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RP Repository

The Others

Played by Thylonicus

Yautja

  • GQTujNE.jpg

    Introduction

    "When I was little, we found a man. He looked like--like, butchered. The old women in the village crossed themselves--and whispered crazy things, strange things. 'El Diablo cazador de hombres.' Only in the hottest years this happens. And this year, it grows hot. We begin finding our men. We found them sometimes without their skins--and sometimes much, much worse. 'El cazador trofeo de los hombres' means 'the demon who makes trophies of men'."


    I'm looking for something that, admittedly, might not come to mind when thinking of the Predator franchise--a genuine story. I've left certain details vague so they can be tailored to suit a story, but suffice it to say that for setting and background elements, I'm only going with the first two Predator movies, and taking a few certain aspects from Aliens vs. Predator: Prey, and adding in a healthy dose of abductive reasoning. I don't go into the other movies or the comics, and I go absolutely nowhere near the Hish. I feel this gives a complete enough basis to build the setting rich in detail and possibilities while allowing much freedom in altering details to help build the story about cross-species friendship and the like.

    Being a species that has roamed the galaxy for millennia and are not exactly strangers to Earth, the sorts of stories that can be had are varied. Ideas are more fleshed out on the Plot Hooks page, but everything from Earth's past, Earth's present, Earth's future, and even beyond the solar system--it's all possible. I'm looking for the other character to be a regular human, though with some combat skill; I think the story is more interesting if the human the Yautja falls along with is special not because of "powers", but because of their heart and soul, who they are.

    The sex of the Yautja can depend on the story, as can the sex of the other character; who they are is what matters. Considering the Yautja culture itself, there'd be no problem with either a male or female warrior at a Hunter's side (and history shows that either sex can be a bad-ass, no matter the time, place, or culture), nor someone thrown into battle without intending to be but otherwise aiding the Yautja.

    Ideally, this would be one-on-one, as I think only having two players helps keep the story going smoothly as well as makes it easier to create or recreate the world as we see fit, for whatever would suit that story best.

  • Lar'nix'va

    • Name: Lar'nix'va ("Steady Wind")
    • Age: Middle-Aged
    • Height: 7'6" - 229cm
    • Weight: 280 lbs - 127 kg
    • Eyes: Violet
    • Personality: Quiet, sometimes aloof; friendly beneath the surface.

  • Nihkou'te Setg'-in

    • Name: Nihkou'te Setg'-in ("Quick and Deadly Tusk")
    • Age: Middle-Aged
    • Height: 8'8" - 264cm
    • Weight: 340 lbs - 154 kg
    • Eyes: Bronze
    • Personality: Brusque and curt with males, courteous and friendly with females.

  • Species / Culture Information

    Overview

    This is just a bare-bones (if admittedly lengthy) overview of the Yautja race, gleaned from other fans, other web sites, and my own reasoning. It's mainly for people either unfamiliar and wanting to know more or curious about my take on them. Absolutely none of this is "required" to read or to know. It's here if people want to read it, but it's absolutely not "necessary". This information is sparse to allow for understanding of what the Yautja are while allowing for plenty of room to maneuver, tweak, alter, and otherwise reconfigure things to tell a good and interesting story.

    Armor and Equipment
    Mask/Bio-Helmet
    While on safari, the Yautja wear distinctive headgear which serves multiple functions. The basic Mask worn by lower class warriors offers protection during combat, and houses a respirator which provides (or supplements) a breathable atmosphere. It is also capable of being used underwater similar to scuba gear.

    The higher-class Bio Helmet performs the functions of the basic Mask, but also contains other devices. It can filter through five basic visual settings: Infrared, Ultraviolet, Thermal Imaging, Air Density Pressure (movement), and a special vision that is fine-tuned to the unique electro-chemical signature of a kainde amedha. The visual settings may also be modified for X-rays and Microwaves, with a built-in Magnetometer and a Geiger Counter. They can cycle through each mode of vision using the buttons on their wrist-computer (located in the gauntlet of their off-hand), or by pressing buttons with its tusks. The controls are customized by the individual Hunter, and can be changed in a few minutes. If using the buttons in the mask, each vision mode has to be cycled through; using the wrist-computer, a specific vision mode can be selected without having to go through the others.

