The Mechoran Monarchy

[Korloros]

This is an overview of a species for a game I am working ong. All ideas and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism are welcome.

Government

The Monarchy is headed by a Lord who is advised by two Dukes, which in turn are in charge of numerous Barons who govern over the fortress-cities on Mechanicor. The Mechoran Lord retains absolute power of the throne and is noted as possibly the most powerful physical being ever built. The heir of the throne is naturaly the son of the current ruler, but if none have been built or have been killed then a new lord is chosen from a pool of potential heirs among the populace. The requirements to be the ruler are extreme, the heir having to be the most powerful among his peers both mentaly and physicaly. After passing a number of trials to determine combat skill, tactical and strategic intelect, and IQ level, the heir must be retrofitted to become a lord.


Physiology

Mechorans are an unheard of combination of energy being and mechanical armor. The energy being provides a powersource to the body in exchange for a physical form. In terms of size, a Mechoran is literaly a giant towering at an average of 15' 8" and weighing an excess of 4 tons. In appearance, Mechorans resemble humans with their construction being based on human morphology, however they appear mostly as large suits of knight armor or statues. In the face, a Mechoran has two eyes with dual lenses (hence the nickname 4-eyes) that glow with a burning blue light, and a mouth with large blunted teeth and no lips. Mechorans also possess nothing even remotely similar to a nose, eyelids or ears. The racial name for a true mechoran is Engine due to the fact they are the physical representation of the word's definition, "a force of something". Engines possess an equivelant to females, however they are significantly smaller standing at 6' (less than half the height of a male) and weigh somewhere north of 800 pounds. Reproduction is carried out by a data transfer from the male to the female via a device similar to a USB drive that extends from the chest and plugs into a port on the chest of the female. (nothing wierd :/) Mechorans are constructed from a coal-black metal known as Immortium that has a melting point of 8,000 degrees Farenheit, this material is also incredibly strong being hard as titanium while as strong structuraly as diamond, but this metal can be damaged by high-powered weapons and explosives. Mechorans are immortal, living for thousands of years (though the oldest living Engine is only 7,000), upon death a Mechoran's energy being departs to the collective Storm energy-nexus around their homeoworld of Mechanicor, when a new Mechoran is constructed it is very possible for an ancient mind to be reborn once more with all memories and experience in tact.

Technology

The Mechoran Monarchy is several millenia ahead of most species in science. Mechoran constructs tend to be very large and expensive only in terms of resources (Mechorans don't use money). Equipment is usually hand-made, very ornate in unique, however to prevent sub-standard equipment and weapons in the military all equipment must meet a minimal requirement in performance, but there is no maximum limit (in other words it has to be at a certain quality of performance, but there is no limit on upgrades and customisation as long as it doesn't bring performance below the minimum). All Mechoran technology is powered by Storm, a blue energy that is similar to electricity but for a reason unknown to the Mechorans themselves, is more powerful.

Culture

Mechorans have a medieval culture with modern influence. Massive gothic buildings are common such as cathedrals, but there are other architectural influences that put emphasis on beauty. Mechorans are three things at heart: Machines, warriors, and Christians. The species naturaly puts a large emphasis on honesty and honorable actions. Scientists and Ironmongers are fairly common and are positions regarded with great respect, but most Mechorans are soldiers, engineers, and priests.

Language

Mechorans speak three languages: Machine, English, and German. Machine is an instinctive language that can only be spoken by the Mechorans themselves
and those born of their work. It consists of several industrial sounds such as mechanical clanking and groans. When enraged a Mechoran will instinctively emit a roar in Machine that translates as "Cease now".

Warships

The Fleet of Heaven's Hammer consists of several warships, the combined total being close to 500 vessels in active service. On average a Mechoran warship would have to be three times the size of a human vessel just to give minimal accomodation, thus the Monarchy uses this as an excuse to build incredibly massive starcraft with the smallest being slightly north of 3 miles in length. Warships of Mechoran manufacturing place a great emphasis on firepower, durability, and adaptability (i.e. their technologies are difficult if impossible to interfere with by natural means), usually being built around one
or more massive main guns complemented by several turrets giving the massive crafts devastating long-range firepower. Mechoran warships have no use for shields, as the metal of their hull will naturaly repair any damage albeit slowly. The vessels are medium-speed and sometimes slow compared to the ships of other species but few if any could match the firepower they
bring to bare.

Role in the galaxy

The Monarchy plays a role of police and guardian over the Milky Way watching over other cultures and eliminating threats with an otherworldly fury.
Mechoran territory once stretched from the Perseus arm all the way to ancient Earth, but since The Fall of the Ancients their territory has receded significantly. However as far as reality is conscerned, Earth and the Sol System belong to the Monarchy, we are just permitted to use it.

