Durgur


Appearance and Biology:

The Durgur (the singular term is Durgan) are the omnivorous inhabitants of Frith, a harsh and primitive world, inhabited by a wide variety of hostile creatures. The gravity of Frith is somewhat heavier than standard, and the atmosphere is rather low in oxygen. The Durgur stand around 1.8 meters tall, with powerful, heavy muscles covering their frame. They are completely hairless, covered with a rubbery grey skin, and are full bipeds. The two primary distinguishing facets of the appearance of the Durgur are their thick upward curving tusks that extend from the back of their mouths, and their fifth limb, the snake arm. The snake arm extends from beneath one of their arms (varies from Durgan to Durgan), and is usually around 2.5 meters in length. The skeletal structure of the snake arm resembles a vertebrate spine, giving it amazing strength an flexibility. Usually kept draped around the Durgan's upper body, the snake arm is used in combat, and for delicate manipulation, as their three fingered hands are very awkward.

Temperament:

The Durgur are a very violent, clan oriented race, with warfare between clans being a common facet of life on Frith. They will not scruple to kill other sentients, as they have nothing but contempt for the weak, armless inhabitants of other planets.

History and Culture:

The Durgur's interminable battles amongst themselves have limited the population of Frith for a very long time. When the planet was contacted by the interstellar populations of the Sector, many clans fled their rivals by moving to other worlds. Now, the grey and gold (Durgur's blood is gold in hue) banners of the Durgur can be found throughout the sector.
The center of Durgur culture is warfare, both against the environment and each other, and the worth of an individual Durgur is determined by his age and the number of kills he has. The longer a Durgan has lived, the more he has learned about his environment, and Durgur elders are respected by the entire clan. Nonetheless, the rulership of the clan is determined by single combat, so it usually rests in the hands of the younger warriors.

Tech Level:

The Durgur never developed a high level of technology on their own, stopping at a late stone age level. However, since they have become a part of the sector's community, their employers have built weapons and equipment tailored to their specification.

Durgur in the Sector:

Since they expanded off their homeworld, the Durgur have served as mercenaries on either side of almost every conflict that the sector has known. Their warlike nature, their physical gifts and their loyalty to their employers have all served them well in this profession. Since the Empire has moved into the sector, the Durgur have been willing to serve the empire, as Frith was deep in the Imperial sphere of influence. Moff Rulduk himself has a Durgur bodyguard, Ul Gan Ur, and it has become fashionable for high ranking Imperial officers to do the same.

Special Abilities:

Natural Weapons and Armor:
The Durgur have a powerful arsenal of natural weapons, making them one of the deadliest unarmed fighters in the sector. Their skin gives them a +1D bonus vs. physical attacks, and a +2 bonus vs. energy attacks. Their snake arm is highly effective in combat. When it scores ahit, it loops around a limb of the target, effectivelyimmobilizing it, as well as exerting crushing pressure on the limbs it catches. (Use the hit location chart to determine where the arm hits on a successful roll. Once the arm hits, it remainson the limb that it has lodged on until the target dislodges it with an opposed strength roll. As long as the arm remains, it immobilizes that limb, and causes 3D damage a round. When it catches the torso, it does only 1D+1 damage, and does not immobilize the torso. When it lodges on the head, it causes 5D+1 a round, and the target must make a stamina roll each round to remain conscious. An arm can loop around up to two limbs at a time.)

Poor Manipulative Skills:
Durgur's hands are not very well designed for usage of tools. They can only use specially modified weapons and equipment, and can never get more than 6D in any skill requiring fine motor control.

Story Factors:

Reputation:
Within the sector Durgur are known as being mercenary warriors of immense skill at close combat. As a result, few indeed are people that will approach a Durgan without a drawn weapon.

Clan Loyalty:
The Durgur clans are fiercely loyal, something that is both an advantage an a disadvantage. On the one hand, a Durgan can count on being able to call up a pack of his clansmen when he needs to. On the other hand, the other members of his clan will not hesitate to get him involved in their own conflicts.

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