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adapted by [[R. Kevin Smoot]]

{| align="right" style="width:310px; margin: 0 0 0 5px;"
|-
|colspan="2"|[[File:Arborean.png|300px]]
|-
|style="background: navy; color: white;" colspan="2" | '''Characteristics'''
|-
|Average Size || 1.2 meters height<br />(wingspan 2.5 meters)
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|Average Mass || 25kg (densely muscled, light bone structure)
|-
|Average Lifespan || 120 years
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|Reproductive System || heterosexual, ovoviviparous
|-
|Body Temperature || 36 degrees Celsius
|- style="background: navy; color: white;"
|colspan="2" | '''Ability Scores'''
|-
|STR/STA || -10
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|DEX/RS || +5
|-
|INT/LOG || +5
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|PER/LDR || 0
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|- style="background: navy; color: white;"
| colspan="2" | '''Movement'''
|-
|Walking || 5 meters per turn
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|Running || 20 meters per turn
|-
|Hourly || 3 kilometers/hour
|- style="background: navy; color: white;"
|colspan="2" | '''Special Abilities'''
|-
|'''Comprehension'''
|Keen situation knowledge, 5%. Can be increased by spending experience points.
|- style="background: #eeeeee;"
|'''Sharp Eyesight'''
|Ranged adjustment penalties are half normal.
|-
|'''Gliding'''
|Can glide and ride on air currents.
|}

<div style="border: thin solid black; background:#eeeeee; width: 50%;
padding: 0 5px; margin:0 0 0 5px;">
'''Author’s Note:''' The following race description assumes that the events of ‘The Volturnus Adventure’ were successfully resolved, and some several years have since past, allowing for the integration of these races into frontier life. In addition to the Mechanon expansion into space, other races of Volturnus have also ventured out. The Eorna were prodigious genetic manipulators and have successfully molded a few races worthy to travel the stars.
</div><br />

The feathered Arboreans originally hail from the planet
Volturnus of the Zebulon system. They are yet another
genetic experiment of the remnant Eorna race,
engineered to fight against the Sathar threat.

==Physical Structure==
Arboreans are an intelligent species of genetically
manipulated bipedal bird-like creatures. They are just
over a meter in height and are covered by feathered
plumage and have wing-like arms ending with a
manipulating hand. Despite the wing-arms, Arboreans
are technically flightless, only capable of gliding in a
manner similar to the Yazirians. Casual movement is
done on all fours, although they can move about on
their rear legs as well when hand-held equipment
becomes necessary.

The plumage varies greatly on space-faring individuals
of the species, since the individuals can come from any
particular community of Arboreans. Separate
communities of the birdlike race all seem to share a
common pattern of color and feather types according
to their environment. There are communities that
appear rather hawkish and other communities that
appear owlish, each with appropriate coloration.
Arboreans from communities in tropical climates often
have bright colorations of reds, blues, and greens.
Despite the exact feathering combinations, all
Arboreans are of a common race, genetically similar.
It takes only the span of a single generation in most
cases to for Arborean young to adapt their plumage to
match their neighbors. In all cases, male plumage is
more striking than the corresponding females of the
race. When excited, angry, or otherwise stimulated
their feathers often stand erect, most pronouncedly on
their head and down their spine.

The head of an Arborean has a large beak, curved
downward to a point appearing somewhat like a cross
between a bird-of-prey and a parrot-like beak. The
beak is sharp but not well designed for chewing as the
Arborean diet consists mostly of meat, supplemented
by various fruits and nuts. Bright, forward facing eyes
dominate the rest of their face. Arboreans can turn
their heads almost all the way around in a manner
similar to owls.

The body of an Arborean is slight, almost spindly.
They are well muscled, but the musculature is designed
for fine motor control used while maneuvering in the
air, and not for feats of lifting strength. Bones
throughout their body have hollow spaces to keep
overall weight very low.

Each wing of the Arborean ends with a hand-like
appendage that is quite deft. These digits can hold
things and do fine manipulations as well as any human
hand. When fully spread, the Arborean wingspan is
over 2 meters, and enables the Arboreans to glide, and
they can keep aloft nearly indefinitely in their native
mountain habitat where they ride the strong constant
updrafts of the wind.

