Shamramu have a pale red or lavender skin, which is mostly covered
with black or dark brown fur. The only areas not covered in fur
are their faces, the palms of their hands, and the soles of their
feet. The Shamramu are fully bipedal, with a pair of long and
muscular arms. Their faces are particularly unattractive to human
eyes, being heavily wrinkled with narrowly set bloodshot eyes, a
pair of short, trunklike noses, and a carnivore's mouth, capable of
opening at a 100ø angle, and filled with triangular, powerful
teeth. The Shamramu are physically huge, often reaching three
meters in height, and around half that across at the shoulder.
Females are a good deal smaller than the males, seldom reaching 2.5
meters in height, and .7 meters across the shoulder.
Leaders:
Shamramu are ruled by an absolute monarch and his relatives.
Dynastic changes are fairly frequent, and supporters of the usurper
usually wind up appointed to the nobility, so the class structure
of the Shamramu is relatively flexible, especially for a monarchy.
World View:
The Shamramu are extreme xenophobes, hating and fearing all not
Shamramu sentients. When in their home forests on Truhtac,
Shamramu actively hunt out and kill any outsiders that dare
trespass.
Temperament:
Shamramu are relatively violent, but not excessively so, amongst
themselves. Even the dynastic struggles are decided in an almost
bloodless manner, with only two or three hundred killed in one of
those struggles. However, when dealing with non-Shamramu the
Shamramu are incredibly violent. Considering them as being
soulless and evil, Shamramu kill outsiders without any
considerations of honor or justice.
History and Culture:
Originally emerging in one of the four major stands of Jhorti
forests, the Shamramu soon spread out to cover that entire forest.
Then, they took voyages of exploration across the plains, attacking
any Ulfgar and Lefgan that they met. By
this time the Ulfgar had advanced far beyond the Shamramu
technological capacity, and used satellites to track the Shamramu
explorers, avoiding them completely, or tranquilizing them and
redirecting them when they got too close to Ulfgar cities.
Eventually, the Shamramu found the other Jhorti stands, and formed
new monarchies there. Occasional trade between the forests
continues, with the Shamramu trade parties careful monitored and
avoided by the Ulfgar. Every once in a while a Lefgan herd ignores
the Ulfgar's warnings, or an Ulfgar refuses to allow his
experiments to be interrupted, and a battle is fought. These
skirmishes are not particularly draining on the numbers of any of
the races, but they do serve to heighten the animosity between the
Shamramu and the other races.
Tech Level:
The Shamramu have a medium steam level of technology, though their
attempts to build railroads between the forest stands have always
been disrupted by the Ulfgar, who refuse to allow continuous
permanent interruption of Lefgan's migratory routes. The height of
Shamramu technology are rifles with seven shot magazines, which use
a compound similar in effect to smokeless powder.
Shamramu in the Sector:
Shamramu are unknown off of Truhtac where they are viewed as being
primitive and hostile, and are tolerated due to an idea of
responsibility to less advanced races rather than by any real
desire to protect them.
A Quote:
"Die Outsider! Die, die, die!"
Spaceships:
None.
Stats:
Attribute Dice: 13D
Attribute Min/Max
Dexterity: 2D+1/5D+2
Knowledge: 1D/2D+1
Mechanical: 1D/1D+2
Perception: 2D/4D+2
Strength: 3D/6D+1
Technical: 1D/1D+2
Move: 12/20
Special Abilities:
Natural Weapons and Armor:
Claws: STR+1D, Bite: STR+2D, Heavy fur: +1D vs. physical attacks.
Natural Camouflage:
The coloration of the Shamramu matches that of the Jhorti forests
perfectly, giving them a +2D bonus to hide and sneak when in that
environment
Story Factors:
Xenophobia:
Shamramu hate all outsiders, and must roll a difficult willpower
check in order to avoid taking aggressive action against beings
unfamiliar to it. Shamramu make break themselves of this habit if
they take the effort, but the nature of the species makes the
exertion of such effort both rare and frowned upon.