growth Rate & Stages

Atlanteans start life as a clutch of eggs, six inches in width, laid on the seabed and guarded by their mother for six months. They hatch as larvae, roughly eight to ten inches long, that drift in the current, feeding on passing algae and small sea life for the next year. After this, they molt into their megalopa phase, during which they have all ten of their limbs and prehensile tales to swim back to their spawning ground. The Megalopa phase is where they show their first sapience and will be gathered and taught a full education under the guidance of an Atlantean elder. Not all Atlanteans survive to their Megalopa phase. Those that do are seen as fit to continue life. Those who die as larvae are considered a necessary offering to the "Sleeping one." During the Megalopa phase, Atlanteans molt twenty to thirty times, growing from two to four feet in height. The next phase is the young adult phase of the cycle, during which Atlanteans are often seen. All ten limbs are fully formed, and the prehensile tale shrivels and falls off. This is also when Atlanteans begin coming ashore to start their adult lives. They will molt several more times during adulthood until they reach full height.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The Atlanteans are largly a Gerontocracy lead by the eldest members of their soiciaty. Exceptions to this leadership structure are not uncommon but are usally only expetionaly smart, strong, or charismatic members of their soiciaty.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found on or near the coast of the Atlantic Sea.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

New Basic and Chatter

History

Atlantean history is as deep and unseeable as the ocean itself. While the people's oral tradition states that the "Great Sleeping One," their diety, dreamt them into being, this does not have a background based on science. The most accepted theory of their origin states that they were old-world experiments released into the wild or the result of a mutation stemming from the Shattering of the World. Despite their cloudy origins, it is known that the Atlanteans were among the first to begin colonizing what remained of the world. Most modern coastal cities sit on foundations laid by the Atlanteans, who were only too happy to share their newly founded homes with others. Atlanteans have a long history of setting up settlements where their human imperial allies could build their homes. Atlanteans have a simi-symbiotic relationship with Old Worlders in which the Old Worlders benefit from the industrial strength of the Atlanteans, and the Atlanteans benefit from the Old Worlders's ability to gather rare materials from much dryer inland sources. This relationship is the cornerstone that grew into the Empire as it is known today.

Starting Characteristics

Brawn: 2

Agility: 1

Intellect: 2

Cunning: 2

Willpower: 3

Presence: 2

Wound

12 + Brawn

Strain

8 + Willpower

Starting XP

90

Skill

One rank in Resilience

Specials

Dark Vision

When making skill checks, Atlanteans remove up to b b imposed due to darkness.

Amphibious

Atlanteans can breathe underwater without penalty and never suffer movement penalties for traveling through water.

Rare Kind

Atlanteans are so different from most of the races in this land that they can not reap the benefits of drugs or cognetics.

Scientific Name

Callinectes Sapien

Origin/Ancestry

Crustacean

Lifespan

Seventy years

Average Height

Four and a half to five feet

Average Weight

Two hundred and twenty to three hundred and fifty pounds

Related Technologies

• Glow Oil