The legs of Arboreans are quite strong and end in feet
with talons. These feet can also grasp items strongly,
but lack the fine motor control necessary for many
tools (such as firearms). Arboreans standing upright
walk in a rather ungainly manner. It is more
comfortable for an Arborean to walk on all fours in a
manner much like a bat would crawl about. Despite
the crawling movement, Arboreans are still mostly
erect when moving about due to the length of their
wing arms.

==Senses==
The primary sensory organ for Arboreans is their keen
eyesight. As a predatory avian, they can see even
minute details even at substantial distances. As such,
Arboreans make superb sharpshooters, able to hit
distant targets, limited more so by the effective ranges
of the weapons they wield.

Arborean smell and taste senses are not nearly as
developed as some other races. The senses of touch
and hearing are roughly equivalent to a human’s
senses.

==Speech==
Native Arborean speech consists of a number of
shrieks, screeches and similar calls. Despite the
difficulties that the various frontier races have in
producing these speech patterns, the Arboreans can
readily reproduce the sounds of most other frontier
languages with ease.

The name ‘Arborean’ is a Pan Galactic term, as the
native speech term used is very difficult for most other
races to articulate. Even if a frontier race understands
native Arborean speech, they are not likely to be able
to actually speak it, usually resorting to a polyvox to
express terms in the native Arborean speech. It is
understandably quite rare for non-Arboreans to learn
the language.

==Society and Customs==
On Volturnus, the Arboreans live simple lives as hunters
and gatherers, keeping to a tribal society. Events
surrounding the Frontier expansion on Volturnus had
largely left the Arboreans alone in their mountain homes.
It was only when pirate mining operations encroached on
their territories did the race of bird-men begin to take
interest in the larger world and Frontier Space beyond.

The basic social unit of Arboreans is their immediate
family. The nest-mates keep contact with each other
whenever possible, sharing information and
details of life, although displays of
affection are unknown. It is not a
matter of such displays being taboo.
They simply do not have those
emotions, whether this is rooted in
physiology or just in their mental
psychology. A few rare individuals
have learned to show affection, but it
is debated that they are simply
emulating other species’ behaviors in
an attempt to fit in.

Beyond the nest family, the next
social grouping is the ‘roost’
which consists of an area or
region where many nests are
found in proximity. A leader
or council of leaders is
chosen to decide on
matters that affect the
region. Beyond these
roosts, the Arboreans have
not created larger social
structures such as states or
nations. However, the
Arboreans do find their
places within the social
organizations of the other
frontier races quite easily.

Arborean have few laws. The roost leaders make
major decisions regarding misconduct, and most
Arboreans follow their lead. Occasionally a particularly
poor leader is removed from leadership, but this is a
rare occurrence, occurring when a grievous mistake
was made. Banishments are common, but capital
punishment is not unheard of. Despite their own lack
of distinct legal or social structures, Arboreans living
among other races and cultures do not have much
trouble adjusting, due to their keen observational
skills. Even complex Vrusk legal systems are navigable
by Arboreans.

When it comes to occupations, the Arboreans gravitate
to adventuring and military endeavors, as scouting and
reconnaissance comes naturally to them. Piloting,
whether in airships or spacecraft, is another often
chosen profession. Work with any of the major
corporations is easily found by Arboreans seeking
employment.

==Attitudes==
The Arboreans are fond of the other frontier races, but
it is often rather difficult to see. Being avian, the
Arboreans do not have much understanding of
affection or similar emotional displays. They
appreciate camaraderie but simply do not
have the faculties for much in the way
of affection or feelings of endearment.
One should feel quite satisfied
when the Arborean does not
display hostility, as this likely
means that the Arborean
actually likes you. On the
other hand, it is quite
apparent when an
Arborean does not like
someone. Their
feathers will stand on
end, and the Arboreans
are known to squawk
directly in the face of
disliked individuals in a
rather provocative
manner. This need not be
actively hostile or
indicative of an immediate
attack, but it should
telegraph clearly when a
creature is not acceptable to the
Arborean.

The Vrusk appreciate the Arborean’s ability
to understand the intricate cultures
common to Vrusk. This leads to almost
immediate acceptance in their complex
society. There are many Arborean
operatives in Vrusk companies, often
with much authority.

Yazirians like the Arboreans because
they share a love of riding the currents. A
Yazirian and an Arborean can spend hours relating with
each other about the joys of flight. The Yazirians also
appreciate the Arborean understanding of battle
tactics.

