Kirr Tol: nature's Napoleons

originally a race of hulking beetles (known as kirr) that were ruled over a single queen, the kirr tol came into being as smaller but far more cunning insectoids. They became more numerous and were used for their intelligence, but they managed to conceal the fact that they held free will. When they were populated enough, they overthrew their queen, banished their burly overlords, and created a practical empire ready to fight for their right to exist freely. They make up for their tiny size by applying superbly inventive nature and unbreakable focus to stay at the peak of technology.



Stats: Quickness +3, Intelligence +4, Reflex +2, Will +3, Awareness +2, Toughness -3, Mana -3, Luck -2, Charisma -3, Strength -3. While small and lightweight, kirr tol are brilliant, quick, and fiercely determined.



Biology: possessing one of the more unique organic makeups, kirr tol are frail-bodied and brittle boned. They have a unique number of organs, some of which are genuinely useless. They possess a set of mandibles inside their mouths, which are extended when eating and used internally for speaking their language properly. Kirr tol have a very high regenerative rate, where a wounded kirr tol can recover from nearly anything in a few days' time if left alive. They have short claws, which were once used for burrowing, but have been rendered fairly ineffective compared to their machines. They have larger than normal heads, which mostly are used to process functions such as their advanced metabolism and regeneration. Kirr tol seem biologically and technologically advanced, but will never be able to stack up to others in physical prowess. Kirr tol have very flexible spines, which seem to be evolved to suit their life of carrying their mechanical backpacks.

Kirr tol, remarkably, have females, but no need for sexual reproduction.

Genders: breeding is done through a single cluster of eggs that duplicate under concentrated heat. So long as this remains tended to, there is no need for direct reproduction between the kirr tol. This proves remarkable, because the eggs spawn a number of females as well as males. They are primarily only noted to possess sleeker, sharper features, and less angular antennae. They are treated as perfect equals in their society, having no sexual issues to deal with. However, it is commonly noted that females tend to be slightly more intelligent and less aggressive than most. They still share the same dynamic pride of all kirr tol, as this is what seems to establish them above all else.

Youth: after hatching in their egg cluster, a kirr tol is taken to a care center where they are raised and taught by designated parent-like units. A kirr tol chooses their own name as it grows up, since they have no actual parents, and it is believed to be their first sentient thought and decision. While in care, they are taught various basic mechanics and are given their mechanical packs shortly after they learn to walk. Kirr tol reach are capable of work after roughly 10 months, and their instincts at that point drive them to tinker and serve the hive, so they have no objections to starting on simpler work. They advance to various roles as they have the urge and prove themselves more useful over time.

Diet: kirr tol, as mentioned earlier, have superior metabolisms to most creatures. They make little food last long periods, and they tend to only need a meal every day or two. They produce little waste, and have tendencies towards eating vegetables or smaller insects, since meat tends to be less affective in catching. Kirr tol have little concern for things such as cooking and flavor, and so dishes are quite uncommon. Kirr tol food is mostly raised inside their hives, mostly varieties of subterranean plants with a long shelf life, plenty of minerals, and fairly high sugar content.

Names and Language: names are often heavy with consonants, and frequently made up of single syllables. They have no last names, and names seem to have no consistency among one gender. Examples include Skloodg, Blitch, and Ginj. Their language is harsh and contains frequent and erratic rises and falls in volume and tone. It is complex, and sometimes accompanied by antennae movement for emphasis. Humanoids and other races often note that while they can speak it, it involves a lot of spitting with human tongues and lips. On a related note, kirr tol rarely gain a perfect grasp of English, as there are tones that are unavoidable and instinctive when translating into common speech.

Territory: the kirr tol primarily call their hive to the far northeast home, christened Kirr Ha ever since their revolutionary victory. They permit outsiders to visit freely, mostly out of concern for trade and information. The kirr tol consider themselves experts at war, but are sportsmanlike about it and allow potential enemies to visit freely. There are no known other hives in existence, since their eggs are difficult to transport, and so their hive is quite huge. It is similar to a giant anthill, various well-lit caves and tunnels linked in a maze that travels above and beneath the surface. Kirr tol have some colonies throughout the world, but only for trade and resource gathering rather than civilization. Given the kirr tol nature, few people have ever dreamed of assaulting the hive.

