Martian
"A long time past, the government of Terra dropped a plague on Mars. The survivors carry mutations that range from cosmetic to monstrous. Humans both scare and fascinate me. My curiosity evaporates when I'm near a Martian."
~Quazhe, Kheezer Humanologist.
The Nemain are thickset brutes with thoughtful minds, far less violent than the Neamhan but twice as implacable. They are immediately identifiable by their shaggy hair that extends down their back to their tailbone. Nemain (0 pts) have Arm ST+1 +5 pts, Very Fit +15 pts, Easy to Read -10 pts, Gluttony -5 pts, Ham-Fisted -5 pts.
Terryders are intellectuals with bulging eyes and skin that dries out if not moistened regularly. Terryders (0 pts) have Talent (Artificer 3) +30 pts, Amphibious +10 pts, Deep Sleeper 1 pt, Hideous -16 pts, Amphibian Epidermis -25 pts.
Urgoes have flaky, sometimes actually scaly skin. Those with a deep connection to their roots have keratin flakes growing from their follicles that is a serviceable natural armor. Urgoes (0 pts) have Damage Resistance (3) +15 pts, Semi-Upright -5 pts, Restricted Diet (Fresh Vegetables) -10 pts.
Shrikes are light boned and lightfooted romantics. Some have wing spurs that extend from their wrists, replacing their ulnas and can achieve flight. All of them make excellent fighter pilots, though they have a reputation for being incredibly reckless. Shrikes (0 pts) have Absolute Direction (3d spatial sense) +10 pts, Flight (Winged, Cannot Hover) +16 pts, DX+2 +20 pts, Lecherousness -15 pts, Impulsiveness -10 pts, On the Edge -15 pts, Overconfidence -5 pts, Chauvinistic -1 pt.
Pesmine are hunched desert warriors who store water and nutrients in fatty humps on their backs. Pesmine (0 pts) have Filter Lungs +5 pts, Reduced Cosumption (3) +6 pts, Hunchback -10 pts, Careful -1 pt.
Dogs of War
The survivors of the Gobi Horror on Mars were "gifted" with mutations. The genetics stabilized among family groups, then among clans. At first, the descendants of the initial survivors were horrific monsters. Bestial, barely sentient, and almost universally carniverous, they slaughtered each other with relish and abandon. Over the generations, their humanity reasserted itself, and more recognizable forms appeared in every subsequent generation. The mutations can still be pronounced in the time of the Age of Convergence, but most of the true monsters were wiped out in the endless clan wars before the Neamhan and Nemain Clans took unquesitoned control of Mars. In the end, there were six clans commonly seen, and a few dozen that are too local and rarely spotted by tourists. The Neamhans are sometimes referred to as the Dogs of War and are the most successful and most populous. They are leaner and meaner than most others, and their agility is legendary. Neamhans (0 pts) have Teeth +1 pt, Combat Reflexes +15 pts, Berserk -10 pts, Stubbornness -5 pts, Code of Honor (Martian Creed) -1 pt.Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Martians choose their names. Their parents give them a name at birth, but often as not that's something like Whelp, Pup, Boy, Girl, Child, First, Second, Third, etc. When they reach ten years old (Martian years, roughly 19 Terran Standard Years), they choose their own names. These names vary wildly from animals, mythological beasts, or fictional and historical figures all the way to minerals or aspirational concepts. They also change their names any time that they believe their lives have significantly changed such as fresh parents, widows, and someone moving to a new job.
Names of notable Maritans in history: Charlemagne, Cordelia, Antimony, Wizard, Dusk, Silent-Kill, Mother Lana, Thumper, Swashbuckler, Archer, Grumbler, Nimrod, Einherjar.
Family names
Martians have vast family clans, and therefore relatively few surnames.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Mars' first colonists were prisoners of United Earth, the first world government on Earth. They were rebels and criminals from every country, and that
Shared customary codes and values
Martians call life The Fight. They believe in struggle and competition. Even among mixed company, Martians will take their tireless energy for struggle and strife and turn it into competitions and even prank warfare.
