Barbarians

Physical Appearance and Traits

Barbarians are excessively weak and fairy-like. They universally wear spotless white jumpsuits, and their ships possess no artificial gravity. It has been theorized that, since they separated from humankind before such technology came into being, they were instead forced to evolve for an entirely space-based existence. It seems that all Barbarians are brown-haired and green-eyed.

Although Barbarians never consort with the groundbound, and are indeed never anything but hostile to them, extensive Barbarian autopsies have often been carried out. The results have been somewhat surprising. It appears that the Barbarian genetic line diverged from that of the bulk of humanity more than 7,000 years ago. . . which of course makes no sense whatsoever. The more accepted theory is that they have been separated from the bulk of humanity for a much shorter, but still significant time, and have evolved in such a way that genetics as applies to humans is no longer accurate when it comes to Barbarians.

Ships

The ships of Barbarians are in almost no way uniform, and a vessel is as likely to have been pieced together from asteroids and scrap as it is to be a sleek and strangely advanced design, all gentle curves and smoothly ambiguous technology. There is no standardization for design, and no two ships are exactly alike. Still, there are tendencies and general styles to Barbarian ships, such as the lack of viewports or an overly sleek look.

Barbarians have only on extremely rare occasions built a ship of considerable size - the largest common variety is a small frigate. Still, Barbarians travel in packs, and can be fearsome to the larger groundbound ships or even fleets.

There are sightings of actual Barbarian capital ships - five confirmed ships, all carriers. These are always accompanied by Barbarian fleets of unprecedented size - the unorganized race rarely come in packs of more than a dozen. One of these ships has been destroyed, though it was done by another Barbarian capital ship, the Warwomb, during the capture of the Warwomb. The Warwomb is, in fact, the only Barbarian ship to ever be captured or salvaged.

This is due to what is perhaps the only feature shared by all Barbarian ships. After some trigger is activated - it is unknown what - a Barbarian ship will essentially gut itself of all technology or systems. Form the release of chemicals, electrical overloads, or actual explosions, nothing but a tattered shell is ever left of a Barbarian ship. This includes any successful boarding attempt.

Behaviour

Barbarians travel alone or, more often, in small packs of fighters or occasional frigates. Occasional sightings of enormous Barbarian fleets are often reported, but only rarely confirmed. In combat, Barbarians behave as consummate raiders - relying on the superiority of numbers, surprise, and speed. Barbarians never show mercy or take prisoners. They murder, burn, and pick up the remains.

Rarely, Barbarians collect into massive fleets and rampage throughout enormous sectors of the galaxy. Often targeting the greatest, grandest civilizations, interfering in existing military conflict, or even fighting each other, these fleets eventually decay and break apart, but often last for decades.

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