| Medium | Aberration | Zentian |
A fluid and ever-changing people, the Zentians are a sapient protoplasm whose society, The Spectrum, is a chaotic utopia governed not by laws, but by the irresistible momentum of popular trends.
Zentians are arguably the most alien of the major ancestries in the Core Worlds. Each Zentian is a blob of translucent protoplasm held in a tough, flexible membrane, with their internal organs floating visibly within. Their society, The Spectrum, has no government in any traditional sense; it is a meritocratic anarchy where charismatic “influencers” known as Curators set trends through The Gallery, their unparalleled interstellar communications network. These trends, ranging from philosophy to art to military strategy, function as policy for their communities. To be a Zentian is to be part of a constant, flowing conversation of self-expression, a living embodiment of the chaotic and beautiful relationship between the leader and the follower.
If you want to play a character who is wildly expressive, deeply unconventional, and thrives in the center of social change, you should play a Zentian.
You Might…
- Frequently change your physical form as an act of personal expression.
- Find rigid hierarchies, unchanging laws, and stoic individuals to be baffling and unnatural concepts.
- See your every action as a form of performance art, contributing your unique perspective to The Gallery for others to see and adopt.
Other’s Probably…
- View you and your entire people as frivolous and without substance.
- Be confused by your fluid nature, perhaps mistakenly believing you are constantly shifting form, not understanding that it is a difficult and deliberate art.
- Fail to take you seriously in diplomatic or military matters, seeing your entire culture as bizarre, harmless, and ultimately irrelevant.
Physical Description
A Zentian is an amorphous blob of protoplasm encased in a tough, transparent membrane. They vary in color from deep blues to vibrant greens and are all, to some degree, translucent, allowing their various internal organs to be seen floating lazily within. These organs vary in shape and size, even among different zentians. Zentians interact with their environment by extending pseudopod-like limbs, reshaping their membrane to perform specialized tasks. More skilled and practiced Zentians can form their bodies into more detailed shapes, often adopting a vaguely humanoid form to put other species at ease.
A Zentian’s senses are alien. Their visual organs are internal, seeing through their own translucent skin. Their entire outer membrane functions as an organ for hearing, touch, and even taste. They breathe and eat through this same membrane, absorbing gases and simply pushing food inside their bodies to be digested. Their voice is generated by the vibration of one or more of their internal bits, emitting from their whole body like a speaker and resulting in a language of bubbly, snappy, and clicky sounds.
Society
Zentian society is a collection of overlapping subcultures, each centered on a popular Curator. These Curators are charismatic influencers who express their views and start trends through The Gallery, the Zentians’ incredibly fast and efficient version of the galactic internet. A Curator directly influences their own followers (Adherents), but not society as a whole. However, when an idea or aesthetic begins to trend among multiple Curators, it can gain enough social momentum to be adopted indirectly by most of The Spectrum, creating a temporary, society-wide consensus. Because communication is paramount to their way of life, The Gallery is unparalleled, able to propagate a new trend across hundreds of lightyears in a matter of days.
Names
Zentian names often reflect the bubbly, percussive sounds of their language. They are typically short and lack the hard, guttural consonants of other species.
Example Names Gloop, P’lopp, Zizz, Splat’ik, Bub’l, Fthip, Ick-Ick
Beliefs
Zentian philosophy centers on the concepts of self-expression and the dynamic interplay between leadership and followership, freedom and conformity. Their entire society is a living debate on these dichotomies. Is it a greater form of expression to be a Curator, creating a new trend that sways the masses? Or is it greater to be a perfect Adherent, mastering and perfectly embodying a popular trend to strengthen the community? Is true freedom the ability to change your form and mind at any moment, or is it the liberty to find a perfect, comforting trend and commit to it? There are no right answers, only the ever-changing consensus of The Spectrum.
Popular Edicts Express your thoughts and opinions without restriction or hesitation. Stay actively engaged with the popular trends and ideas circulating in The Gallery. Share your significant experiences publicly, contributing your unique data to The Spectrum.
Popular Anathema Deliberately withhold important information or maintain a private life to the detriment of the collective. Actively work against a trend that has achieved overwhelming popular consensus. Refuse to support or amplify the Curator you have chosen to adhere to.
Mechanics
Hit Points
8
Size
Medium
Speed
20 feet
Attribute Boosts
Constitution, Charisma, Free
Attribute Flaw
Dexterity
Languages
- Zentian
- Common
- Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
Amorphous
Your body is a fluid protoplasm. You can move through spaces that are half your normal space’s width without needing to Squeeze, and you can Squeeze through spaces that are one-quarter your normal space’s width. You are also immune to effects that would knock you prone.
Pseudopods
You are able to produce up to two flexible arm-like appendages called pseudopods. Your pseudopods have a reach of 5 feet. You may use these pseudopods to Interact with and otherwise manipulate objects.
Viscous Anatomy
Your internal organs float freely within your body, making you resistant to precise attacks. You gain resistance to precision damage equal to half your level (minimum 1).