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

When humans met the t’sa in 2296, the t’sa had claimed five star systems near their homeworld. None of the 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.

Today, the T’sa Cluster numbers twenty-three worlds. For all practical purposes, the t’sa have complete independence within their space. Almost a tenth of the t’sa have left their homelands behind to join human affairs.

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.

Standing 1.4 meters tall, a t’sa (pronounced “t-sah”) is lightning-quick with a fast mind to match its 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.

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 grabble 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

• T’sa (pronounced “t-sah”)
• 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:
• Average Weight:

A t’sa has a natural curiosity and an affinity for all things technological. She’s a consummate tinkerer, disassembling devices to discover how they work and find ways to improve them. T’sa have an undeserved reputation among humans for being overly naïve, 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 also get a t’sa in all kinds of trouble. Once a t’sa joins a group, she stays with it through thick and thin, usually bonding with at least one member as a lifelong friend.

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

T’sa make great engineers and technicians, but they can be found in virtually any profession. T’sa soldiers and warriors are very rare, however, as it isn’t in their nature to be violent or physically forceful.

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The charismatic and quick minded reptilian t'sa are a race known well for their technical feats and precision, both in the engine room and out in combat.

Taasa is a lush world of swamps and lowlands similar to earth's prehistoric era. Except in this world dinosaurs were never replaced by mammals as the dominant species. The t'sa evolved intelligence early on. They were developing their solar system when the humans were building pyramids in the desert. When humans had confirmed their world was round, the t'sa had sent their first robotic probe into space. By the time humans developed the first atomic bomb, the t'sa colonists were falling into deep cryogenic sleep and began their long voyage to a nearby star. When humans had developed the stardrive, the t'sa already had a stellar empire consisting of 5 systems.

An independent explorer ship stumbled on the t'sa cluster. Ever since then they would not take any allegiance to any human nation, preferring to keep their own power. Around this time humanity was locked in a galactic war, and largely left the t'sa alone. Trade with the Orion League and a few other nations commenced in small parts. The t'sa expanded now with their faster driveships and the cluster claimed 3 more systems. Gaining friendship with humans was a challenge at first. The t'sa didn't like human arrogance, nationalism, and belief in manifest destiny for the galaxy. However, more than 10% of the t'sa left their home to join humanity in its exciting frontiers. For many t'sa, humanities scientific and stellar explorations are irresistible. It's impossible to not join in.

Now the T'sa Cluster is technically a Concord neutrality, protected from interference through the Treaty of Concord. Though they have proven their unwillingness to bow to human military force, they aren't interest in armed conflict either. The t'sa and Concord leaders understand that such a conflict could ignite another galactic war. The T'sa Cluster operates under its own laws, and travelers into its space are reminded of that via drones. Visitors travel at their own risk there. Though the t'sa are friendly, they owe no allegiance to any stellar nation. Even standing still (nearly impossible for a t'sa) they convey impressions of speed, sharp reflexes, and constant activity. They are lightning quick and have a fast mind to match the fast body. They have a sleek reptilian form and legs of a runner with scales that provide some natural protection. They have a natural curiosity and affinity for all things technical. They are consummate tinkers, constantly disassembling things to discover their workings and how to improve them. They are capable of incredible feats of innovation and ingenuity as a result. They easily bond with others in their group, often making at least one of them a lifelong friend. Cheerfulness and goodwill never falters in the t'sa, nor their desire to know every secret. Most humans find it endearing. Of all the intelligent aliens encountered so far, the t'sa are the most like humans psychologically; driven by insatiable curiosity and demand for discovery.

T'sa Chief Engineer 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.

T'sa Merchant 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.

@species @tsa @canon