Basai the Diruk's page

Basai is a quiet soul, observant and relatively peaceful. Shi takes the time to listen, to process, and weigh her thoughts before speaking. When shi does speak, shi doesn't waste words, although someone familiar with a Diruk would find the hisses and shifting crystal colours of Basai quite expressive. Loyal to those who display kindness and nobility, Basai makes sure to repay hir debts of kindness through action more so then through word. To those that do gain hir gratitude or loyalty, Basai is a protective individual, often stepping in as a shield. This has proven far more effective around fleshlings then among hir own people, however.

Hir wandering has also awakened a sense of curiosity about the world – humanity has spread far and wide, it seems but that also means that Basai needs to better learn how humanity works in order to choose an appropriate location for hir new colony. Shi also possesses a sense of humor to go with the curiosity as humans are so entirely bizarre, one couldn't help but find some entertainment in humanity's activities.

Finally, Basai is a budding philosopher, having been exposed to the culture of shock of two vastly different peoples. The question of why has become one of Basai's most pressing questions when it comes to the workings of humanity - why do they act as they do? Shi has her own morality but in comparison, it's difficult for hir to see similarities between the Diruk and Humanity.

Basai began hir life in western Matheunis, among a small community of the Diruk in the isolated desert near the Foundation Stones. They leaved peacefully, avoiding most other beings and defending their space when needed. Basai spent most of hir life among the sand and drit wandering with the rest of hir group. What few interactions shi had with non Diruk were awkward and baffling, either being met with a sense of wonderment or suspicion, not violence had only rarely found its way into the group.

Eventually, however, humanity began moving south and more people began to trespass on the Diruk's territory. Hunting of the Diruk increased, reducing their population dramatically as people harvested minerals, ores, and crystals from the odd creatures. Disinterested in staying put and becoming further prey, Basai chose to set out in search of a freer space and start a new colony out of humanity's reach.

Basai became a wanderer, traveling north and east through the desert, trying to avoid hunters and adventurers alike. Hir path took hir across a few trading routes between the Pythoran Empire and Nihilesh, leaving behind rumors of a lone Diruk walking the wastes. This caught the attention of hunters that set out to capture Basai.

The battle, when it joined, was fierce and Basai earned the respect of hir captors but was ultimately overpowered. The man in charge believed that a Diruk was worth more alive then dead and kept Basai subdued while shi was bundled back to Aian. The trade city was ruthless and turned a blind eye to the subjugation of the Diruk, forcing Basai into a life of heavy labour and frequent harvests. Hir owners prized the crystals that grew from it and fed Basai high quality ores to ensure shi continued to grow valuable gems. Isolated, confused, and under threat of death, Basai did as shi was bid while fostering a sense of hatred for the beings that 'owned' her.

Several months into hir term as a labourer, Basai's handlers took pity on the creature. Shi was not a talkative individual but would occasionally voice dissatisfaction with her situation. They began showing hir kindness, taking more surface crystals, and speaking respectively when in private. Their kindness was different from the rest of the humans it was surrounded by and it attempted to reach out, engaging in some short exchanges to try to figure out why they were being pleasant and to express hir gratitude. Shi even went so far as to defend one of the handlers in a brawl that broke out between hir owner's underlings. However, this did not go over well with said owner and was treated poorly for a period of time, further confusing the Diruk. The handler had appreciated hir help, but the owner had not liked that shi had critically injured the aggressor.

Basalt with Blue Apatite and Obsidian. Banded, striking, regal 6 feet 7 inches tall, limbs like twisted ropes of solidified lava. Warm to the touch. Feeding orifice in upper torso. Configured the 'head and neck' area to look humanoid – found people like to have somewhere to look at specifically. Quartz and Flourite crystals sprout from the shoulders and 'head' with large deposits where eyes would be on a head.

By Diruk standards, quite pretty and the high quality of its construction indicate an upper-class position among the Diruk. By human standards, quite odd in appearance, like moving, living solid lava.

When Basai sits, shi often looks like a volanic intrusion in the ground, a natural feature rather then a living being.

Reference Images:
Basic Body Shape | Ropy Lava / Basalt | Blue Apatite | Obsidian | Flourite | Rainbow Quartz

◘ Explore and develop understanding of human society from a Visitant point of view. Perhaps increase humans' understanding of Diruk culture.

◘ Develop a few non-combat skills such as Perception, Intimidation, Identifying, Geology, Numenera, Philosophy, Biology, Botany, or Astronomy to reflect character's travels through different cultures and experiences.

◘ Pursue a 'defender' style skillset in line with Basai's protective tendencies. Skill ideas: Danger Sense (T1), Goad (T1), Muscles of Iron (T1), Surging Confidence (T1), Block (T2), Bloodlust (T2), Quick Recovery (T2), Sense Ambush (T2), Skill with Defense (T2), Successive Attack (T2), Experienced Defender (T3), Inner Defense (T3), etc.

◘ Almost exclusively use an unarmed combat style, perhaps learning to shape and throw rock spikes as a projectile weapon. (Needs No Weapons path)

◘ Spend stat points mostly in Speed then Might to account for the speed-based skills if/when purchased.

