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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8605517" data-attributes="member: 30538">Gebela<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-HT7cj7L/0/ff1b2501/M/75b09d5505164ab08d3bdf9fafcacf55-M.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Professor Adossegm RogrigamPerhaps because their early history -- like that of Chiraben humanity (and like Terran humanity as well) -- was largely shaped by the rivers of their home world, Gebel historians often view time itself as a river, with a course that can be changed by external factors; unlike other species, who take it for granted that things could only have happened as they did, Gebela contemplate the "what ifs" as much as they do the "what was". Perhaps the greatest of their "what ifs" is the question of what could have happened had the Manguai not discovered their home world fairly early in their exploration, something that even the Manguai concede was an accident. Would they have been able to stand alone as a fourth great power? Would that have delayed the start of the Imperium, or brought about its rise earlier?At the time of that first contact, the Gebela had begun to explore their solar system, sending robotic probes to one of the three moons that orbits Hacadikem. They were excited to learn that they were not alone in the universe. Like so many other peoples, they were quick to trade the material wealth of their solar system in exchange for the star drive and other technology that could allow them to explore and learn more. But some canny negotiator among the Gebela managed to persuade their fellows to ask for the rights to those resources to revert to them after a few centuries. The Manguai negotiators hurriedly agreed to these terms; they may have planned to put the Gebela further in their debt later, but events did not play out that way.In the meanwhile, Gebela explorers charted nearby sectors of space far more thoroughly than the Manguai did, selling the astromomical data and resource rights to their patrons and generally making themselves useful. In the process, they, not the Manguai, made first contact with the Vautaro, and dealt with them far more peacefully than their patrons might have done. Many Gebela became enchanted by the mystical world view of their new associates, and became the first non-Vautaro students to study with them. They did not realize that the Manguai would see this as a betrayal of their client status, that this would spark the first great war in this region of space. Could they have? Perhaps.Regardless, the first war was brief by comparison to those which would follow, but still horrifying to the Gebela. Those of them who were loyal to their Vautaro mentors and those who honored their Manguai patrons met in secret and discussed these events, and resolved that, regardless of their philosophies, Gebel would never again fight Gebel, no matter what. There are those who wonder whether this agreement might have resulted from the influence of the Geretil, who observe a similar ethic and are known to have tried to persuade other species to embrace it. Regardless, the Gebela commitment to this principle lasted for centuries.It lasted right up until the rise of technomancy, which proved to be every bit as appealing to the Gebela as mysticism had been before it, dividing their species as surely as it did the rest of the Imperium. In the fury of the Schism Wars, their ethic was abandoned, and immense damage done to Hacadikem in the process. When all was said and done, the surviving Gebela almost uniformly joined the Armada -- in fact, it is sometimes claimed that their shipyards contributed two in every five of the ships that transported the exiles away from the Imperium, more than any other species -- with only a handful of those profoundly loyal to the mystic order remaining behind.In the Technate, the Gebela embraced the sciences, setting aside both technomancy and mysticism. The stereotype of the Gebela is a multidisciplinary scientist who has a list of degrees longer than their arms who professes at an academy. As with most stereotypes, this is nonsense; there are not nearly enough academies or teaching positions for that, and there are Gebela who run small businesses, manage agricultural projects and provide transportation for hire. That said, even the cab drivers will probably be better educated than most of their Chiraben passengers.Perhaps the most famous Gebel in recent history has been Adossegm Rogrigam, formerly the Chief Engineer of the TSV Adventure during its legendary voyages. After supervising the refit of the ship, he accepted a position as Dean of Engineering at the TSA Academy, passing on the lessons he learned from the often deadly missions he had survived. The Professor has also remained in communication with his former shipmate Otodevol, who keeps him informed about the parts of their current activities that do not feature in official reports. When he learns, from one source or another, about the damage that "his" ship has suffered while defending Earth during the recent Konan invasion, his first impulse will be to travel there to assist in the repairs. Whether that will be permitted remains to be seen.While the Gebelaare an amphibious species, they are strictly fresh water dwellers, unlike their former Manguai patrons who can exist in both. Much like the slugs they somewhat resemble, Gebela suffer dehydration when exposed to salt, and can die from this if they do not rehydrate quickly. (Deliberately salting them is considered attempted murder under Technate law.) It should also be noted that the Gebela, again like slugs, are hermaphroditic, but uniformly use male pronouns when speaking Technate Standard for the sake of convenience. Gebel Scientist -- PL 4/MR 4Abilities:STR 0 | STA 0 | AGL 1 | DEX 1 | FGT 1 | INT 6 | AWE 4 | PRE 1Powers:Amphibious: Movement 1 (environmental adaptation [aquatic]); Senses 1 (low-light vision); Swimming 2 (2 MPH) - 5 pointsSlime: Environment 1 (impede movement 2), Limited Uses - 1 pointAdvantages:Equipment 6, Improved Initiative, Second Chance (Aid checks).Equipment:Protective Uniform (Protection 4, Subtle), Stunbeamer (Ranged Affliction 5 [Fortitude; Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated]) and 15 points as needed.Skills:Expertise: Galactic 2 (+8), Expertise: Science 3 (+9), Insight 2 (+6), Perception 3 (+7), Persuasion 4 (+5), Ranged Combat: Stunbeamer 2 (+3), Technology 1 (+7), Vehicles 3 (+4).Offense:Initiative +5Unarmed +1 (Close Damage 1)Stunbeamer +3 (Ranged Fortitude 5)Defense:Dodge 4, Parry 2, Fortitude 3, Toughness 4/0, Will 5.Totals:Abilities 28 + Powers 6 + Advantages 8 + Skills 10 + Defenses 8 = 60 pointsOffensive PL: 4Defensive PL: 4Resistance PL: 4Skill PL: 4Complications:Discovery--Motivation. Susceptibility (salt.) Others as Needed.Note: This is a typical Gebel scientist; there are exceptional individuals who have higher INT scores and higher skills, often in much more specialized Expertises than I normally use for characters. However, it is rare to find one with a total skill bonus of greater than +14. Professor Rodrigam, a PL 8 character, has Expertise: Science +12 and Technology +13, along with comparably higher skills in other areas.</blockquote>

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