    Housed within the helmet is a targeting and tracking system for any shoulder-mounted weaponry, with an extensive array of surveillance equipment - including a Waveform Analyzer which can imitate previous words spoken to it, for one reason in an effort to communicate with alien life forms, for another to lure prey.

    The helmet records all events in a three hundred and sixty degree radius, enabling the Yautja to see playback video in all directions. When the Yautja is under water, it can use its helmet with Sonar-like technology, seeking all sound events tracked, and directing itself to the point of origin.

    The mask is not only a functional piece of protection, but also a personal identifier. Each mask is customized by its owner in some way, and is presented with their first set of armor.

    Audio Waveform Analyzer
    A function of the bio-helmet, the Waveform Analyzer reacts to changes in the audio environment. A flux in the displayed waveform indicates the presence of an enemy that may or may not be in a Warrior's line of sight.

    Sound analyzer: Can break down sounds into a raw phonetic pattern, allowing the Hunter to learn how to speak any language, even if it takes him longer to understand it.

    Audio booster: Can pick up a whisper at five hundred feet.

    Body Mesh
    This is a basic "wire" mesh, worn under a warrior's armor. Running off of the battery in the backpack, it can keep the Yautja's body temperature at a steady one hundred and sixty degrees, even in sub-arctic temperatures. Also, it can keep heat from escaping the body; this ability is tied into the cloaking, so that when the cloaking is activated, the Yautja's body temperature is masked as well. The effect, by those with the ability to detect heat signatures, is that he fades into the background.

    Armor
    Offers protection where the Yautja needs it the most. Light and maneuverable, the alloy plating is composed of a totally foreign compound (like other Yautja materials) with some elements thereof not found on Terran periodic tables and is chemically treated to resist acidic kainde amedha blood.

    Ceremonial Armor is usually reserved for the upper classes and the elders, only found on the leader of the team. This interchanging plate armor is somewhat clunky, more for show than heavy-duty defense.

    Camouflage Suit
    By bending light waves around the wearer, the suit makes them practically invisible. However, it doesn't grant true invisibility. An alert opponent would be able to notice the heatwave-like shimmer, especially noticeable when the wearer is moving. When the Yautja is standing still, only someone with nigh-supernatural vision or standing less than a yard away would be able to get a hint of that shimmer. This becomes more noticeable the faster the Yautja moves; at a full sprint, a noticeable outline can easily be seen by an average human from a block away. This is also an all-or-nothing cloak. The Yautja cannot cloak only part of himself while leaving another part visible, save where noted below.

    As for weapons, only mounted weapons are affected by the cloak. This includes concealed weapons like retracted wrist blades, collapsed spears or other weapons kept hidden by backpacks and so forth. Once extended or revealed, the weapon is visible. For example, if the wrist-blades are extended, the blades are visible, even as the rest of the Yautja is not.

    This only affects vision, in no way dampening sound or reducing the smell of the Yautja. Creatures whose "sight" is not based on reflected light will not suffer (E.G., the Kainde Amedha (kainde amedhas) have no eyes), or possibly even be able to tell a difference. There are special lenses in their helmets that also allow the Yautja to see each other when they have enabled their shift suits.

    The cloaking matrix is notoriously unstable in water, and getting wet while cloaked will shut it down. It is also conceivable that the suit would be ineffective in environments saturated with particulate material surrounding the wearer such as heavy fog, rain, or dust. When water touches the suit, it destabilizes the cloaking matrix, causing what looks like arcs of electricity to run across the Yautja. Once the water is removed from the suit, it takes no less than five full minutes for the cloaking matrix to re-stabilize.

    The suit is totally visible using most forms of ultrasound-based techniques (which also hurts the Yautja's hearing), ultraviolet beam radar, or personal radar. It is almost completely effective if motionless.

