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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8104046" data-attributes="member: 30538">Isakari<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-k5q7gBK/0/c13f87b0/S/oneuglymotherf-S.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />As with many other generally hostile species, the name Isakari was assigned to these hunters by those hunted by them. What they call themselves remains something of a mystery, and likely to remain so, as they do not appear to have a spoken language, and their written one remains cryptic. For most of the history of their interactions with other species, it was assumed that they were telepathic with each other, but psychic nullifiers have been shown to have no effect on them. The current belief is that they communicate with each other through a combination of gestures and scent cues, and that they don't bother 'talking' very much.Their home world is believed to be located not far from Chirab (the home of the Chiraben humans) in the regions of space unclaimed by either the Imperium or the Technate. Chirab has long been the site of the Isakari's hunting expeditions, especially with its increasing desertification. The Isakari definitely prefer hot climates to cold ones, and have been known to withdraw in the face of unexpectedly cold weather, even if their hunt has produced no game.These hunts appear to be the Isakari's only interaction with other species. They do not seem to regard any other life form, regardless of demonstrated intelligence, as a person, and have no compunctions about killing them for sport or for food. (It is known that they consider the brains of intelligent life forms to be something of a delicacy.) Presumably, there are Isakari who are not hunters, but if they exist then they remain on their home world. Any Isakari found elsewhere will be engaged in the task of hunting and killing other sapients.However, the majority of the Isakari seem to observe certain proprieties in their hunts. The primary focus of their honor appears to be self-reliance; they normally operate alone rather than in groups, and when hunting in parties they will compete with each other rather than cooperate. They do not engage in torture; their victims are killed quickly and cleanly, though they will often mutilate the corpses to claim a trophy. They have a demonstrated aversion to killing lifeforms who give birth, but this should not be misunderstood as a reluctance to kill their young, if they find it to be a sufficient challenge or are in need of food. Lastly, but perhaps most significantly, any being who succeeds in killing an Isakari is off-limits to others of their kind.At least, that is how it's supposed to work. From Technate reports of encounters with the Isakari, it has become clear that an increasing minority of their kind regard these proprieties as obsolete or pointless. These Isakari do operate in groups, and are perfectly willing to cripple their victims to use them as bait. And they apparently view killing those who have overcome others of their kind as a challenge to be eagerly met.This would probably not be relevant to anyone's concerns, had the Isakari not begun using Earth as a hunting ground. Their earliest documented visit to the planet was in 2012, when one of them hunted in Chicago during that year's heat wave, crossing paths with Darkwing in the process. While seriously injured in their clash, the crime fighter was able to recover and defeat the hunter, which committed suicide when he refused to kill it. The body was reclaimed by a group of its fellows, whose ship disappeared using a cloaking mechanism. Shortly thereafter, one engaged in a hunt outside of Hespera, and was killed by the Hesperan called Nzarde after the loss of several lives.Subsequent encounters have led Argus to determine that this group of Isakari has remained on Earth, apparently based out of Bhutan, and have hunted prey all across Earth's hottest regions, as well as making trips to Venus. The prospect that these hunters might become infected with the Psilofyr fungus and bring it back to Earth is a very concerning one, as is the way that they keep making visits to the Sahara, which do not apparently involve hunting anything. The purpose of these trips is a question that Argus, and a number of other groups, would like answered.Isakari -- PL 11Abilities:STR 5 | STA 7 | AGL 4 | DEX 6 | FGT 12 | INT 1 | AWE 4 | PRE 1Powers:Alien Senses: Senses 5 (accurate acute tracking scent, low-light vision) - 5 pointsArsenal: Array (19 points); Removable (-4 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Explosive Trap: Burst Area Damage 6, Trigger - 19 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Hunting Blades: Strength-based Damage 3; Feature (+2 to track injured target) - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Plasma Caster: Ranged Damage 9, Accurate - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Snare Rocket: Ranged Affliction 9 (Resisted by Dodge, Overcome by Damage; Hindered & Vulnerable, Defenseless & Immobile), Accurate, Extra Condition, Limited Degree - 1 point</li> </ul>Cloak: Concealment 5 (normal hearing, normal sight, radio), Blending; Removable (-1 point) - 4 pointsFast: Enhanced Advantage 2 (Improved Initiative 2); Leaping 3 (60 feet); Movement 1 (Sure-footed); Speed 3 (16 MPH) - 10 pointsSneak Attack: Strength-based Damage 2, Limited to targets who are vulnerable or defenseless - 1 pointAdvantages:Assessment, Equipment 11, Evasion, Great Endurance, Hide in Plain Sight, Improved Critical (Hunting Blades), Improved Initiative 2, Improved Trip, Improvised Weapon, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Precise Attack (Ranged, Cover), Ranged Attack 5, Skill Mastery (Stealth).Equipment:Body Armor (Protection 3)Space Ship: Size Colossal; Strength 16; Speed 12 (air/space); Defense 2; Toughness 13; Features Cloak (Concealment 10 [all senses]), Star Drive (Movement 2 [space travel 2]) - 52 points Skills:Athletics 6 (+12), Close Combat: Unarmed 2 (+14), Deception 10 (+11), Expertise: Survival 12 (+13), Insight 8 (+12), Perception 10 (+14), Stealth 10 (+14), Vehicles 6 (+12)Offense:Initiative +12Unarmed +14 (Close Damage 5, 7 with sneak attack)Hunting Blades +12 (Close Damage 7, 9 with sneak attack, Crit 19-20)Plasma Caster +13 (Ranged Damage 9)Snare Rocket +13 (Ranged Affliction 9, Resisted by Dodge)Explosive Trap -- (Burst Area Damage 6)Defense:Dodge 12, Parry 12, Fortitude 9, Toughness 10/7, Will 9Totals:Abilities 82 + Powers 37 + Advantages 27 + Skills 27 + Defenses 15 = 188 pointsComplications:Bloodlust--Motivation. Can't Speak, Only Imitate Speech. Hunter's Code (or possibly not). Vulnerable (cold).</blockquote>

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