Neth
The Neth, once marked by an unyielding ambition and pursuit of immortality, heavily invested in genetic engineering. Over the course of three centuries, their sustained research efforts bore fruit: they discovered how to manipulate the genes of embryos in utero, significantly slowing the ageing process of their offspring.
By the time these genetically engineered children reached their mid-twenties, they had slowed ageing to an imperceptible rate by early adulthood. However, after three generations, a devastating and unanticipated side effect surfaced, a critical genetic disease leading to sterility.
Affecting their population from early adulthood, this incurable genetic disease has resulted in 99% sterility among the Neth. Despite two centuries of extensive genetic research, they were unable to reverse this unintended consequence of their immortality experiment. Consequently, they turned to cloning as a solution, a program designed to compensate for the precipitous decline in birth rates. The Neth culture has profoundly been shaped by their sterility issue. The incorporation of clones into Neth society led to the evolution of a three-tier class system: Vitae-Fon, Sine-Vita and Echos.
Physical Description
The Neth bear a distinct physical appearance that sets them apart from other species. These tall, humanoid beings exhibit a striking shade of green across their bodies. One of the defining characteristics of the Neth is their peculiarly large feet, which end in three broad toes. However, perhaps the most unique feature of the Neth is their dual mouths. The lower mouth, equipped with sharp, serrated teeth, is primarily used for eating. In contrast, the upper mouth, which is strikingly similar to a human mouth, is used for speaking. This allows Neth the unusual capability of eating and conversing at the same time.
The Neth exhibit minimal variations in their physical appearance. Although the Neth themselves are capable of distinguishing subtle differences among each other, these nuances often go unnoticed by non-Neth individuals, leading to the common perception that "all Neth look the same". Despite the uniformity, each Neth bears a unique identity and role within their society, especially distinguishing between the Vitae-Fons, Sine-Vita, and the Echos.
Subspecies
Player characters can be either Sine-Vita or Echos. The Vitae-Fons, due to their importance in reproduction, are never engaged in off-world activities like invasions, hence their absence during Earth's conflict.
Vitae-Fons
Due to their coveted ability to conceive, these Neth hold a royal-like status within their society. With fertility being a precious and rare trait, the Vitae-Fons are esteemed as bearers of life and continuers of their lineage. The longevity of their species heavily relies on them. They enter into a solemnly observed ritual known as "Vicennium," a coupling that spans a period of 19 years. Within this time frame, they are expected to produce between two to four offspring. After this period, they pair with a new partner and enter another Vicennium. This cyclical practice is deeply ingrained in their culture as an essential mechanism to ensure genetic diversity. However, with the limited number of Vitae-Fons, coupling rarely stems from love, but rather duty, resulting in an enduring commitment, perhaps even a burden, to their species' survival.
Thanks to their near-immortal lifespan exceeding a millennium (1000+ years), they have amassed an immense reservoir of knowledge and wisdom, much of which remains untapped by the younger generations on their homeworld. Their experiences spanning centuries, they have been spectators and participants in the devolution of their species, the ebb and flow of cultures, and the advancement of technology. However, no known Vitae-Fon currently resides on Earth.
Sine-Vita
The Sine-Vita, despite not possessing the immortality of their Vitae-Fon counterparts, have an average lifespan up to 500 years. In addition, they share the genetic prowess exhibited by the Vitae-Fons, marking them as an influential force within their civilization.
Their inability to reproduce naturally, a trait synonymous with their subspecies, has shaped their society and their individual purpose. While this sterility might be viewed as a disadvantage in other species, the Sine-Vita have transformed this adversity into strength. Rather than focusing on reproduction, the Sine-Vita devote their lengthy lives to the advancement of their society. They are often at the forefront of scientific, cultural, and philosophical progress, offering innovative solutions and insightful perspectives that continually elevate the Neth society.
Their eagerness to contribute to the betterment of the Neth society stems not from a sense of duty, but rather from a profound desire to imbue their lives with purpose and meaning. They might not be able to continue their lineage through natural means, but they ensure that their legacy endures through the remarkable contributions they make to their society. Their efforts to improve the Neth society, coupled with their longevity, have made them indispensable pillars of their civilization.
Unlike their Echos counterparts, Sine-Vita is less likely to pursue the path of adventure and exploration. They are often deployed as spies by the Neth. Their duty is to observe and study the other species, gather intelligence, and bring this knowledge back to their society.
Echos
Represent a fascinating divergence within the Neth society. Unlike the Vitae-Fon and Sine-Vita, they are not naturally conceived but are products of advanced cloning technologies, and as such, they are marked by unique genetic traits. Despite their lack of immortality and relatively shorter lifespan of approximately 150 years, Echos nonetheless possess exceptional genetic abilities endowed to them during the cloning process.
All Echos are infertile, a result of the genetic manipulations during cloning designed to ensure control over their population. Their lifespan has been intentionally limited due to certain anomalies in behaviour that have emerged among them. Echos, for reasons not entirely understood, do not always share the characteristic unswerving dedication to the Neth society exhibited by the other subspecies. There's an intrinsic wanderlust that seems to be ingrained in their genetic makeup, compelling them to venture beyond the confines of their society in search of something undefined, something more.
This propensity for exploration and adventuring makes Echos a significant number of the Neth species encountered in the 7th. The shorter lifespan seems to imbue them with a sense of urgency and a desire to make the most out of their years.
Average Life Span
See subspecies.
Reaches Maturity
Vitae-Fon & Sine-Vita
Due to the advanced genetic manipulation and longevity of the Neth, they have a longer developmental period compared to humans. Neth typically reaches physical maturity around the age of 40.
Echos
Unlike their Vitae-Fons and Sine-Vita counterparts, the Echos' development process is significantly expedited due to their origins. As clones, the Echos are grown and educated within advanced artificial wombs. This accelerated process enables them to reach physical and mental maturity within just five years of their creation. This shorter growth period serves its intended purpose in Neth society, as it allows for quick population growth and workforce replenishment.
Features
Genetic Diversity
They have an engineered adaptability. This allows them to add +1d to any Trait of their choice, however this enhancement doesn't raise the Trait starting cap.
Regenerative System
This allows the Neth to enter deep, restorative sleep. In this unconscious state, they recover from a Wound every hour. This deep sleep ends when all injuries have healed or after they've rested for as many hours as the number of days they've been active, whichever is longer. A normal sleep cycle (6 to 8 hours) following a day's activity won't invoke this deep sleep or its restorative benefits.
Tireless
Underscores their remarkable stamina. They can remain active for as many days as their Physique Trait without requiring sleep, although regular nutrition remains necessary.
Species Quirks
Only when conscious.
Internal Clock
AP: 8
Allows the Neth to wake up or be roused from their deep sleep after a predetermined period. However, if they do so before fully recovering from their injuries, the remaining healing is forfeited. For instance, they could program their Internal Clock to rouse them after just 2 hours, regardless of the number of Wounds yet to be healed or the time spent awake prior to the rest.
Engineered System
AP: 12
Further enhances their regenerative capabilities. It enables the Neth to heal double the amount of Wounds during their deep sleep, making their recuperation process even more efficient. Additionally, this quirk equips them with a resistance to stun damage, effectively halving its effects (rounded down, with one being zero).