    If one kills while cloaked it is a great dishonor. It ignores all laws of fair and honorable Hunting, and giving the prey a fighting chance. A Yautja who is discovered doing this is usually banished from the Clan, and is considered fair game for other Hunters. The only exception to this is to "remove" anything standing between the Hunter and his prey, or if the Hunter is attacked by a creature he is not Hunting.

    Wrist-Blades
    The wrist-blades are the weapon of choice for most Yautja. Twin blades (or, occasionally, triple blades) with jagged double edges and sharp enough to tear through bone, are effective against large and small opponents. Using the Wrist-Blades show Yautja pride, because they prefer melee combat.

    The blades range from anywhere between twelve and eighteen inches long and are retractable from a wrist gauntlet on the arm. They are forged from an unknown alloy which is almost unbreakable, and are immune to acidic kainde amedha blood as long as exposure to the blood isn't prolonged.

    Shoulder Cannon (Plasma Caster)
    The shoulder cannon is a mounted and light-weight weapon capable of firing multiple long-range energy burst of charged plasma. It is controlled via the targeting system in the helmet, and tracks with the head movement of the firer. After a lock-on is achieved, the weapon can track that target independently of the movement of the helmet.

    It can be used with the laser sight to increase targeting capacity, and is fired either by a mandible-controlled trigger in the helmet or by the forearm-mounted control panel. It can pivot and swivel to point in any direction, and has a range of four hundred feet.

    Med-Kit
    In the lighted case, there is one shrapnel extractor, auto burner dish, four wound clamps, spatula, two vials super antiseptic (acidic enzyme, which when combined with silicon (glass/sand),and limestone (chalk/tile/et cetera), forms a form of biological mortar that can patch any wound from a bullet hole to a severed limb). The case has a twelve hour rechargeable battery.

    Net Gun
    The net gun is small and usually reserved for ambushing a group of prey, when entering a major combat area and the temporary incapacitation of a subject is necessary. The net gun is not a projectile weapon per se, instead launching a web of razor-sharp wire powerful enough to propel a target to the floor/wall and pin them there, viciously cutting into the flesh. If the target tries to struggle the damage increases, and this keeps up until the subject is released or is killed. The net can also release on a trigger from the weapon.

    Combat Staff
    The staff (or Combi-Stick) is a self-powered telescoping spear that is merely one meter at its shortest length, but extends to two meters. The combi-staff makes a formidable weapon for close range attacks, due to its length customization. It can also be thrown, to puncture through a target. Made of nearly unbreakable alloys, sharpened tips on either end produce electrical charges as it slices through nearly any surface.

    Smart Disc
    One of the most advanced pieces of equipment carried by the Yautja, the smart disc is internally powered and can be held in the hand, or thrown at an opponent. This device is capable of cutting through most substances with its devastating razor edges, and is powerful enough to cut through multiple targets with one throw, controlled via targets selected and input into the smart disc's internal computer before being thrown. Computer-controlled gyros guarantee that the disc returns to its wielder, but if it becomes embedded in a solid material it can be returned by the push of a control-panel button.

    Self-Destruct Device
    There are many uses for the wrist computer, but the most remembered use is the self-destruct mechanism that can be activated through this device. This weapon of last resort is used by warriors to keep honor when they die. After the device has been set, there is a one-minute countdown until the detonation of a micro-nuclear explosion.

    Battery
    Housed on the back of the armor is the battery that powers nearly everything the Yautja uses. Fully charged, it can be run constantly for over fifteen hours before it's depleted. In the field, it can be recharged via solar power. Once the battery is removed from its compartment on the back-plate of the armor, small solar panels can be deployed. Extremely efficient, they can garner energy even from starlight, though it gathers only approximately a tenth as much energy. Left out in full sunlight, it can be completely recharged from depleted in two hours. The battery can also be used while recharging, but it will be unable to store energy gathered.