When a diruk’s crystals shine green, it is pleased and happy. When they show red, it is angry to the point that it might use violence to solve its troubles. Blue suggests sadness, pink implies affection, yellow curiosity, and other colors signify moods and emotions beyond human capacity to understand.

It was Harvest time.

Basai could tell it was so because the heavy clunk-thunk of their repurposed drilling machinery was slowly making its way towards hir cell. The crystals of hir head and torso had grow substantial again, a size apparently perfect for the Owner's designs. It had been three months and still Basai had no idea who this 'Owner' was... some vague, shadowy figure who seemed to both admire and desire Basai's minerals.

Shi'd heard of other Diruk being captured, but her colony hand only encountered corpses before. This life of servitude and harvesting was completely unexpected and not at all welcome. Thought of the painful incisions made hir shudder with anger and fear, hir crystals fluttering through reds and blues. The door gears were engaged and the numenera device that it difficult to move despite hir enormous strength was turned down, allowing hir to move and sit up to roll hir shoulders. Rumbling with discontent, shi lifted hir head and levelled a resigned, unhappy gaze at hir handlers. The red lights faded into deep blues punctuated by violets and purples as a long, low hiss of steam escaped through a shoulder.

They made shushing noises, turned the device lower still, and held up their hands, “Sorry... you know the routine, we'll avoid your eyes and orifice today – your head crystals are big enough the boss'll be satisfied.” The young woman, heavily tatooed, offered an apologetic smile as shi hefted the hand held device and gestured for Basai to lower hir head.

“You've never given us trouble, poor thing.” The man shook his head and set a hand on hir shoulder, holding up a measuring stick to see the length of crystals, “These have grown quickly, you must be eating well at least...”

They began with light cutters, searing the stony flesh around the base of the purer crystals before moving on to metallic tongs as they cut through the crystals that adorned hir 'head' leaving flat, jagged and broken pieces where once a crystalline crown had grown. They took bits of shoulders, dug out a crystal sphere from hir chest, and chipped out a seam of obsidian that hissed and fizzed with steam as Basai groaned in pain.

Do they not realize I am not rock? shi wondered, heaving as one particularly deep incision managed to drill through hir natural armor, Why? The thought lingered in hir mind throughout the procedure before shi finally spoke, “Why? Why do you do this?” Hir audible voice was gravelly, confused, obviously pained as the numenera containing hir was switched back on and movement once more took great effort.

The pair looked sadly at hir, “Because we are told.” They were gone the next breath, the heavy door clicking back into place in their wake.

Three day later, Basai was assigned back to labour, hauling heavy goods from massive beasts into a warehouse. Armed individuals supervised, more concerned with any of hir missteps then any outside influences. They knew how to hurt hir, how to kill hir, and the only thing keeping them from doing so and grinding hir body to dust, were the valuable crystals that constantly regrew.

Basai sighed, a great rush of heated air escaping through a crevice in hir side. Humans baffled hir – if they had asked for trade, or stopped to talk, they might have earned themselves the crystals... but no, they seemed to thrive on pain and power. And yet, the two who had taken hir crystals earlier had seemed almost reluctant... that wasn't as easily chocked up to sadism or greed. Did that mean some humans weren't motivated by ugly things? The Diruk's colours flickered through a rainbow of colours and steam hissed from hir shoulders as shi mostly spoke to hirself. The abrupt change in appearance caught the attention of the guards and a sharp thorn of metal suddenly plunged into hir shoulder, cracking the skin and making the Diruk start.

“Get moving!” The guard yelled, waving his hand.

Basai adjusted the burden on hir back and shook hir head, “No danger.” The tone was sad, almost resigned as if shi thought the simple words might clarify hir behaviour.

Humans were proving to be most unpleasant creatures.

The sandstorm had taken a few hours to kick up but now it was a dark veil on the horizon, looming before Basai as shi walked through the Cold Desert. Shi loved sandstorms – they always polished hir skin and hir gems, leaving hir gleaming like no other weather did. Even the rain did to little to scour the ridges and polish the surfaces of hir body like a good sand blasting.

The humans shi'd passed earlier on had been quick to set up shelter when shi had excitedly told them of the brewing storm, expecting an echoing sense of joy. Instead, the fleshy beings had soured and looked worried as if a great beast were hunting them. Bizarre, really, to act so unhappy for a sandstorm. Shi had said as much, hir crystals flashing and steam venting animatedly but it had only intimidated the trio further and they had pulled their weapons. Not wanting conflict, Basai had moved on with a rumble and a baffled hiss of steam.

When the storm hit, the leading edge pressed against hir and made even the Diruk stagger a step or two before shi dug hir feet in and lifted hir arms to embrace the wind. It hissed along hir limbs, swooshed over hir shoulders, and blasted the surface of hir body until it was smooth and shiny. Shi did not know, nor care, how long shi stood embracing the storm as shi laughed and shimmered with joy at the feel of the wind currents around hir. Any wandered would have seen a statuesque thing issuing forth gouts of steam and flickering greens and whites and pinks in the crystals sprouting from hir body.

