The Mordesh (Second Human Empire: Hamo Co'lpmor Oikk'looi) were a Humanoid species from the planet Grismara as one of the many natives of the Vuyi'uio Universe. They were once an elegant, blossoming civilization on the verge of joining the Dominion of Cassus because of their great achievements in alchemy. However, when Victor Lazarin's Everlife Elixir turned into the raving infection known as the Contagion, the Dominion turned on the Mordesh and trapped them on their planet with a quarantine blockade.
The survivors sought the aid of the rebel humans and, with their help, successfully smuggled many operatives and civilians out from Grismara. On Nexus they continue to serve as the eyes and ears of the Exiles, unleashing their dark and deadly arts upon the Dominion even as they scour Nexus for a cure to save their remaining brethren on Grismara.
The Mordesh became a member race of the Alliance of Nations for better treatment and survival.
Biology[]
Prior to the Contagion, uninfected Mordesh were a rather typical mammalian humanoid species. Minor differences between baseline humans and Mordesh included longer limbs, a cartilaginous skeleton, pointed "elf-like" ears, and little to no retention of body fat due to increased metabolic processes. These metabolic differences, in addition to more efficient digestive and respiratory systems, resulted in a much longer Mordesh lifespan as compared to that of baseline humans. A picture of Dr. Victor Lazarin before the Contagion shows him with light skin and black hair.
After the Fall and the ravages of the Contagion, Mordesh have a variety of sickly, pale, rotting skin, from blues, purples, greens, and even pinks. What little hair they have left is sparse, or replaced completely with mechanical decorations. Some Mordesh retain their original eyes, though most now have optic replacements; both take on the colour of their Vitalus serum.
One of the most striking features of the Mordesh are their mechanical body parts, usually filled with Vitalus serum or replacing a section that has completely rotted away. Though facial decorations may differ, a Mordesh will always have robotic parts at: their necks, shoulders forearms, the outside of their thighs, and the upper chest.
As a result of their rotting internals, all Mordesh speak with a gravely voice filtered through a voice modulator.
History[]
Until the last century, the Mordesh of planet Grismara had a flourishing civilization whose refinements in alchemy made them the envy of the galaxy. Having attracted the attention of the Dominion and been invited to join, their ongoing success was all but inevitable.
In 1578 AE (1345 NE), Victor Lazarin, widely acknowledged as the greatest alchemist in Grismaran history, announced his creation of the Everlife Elixir - a substance he claimed granted immortality. The Mordesh were convinced of Lazarin's brilliance, and the elixir was distributed worldwide. Yet cries of rejoicing soon turned to moans of despair. The elixir eventually became unstable, leading to necromantic physical degeneration coupled with a mindless cannibalistic rage.
It is said that in the Contagion’s first outbreaks, the casualties mounted too swiftly to be measured. The only certainty was that a civilization of billions lay within a hairsbreadth of extinction after just a few weeks. The Dominion response was a brutal and uncompromising quarantine, while below the Mordesh suffered and perished. While almost falling into the Contagion's madness himself, Lazarin created a temporary therapeutic treatment known as the Vitalus Serum. Despite failing to cure the disease, the serum suppressed its psychological symptoms and saved the few remaining Mordesh survivors.
In desperation, the Mordesh turned to the Exiles, who smuggled them piecemeal through the Dominion blockade. Forced by dwindling numbers and their hunted status to become practitioners of artifice and deception, they formed a covert intelligence group, the Black Hoods, to wage campaigns of sabotage and assassination against their enemies. Seen by the Exiles as an unsavory but necessary evil, the Mordesh now ply their dark arts on Nexus in hopes of finding a cure and wreaking vengeance on the Dominion who deserted them.
Culture and Society[]
Cursed with a degenerative disease after delving into the forbidden secrets of alchemy, the Mordesh have come to Nexus to find a cure. Being a space zombie can be complicated. Unleashing dark and deadly disciplines on the Dominion? Much simpler.
In spite of 80 or so years of living on the Exile fleet, the destruction of their entire civilization, and the ravages of the Contagion, Mordesh remain sophisticated and elegant. Their quiet, reserved demeanor are at a stark contrast to their chipper, active, and energetic allies. For example, a human wave is vigorously waving their entire arm high above their shoulder, a Mordesh wave would be slightly raising the hand just above the elbow and waving with just the fingers.
The tragedy that has befallen them has adversely affected their outlook on life, however. Rarely will you meet a Mordesh who is not dark, dour, and depressed. Despite these behavioral tendencies, the Mordesh value the tolerance and friendship of their Exile allies, and will vehemently defend them against their Dominion enemies.
In a calm state, Mordesh vocal texture is smooth, smoky, and almost haunted. When emotional, their voices become raspy whispers rather than shouts or roars. They can make the most mundane words sound darkly poetic and lyrical, filled with stylish and creepy death metaphors. Another unique trait of their speech is that it is almost always alliterative. There's a lovely lyrical lilt when a Mordesh speaks.
Desperate to find a cure for the Contagion that has ravaged their homeworld, the Mordesh have come to Nexus to seek aid wherever they can find it. If a cure cannot be found—whether among their allies in the Exiles, or within the ancient ruins of the legendary Eldan civilization—the Mordesh fear their civilization will be lost forever.