    The battery can also be recharged by being hooked up to an energy port in the ship. Using that method, the battery will be fully charged from depleted in one hour.
    Biology
    Natural/Sensory Abilities
    Thermographic vision to two thousand degrees. What might be invisible to sight based on reflected light can be seen by Yautja through thermographic vision.

    They breathe about one percent more oxygen, four percent more nitrogen, and eight percent more methane than humans. They can adapt to earth's natural gases, but that adaptation could only last for around a few weeks. In a medium-sized city, they can't adapt nearly as well. In denser cities such as Los Angeles or New York, they would need to breathe through their masks or special breathing units at least once every six or seven hours.

    They can hold their breath for several minutes.

    Can jump up to three times their height, and can fall ten times their height and land on their feet without a problem.

    Yautja can imitate the speech/sounds of other species, but do not immediately necessarily understand the meaning of what they say. Knowing that if they don't understand the speech they may not be able to fool prey, they typically use their audio waveform analyzer when attempting to lure prey. They do pick up languages quickly, however, even without formally studying the language as a secondary skill. This is accomplished mainly in the field, as they play recorded speech back over and over, studying each nuance until they can reproduce it flawlessly as well as learn the language through context. Often while on a Hunt, a Yautja will spend many hours by himself, studying recordings of conversations.

    Physiology
    The Yautja are larger and taller than adult humans, standing at least seven feet tall but often much taller. The average male height is somewhere around seven and a half feet tall. Females are even larger (and stronger), at least eight feet tall, though the average height is eight feet, nine inches. The female Yautja are known to occasionally throw their mates during moments of passion.

    An average male Yautja weighs between three hundred to four hundred pounds, most of this pure muscle. The Yautja as a whole have very little body fat due to their predatory lifestyle and diet.

    Like human children, Yautja children are smaller versions of the adult, and a male will typically father seventy or more "suckers" or "sucklings" in his lifetime.

    Like humans, they have two arms, two legs, and two eyes. Eye color is usually green or yellow, though violet or grey isn't unknown.

    They have long claws on their fingers and toes, thick skulls, broad shoulders, and large biceps. Their back is mostly bone. Due to the shape of the skull, the brain is just a bit higher than the eyes. This has allowed Yautja to survive bullets or long blades in the eye.

    Their mouths have four mandibles around them, much like a set of lips. These mandibles can be used for communicating much like how a Terran cat uses its tail to communicate its mood.

    They give off a musk other Yautja, and animals with enhanced senses of smell, can detect, but humans cannot. When canines sense them, they usually constantly whine, heads down, or else lay out and make unhappy noises in their throats. Yautja's scent for aggression is an oily, bitter smell.

    As far as environment, the Yautja prefer hot, humid conditions with an atmosphere rich in nitrogen. They can tolerate lower temperatures, but only if they use their heating mesh. With that mesh, they can endure even sub-arctic conditions. Without that mesh, they couldn't tolerate even a mild winter on most planets.

    Yautja have skin of mottled red, green and yellow patterns. Spots are most common, but some Clans have stripes.

    Their blood is a dark, phosphorescent green, possibly due to different oxygen carriers in their hemoglobins. While humans use iron to perform the actual task of binding the oxygen molecule, the Yautja may be using copper or something similar to it.

    Their blood neutralizes the caustic effects of Hard Meat blood (to a degree), and is also carbon-based.

    Yautja have long hair that is braided into dreadlocks in an extremely painful ritual taking days to perform.
    Culture
    Society
    By and large, the sexes of the Yautja keep apart from each other. The males Hunt, and the females govern. There are a few exceptions, mainly when a female decides to Hunt; perhaps only for one particular trophy, or because her Path leads her to live as a male. It is almost completely unheard of for a male to have any sort of cross-sex governing position.

    The Yautja live in clans, tribe-like groups of Yautja, with female in the over-all Leader position. The females are in charge of land-management and justice, among other responsibilities. The males' primary responsibilities are Hunting and exploration, as well as acting as a sort of "front line" against any invaders. Any other species trying to attack the Yautja have to deal with the males first.