Psychology: kirr tol have been driven by the fact that their minds led them to overthrow their former tyrant, and so they have amazing faith in their mental prowess. Their mechanical packs seem to add to their megalomania and fierce pride, giving them the illusion of height from the robotic appendages. Their faith in their race seems unshakable due to their history of successful warfare, and have more pride in their combat prowess over anything else. Similarly, their regenerative abilities leave them with a feeling of invincibility until they are already dead.

A kirr tol "PAK" in action

Technology: kirr tol are among the most advanced races, technologically. Only possibly comparable to the humanoids or the mard, though both make note to work closely with the kirr tol to make use of their ideas as well. Kirr tol will often gladly sell their inventions, so long as they are sure that they can not only make another, but can make a better one. Kirr tol weaponry, construction/destruction equipment, and everyday household items can be bizarre for other races to try and operate, especially since they are customized for the kirr tol's smaller builds and reaches. Their best-known invention is certainly their backpacks, sometimes identified as PAKs (Private Armament Kit). These devices are fitted on kirr tol during infancy, armed with spidery steel legs and a number of tools and weapons, most of which will be added by the kirr tol themselves. This is considered almost vital to a kirr tol, and some have theorized that one will biologically start to die without it, though this may be a misinterpretation of their general reliance on the device. While kirr tol frown on excessive magic outside of the occasional cleric, they can sometimes combine it with their technology. They tend to be skeptical about this as a whole, as magical energies are less understood and harder to be scientific about. Kirr tol technology often carries a risk, as the common opinion in the world is that the more complicated something is, the more likely it is to explode.


Politics/Law: kirr tol have a very clear-cut class system, which is established by how useful the individual is. As for leadership, a high ruler is selected by challenging predecessors. Kirr tol can defeat them in battle, either by challenge or ambush, or simply challenge them in an invent-off to match their intellect. The latter is favored, since they have little respect for brute strength. It is presumed that the first options must be achieved by overcoming the original leader’s established defensive devices and own personal weapons, indicating their killer as their wiser. Despite this, kirr tol have a very loyal organization, all contributing to their hive by instinct. Punishments are fairly common for those who break the common regulations of the kirr tol, and second offenses are rare. This is because the leading punishments are exile or, in a fairly distant second, execution. Death is avoided, because all should still have a use.



Religion: kirr tol fanatical nature encourage a strong religious life. They often dedicate themselves to one god or another, most commonly Gode of the earth (for their mining and tunnels) or Grizzell of war. Some also may find themselves following Cerberus or Midor, though the earlier can tend to collide with the normal kirr tol lifestyle. They are one of several races smiled upon by Grizzell personally.


Entertainment: kirr tol put little stock in entertainment, as they feel there is always work to do. However, in this endless labor, they find their own ways of entertainment. Many disputes are solved through invent-offs, which always draw large crowds. They also take on warfare, research, and tinkering as hobbies rather than tasks, which help keep them curious and sharp.


Interspecies Relations: kirr tol tend to be bothered by other species, in the sense that they are essentially just in the way. They would rather harvest trees themselves than purchase wood off of another race, but do see the value of politics and may trade technology and services for resources and alliances. People tend to see the kirr tol as paranoid and loud, not unlike Chihuahuas. People still acknowledge that their numbers are tremendous, and so allowing them some bragging rights seems like an easy sacrifice for peace.


Warfare: kirr tol, while not inherently violent, are ambitious and take incredible pride in their warfare. They often customize their packs for specialized combat, and they are almost unavoidably trained in combat during their upbringing, including close quarters maneuvers with their cybernetic legs. Kirr tol will use their advanced technology at a range, but in closer quarters, they favor the swarming technique. Not only does it favor their numbers, but the ensuing panic causes their wounded to be less likely to be finished off, and so they can eventually heal and remain as solders for another day. They are one of the most feared organized armies on the planet.