“Of course! Graviton wave compression! Dark matter duodecim! Tachyons! If only we’d realized!“ -Wisek Wopli, 2296

Even when standing absolutely still–something that's almost impossible for the creature to do–a T'sa (pronounced “t-sah”) conveys an impression of speed, sharp reflexes, and constant activity. Standing 1.4 meters tall, a T'sa is lightning-quick, with a fast mind to match his fast body. Sleek, with a reptilian form and the legs of a runner, a T'sa has a fine covering of interlocking scales that provide a modicum of natural protection. Most humans find T'sa, with their expressive eyes and child-like exuberance, to be extremely likeable.

For an in-depth look at the T'sa: The World of the T'sa

A T'sa has a natural curiosity and an affinity for all things technological. He's a consummate tinkerer, disassembling devices to discover how they work and to find ways to improve them. T'sa have an undeserved reputation among humans for being overly naive, due to their infectious cheerfulness.

T'sa companions are a boon to any adventuring group. Their cheerfulness and good will never falters, and their desire to know every secret can be contagious–though this behavior can get a T'sa into all kinds of trouble. Once a T'sa joins a group, he stays with it through thick and thin, usually bonding with at least one member as a lifelong friend.

Everything a T'sa does, he does quickly. he's always on the move, always asking questions, always seeking answers. Although he's often misunderstood, a T'sa is nonetheless eager to please and make friends.

T'sa make great technicians, doing especially well as engineers and inventors. This species can also be found in fair abundance within all other professions, but T'sa very seldom aspire to be soldiers, because it isn't in their nature to be violent or physically harmful.

All t’sa share the following traits:

• Type: Humanoid (reptilian, t’sa)
• Size: Small. T’sa gain a +1 size bonus to Defense, a +1 size bonus to attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks. They take a –4 penalty on grapple checks. Their carrying limits are three-quarters of those of a Medium-sized character.
• Ability Modifiers: -2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. T’sa are nimble and charming, but not particularly strong or discreet.
• Speed: 30 feet. Despite their size, t’sa move quickly.
• Natural Armor: T’sa natural body armor grants a +1 natural armor bonus to Defense.
• Skill Bonus: T’sa love to tinker with technology. They gain a +2 species bonus on Disable Device and Repair checks.
• Free Language Skills: Read/Write T’sa, Speak T’sa, Read/Write Galactic Standard, Speak Galactic Standard.
• Level Adjustment: +0

• Homeworld: Taasa, T'sa Cluster
• Current Population: 80 billion, highest within the T'sa Cluster, a protectorate of the Galactic Concord (88%)
• Average Lifespan: 90 years
• Average Height: 4' 7”
• Average Weight: 88 lbs.
• Biochemistry: Series Ic.
• Enviornment: Class I.
• GRAPH: G2/R1/A3/P3/H2.
• Biome: Any.
• Organization: Balkanized subracial states.
• Niche: Advanced terraformer/manufacturer.
• Intellegence: Starfaring sentient.

Rising from a world that resembled Earth's prehistoric era, except that dinosaurs were never replaced by mammals as the dominant species, the T'sa evolved into an intelligent species. Their history had ups and downs, high periods and low, but eventually the T'sa developed a technological society. Spurred on by natural curiosity and an undeniable lack of patience, the T'sa compiled a substantial list of accomplishments and even established a star-spanning society.

By the time humans discovered faster-than-light travel, the T'sa had already founded a stellar empire. Consisting of five star systems in relatively close proximity to each other, the T'sa Cluster bustles with the energy of billions of T'sa doing whatever it is T'sa do–and doing it quickly. They have begun to expand beyond this domain, but they aren't an aggressive species. They are motivated by a simple desire to see what lies in the next star system rather than by greed, power, or expansionism.

Humans got lucky. That's the only explanation the t'sa will accept. They lucked into the discovery of dark matter physics and the mass reactor less than a century after discovering the fusion generator. They lucked out again when, having only just begun space exploration, an older, wiser species simply handed them working knowledge of gravity technology. And luck blessed humanity a third time - again with fraal assistance-with the largely accidental invention of the stardrive.

The t'sa did it the hard way, without the helping hands of friends and fortune. The t'sa built up their expertise and civilization over 20 millennia-longer than human history even pretends to remember. The t'sa were developing their solar system while humans were erecting tetrahedrons in the desert. When humans confirmed that their world was indeed round, the t'sa sent their first robotic probes into the depths of interstellar space. And around the time humanity detonated an atomic bomb, the first t'sa colonists fell into a deep cryogenic sleep and began their voyage to nearby stars.