    Reproduction is similar to human reproduction, in that a Yautja gives a "live birth;" I.E., they do not lay eggs. Gestation is approximately ten months. Each child, or "suckling", is nursed by the female for two to three years, after which time it is weaned onto food Hunted by its mother. Males live with their mothers until the equivalent of their "late teenage" years, at which time they begin training to become a Hunter. They live with other males and are trained until they are taken on their "Blooding Hunt." "Blooding" is detailed later.

    When females become "late teenagers," they start to take their place in their clan amongst their sisters in whatever area of expertise she is most suited for. The scientists are almost all female, though the males are knowledgeable in the areas of science as well. Refinements to existing technologies tend to be done more by males, while invention of new technology tends to be done more by females, though there are exceptions to this.

    Children are given "temporary" names at birth; these they keep until they earn different names for themselves later in life. Typically, one keeps their birth-name for quite a while, though on exceptional Blooding Hunts, sometimes a warrior will earn a new one then.

    Leaders
    Very similar to a pack mentality, the strongest and most efficient member of the group is the Leader. For both males and females, they are separated into groups led by Leaders, those Leaders following those called Leader of Leaders. Yautja earn the position of Leader through various ways; males tend to challenge and defeat Leaders, while females tend to earn the position through meritorious deeds. Both sexes may also earn the position by being named Leader when the previous Leader dies.

    The Leader of All Leaders is always female, the Queen of the Yautja. She resides on the original Yautja home world, though does at times travel to the various worlds inhabited by Yautja. Each planet also has a Queen, though only the Queen of the Yautja is known as Leader of All Leaders. The only person a planet's Queen concedes to is the Leader of All Leaders. While such terms are somewhat cumbersome in English, Yautja language makes it clear whether one is speaking of a Leader, male Leader of Leaders, female Leader of Leaders, planetary Queen, or the Leader of All Leaders.

    When accompanying a Hunting group, the highest-ranking Leader is always the first to set first on the Hunting grounds, followed by the others according to rank. If there are males and females of equal rank, the female is first. For instance, if there is a male Leader of Leaders and a female Leader of Leaders, the female will step onto the planet first. If there is a male Leader of Leaders, a male Leader, and a female Leader, the Leader of Leaders will step onto the planet first, then the female Leader, then the male Leader.

    For males, part of being a Leader is not to seem excited by the prospect of a training Hunt, or at least show that excitement to others. Also, a good Hunting Leader has many students still Hunting. The measure of a teacher was the life span of those he taught; the longer they lived, the better the teacher.

    Hunting
    During the Hunt, Yautja employ a silent system of hand gestures to communicate with each other. This "sign language" is very simple and only capable of relating simple messages or ideas. It is enough for the basic information; "Spread out," "Take cover," "The prey is near," and other such things.

    The Hunter must be sure that his prey is considered fair game, and thus lawful to kill. It is dishonorable to Hunt something that is not a threat; those who have done no harm should have no harm done to them. In the same vein, those who are actually incapable of harming the Yautja are considered unworthy of becoming the Yautja's prey.

    Warriors are taught to never kill a non-fully grown member of an intelligent species, as they are not only harmless, but it is not a true test of the Yautja's skill. Penalty is combat to the death. Some Yautja see this as a form of population control, while others take the stance that all sentient life holds the same affection for their offspring as the Yautja do theirs. No matter the individual Hunter's opinion on why they keep to this, however, they do keep to it.

    On a Hunt, it is criminal to leave even a single prey behind. Once a Hunter decides on which prey to Hunt, the Hunt will be seen through to the end. There are no exceptions to this--either the prey will die, or the Hunter will die, once a Hunt has commenced. Also, it is not seen as a dishonor to fall to one's prey. It is never dishonorable to be beaten by someone better, and if the prey gets the better of the Yautja, they were obviously better. This is partially why the Yautja Hunt those they Hunt. The tougher the prey, the more worthy the Hunter.

