Prometheans are a large, humanoid race native to Phase World. They maintain peaceful, neutral relations with every other species in the Three Galaxies, due to their control over Phase World and their monopoly on phase technology. They are the only species to possess either phase technology or innate phasing powers.
Biology[]
Anatomy[]
Prometheans are humanoids with stone-gray skin and a muscular, blocky build. They have no noses and large, solid black eyes, giving them a superficial resemblance to mythological grays. First stage prometheans are 7-10 feet tall and weigh 300-800 pounds. Second stage prometheans are considerably larger, ranging from 15 to 30 feet tall and weighing 4-6 tons, and are generally on the upper end of that range. Due to their phase abilities, second stage prometheans sometimes appear to subtly shift in appearance, appearing to change in size or fade partly out of existence.
Diet[]
The promethean diet is not known with precision. However, much of Phase World's promethean population lives as farmers, implying an omnivorous diet similar to humans.
Life cycle[]
Prometheans do not appear to have genders, so it is unknown how they reproduce. First stage prometheans are "immature" members of the species, but are as smart and capable as the adults of most other species. They can remain in this state for a very long, possibly indefinite, period of time, until they pass a Test of Maturity, generally involving great danger and benefiting numerous other people. Once this test is passed, the promethean enters an Initiation Temple. If it returns, it returns as a second state promethean. Prometheans of either stage can live for at least several thousand years, and may be biologically immortal.
Powers and Abilities[]
Prometheans all possess innate psionic powers and phase abilities, although they vary greatly in power by stage. They are always partly phased out of reality, allowing them to harmlessly disperse the energy of attacks.
First Stage[]
First stage prometheans cannot wholly negate damage, but they can still disperse it, greatly weakening any incoming attack regardless of power. Unlike their elders, they are still made of non-magical flesh and blood and can be injured by weak, mundane weapons such as swords. They can also phase completely out of reality, allowing them to effectively teleport by moving at great speed in an intangible state, and can sense dimensional anomalies. They wield supernatural strength, and also possess telepathic and empathic abilities.
Second Stage[]
Second stage prometheans are far more powerful than their "children." Their strength and physical durability far exceed those of first stage prometheans. Their phasing powers are much more advanced, allowing them to disperse all the energy of weaker attacks and to greatly minimize the damage from all others. They can use their phase abilities to teleport themselves over much greater distances than first stage prometheans, and can also teleport themselves to other dimensions. They also wield more numerous and more powerful psychic and phase abilities than their younger kin.
Technology[]
Promethean technology revolves around the principle of "phasing" out of normal space. The phase fields used for their technology use an unknown form of energy called PH-waves, which surround a targeted object and render it "out of phase." This can be used to damage, shield, or transport objects and living things. Prometheans are the only species able to operate phase technology.
Phase drive[]
Phase drives are a form of FTL propulsion that uses phase fields to partially phase the entire starship. This allows the ship to ignore a number of physical laws, such as the light-speed barrier. A ship using a phase drive can reach many thousands of times the speed of light with normal propulsion, and with high-end propulsion systems a phased ship can reach speeds of ten light-years per hour.
Weaponry[]
Phase fields can be used as weapons. Some promethean weapons are firearms that project phase fields onto a target, bypassing armor (but not force fields) to disrupt the organic tissue beneath. Promethean melee weapons have a phase field surrounding them, allowing them to do heavy damage to anything they strike. Phase weapons largely ignore the physical durability of targeted objects.