Relationship with Humanity

Mechorans landed near Germany in the 1400's, inspiring such myths as ogres and The Grim Reaper (note the black armor and somewhat skeletal appearance). Humanity is seen by the Monarchy as a surrogate child of sorts, the Engines can be somewhat condescending at times but they mean well. In present day of 2050, the Monarchy supplies minerals and cheap equipment to Earth, without their support Humanity could not support off-world colonies or even reach for the stars. The Mechoran Monarchy is essentially the main industrial provider to the Coalition of Unified Governments for Rapid Reaction (COUGRR) and the main naval power among the allied races: Earth, Kryo, and Trolls (working name). Mechorans speak English since they have no common language of their own (other than data-streaming) and so adopted English knowing that the future Earth would be their ally.

Aesthetics

The Mechoran Monarchy's color scheme is coal-black (primary), royal blue (secondary), and silver (outline). Mechoran constructs use no round shapes whatsoever as they are damaged by projectiles far easier than flat shapes. Round shapes are instead made up of smaller sections of flat more geometric shapes, giving a very bulky and 'dinosaur-beautiful' look.

Personality

If I said Mechoran's aren't better than humans, I would be lieing as they are designed to be the perfect soldier. Mechoran personality could be summed up as 'Good Sammaritan', always helpful, always happy to listen to anything, never gets annoyed or irritated (though they can get angry), rediculously patient, and have an instinctive drive to do the right thing. This is contrasted by a Mechoran's very strong sense of justice which can turn violent due to their Teutoni Crusader-esque attitude. As stated somewhere above, Mechorans can be condescending towards Humans at times because Humanity is considered a 'child race' (and rightfully so), seeing them as a surrogate child and taking a role akin to a parent.

Military

The Mechoran Monarchy uses a hybrid of modern and medieval tactics, with soldiers marching in colums and dispersing into more actical groups once in battle. The military is an oddball to Humans because the Mechorans emphasis melee power and long range weapons, swordsman at the front, gunners towards the middle, artilllery towards the rear. In battle Knights will charge the enemy full-stride with their shield baring into enemy fire, once within 20 ft they will attack with their massive swords. The Mechoran military could not function effectively without their close-range combatants. Also common on the battlefield are huge humanoid walkers such as the Goliath Command Walker and the Redeemer Heavy Artillery (the Redeemer being based on the Warlord Titan of the Imperium). The Mechorans are only as swift as a sledge hammer, but their wrath is inevitable, inescapable, and all but unstoppable.

Weaponry

Mechoran Knights use a very wide variety of weaponry, most made by the wielder (obviously very personal to the creator) and custom made, however some are mass-produced. Standard armament usually consists of a Storm Sword for melee combat, 88mm bolt-action rifle (easier on maintenance without degrading RPM since the wielder actually is the loading mechanism), and a collapsable tower shield on the left arm. Snipers usually use a more precise 170mm rifle designed for volley-firing and a long thin sword called a Katzbalger. Larger Mechorans, such as Dreaded Hammers, may use a flail or other frightening weapon and nothing else, relying on their sheer strength alone.

Relations with the X Dimension

The Mechorans have recently been exploring the gate network, they have had some contact with the Terrans and much dealing with the Xenon. The Split normally back off from a Mechoran because of their massive size, Paranid are much less condescending (they are slightly afraid of being snapped in two for such behavior), the Teladi are usually comissioned to find valuable technology for high payment, the Boron are wary of their militaristic attitude since their incidents with the Split, and the Argon are skeptical of their message of peace.

Please review and give suggestions, be constructive with criticism (if your words attack me consider yourself ignored and forgotten)

[ahddib]

interesting, however your details regarding the mechoran ground battle tactics reminds me of a RTS, not X.

I think this is a cool idea that needs tuning to whatever fiction you want to place it in. However, I believe it doesn't really fit in with X.

3 mile long ship is smallest? heheh, no gate travel for them! they'd never fit

[Coupaholic]

They sound quite similar to the Sohnen to me. A machine race with advanced technology and a blue hue power source like you would see in jump gates.

I personally pick up like a Steampunk theme throughout as well, which would not really work in X IMO. Perhaps if they were more ruthless, stick more to the sense of justice and no so much the faith side and leave out the 'babysitting Earth' stuff perhaps?

That's only my opinion of course, others will read it differently. It looks like you spent time on this so sorry for ripping into it!

For X though, if you wanted to leave it as it is, one possible way to sneak them in is through the Goners. Since Goners share the same kind of doctrine (good Samaritan) I could see them getting along even though they have different religious backgrounds.