    Hunting for food is considered different than Hunting for trophies. Even the terms are different. In the English language, a capital "H" is used for Hunts of honor, skill, and/or trophies. A small "H" is used for hunting food. In their native language, however, the distinction is made plain; there is no confusion, as "Hunting" versus "hunting" are considered nearly polar opposites. Also, a Hunter will never eat prey Hunted for skill, trophies, and/or honor. That is considered dishonoring the prey, and thus dishonorable to the Yautja. They can eat most forms of meat in the known galaxy, though when they hunt for food, they will take only the weak, sick, or otherwise infirm. This strengthens the hunted species' line.

    All in all, Hunting places an emphasis on skill and tactics. Brute strength is rarely the answer, and it never makes up for stupidity. This is why, as a Hunter ages, he will use fewer and fewer weapons aside from his wits. If he cannot outsmart and out-maneuver his prey, he is not a worthy Hunter. A Hunter centuries old is expected to have a plasma caster for ritualistic purposes, if even then.

    It is considered near the height of dishonor to claim another's kill for one's own, and any Yautja caught doing this may be banished from the Clan, forced to be an outcast--perhaps even be dubbed Bad Blood. Also, one Hunter may not join another's Hunt, nor Hunt in his territory, without permission. The former is considered a grave insult, and the latter is considered the height of rudeness.

    Honor
    Honor is everything to the Yautja race, male and female alike, though each sex sees honor in slightly different ways. No matter the sex, however, a Yautja's word is their bond. They've no need for lengthy documents, notarized signatures, or whatever else. If they say they will do something, it will be done, and that is that. The Yautja will literally die before going against their word.

    They are also honest; other races call this honesty to a fault, but deception, while a concept they understand, is all but abhorrent to them. Lies are for cowards and fools, not for those with honor. They will make it clear if they are unsure of something; if they do not think a task can be completed, they will say so. If they say they can complete a task, then, they fully believe they can complete it. As such, they will not let anything stop them from completing it.

    Religion
    The Yautja have a polytheistic religion. There is no one, central deity; instead, there are many different deities, each with their own purpose and their own area over which they rule. Below is only a short, partial list:

    Paya (the conquering warrior) embodies what a good Hunter should be and do, and many Hunters try to reach a level skill and grace and deadliness which they can become one with him.

    The Black Warrior decides who lives and who dies. In Yautja culture (as with many gods in their culture) the Black Warrior is spoken of in a personal nature; all Yautja meet him when they die, and they will join in battle. The outcome of that battle decides where their souls spend eternity. Though, it is said the Black Warrior always fights fair.

    The elemental gods, V'klta (wind), Moata (water), Ragta (fire) and Yarta (earth, a creature that looks so similar to the Yautja it might be a depiction of themselves).

  • Plot Hooks

    Here are a handful of ideas for how to get characters to meet, as well as possible starters. Nothing is set in stone; everything here can all too easily be tweaked and reshaped to fit the needs and desires of the players, including which idea is reshaped to fit the other Yautja. Note also that these don't need to be the only ideas considered. These are just here to provide jumping-off points if desired. There are plenty of other ideas that can be thought up.

    The Crash
    His ship careened through the atmosphere, barely kept from burning itself up in the planet's atmosphere. Hardly any system on-line, and the last thing he saw was the ground speeding up at him through the cracked view-screen. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in--a strange room. Scents told him that it was a human facility--and that was not a good thing. He had a splitting headache, his vision was cloudy, and his strength waned--but he wouldn't give up. Especially when he realized that one of the straps was loose...
    The Crash
    Alarm klaxons blaring, the ship shuddering violently--those were the last things he remembered. One of the ship's engines had blown, sending the ship into a spin. Ordinarily it could have been dealt with--but they were in orbit of a planet, preparing for a Hunt, so the ship was caught in the planet's gravity before it could be saved. Lar'nix'va's mandibles clacked in consternation as he did the only thing he could do--control the ship's descent. Everyone else on the bridge was dead, so it was up to him. That clacking became a low rumble as he watched the valley rush up to him on the view screen--then all became black.