Humans and Dralasites are a little less disposed to the
avian race. There are few similarities in lifestyle, and
even less comprehension regarding the Arborean lack
of endearment feelings. They can often overcome their
feelings once they get accustomed to the Arborean
attitude, but it takes time.

The Arboreans have a great hatred of the Sathar (and
related races such as the S’sessu). This is likely a
genetically coded remnant of the Eorna manipulations
of the Arborean DNA. Regardless of the source, the
Arboreans will not cooperate with Sathar, and seem to
be immune to Sathar mental influence as well. It is
unknown if there are other hidden genetically
implanted conditions or behaviors that might be
discovered later. The Eorna are quite secretive about
the types of experiments that were conducted prior to
their contact with the Frontier races.

==Special Abilities==
===Comprehension (5%)===
An Arborean has an
uncanny ability to understand situational events.
This is quite similar to the Vrusk ability of the same
name. All Arborean characters begin with a
Comprehension score of 5. This score is the
character’s percent chance to figure out any sort of
social/political dealing that the player himself cannot.
For an Arborean, this insight includes tactical
maneuvering in addition to the typical social
situations.

''For example, an Arborean is following a Human he thinks is a spy for another organization. He follows the Human into a bar and sees him talking to a group of rough looking Yazirians, occasionally glancing over his shoulder. Then the Human hands some credits to the thugs and leaves the bar. The player of the Arborean character is not sure what the Human was trying to do, so he tells the referee that he wants to use his Comprehension ability. If he rolls 05 or less on a d100, the referee will tell him that the individual paid the Yazirians to attack the Arborean if he tried to follow the Human from the bar.''

A character may improve his or her Comprehension
score by spending experience points (see Improving
Characters, in the Alpha Dawn rules).

In terms of game play, the Comprehension ability
works in exactly the same manner as the Vrusk
ability gained from keen understanding of complex
Vrusk society. It is postulated that this ability comes
to an Arborean because of their keen sight and that
their minds are accustomed to thinking in three
dimensions to facilitate flight maneuvers. These
adaptations allow them to view problems from
different perspectives simultaneously. The referee
should also allow players to ask for Comprehension
checks when the player does not understand the
tactical maneuvers that his opponents may be using.
It is difficult to outmaneuver or otherwise keep an
Arborean from understanding what is really going on.

===Sharp Eyesight===
Arborean eyesight is very keen,
even at distances. All range penalties to attack rolls
are halved for an Arborean. This does not increase a
weapon’s effective maximum range, as that is a
physics limitation, not a matter of eyesight and
coordination. Similarly, the spotting distance of an
Arborean is tripled as if they were wearing
magnigoggles. They do not gain any benefit from
actually using magnigoggles over this racial benefit.

===Gliding===
Arboreans can glide short distances by
spreading their wing-arms. Assuming no strong
updrafts, an Arborean can glide 1 meter for every
meter he is above the ground when he starts. He
must start at least 10 meters above the ground. The
maximum distance an Arborean can glide depends
upon the gravity of the planet, as shown below. In
their natural mountain habitats there are very strong
updrafts that the Arboreans utilize to stay aloft
almost indefinitely. In such an environment, the
referee should essentially allow the Arborean
character to glide about at will (at normal double
move rates), but the Arborean must still start from
an elevated position.

{| style="width:300px;"
|+ '''ARBOREAN GLIDING TABLE'''
|- style="color: white; background: navy; font-weight:bold;" align="center"
|Gravity|| Max. Glide
|- align="center"
|.6G|| 150 m
|- style="background: #eeeeee;" align="center"
|.7G|| 100 m
|- align="center"
|.8G|| 50 m
|- style="background: #eeeeee;" align="center"
|.9G|| 25 m
|- align="center"
|1.0G|| 10 m
|-
|colspan="2"|Arboreans cannot glide on planets with gravities below .6 or above 1.
|}

The Arborean Race - Revision history

Terl obar: Created page with ' Top:Star Frontiersman main page | Up: Star Frontiersman Issue 6 main index | Up: [[Planet of Mys…'

Terl obar: Created page with '
Top:Star Frontiersman main page | Up: Star Frontiersman Issue 6 main index | Up: [[Planet of Mys…'