Surprisingly, Martians tend to be well read on ancient culture. This is due to the Library of Steel, a massive repository of ancient knowledge left early in Mars' colonization, left there by a paranoid oligarch. It has millions of tomes, the complete contents of many state-actor libraries such as the Library of Congress and the Ashmolean Museum, all stamped onto a corrosian-resistant steel-gold alloy. It allowed the Neamhan Clan to dominate in the wars following the viral attack that destroyed the old Martian culture. While much of the library's collection is fiction, there are also treatises and schematics for weapons of war and even nuclear technology. As a consequence, Martians fully believe in the axiom "knowledge is power."
Common Etiquette rules
Up to a certain point, Martians don't hold grudges even for fistfights. Outsiders are sometimes confused to see two Martians in a no-holds-barred fight on one night only to see them laughing and talking over drinks the next day.
Common Dress code
Martian fashion is militaristic. By and large, they wear tunics with trousers and boots. Some wear the jumpsuit-and-jacket typical of the PSC, and some wear clothing inspired by BDUs or flight suits from times gone past.
For material, Martians prefer silksteel for even their casual clothing.
Art & Architecture
Martian architecture is solid and defensible, with narrow entryways, thick and curved walls, and secret passages. The tradition is somewhat outdated as the clan wars are long over, but law enforcement on Mars is notably difficult.
Foods & Cuisine
Martian cuisine is famous for its use of cloned meat and high protein wheat products.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The First Fight is a sort of formalized tradition in Martian society. While there is no written code or spoken agreement, but it's generally understood that no relationship is close until they've had their First Fight. "Tell me about your First Fight" is a common icebreaker when meeting groups of friends or couples. The First Fight is the first time two acquaintances overcome an obstacle together. These stories can range from serious challenges to life threatening near misses to silly hijinks or meaningless brawls. It's also tradition that these stories be embellished over time, and grandparents telling their grandchildren about their First Fight could be fantastical tales of dragonslaying and princess-saving.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When Martians are born, they are given a name by their parents. This is, by tradition, a disposable name. It will change later, and so Martian parents don't fret overmuch about it. Names such as Firstborn, One, Mychild, Son, Daughter, Little One, Kid, Child, etc.
Coming of Age Rites
When a Martian reaches ten years old (roughly 19 standard Terran years) they choose the first name of their own. The Naming comes with responsibilities, and they begin their two year mandatory conscription to the Martian Militia.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Martians practice cremation, and their ashes are compressed into a small Quantum-Matrix Battery, and then built into an heirloom, very often a Martian Arms MA-06 Standoff Pistol. This pistol is inherited, engraved with the deceased's final name, and kept as a sidearm by their next of kin.
Common Taboos
Martians see failure as an option, but surrendering without at least 'taking your lumps' is absolutely off the table, even if the Martian sees that they're wrong.
Historical figures
Antimony Neamhan, previously Princess Cordelia Neamhan, the last princess of Mars. She's remembered as a liberator, but disappeared into deep space not too long after leading a rebellion that brought down the Third Terran Empire and secured Martian self-rule.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Martians are proud of their mutations, but balance them with their humanity. They have sharp teeth, sometimes subtle but almost as often outright canid in appearance. They have pale skin mottled with red, which again can range from subtle freckles to a form resembling vitiligo but scarlet or crimson. Their hair ranges from auburn to blonde.
Martians prize athleticism above almost all other considerations, with lean muscle being preferred over bulk.
Gender Ideals
Traditional Martian culture puts everyone on the frontlines. Life for Martians is martial, from the infantry to the line cooks in the Terran Cuisine resteraunt. Intensity is appreciated in both genders, as is a certain level of strategic cunning.
Courtship Ideals
Courtships are typically competitions. Couples will spar and compete, dueling is considered normal, and public humiliations are not off the table if one of the pairing is sufficiently outmaneuvered.
Relationship Ideals
The ideal romantic relationship for Martians can be best described as "partners in crime."
Template - 6 pts
Advantages 16 pts
Martian Mutation 0 pts, Hard to Kill (3) 6 pts, High Pain Threshold 10 ptsDisadvantages 10 pt
Code of Honor (Soldier's) -10 ptsPerks 1 pt
Penetrating Voice 1 ptQuirks 1pt
Broad-Minded -1 pt
Parent ethnicities
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
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