When humans met the t'sa in 2296, the t'sa had claimed five star systems near their homeworld. A group of independent explorers were the first to meet the t'sa, and that may be the one bit of blind luck that t'sa society has had. Even though fate blessed humanity with the stardrive, none of humanity's young stellar nations could press a clear claim to the t'sa and their stars. T'sa independence was the spark that lit the First Galactic War. Standing on the sidelines, the t'sa observed their fascinating new neighbors,and slowly made friends.

It was a challenge for both species. The t'sa disliked human arrogance, nationalism, and belief in a manifest human destiny for the galaxy. They're rightfully proud of their accomplishments as a people.As for humans, even the most enlightened were unprepared for a species that demanded equal consideration. With the exception of the fraal, humanity was used to loftily dispensing freedom to the species it encountered.

The t'sa weren't about to take handouts from anyone, and they didn't sit idly by while humans colonized the galaxy. They took the opportunity during both galactic wars to settle a few new systems with their own fast driveships. These planets were settled with incredible speed, because their ships could each carry millions of t'sa settlers in cryogenic sleep in their cargo holds, eliminating the need for life support by treating the settlers like bulk goods. Soon swarms of hard-working colonists were raising t'sa cities on new worlds. Within a few months, tens of millions of t'sa could settle a world or an entire system. When humanity looked around after GW1, the T'sa Cluster had expanded by three densely populated new worlds. After GW2, the t'sa had settled fifteen more. Today, the T'sa Cluster numbers twenty-three worlds, and the t'sa have petitioned the Concord to settle forty-one new worlds in nearby Concord space. The case is currently under review.

The t'sa today aren't totally content, but they can be proud that no human government presumes to govern for them. Officially, the T'sa Cluster is a protectorate of the Galactic Concord. For all practical purposes, the t'sa have complete independence within their space. The t'sa also have standing invitations to become citizens of any stellar nation. Almost a tenth of the t'sa have left their homelands behind to join human affairs.

Exciting humans provide an answer to t'sa restlessness. The t'sa, more than any sentient species, are a curious people. They like to know, to find things out, to discover. To many t'sa, humanity's scientific and stellar explorations are irresistible. It's impossible not to join in.

Free of human patron…

While the T'sa cluster…

T'sa characters may be…

Self-employed T'sa…

Of all the intelligent aliens…

The t'sa were…

Today the T'sa Cluster

T'sa are smaller than humans…

T'sa merchants, scientists…

T'sa are skittish…

T'sa are known far and wide…

T'sa are naturally quicker…

Taasa, the t'sa homeworld…

The t'sa are…

T'sa society is…

The initial station…

Even when standing absolutely still—something that’s almost impossible for the creature to do—a t’sa (singular and plural) conveys an impression of speed, sharp reflexes, and constant activity. Standing 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds on average, a t’sa is lightning-quick, with a fast mind to match his fast body. Sleek, with a reptilian form and the legs of a runner, a t’sa has a fine covering of interlocking brown or russet scales that provide a modicum of natural protection. Most other species find t’sa, with their expressive eyes and childlike exuberance, extremely likeable.

A t’sa has a natural curiosity and an affinity for all things technological. He’s a consummate tinkerer, disassembling devices to discover how they work and find ways to improve them. His desire to unravel every secret can sometimes lead a t’sa into trouble, which is why most t’sa like to work closely with others.

T’sa are social beings who don’t like being alone for long. Once a t’sa joins a group, he stays with it through thick and thin, usually bonding with at least one member as a lifelong friend.

Everything a t’sa does, he does quickly. He’s always on the move, always asking questions, and always seeking answers. Although his intentions are often misunderstood, a t’sa is nonetheless eager to please and to make friends.

T’sa possess acute olfactory and tactile senses, and they love to handle things. Their vision, hearing, and sense of taste are comparable to the average human’s.

T’sa society has evolved in leaps and bounds. Scientific breakthroughs and merciless industrialization of their homeworld have enabled t’sa pioneers to quickly fan out among the stars, leading to the rise of several colonies across the great void of space. A t’sa takes changes in stride, rarely dwelling on the past and always looking toward the future with great optimism.

A t'sa serving as engineer aboard a ship can give captains something to be proud of, as well as worry about. Proud knowing the heart of the vessel is in some of the best hands in the galaxy, and worried that their ship will never pass inspections. To outsiders, the place where a t'sa works looks like a jumbled mess of wires and exposed cables and hazards, but to a t'sa its much better than the way it was. “Trust me, it's better this way.” they would say. New engineers generally can't make heads or tails of new and unorthodox ways a t'sa had everything wired up, but you definitely cannot argue with the results.

You fancy yourself a purveyor of unusual trinkets and curios. Along your travels you encounter many unusual people, places, and items. Sometimes you may find alien artifacts, or some unusual charms used by the natives. Whatever it is, your natural insatiable curiosity gets you some interesting finds in the Verge. Having a charming personality helps you in your dealings and interactions with buying low and selling high.