    When he awakened, he inhaled and tasted the scents of the room. Medicinal, sterile. Sounds of someone moving around, an ooman by the scent of it, speaking in a strange tongue. The medicinal scents, the soft tones of the alien--this must have been a healer's shop. That would explain why he wasn't killed when he was found--but he was also strapped down to a table. He tested the bonds, flexing only subtly so as to not arouse suspicion, and found that the strap across his chest is just a bit loose--just loose enough. The ooman came closer to him, and he managed to chitter out, "<I thank you, healer...>" as he rested his head back and closed his eyes, feigning slumber. His moment would come, and soon.
    The Ambassador: Version One
    Contact had been made, and an agreement reached to--temporarily, at least--stop Hunting humans. The Clan Elders even agreed to allow a human to become an ambassador to the Yautja--it was a novel concept, sure to teach both species many things about the other. And it fell to Nihkou'te Setg'-in to teach and guide the human.
    The Ambassador: Version One
    Soft Meat, that's what she thought of the ooman. She couldn't help it, really--she was raised, like all Yautja, to see peyode amedha as Prey. But here was one who would not be Hunted! Strange, really. Not bad, but definitely--strange. So many unusual customs--fresh water, daily, to scrub away dirt and to mask the musk, that had to be one of the more unusual. At least the ooman reacted with appropriate awe at the Yautja city. They hadn't expected such a thing, clearly, and Nihkou'te Setg'-in would have had to admit amusement at that. They probably expected tents or caves.

    Nihkou'te Setg'-in headed through the halls of the dormitory to the quarters assigned the human. Normally given to young females in training to become diplomats, they were the only quarters with adjustable environmental controls so far. At least, the only ones that were on the list of allowable living quarters. She wondered if they had stayed up late again; on the Soft Meat's home world, she was to understand, the days were shorter. The human was likely still having difficulty adjusting. It had been a long, hard road, and potentially a lonely one, for the human, so she was determined to make sure they fulfilled their goal. Honor demanded no less.
    The Ambassador: Version Two
    Contact had been made, and an agreement reached to--temporarily, at least--stop Hunting humans. The Clan Elders even agreed to allow Nihkou'te Setg'-in to become the first ambassador to the Soft Meat--it was a novel concept, sure to teach both species many things about the other. Nihkou'te Setg'-in had even been assigned a human guide, to better understand their ways and to, through the human, better get them to understand the ways of her people.
    The Ambassador: Version Two
    Another bleary morning. Nihkou'te Setg'-in couldn't get used to how short the days were, here. It had felt like she'd just gone to bed--and according to her wrist computer, she had. It broadcast the time in thermally-fluctuating rays, and she stifled a low growl when she saw it had only been a few hours since she laid down. But the knock on the door was--persistent. Too persistent. She was tempted to roar at the ooman to go away, but knowing the Soft Meat, it'd be taken as a challenge or more personally than she intended.

    Growling despite herself, she rolled off the bunk and wearily got to her feet--only to smack her head against the ceiling. Damned Soft Meat! Mandibles clacked in frustration as she hunched over, then went to try and figure out how to operate the door again. She knew the ooman would probably throw another fit about her being nude, but she'd have been damned if she cared right then. After finally figuring out the door knob, she threw open the door and stared at the ooman beyond.
    The Blooded Human
    The kainde amedha had swarmed, leaving next to nothing in their wake. Only two--human and Yautja--had survived the battle, but the latter was dying and he knew it. The human fought with bravery and honor that would never have been expected of their species. Yautja had failed where the human survived--so with his last breath, the Yautja mixed his own blood with that of a drone, to place his mark upon the human's forehead, marking them as Blooded--as Hunter. Then he was still. Later, more Hunters had come, unBlooded under the leadership of Lar'nix'va. That he was met by anyone at all was surprising, that he was met by a human all the more so--but a Blooded human, no less! There were no laws, no customs, to cover this--so he took the human with him, to train and Hunt.
    The Blooded Human
    This was where his old friend should have been. No one had heard from him, and he was long past his return from the Blooding Hunt. When an Elder had asked him to see what had happened, since it wasn't out of his way, Lar'nix'va agreed readily. He had just stepped out of his own craft--to be greeted by an ooman wearing Hunter armor! Who greeted him as a fellow Hunter!