The great mane of crystals festooning hir head glimmered as the storm ebbed, hir body now buried up to hir knees. Shaking free of the drit and sand, the Diruk stepped up onto the new sand dune with a puff of steam as someone might step from a shower, refreshed. Rivulets of sands drained from the crevices between crystals revealing a newly polished mineral being and, regardless of species, the jaunty step could only be interpreted as one of high spirits.

This was not the place for a new colony, shi knew, but it would be a place to remember as one for a good storm.

Feeling joyful and glittering with greens, Basai leaned forward into a steady jog that made the ground beneath hir feet ripple and shake with the force.

It felt good to wander the desert plains.

Basai had been assigned to heavy labour today, heavier than usual. The crate shi was moving was marked 'fragile' but so heavy that even shi moved slowly. It almost feels like they're moving a mountain, shi thought as shi bore the brunt of the weight from the crate. It was as tall as a human and nearly as long, comprised of wood reinforced with synth and buckled straps were across each of the faces of the cube. It felt like whatever was inside was also dense enough to break through its container if it shifted suddenly. An ore sample, perhaps? Or some strange device the fleshlings are so fond of... If it was a device, shi was less interested... shi was not very good with the minutae of delicate instruments and it was a seldom occurrence things were either large or robust enough to withstand hir inspections.

The same theories were circulating among the overseers, inspiring them to shout nervously at Basai as shi lumbered slowly along, broad feet sinking into the dirt with each step. Shi was weary and fractured, like shi had been exposed to the temperature extremes of frost shattering. The most recent Harvest had been... thorough and painful. Hir owner had been down to observe, resplendent in posh, tailored clothes as if expecting someone, and had demanded extra gems and ore be extracted. Even the crystals that grew about hir orifice, often too irregular to be worth the handlers' time had been taken. Rough hewn and dull, dust sifted from between the cracks of hir limbs, steam puffing out in random spurts as shi huffed with tiredness. Hir crystals, what were left of them, shimmered deep blues and violets that often greyed out as Basai's mood swung low.

Sydney Mintz hadn't even granted the usual one day recovery buffer... whatever was going on was important enough to risk further injury to his prized living ore. Basai surmised that it was more about the goods than hir comfort. What little shi knew of humans allowed hir to extrapolate from there and guess that these goods, and the people associated with them, were somehow very important to Sydney. The Diruk rumbled thoughtfully as shi shifted the parcel on hir back, eliciting angry shouts from hir overseers. Shi was tough, yes, but the obviously did not realize shi was not the most flexible creature and carrying this big crate was awkward even for hir.

When shi reached the place the crate was to be stored, shi set it down with a big puff of steam and a flicker of positive colours before crouching in the sand. They'd only assigned the one crate thus far and shi fully intended to conserve hir strength. The crate teetered a bit, as if something inside had moved and Basai eyed it curiously. It was obvious that the contents were exotic... and possibly dangerous, given the nervous chattering of the nearby guards. For once their gazes weren't on hir, but the crate and none had chosen to stand near hir.

Whatever this crate was, it had given hir a rare moment of space and peace. Gingerly, shi reached out one rocky hand to touch the surface of the crate but before shi could make contact, a sharp lance struck hir arm, startling hir. Shi hissed a stream of steam, sharp and sudden, as shi reeled back, turning to regard the owner of the lance. That had hurt. “I am not a beast to pull around...” shi rumbled lowly, unimpressed. Shi had long lost hir tolerance of their misunderstanding hir – shi was different, not stupid. Hir crystals flashed orange and red, angry colours, as hir temper flared.

Shi stood then, hands balled into fists, and venting angry spurts of steam. The Diruk stood head and shoulders taller than most humans... an intimidating sight. “Stop pulling me around, direct or ask, not pull.” It was hir last attempt at diplomacy. Around hir, the guards shuffled nervously, gaze flickering between the one of their number unfortunate enough to raise the ire of the Diruk and Basai hirself... shi seldom rebelled but when shi did, things and people suffered significant damage.

Unfortunately, all shi received was a pair of lances deep into hir legs, making hir stumble as they pierced hir armor, causing hir to fall to hir knees. The guard that had impaled hir looked on impassively, “Unless you want one through your chest, I suggest you stop resisting.”

The anger that had gripped hir fled just as quickly as it had risen, leaving the Diruk hurting and tired on the ground. Stubbornly, shi lifted hir head to meet the gaze of the other with the empty sockets of hir 'eyes'. “I will put one in yours some day.” There was a definite derision in hir tone that earned a snerk of disgust from the guard.

“Watch this one. We want no trouble today, these... shipments are important to Lord Mintz. Them over that.” He gestured at Basai then moved on.

Basai remained on the ground a moment before pulling the lances out and setting them beside the crate. Shi could throw them, impale the guards... but they outnumbered hir and shi knew shi wasn't hale enough to fight the whole bunch. Had Syndey imposed such a brutal Harvest deliberately? If it had been routine, shi knew shi would be more able to wade through the fleshlings. Hir mood soured considerably as shi knelt beside the crate, wishing for the company of the handlers who were kind to hir... they patched hir up, sometimes.