LYRANS

PERSONALITY: When first encountering Lyrans, the first thing noticeable is that they are highly aggressive. Any perceived slight would be taken as an insult and a challenge issued instantly right before the offender is attacked. Personal honor and loyalty to one’s lord, one’s clan and the Lyran Emperor are important parts of Lyran culture. A loss of face usually results anything from an apology and gifts to ritual suicide. Lyrans are not given to idle commitments or hollow promises. Like Klingons, battle scars are worn proudly and give a Lyran certain “status” in their society.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Lyrans are bipedal carnivores averaging 2.4 meters in height. With a weight of 200kg they seem like thick tiger cats. The have a long furred tail and folding ears that reflects the Lyran’s current mood, which is folded onto the skull when in combat. Their fur covers all of their body but the bottoms of their hands and feet, which are covered in tough leathery covering. They have 5 digits on each hand and retractable claws. Their eyes are feline-like but with gold, green, or yellow colored Irises, and their mouth is filled with teeth they use to eat with but rarely in unarmed combat (this is seen as dishonorable).

HOMEWORLD: Lyra is the second planet of the Lyra Prime system. It is a pleasant world with 70% of it covered by water. Most of the land surface is rolling grassy plains and colorful jungle. The mountainous out back region is sparsely populated. The average temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, much hotter than earth norm but with a slightly higher gravity. 2 Moons circle the planet giving the night sky an interesting panorama.

CULTURE: Lyrans have 100-year life spans but rarely live that long due to duels or other warfare. They have a long history of conquest; they very nearly succeeded in reducing their hated Kzinti foes to subjugation, and have, jointly with the Klingons, conquered and occupied the territory of the Hydrans on more than one occasion.

The Lyran Star Empire is a monarchy of twenty-one (Twenty following the establishment of the Lyran Democratic Republic) counties bordering the Kzinti Hegemony, the Hydran Kingdoms and the Klingon Empire. Each county is ruled by a great clan – the Imperial house controls not only their own county but has holdings across the Empire as well. The heads of the great clans form the Imperial Council which advises the Emperor. Depending on the political situation, the Emperor may rule with an iron fist or may be a mere puppet of the So’godun (president) of the Imperial Council.

The Lyrans also have a racial hatred for the Hydrans, and while their rivalry with the Kzinti Patriarchy is older than their rivalry with the Hydran Kingdom, it could be argued that the animosity towards the Hydrans is actually worse than their legendary animosity toward the Kzin.

LANGUAGES: Lyran, Federation Standard

COMMON NAMES: Mithau, Meeow, Kiroth, Mreew

FAVORED PROFESSION: Warrior, theirs is a warrior culture. They are also very good starship designers and officers, Lyran ships are some of the most powerful in known space.

SPECIES ADJUSTMENTS: +2 Strength, -2 Presence

SPECIES ABILITIES:

BONUS EDGE: SKILL FOCUS (KEEN SMELL): Lyrans have an acute sense of smell.

BONUS EDGE: MARTIAL ARTIST: Lyrans are taught to use both clawed hands in combat so are allowed to make one extra attack action at -2 instead of the standard penalty of -5.

NATURAL WEAPON (CLAWS): Lyran hands have retractable claws. They do 1d6 +4 + STR damage in combat and gain Unarmed Combat (Claws) 1.

BONUS FLAW: BLOODLUST: Lyrans are fierce fighters and once engaged in combat they find it very difficult to disengage out of it. In any combat situation, while both you and your opponent are standing, you must spend 1 courage point to voluntarily stop fighting, no matter how wounded you are. Influence skill tests to convince you to stop attacking are at –3. Negotiate and Persuade automatically fail.

BONUS FLAW: INTOLERANT (KZIN): The Lyran’s are famous for their hatred of the Kzin. Penalties for Intolerance apply to all dealings with any group that includes a Kzinti.

BONUS FLAW: INTOLERANT (HYDRANS): The Lyran’s are famous for their hatred of the Hydrans. Penalties for Intolerance apply to all dealings with any group that includes a Hydran.

BONUS FLAW: PROUD: Lyrans are a proud people who take slight at the smallest insult. You suffer –1 to all social tests.

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