Post by The Librarian on Oct 12, 2013 19:43:29 GMT -7
Who are the Fold
In the most basic of terms, the fold are soldiers. In the dimension they called home, the fold are descended from a line of selectively bred and trained warriors that spans back to the beginning of warfare on their world.
Through Millenia of selective breeding, the Fold developed into a race apart from the humans of their dimension. They were faster, stronger, smarter, in all ways superior except in total numbers. Long before genetic manipulation and cybernetics arose to try and even the playing field, the Fold were the soldiers to beat.
That all changed during the uprising. The clan leaders among the Fold grew tired of being the military might on which other empires rose and fell. They grew tired of being the muscle while the other decisions were taken out of their hands. They didn't expect to be defeated. After all, as long as their history stretched they had been undefeated in battle except when they fought each other. New technology allowed the common soldier to come closer to the capabilities of a Fold warrior however, and their superior numbers eventually overwhelmed the Fold forces.
The tribes of the Fold were banished to the prison world of Turath. A place where the fledgling human empire dropped those who were deemed unfit to live in their society. Genetic abominations, xenomorphic aliens, out of control cyborgs, psychics, mystics, and amongst them all, the Fold. The first few hundred years, the Fold were contained and silenced. They lived on Turath unable to secure transport off world, and therefore unable to bother the empire as it grew.
Two hundred years after their banishment to Turath, the Fold were granted a reprieve in the form of a techno-organic virus. A virus that melded man with machine. Through their exile, the Fold had continued their breeding programs but had been wise enough to now include those they shared this world with. The entire world by this time was now inhabited by a hybrid race, the newest generation of the Fold. Becoming one with their technology advanced them further. Massing and building in secret, they attacked the orbital guard stations around their world, and liberated themselves. The Fold were once again free to travel the galaxy. Their numbers increased and strengthened, they made short work of taking down the empire that had imprisoned them, and implemented their breeding programs among the masses, both human and alien alike.
While expanding throughout their universe, the Fold stumbled on a piece of ancient alien technology. A device that facilitated travel between the dimensions. With the knowledge that there were other races and warriors to bring into the Fold Alliance, they embarked on a campaign through the dimensions all the while amassing troops, allies, and technology.
This embarkation is what eventually led the Fold to the nexus. Such a rich place with many worlds that they may bring into their empire.
Physiology
The Fold initially are descended from human stock, and as such share many of their features including a near identical outer physical structure. Centuries of breeding with alien races as well as genetic and technological manipulation have advanced their race beyond human capabilities.
Even the weakest of the Fold is easily twice as strong and fast as a human. Their minds function much faster, processing information in fractions of the time it takes a human. They all have a talent for psionic ability. The race has a communal mind that they may connect to to keep in contact, even through the dimensions. Though this mind is communal, each member of the Fold still contains their own separate intelligence, their own separate mind.
The elites are far stronger and faster than the weaker amongst their race. They incorporate deadlier traits from the aliens that went into the breeding programs. Some include poisoned spines, armored skin, echo-location, and many other traits.
The techno-organic virus that swept through their planet melded man and machine. All members of the Fold are born cybernetic, but these cybernetic implants grow with their body. They may be further enhanced later. The different enhancements a member of the race may be born with is near limitless. In some, the cybernetic implants cannot be seen. They appear fully human on the outside without in depth examination. Others appear more man than machine being born with entire limbs of techno-organic cyberware.
Goals
After their exile, the Fold turned into a race that acts much like an insect colony. They seek to expand throughout all dimensions, across all worlds. They wish to bring every race into their own as they seek perfection of species. They will use whatever means necessary, be they diplomacy, subversion, or out and out conquest.
Technology
The Fold scavenge technology from every planet, from every race. They possess massive world ending ships. Weapons of mass destruction. Advanced medicine, and super technologies of many other types.
Every member of the race is born with a device inside of them called Physics Stability Emitter or PSE. This device functions in a 50 yard radius around the subject and may be activated or deactivated as they see fit. The device is actually a multi-dimensional piece of technology that stabilizes the laws of physics in the area correlating to them no matter what dimension the manipulation occurs on. Each device is set with a baseline, a sampling of standard physics corresponding to the individual in question. When active, the device overwrites the surrounding area to correspond to this baseline. While this device is active, members of the Fold are limited in the amount of psionic might they may wield. They can only use their psionic gifts for communication. Anything beyond this scope is nullified. The benefit is that it has an identical effect to all others with it's range of effect. The fold commonly utilize this device against beings that seek to attack them through dimensional means, it is however equally effective against planar intrusions and weaker manipulation.
Weaponry
Members of the fold are trained in physical as well as artillery combat. They commonly carry weapons such as axes and swords, but augment their armament with one or more types of ranged weaponry. A warrior's specific armament is up to them.
The Fold Mindset
The Fold are an extremely militaristic race. That said they have a very strong sense of honor when it comes to single combat. Though they are more than willing to basically commit mass murder during large scale battles, when it is only a few people fighting the warriors of the fold follow a code of fairness. No warrior will use a weapon in single combat that their opponent cannot be technologically expected to face. Example, if their opponent is a simple swordsman, they will not use guns. If their opponent has 20th century technology, they won't use a plasma cannon, etc. Of course supernatural manipulation in most cases is viewed as an unfair tactic so a warrior never hesitates to use the PSE.
The fold value a sense of honor in others. Though they are aware they cannot force their values on all, they harbor more respect for races that at least hold an honor of their own. Case and point, the Fold hold the utmost respect for the Yautja, both as rivals and allies at times. Warriors often harbor respect, and even friendship for their enemies.
Aside from honor and military skill, the fold also highly value skill in the arts and music. Painters, sculptors, singers, musicians, each member is encouraged to focus their attention on a skill in either the arts or the sciences to compliment their skill in warfare.
Chain of command is paramount. You do not disobey someone of a higher rank without a good reason. In some cases the ends may justify the means, but if they don't there is hell to pay.
Warriors within the same rank have some leeway to argue with the other tiers in their rank, as long as it is respectful disagreement.
Beings that can alter the state of reality on such massive scales as to create new realities and worlds are viewed by the Fold as defacto gods and are left alone unless the being threatens the Fold personally.
The Fold revere the memory of their ancestors. They believe that each Warrior that has gone before them becomes one with the soul of the original warrior that started their race so long ago that his name has been lost to time and he is now simply referred to as Cern. They believe that this collective spirit endows the Imperator with wisdom and power.
Fold Agenda
The Fold have one simple agenda, they wish to see all races and civilizations in every timeline brought into their empire. To reach this end they will resort to any tactics necessary on the large scale as long as their honor is not damaged on the small scale.
Basics
When you make a member of the fold, you will be assigned a starting rank based on my own observations of your skill along with the observations of others I trust. If you do not like the rank assigned to you feel free to challenge at any time.