    He looked at the human, chirruping softly in thoughtfulness. There was his friend's mark upon this ooman's brow. This--this Soft Meat, this ooman, had fought alongside his friend, and fought bravely. Lar'nix'va knew that his friend would never bestow such a mark--especially on an ooman--foolishly. No, this ooman had proven to be a Hunter. But then came the question of what to do. Technically, peyode amedha were Prey, the subject of Hunts. On the other hand, this one was Blooded, and all Blooded are to be afforded honor. Finally he nodded, then stepped back and to the side, sweeping his hand to indicate the ship, waiting for the ooman to precede him. He'll train this ooman as well as he can, and teach them the Path.
    Diplomacy
    Humans found a world to colonize, far from any familiar areas of space. They settled and started building a new home--never knowing that the Yautja had already claimed that world for their own. A band of Yautja found the settlement, but there was a female amongst the Hunters, and females always were more level-headed. Realizing the humans numbered too many to immediately fight, Nihkou'te Setg'-in did the only thing she could--she walked right up and said hello.
    Diplomacy
    Diplomacy was never her strong suit. Nihkou'te Setg'-in preferred to Hunt, and had since she was a suckling. When the other females were being taught how to manage a Clan, she was fantasizing about stalking Prey. Her mother was exasperated, but such things weren't unknown. Rare, yes, and she tried to talk Nihkou'te Setg'-in out of her desire, but it wouldn't be done. So she was finally allowed to Hunt--and she enjoyed it more than she ever realized.

    But then they came across the ooman settlement. On a Yautja-controlled world, no less. While the males all jockeyed and brandished their weapons, Nihkou'te Setg'-in thought. The peyode amedha didn't know the Yautja were there, not yet--but they were too numerous to ignore. Dozens, possibly more--no, frontal assault would not do. Well--her mother always did want her to be a diplomat. After discarding her weapons, she strode confidently to the ooman settlement...
    The Interrupted Hunt
    On another planet in the future, or an out-of-the-way place on modern or historical Earth, the eggs of kainde amedha, Hard Meat--xenomorphs--had been seeded to breed and prosper. Months later, the Hunters came, to reap what they've sown. Only--there were humans there, now. And the kainde amedha have started to get out of control. They overran most of the young Hunters and the humans alike--only the remaining Yautja and human could stop them before they built a hive.
    The Interrupted Hunt
    It was supposed to be a routine Blooding Hunt, where young Yautja became adults--became Hunters. They had come to hunt the Hard Meat in what was supposed to be a near-barren land. There was supposed to be nothing but a few primitive beasts for the kainde amedha to spawn from. That's how it was supposed to be. What was actually found, however, was vastly different.

    Lar'nix'va stood at the crest of a cliff, overlooking an ooman settlement. Mandibles clicking quietly in consternation, he watched smoke rise from here and there. Even from so far away, he could hear the screams of the Hard Meat--and of the Soft Meat. Behind him he could sense the growing bloodlust of his as-yet unBlooded Hunters; they'd come for kainde amedha, but now stood before peyode amedha. They'd been raised on tales of such Hunts, how, above all else the Yautja face, the Soft Meat were the most dangerous. They wanted to test themselves against these legends, see if the tales of Soft Meat cunning stood as tall as described. Lar'nix'va growled lowly; this would be a Blooding Hunt to be told for generations, no matter its outcome.

  • Gallery

    Note: These images aren't of anyone--Lar'nix'va, Nihkou'te Setg'-in, or any human either of them fall along with--specifically. They should, however, hopefully help paint the proper mental picture.

  • Cloak Effect Flash

    A fun little toy, this Flash shows the Predator invisibility effect quite well. Standing still, they're basically invisible. When they move, their outline can just be seen, if you know where to look.