Plovian Variants (Telarez)

The first important difference noted by the Plovians in their reconnaissance of Earth was the presence of variants. We had them, they didn't.
    For whatever reason, the events that made human variants were not happening to the Plovians — Plovians struck by lighting, doused by chemicals or bathed in radiation just, well, died. No Plovian babies were born with powers, and Plovian magic was long abandoned. Why did we have actual variants and they didnít? No one knows for sure — the pollution of their atmosphere, the slight edge in racial age of humans, that selfsame lack of magic, no one knows. Plovian leaders knew from a decade of observation that variants would be their greatest obstacle, and Plovian scientists knew that the potential was there within their own people, laying dormant. Dozens, hundreds of their people volunteered for experimental testing to activate that dormant potential, the most dedicated and fanatic among them.
    The experiments were a qualified success: the subjects gained Gamma level variant powers, but also were condemned —the process grafted energy fields into the subject's bio-aura, and the unstable fields would kill them explosively within six months at the outside, though six weeks was the average. These were the alien kamikaze, the moritouri. Called Telarez, after a great warrior from the imperial age who blocked a rocky pass for hours while troops arrived, they were already dead, and had nothing to loose. This made them brave, but desperate.
    The Telarez were all of Gamma power level, some more powerful some less, but all within that rough power range. Given the common nature of their origin, the abilities they manifested were predictable —usually physical enhancement (leaning towards increasing strength and reflexes) and energy manipulation within their auras. This energy manipulation was limited to the areas of the Telarez' aura, though some had their auras greatly expanded. Still, range attacks were rare, but various Telarez could coat their bodies with fire, light, electricity, force, darkness and virtually any other form or absence of energy.
    Their unstable powers would fail them at times, or overload them at inopportune moments, leading to seizures and death. If placed under sever biological stress the odds of this increased, and at least one Telarez forced his death to prevent capture. As the war progressed the "older" members would die either in battle or as their powers overloaded, and the younger ones continually appeared more stable than their predecessors. With so many test subjects and so much riding on it, the Plovian scientists began to perfect the procedure, and came very, very close. Their last batch of Telarez, a score in all, still suffered from seizures, but would not die.
    Unfortunately for the Plovian cause, this last batch never saw action, as the Command and Control ship fell just 24 hours after the end of the empowerment procedure. The ship they were in was severely damaged, and only the enhanced Telarez and a few technicians survived the shockwave of unraveling space — the rest died, and the records and equipment were seriously damaged. No more of these soldiers would be made. The members of this last batch were kept with the rest of the surrendering population, since they had never seen action and had done no damage to Earth. The Telarez were treated as the rest of the surrendering population, cordoned off to the South Polar regions and watched over by the people they would have conquered.
    These days the Telarez are at loose ends; many stay in the Antarctic compounds, dubbed New Plovia by those who are making them home. Others are trying to integrate with human variants in a conventional, accepted fashion: joining variant teams usually, or attending human institutions of learning. A few have broken away entirely and joined rebel Plovian loyalist cells, or outlawed political groups for the conquest or salvation of Earth. There aren't files on all the 20 still living Telarez, but here are some

Ren Threl Aque - "Scorched Earth" (real name unknown)
A firm believer in the "Humanity needs help governing itself" school of thought from the Plovian military, Aque is an international environmental outlaw and occasional ally of Abyss (see the Aquarians) sharing his crusade. He's seen the devastation of one world, and will not sit idly by while another takes the same path to distraction. His powers are focused around his flame aura and vastly increased strength and reflexes. He is a canny opponent and a persuasive orator, more so since his goals—the protection of Earth—are noble. It's just that he'll go to any length, including murder, to attain them.

Shadowstorm - Windsong Greenlake
A poet and philosopher, he was the last chosen for the process, and the last one you would expect, save that he was genetically suitable. He is a pacifist, and is dedicating his life to the reconstruction of Plovian art and literature, and sharing it with their new human neighbors. He is one of the few Plovians accepted among humans, though some see him as a token. His powers are based on the negation of light within his aura, and ability to extend his aura over vast distances, and his senses with it. He claims his name is an accurate translation, but that's a stretch.

Arsenal - Vial Lynnor
Another ambassador to the human world, Vial has joined UNEarth, though prejudices are hard to overcome—especially since she is now part of the organization that her people's invasion created. Strong and fast, she can solidify force within her bio-aura, creating the melee weapons with which she is an expert, along with limited flight powers. She is a soldier and a Plovian patriot, and sees integration with honor as the only route for her people. She is based in France.

| Top |