Choque
(Pronounced Cho-Kay)
The Choque are renowned shock troopers of the Vaks Tarrgg Alliance. Often leading the vanguard in invasions, they are the tip of the spear, the first boots on the ground. These natural hunters possess extraordinary resilience, adapting with ease to even the most inhospitable environments. The mere mention of their name has been known to bring weaker worlds to their knees without a single shot being fired.
As a Choque, you belong to an exceptionally durable species, capable of breathing in any atmosphere due to a unique organ called the Corta. Equipped with four eyes, the Choque are able to adjust their vision to suit any environment, including underwater. Environmental conditions like fog or gas only impose half the usual penalties on your visual perception.
Moreover, the Choque have the capacity to see in low-light conditions. With sufficient training and dedication, they can even learn to perceive in other visual spectrums, such as thermographic and infrared. However, to avoid sensory overload, their brains naturally block out these additional spectrums unless consciously accessed.
Physical Description
The Choque possesses a unique and striking appearance. Their skin comes in shades of blue, adding to their alien allure. They have four small eyes, situated just above the mouth in the region where a human nose would typically be located. These eyes are often the first thing others notice, reflecting an intense and piercing gaze.
Their forehead, larger in proportion compared to a human's, is overlaid with a special membrane known as the Corta. This unique organ allows them to breathe in a variety of atmospheres, contributing to their remarkable adaptability.
The Choque's ears are another distinctive feature, large and swept upwards, they contribute to an overall look that is as imposing as it is intriguing.
Choque stands at an average height ranging from 175cm to 210cm and typically weighs between 75 kg and 110 kg.
Subspecies
Altura
These subspecies hail from the elevated, mountainous regions of the Choque homeworld. They are slightly shorter and stockier than their counterparts, a physical adaptation to the rugged terrains they navigate. Their skin is usually a darker shade of blue, and they have developed a stronger Corta membrane, enabling them to breathe more efficiently in thin atmospheres.
Aquoral
Adapted to live nearby the vast oceanic expanses, the Aquatic Choque possesses a lighter, almost turquoise skin tone. Their eyes have evolved to see more clearly underwater, and their Corta can extract oxygen from water, enabling them to stay submerged indefinitely. They are typically leaner than the other subspecies, with webbed digits for efficient swimming.
Fristfell
Native to the freezing, snow-covered regions of their homeworld, the Tundra Choque have adapted to survive in such extreme cold conditions. They are characterised by their pale blue skin, which acts as a natural camouflage in the snow. Their bodies are heavily built and they possess an additional layer of fat under their skin for insulation. Their Corta membrane is capable of filtering out the cold air, warming it before it enters their system, and their eyes have evolved to counter the blinding glare of their snowy surroundings. They are able to survive in extreme cold climates without protection.
Average Life Span
Choque typically have an impressive lifespan, averaging around 200 years.
Reaches Maturity
Choque mature at an exceptional rate, typically reaching adulthood between the ages of 10 to 12 years. This rapid growth rate makes them valuable military personnel, and it's one of the reasons why they were one of the first species sought out for an alliance by the Vaks Tarrgg.
Features
Born Warriors
Choque are genetically predisposed to excel in battle, Females gain +1d Physique and raise their Physique starting cap to d10, while males gain +1 Dexterity and raise their Dexterity starting cap to d10. Both genders also receive +1d Athletics, reflecting their innate warrior heritage.
Superior Vision
The Choque species possesses a unique ocular structure that sets them apart from many other species. Their lower set of eyes functions within the standard visual spectrum, similar to how humans perceive the world. This allows them to interact with their surroundings in a manner similar to most other species.
However, the second set of eyes, located above the first, is able to perceive additional visual spectrums. By blinking, these eyes can shift and adjust to different visual spectrums, overlaying these onto their standard vision. This offers the Choque a distinct advantage in various environments, as they can adjust their vision according to specific needs or conditions, whether infrared to detect heat signatures, or ultraviolet to perceive otherwise invisible markings or trails. These adaptive capabilities make the Choque formidable hunters and trackers, able to perceive aspects of the world that remain unseen to others.
Choque, at birth, possess a vision that is suitable to the environment they are from. Choose one (as listed in Double Vision) to start with.
Corta Resilience
Because of a unique biological marvel, the Corta, Choque have an innate immunity to airborne toxins and gases. This natural filter, while unable to guard against toxins directly introduced into the bloodstream, permits them to thrive even in low-oxygen atmospheres. However, for the Corta to function, it must remain uncovered. Choque are immune to natural, airborne toxins, but not toxins introduced through other means.
Note: It's noteworthy that while the Corta can adapt to the presence of a helmet, its filtering capabilities are compromised within such confines unless the helmet is tailored specifically for them.
Species Quirks
Double Vision
AP: 8
Expand your visual range by choosing one from the following enhancements: Thermographic, Infrared, Ultraviolet, Telescopic, Low Light, Flare Compensation or Microscopic.
Four Eyes
AP: 12
Prerequisite: "Double Vision" Broaden your visual horizon by choosing another enhancement from the options listed in Double Vision.