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Description
The Byzallik are a short stature spacefaring humanoid species hailing from the relatively high gravity world of Kahlla, in the Pradna system. Because of the higher gravity, about 120% earth gravity, the byzallik are short but stout, possessing more strength per kilogram than a human. They are distinguished by their hardy appearance, which includes a series of bony plates covering their body, especially their heads, giving them a stoic reputation since they do not express many emotions through body language, especially with their faces. Ironically, the byzallik are a very emotive species, forming strong bonds within their societies and are prone and known for their violent tendencies.
Their homeworld, Kahlla, besides being a heavy, dense world, is very hot and humid, with a low axial tilt and a year round global summer season as well as a dense atmosphere with over 30% oxygen, which causes byzallik who go to worlds with less oxygen in their atmospheres to suffer a deficit in both mental and physical capabilities, especially on worlds with less than 20% oxygen. Divided between 80 nation states and some 12 independent colonies, the Byzallik have a history of warfare dating back some 8000 years, since the invention of writing, and probably long before that. Due to their territorial and tribal nature, the first few thousand years of their history is racked with almost continuous war between the fledgling civilizations. This has led to a culture in which, while acknowledging the horrors of war, also put great emphasis on and glorify it, to the point that almost all byzallik deity have some sort of connection to armed combat, with many of the priesthoods dedicated to these gods having been warrior cults. Since religion has played a major part in byzallik society and continues to do so, with some 80% of the population affiliated to some religion, these cults have earned a special, privileged possessing in society, although since the advent of space travel and a global civilization these cults have mostly fallen into history, the majority of the existent ones having been absorbed as special units into various militias. Some more conservative cults, however, have chose to remain to the old ways, and have even formed very prestigious paramilitary groups that are highly sough after in the wider galaxy, giving the byzallik a galactic reputation and stereotype of honorable, respected warrior.
One of these mercenary groups, however, has gone in history less than fondly: the infamous Kjakula (translated roughly as ''The Burning Wind of Kjan'', the ancient Ress god of judgement of the righteous dead), of the nation of Ress, who for a thousand years held the reputation as the most brutal, fanatical and effective of the Mercenary Guilds. However, in the earth year 2149 this came to an abrupt end when, after a decade of protests from the public and foreign governments at the brutality and carnage left behind in their campaigns, the Kjakula went into self impose exile into the jungles of Ress. A year later, in 2150, the group attempted one of the most violent coups in the history of the planet, attempting to take over the nation of Ress and reinstall a theocracy, much like the nation had been for most of its ancient past. The violent uprising was only put down through the combined effort of five other Guilds, but the Kjakula did not go down peacefully. Instead, its high priests ordered several mass killings and the destruction of massive amounts of Ress's infrastructure, causing some 10 million casualties and leaving the nation on the brink of collapse before its members were either killed, captured or simply went into hiding. Since then, the Guilds have been reformed and the Byzallik Consortium, the unified governing body of the byzallik, has created the Conclave to preside over unruly guilds and prevent any Guild from going out of control like the Kjakula.
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Description
The Byzallik are a short stature spacefaring humanoid species hailing from the relatively high gravity world of Kahlla, in the Pradna system. Because of the higher gravity, about 120% earth gravity, the byzallik are short but stout, possessing more strength per kilogram than a human. They are distinguished by their hardy appearance, which includes a series of bony plates covering their body, especially their heads, giving them a stoic reputation since they do not express many emotions through body language, especially with their faces. Ironically, the byzallik are a very emotive species, forming strong bonds within their societies and are prone and known for their violent tendencies.
Their homeworld, Kahlla, besides being a heavy, dense world, is very hot and humid, with a low axial tilt and a year round global summer season as well as a dense atmosphere with over 30% oxygen, which causes byzallik who go to worlds with less oxygen in their atmospheres to suffer a deficit in both mental and physical capabilities, especially on worlds with less than 20% oxygen. Divided between 80 nation states and some 12 independent colonies, the Byzallik have a history of warfare dating back some 8000 years, since the invention of writing, and probably long before that. Due to their territorial and tribal nature, the first few thousand years of their history is racked with almost continuous war between the fledgling civilizations. This has led to a culture in which, while acknowledging the horrors of war, also put great emphasis on and glorify it, to the point that almost all byzallik deity have some sort of connection to armed combat, with many of the priesthoods dedicated to these gods having been warrior cults. Since religion has played a major part in byzallik society and continues to do so, with some 80% of the population affiliated to some religion, these cults have earned a special, privileged possessing in society, although since the advent of space travel and a global civilization these cults have mostly fallen into history, the majority of the existent ones having been absorbed as special units into various militias. Some more conservative cults, however, have chose to remain to the old ways, and have even formed very prestigious paramilitary groups that are highly sough after in the wider galaxy, giving the byzallik a galactic reputation and stereotype of honorable, respected warrior.
One of these mercenary groups, however, has gone in history less than fondly: the infamous Kjakula (translated roughly as ''The Burning Wind of Kjan'', the ancient Ress god of judgement of the righteous dead), of the nation of Ress, who for a thousand years held the reputation as the most brutal, fanatical and effective of the Mercenary Guilds. However, in the earth year 2149 this came to an abrupt end when, after a decade of protests from the public and foreign governments at the brutality and carnage left behind in their campaigns, the Kjakula went into self impose exile into the jungles of Ress. A year later, in 2150, the group attempted one of the most violent coups in the history of the planet, attempting to take over the nation of Ress and reinstall a theocracy, much like the nation had been for most of its ancient past. The violent uprising was only put down through the combined effort of five other Guilds, but the Kjakula did not go down peacefully. Instead, its high priests ordered several mass killings and the destruction of massive amounts of Ress's infrastructure, causing some 10 million casualties and leaving the nation on the brink of collapse before its members were either killed, captured or simply went into hiding. Since then, the Guilds have been reformed and the Byzallik Consortium, the unified governing body of the byzallik, has created the Conclave to preside over unruly guilds and prevent any Guild from going out of control like the Kjakula.
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