| Zurite Package Deal | |
|---|---|
| Ability | Cost |
| +5 INT | 5 |
| +5 EGO | 10 |
| Life Support: (Longevity – immortality) | 5 |
| Mental Defence (2+EGO/5) | 2 |
| Psionic Powers (Typically 4d6 Telepathy) | 20 |
| Disadvantages | Value |
| None | 0 |
| Cultural Additions | |
| Homeworld Zurite | |
| -2 STR | -2 |
| Psychological Limitation: Zurite Pacifism (Common, Total) | -20 |
| Total Cost of Package: | 20 |
| Nomad Zurite | |
| Advanced Tech (ATRI 12 in a mostly ATRI 11 campaign) | 15 |
| Total Cost of Package: | 57 |
One of the most intriguing of the Ackalian subject species is the Zurites. Enigmatic and often philosophical, the Zurites are a species divided. The vast majority of them live in peaceful contemplation on their homeworld, while those who rejected the pacifistic way of life have become space nomads.
Tall, slender, nearly immortal blue-skinned humanoids, Zurites have large, grey, pupil-less eyes and no hair. All Zurites possess limited psionic abilities; some possess stronger powers, or more powers.
Zurite reproduction, which rarely occurs, involves a two-stage process. Young Zurites are liveborn and spend several years as burrowing grub-like creatures attached to the roots of certain trees. When the young Zurite has finally grown to about 30 kilograms in mass, it undergoes a metamorphosis into a preadult Zurite and emerges. Its parents then take it in and educate it. Zurites living away from Zur have developed special "gestation chambers" to take the place of the trees.
An old and dying world, Zur is a small planet, once Earthlike but now becoming increasingly cold and dry. Compared to Earth, it has large land masses and small oceans; land covers nearly half of Zur's surface. The Ackalians are systematically looting Zur, hoping to discover ancient relic technology or at least some items of value, but the Zurites apparently went to great trouble to return their world to a completely pretechnological state.
An ancient species with a history going back over a hundred thousand years, the Zurites at one time were a galactic power on about the same scale as the Mandaarians. But approximately ten thousand years ago, as a species they decided to return to a simpler way of life. After scouring their planet of all advanced technology, they began a life of contemplation, creativity, and philosophy at ATRI 3.
Not all Zurites accepted this change. They chose to abandon not their technological way of life, but their homeworld. Known as "nomad Zurites," they now travel throughout the Galaxy as traders, mercenaries, explorers, scientists, and diplomats. They enjoy working with other species and learning new things. As a group, they possess ATRI 12 technology, which they guard carefully.
Homeworld Zurites follow a code of total pacifism. They did not resist Ackalian conquest of their world and refuse to rebel against them. They do practice a kind of passive resistance, however: Zurites don't obey Ackalian orders unless they choose to, and if the Ackalians use executions and torture to try to enforce their will, the Zurites bear it calmly.