RACE NAME: Ivking
APPEARANCE: Upon first glance, they strongly resemble Minotaur from earth mythology, however there are a few differences. The main, and most obvious difference, is their eyes. Instead of looking like the eyes of a human, the pupils are vertical, like a vipers. The rest of their head is very bovine-like, with horns that extend sideways, sweeping up, or forwards, also sweeping up. A few have horns that extend straight out sideways and even fewer have downwards-pointed horns.
Their bodies are very large and muscular. Their hands are modified hooves, they have a hoof covering over their three fingers (a thumb, and two regular fingers). The hoof covering has cracks so the digits can bend, and only covers the back of their hands. The rest of their body, except for their feet (which are more traditional hooves, though longer and wider to help with balance), which is very thick and shaggy to help insulate against the cold of their planet. Finally their legs are more like a cows in that they have hocks. Females of the species also have breasts, not udders, which are also covered in hair except for the nipple.
As far as dress goes, it is generally animal hide clothing, unless they are going to war, when they‘d wear actual metal battle armor. As for weapons, they use magnetically propelled ballistic weapons (“Slugthrowers”
for actual combat, and battle axes, maces, etc. for ceremonial and arena combat.
CIVILIZATION NAME: Ivking Confederation of Clans
LOCATION: G/E
CULTURE: Though the Ivkings may be good farmers and manufacturers, their society glorifies war and combat. The males have a high sense of honor and though there is honor in contributing through farming, mining, industry, etc. the quickest and best way to gain honor is through combat, and the most honored are those who die in combat. All of the warriors seek an honorable death by the hand of a worthy opponent, so that they may be accepted into Halvalla, their heaven, where only the best warriors are admitted to fight for the rest of eternity to find the greatest Ivking warrior of all. The idea of Halvalla is so strong in their culture and society that they’ve named their planet after it. To other cultures it may seem brutish, barbaric, or even uncivilized, but to the Ivkings, it is a way of life.
Though they may be focused on gaining honor through combat, they still have art, a sophisticated alphabet, literature, etc. that they take much pride in as well.
They also have many gods, quite a few relating to war. But they also have storm gods, love gods, fertility gods, etc.
GOVERNMENT: The government of the Ivking Confederation of Clans is a fairly simple one. Basically the government head is the Grand Warlord. He is descended from the only successful Grand Warlord, Alexdanrochs the Fierce. His line was the only one to succeed because he was the first Grand Warlord to give rights to the lesser Warlords (complete autonomy, with the only requirement being when called upon to send troops to defend the confederation, all warlords must send some) which did much in pleasing the clans, allowing his line to continue after his own death.
The Grand Warlord has a sizeable harem, anywhere from 4 wives up to 12. Of these, he normally fathers many calves. The bulls are trained in the way of war and leadership, though not put into any leadership positions or not given a clan of their own to control. When the Grand Warlord dies, his sons who are of age fight it out in an arena competition, where the last one standing takes up the title of Grand Warlord. They are not put into any leadership positions to help prevent them from gaining loyal followers who would dispute the champion and rebel against the Confederation.
DOMESTIC POLICY: Currently, the domestic policy of the ICC is to keep the fringe barbarians out and keep the confederation safe. (Though the Confederation is big, there are still many renegade clans who do not accept the Grand Warlord as their ruler and raid and attack Confederation clans.) Laws depend on each Confederation clan’s individual Warlord, though there is not much slavery and for the most part individuals experience a high amount of personal freedoms, especially if they have amassed a good amount of honor over the course of their lives.
XENOPOLICY: Again, depends on the warlord in question. While most would be neutral to outsiders, some may choose to raid, others may choose to form alliances. However, if the Grand Warlord sees a species as a threat or as an ally he can give an order to the other clans to leave the group alone or attack, etc.
PERSONAL NAMES: Alexandrochs, Magnus, Indicus, Jarrko, Aurgon.
PLANET NAMES: Home Planet: Halvalla. Moons: Roth (Volcanic moon.), Ikol (Very much like Halvalla), Yrt (Rocky moon, similar to Earth’s moon.)
*Halvalla is twice the diameter of Earth, and pretty cold. Ice caps extend from the poles to the tropic lines, and the climate along the equator is that of the subtropics on Earth. There are rain forests and such, but they are not the hot, humid ones you’d find on Earth. It is also the only planet in the solar system. It is slightly further away from its sun then Earth is from its.
STAR NAMES: Home Star: Bos (smaller then Eart’s sun.)
SHIP NAMES: The clans generally name their ships after their warlord. Example: Alexandrochs I, II; Indicus I, II; etc. They have space travel, but have not settled any other planetary bodies other then Halvalla.
