Morpheus
Unbound | Supporting
Cast | GURPS |
Alien Races
Empire
These ogreish humanoids are something of a mystery. There is reason to believe that their ancestors manipulated them genetically, or that they are descended from the survivors of a nuclear war. Gormelites are sometimes called Shaggies, especially among the Clan Hu'benka-Tor.
In NY 1069, Hu’benka-Tor and Z’both explorers
discovered the Gormelite homeworld at about the same time. Both Clans viewed
the Gormelites with the same respect that most people would give to willful,
retarded barbarians. To further unrelated political agreements, the two Clans
agreed to divide the Gormelites and in NY 1077 the Hu’benka-Tor transplanted
half the population to a new colony world. In NY 1224, the Z’both
“helped” their Gormelite clients establish a second colony world.
In NY 1294, the Hu’benka-Tor did the same. Today, the Gormelite species occupies four planets, in three systems, with a combined population about six billion. These two Clans use the Gormelites as mercenaries and industrial labor, typically supplying them with TL5 to TL9 equipment in a landowner-serf type of relationship. The Shaggies exchange hard labor - soldier, miner, farmer - for goods and services from the Clans. The goods provided by the Clans always have limited usefulness, however, and are designed to breakdown within three years. This helps ensure the master-serf relationship.
Their native technology level is primitive (TL3/4), but they adapt quickly to the use of high tech equipment, especially weapons.
Environment: Shaggies are native to a 1.2-G Terrestrial world with an average temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They breathe oxygen at slightly under 1 standard atmosphere pressure.
Physiology: The general form is shockingly human: two arms, two legs, a head, two hands, each with four fingers and one thumb. But the differences are equally shocking. The mouth is flat and lipless, edged with bone; there are no teeth. Nose and external ears are absent. The eyes are blank white membranes. The body is covered with sparse fur.
Physically, the Gormelites are larger and stronger than humans, with the same level of native intelligence. There are no significant physical differences between males and females. Pregnant females exude a pheromone which naturally pacifies other Gormelites, and therefore their hive-like communal cities are relatively peaceful. Gormelites will not normally attack other Gormelite hives for the same reason.
The Shaggie life-span is about equal to that of humans, but few die a natural death; wars and duels account for most adults before their 40th year.
Psychology: The race is very territorial and acquisitive. Gormelites would reject as nonsense the ida that "all men are created equal." To them, there is only master and servant . . . and those too weak to serve are usually killed out of hand. A Gormelite's goal is to be a master, or, failing that, to be a highly-ranked servant of a very tough master. This is one reason that Empire scientists theorize they may have been an artificially-bred warrior-race. For whatever reason, Gormelites do not cooperate well with each other, and get along even worse with most other races. Each of their planets is divided into small, independent states, each controlled by a warlord whose only ambition is to conquer his neighbors.
Normally, Gormelite females are just as tough and nasty as the males. Pregnant females secrete hormones that make them self-defense pacifists, and pacify others at close quarters; thus, a Gormelite "nest" is a comparatively peaceful place. Disagreements and duels are taken outside. The young Shaggies are kept in the nest until they begin to mature (about age 12).
Danger to the "nest" will drive Gormelites of both sexes into total rage, and no normal Gormelite will endanger a nest, even that of his most bitter foe. Unfortunately, they show no such compunction toward the homes and children of other races.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Gormelites have ST +4 and HT +3. They are 6 inches taller than human for their ST, and 50 pounds heavier than human for their height. They have 1 point of Toughness. Their racial disadvantages are psychological: Greed, Overconfidence, Paranoia, Bad Temper and Bully. They also have a Reputation, known to all, as dangerous, untrustworthy thugs: -2 on any reaction. But they are not berserkers; their attacks are clever and calculated. Many are sadists.
Notes: Adapted from the material in GURPS Space.